Romans 5:1-8
CHAPTER 5
[Ro 5:1] Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, [2] through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. [3] And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; [4] and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; [5] and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
[6] For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. [8] But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:1
[Ro 5:1] Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Justified by faith to live in peace
There is no greater peace than the man freed from certain death. It was the sacrifice of Jesus that purchased this peace - a freedom granted to all followers of Christ. Paul, in this outreach to the Jewish Christians of Rome, invites them to a peace that holds no man hostage or in debt. A peace that arises out of the joy for the life that was given instead of ours.
How then should the freed man act? Should he waste his life on hatred, bitterness or condemning others? Or, should the life that was set free, spend the rest of their life seeking the freedom of others?
Romans 5:2
[2] through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
Ushered in...
We are given introduction to the King's court by the Gift of God - his beloved son, Jesus. The term used is to be escorted into the presence of royalty. Imagine, an indicted criminal led before the highest royalty and welcomed as a lost child. Sound incredulous? It is! Only someone who has felt the peace of Christ could understand it. Only someone who has been redeemed, has been set free, who has experienced the matchless bonds of being forgiven and forgiving others. Incredulous!
Romans 5:3-5
[3] And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; [4] and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; [5] and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Choosing to dance with life
To exult in tribulations and to persevere mean much the same thing. This describes an almost defiant attitude in the face of the persecution. Looking directly past Satan's condemning scowl and into the eyes of our Lord and Savior. That was a persecution that almost all the Christians in Rome could understand. It is as though Paul goes from the problem of the seperatist Jewish Christians and challenges them to consider a greater issue. The suffering that all the Roman Christian's shared in common. The trials that they were all facing together. Ever the leader - Paul calls them beyond their petty rules to the pain that they share in common.
Perseverance could well be described as; "to confront inequity with dignity." It is the courage displayed by Helen Keller when she was once asked; "Is there anything worse than not being able to see?" Her dignified response; "To see but have no vision."
Keller showed the character of her heart through her constant perseverance. The word used for character is the same word that is used to define refined silver. Persecution is the heat that burns out the impurities of one's life. Yet, it only happens if one has a courageous attitude towards suffering.
The Home Port
Paul uses an interesting word for the fruit of character. It is the same word used for a safe harbor. It is the port a ship turns into to get out of the storm. Our port is Jesus. He can calm the seas of the most raging tide or bring confidence to the Captain at the time of greatest need. Faith is best seen at the bedside of the dying or the front lines of the stand against injustice. It can be the small prayer of a grandmother for a wayward grandson or the planted feet of the one who stands firm against racism. It is more than just going to port to hide from the storm - it is about being a port for those in the storm.
Is that how people refer to me? Am I the port that doesn't disappoint because of the Love of God poured into me by the Holy Spirit?
What can I do to become just such a port?
Well-known psychologist, Dr. Martin Seligman has coined a phrase he calls; 'Learned Helplessness'. He describes a state where people who face difficulties larger than themselves simply give up hope.
Seligman also describes 'Learned Hopefulness' in which people learn how to hope by taking some form of positive control in their life. Practice being a 'home port' by helping people take steps towards positive control. One woman that I met in a long-term care facility had a clock on the wall at the foot of her bed. Paralyzed, she would often stare at the ticking second hand for hours. Replacing the clock with picture of Jesus was huge source of strength for her. Convincing her children to move her to a more 'concerned' facility was another way to help alleviate her suffering. She only lived a few months after we met. However, when she died it was no longer in abandoned monotony.
Romans 5:6-8
[Ro 5:6] For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. [8] But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Mysterious Love
The greatest shame of Christianity is how many and how often these versus are taken for granted. This is free grace - but it is not cheap grace. To the Christian, the focal point of all life and our lives rest in receiving and offering this priceless gift of God's Beloved.
We take this Gift for granted when;
To live with comprehension of God's amazing gift is to face everyday with one foot planted in gratitude and the other foot planted in availability.
Prayer for gratitude and availability
"God make me gratefully available for your purposes today. Put me where miracles need to happen or your love needs to be given. Blind me to all other sight save yours. Place your joy in my heart and your nails in my wrists. Make these hands heal, comfort, and lift up. Make this face respond with tears to the sorrowful and assurance to the lost. Above all else, let me know and do your will - that your kingdom does indeed come to those you send me to on this precious day. This day of rejoicing that you have made."