The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Romans 5:1-2a,
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand."
Through our faith in Jesus Christ we have gained access into a grace we stand in! Merriam-Webster defines access as "permission, liberty, or ability to enter, approach, or pass to... a place" It also means the freedom or ability to obtain or make use of something. Through the use of our ability to make choices, when we place our faith in Jesus Christ we gain access into this "grace."
The grace Paul speaks of here refers to what he just spoke of in the previous chapter. A tremendous "blessing". Grace is a gift and the gift is to have our transgressions forgiven, no sin held against us, Romans 4:7-8. There Paul quotes Psalm 32:1-2a,
"Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them..."
Why would the Lord forgive us our sins? We have all sinned, every human who has ever walked the earth, save Jesus Christ. Why would the Lord forgive us our sins and make a way for us into his family? He forgives our sins because he loves us! God is a just God and he had his Son, Jesus Christ pay the penalty for our sins because he loves us.
A few verses later in Romans 5 we read, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8.
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand."
Through our faith in Jesus Christ we have gained access into a grace we stand in! Merriam-Webster defines access as "permission, liberty, or ability to enter, approach, or pass to... a place" It also means the freedom or ability to obtain or make use of something. Through the use of our ability to make choices, when we place our faith in Jesus Christ we gain access into this "grace."
The grace Paul speaks of here refers to what he just spoke of in the previous chapter. A tremendous "blessing". Grace is a gift and the gift is to have our transgressions forgiven, no sin held against us, Romans 4:7-8. There Paul quotes Psalm 32:1-2a,
"Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them..."
Why would the Lord forgive us our sins? We have all sinned, every human who has ever walked the earth, save Jesus Christ. Why would the Lord forgive us our sins and make a way for us into his family? He forgives our sins because he loves us! God is a just God and he had his Son, Jesus Christ pay the penalty for our sins because he loves us.
A few verses later in Romans 5 we read, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8.
This, to me, is an unfathomable love! The heart of our God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is beyond measure, and impossible to comprehend. All that we can do is to know of it, submit ourselves to it, and enjoy it for all eternity!
What an amazing grace!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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