Day 6: Romans 5
Hopefully by now, you’re starting to get a sense of the depth of the book of Romans! It is a treasure chest of truth, encouragement, application and wonderful theology worthy of a lifetime of study. My encouragement is not to feel overwhelmed by the depth, but to commit to learning what you can from this book.
So welcome to chapter 5 where I’m going to focus purely on the first 5 verses.
Although this is the start of a new chapter, it is very much a continuation of the teaching that has gone before. Having already explained what justification by faith is, Paul now starts to explain what it means for us on a daily basis. Here’s three things it means for us.
1. It gives us peace with God
2. It places us in a position of grace
3. It allows us to have future hope.
If you have said yes to Jesus, you can be confident that these things are yours too!
Paul helps us understand that not only do these things hold us in good stead on normal days, they also allow us to remain hopeful when challenges strike!
Knowing you have peace with God, that he’s on your side, that you are stood in a place of grace with the future hope, will get you through the worst of days.
These are vital truths to store up in our hearts.
This helps us understand we do not need to run away from trouble, but we can embrace it and come out of the other side stronger and better for it. In this light, 5:3-4 tells us our sufferings produce in us perseverance, character and hope.
5:5 beautifully tells us that because of God’s love, the hope we have, is not one that puts us to shame or disappoints us. We’ve all at times in our lives hoped and been disappointed, and wondered why we hoped in the first place. But a hope placed in God is one that is safe and secure.
When we have challenging days, remind yourself what God has done for you, and what you have in Christ. In addition to this, start to expect God to develop in us perseverance, character and hope as we navigate these uncertain times.
Ps Dan Hoyle
Bishop Auckland Campus Pastor