The Enduring Light
“Peace with God Through Faith”, that is the heading of Romans 5:1-11 in my Bible; English Standard Version. This morning I ended up here from a verse I read this morning. You know we focus a lot on Good Friday and Easter as well we should, but what about that Saturday. I wonder what it was like for those whom Jesus seemingly left behind. How did they endure from Friday to Sunday morning? I cannot get my head around it… but they did endure.
Now years later we endure, but we are not alone. We need not face all the uncertainty that had to be devouring the disciples. Jesus had warned them of what was to come, but it is clear that it did not really sink in.
Then fast forward through Pentecost and the growth of the Church that followed and think about what Paul is saying in Chapter 5 of the letter to the Romans.
Romans 5:1-2
I opened the Word at Romans 5:1-2 and read it.
‘Peace with God Through Faith’
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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.
When I see the word “therefore” in the Bible I have to go back and read what preceded it. So I went to Romans 4 and I read 13-25. Paul spoke of promise to Abraham and his endurance through faith. Verses 20-25 touched my heart.
20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
That is the reason for the “therefore”
The Promise
Abraham was promised to be the father of many nations and he never waivered. He endured by faith. He knew God would fulfill His promise and because of that example, we must not waiver either.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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. Romans 5:1-2
The Holy Spirit
It does not stop there. Because we received a gift that surpasses my ability to comprehend. A gift so precious that I must praise God in all circumstances. I love Romans 5:3-5
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
What a glorious gift we have been given through the Holy Spirit. This gift was made available to us amid our sin. We did not have to straighten up to get it. We had to believe and with His help and guidance we would straighten up.
For the Weak and Ungodly – Romans 5:6-11
God did all this while we were still living in sin and darkness. I love Romans 5:6-11
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
From man’s perspective, this is crazy… But I am thankful that it is God’s Plan, Not man’s. He is perfect and true, the essence of love. That is why all this is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks.
Closing
I think about this passion week and all that must have been running through the minds of the disciples and I am thankful for it all. What these followers endured by faith. The mighty gift of the Holy Spirit that came on Pentecost and the Word of God left for me and the Holy Spirit to guide me through God’s Word. My heart nearly bursts with thanksgiving. Without Jesus, I would be lost.
Prayer
Father, thank you for all your provision. Thank you for the gift of salvation through faith. Thank you for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you, father, that I do not live in that Friday nor the day after but in a time filled with Sunday’s praising and glorifying you!
In Jesus name I pray, Amen!
Oswald Chambers says the silent times is God trusting us with His silence to grow our faith! As I was in my quiet time on Sat morning between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday the Lord laid on my heart that it was Silent Saturday. The Word was silent but it was in the silence that God grew me in my faith! Today’s post was another confirmation of His work in His people as we walk in faith by His Grace! Praise and thanks to Him in all things! Have a great day in Him!
Amen Brother! Well said! To God be all the Glory. Without Him I am an empty shell!