We continue to explore Hope with Belief. Our sincere belief, based upon the Word of God, is that we are wonderfully redeemed and being renewed through the great grace of God in Christ. It is our greatest desire that our students will know and be consumed by this truth.
But we are also saying that our Hope does not guarantee an easy comfortable, trouble -free life; and we know this because the Scriptures tell us this.
Let’s explore the first few verses of Romans 5 to see these two aspects.
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ …
This follows on from Paul’s statement in chapter four, that we believe in Him who raised Jesus from death and that the penalty for our sin has been paid.
Through Christ, hostility and separation between sinful humanity and a holy God has ended, for those who believe. This is “Peace with God”.
Consequently, we feel peace in our hearts because we know and believe that we have peace with God. It is not that if we feel peace in our hearts, then we know we have peace with God; that’s the wrong order.
True belief in the promises and actions of God determines our peace.
Romans 5:2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
This is amazing. Not only do we have peace with God, but we also have access to Him, an undeserved and privileged access!
By faith, that is believing, we can enter the fullness of His grace. We are able to stand in His presence, confident in Him. This causes a rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God!
Let’s not minimise the magnificence of this – the eternal God deals with our past, present, and future!
Christ frees us from our past rebellion – so that we have peace with our Heavenly Father.
We are free in the present to enjoy access to a loving relationship with God.
We have future freedom in the awesome presence of God’s glory forever.
Is that good or what!
More to come.
Blessings
Brian