July 18th

July 18th

THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. (‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭1-5‬ AMP)

So far in the book of Romans, Paul has been making the argument that justification is all about faith and not law. Not that the law is void, but that the law is more of a tool to show us that we need faith. Faith in what? Faith in the redemptive blood of Jesus. Faith that God looks on Jesus' blood and says, "it's enough." The law proves to us that there is nothing we can do that is good enough, nothing that we can ever sacrifice that will fully wash us clean. Nothing can redeem but the blood of a once-for-all sacrifice, Jesus. That is the basis of the first four chapters.
Now today's passage starts with "Therefore." Paul is trying to drive home this point. He is saying 'because Christ is the answer, and not the law,' we can have peace with God, and we have access to the grace of God by which we stand. Now, the rest of the passage today talks about Kingdom Living. Christ is king, and if Christ is King, then we are subjects in His kingdom. Now what does kingdom living look like? Well, Paul says here that it is a battle, he says that we will have to endure hardship, but we can look forward in hope to a eternal salvation, a kingdom that will last for an eternity. But the battle is not over yet. Much like the kingdom of King David that we have been reading about in the OT, where David was anointed by Samuel to be King, but then he had to endure battle and hardships, before his kingdom was finally surrendered to him, is Christ's kingdom. Now the truth of the matter is that there is another king of this world, and Jesus is in constant battle with him. Just like Saul knew that his kingdom would be ripped from him and given to David; Satan knows that his rule on earth is coming to an end, and Jesus will rip the kingdom he has established here on earth from him. Satan is holding on with a desperate grip, and trying to entice rulers and kingdoms of this earth to be his tools, for his kingdom. The fact of the matter is this: Jesus kingdom is secure. He showed his authority through conquering the grave. Have you noticed our world and the things happening in the world becoming more toxic? What we are seeing is the desperate attempt, of a desperate liar, to cling to a kingdom that he KNOWS belongs to someone else. Jesus is the true King, and his Kingdom will last forever!

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