SCRIPTURE
Romans 5:1-11 So now, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith in his promises, we can have real peace with him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 For because of our faith, he has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to actually becoming all that God has had in mind for us to be.
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us--they help us learn to be patient. 4 And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. 5 Then, when that happens, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well. For we know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
6 When we were utterly helpless, with no way of escape, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners who had no use for him. 7 Even if we were good, we really wouldn't expect anyone to die for us, though, of course, that might be barely possible. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since by his blood he did all this for us as sinners, how much more will he do for us now that he has declared us not guilty? Now he will save us from all of God's wrath to come. 10 And since, when we were his enemies, we were brought back to God by the death of his Son, what blessings he must have for us now that we are his friends and he is living within us!
11 Now we rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God--all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done in dying for our sins--making us friends of God.
OBSERVATION
The last time I talked about that we have all sinned (3:23) and that we cannot became right with God through good works (3:20, 28). Even Abraham, chosen to be the father of the Jewish nation, you figure he must have been of pretty good character but God told us that even he was declared righteous only through his faith (4:3).
Now today I can see in chapter five, the benefits that we receive as a result of our good standing with God. Now we can know real peace with God and we can have joy that will last in the good times and the bad. Joy that is based on the hope of knowing that despite all these trials we still have Gods power through the Holy Spirit.
What an awesome relationship that we can have with our creator! We have been saved from all of God’s wrath that we deserved. Its amazing that He did all these things for us before we were His friends. No greater love could God have shown than to die for His enemy’s, but now because of that death we can become friends of God.
Col 1:20-21 It was through what his Son did that God cleared a path for everything to come to him--all things in heaven and on earth--for Christ's death on the cross has made peace with God for all by his blood. This includes you who were once so far away from God.
APPLICATION
I will remember the benefits that God gives to all His friends. I will check out the list of benefits in Psalm 103!
Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits…
PRAYER
Don’t let me forget how much that you have done for me, none of which I deserve.
