Peace with God
Justified by Faith
Paul begins this chapter laying out the truth of our condition, he speaks of our being Justified by faith.* what does this mean though?* Being justified, is being made whole, more than that is is being made right with God. Returned to right standing with God almighty.
Paul then continues that it is through Christ then that we have obtained access by faith (*in what?*in Christ) to the grace of God - the Grace that gives us that which we do not deserve! - What a start of a chapter
But what of the hard seasons
Paul later continues and speaks directly about difficult times and this is the shocker, he says >…we rejoice in our suffering,
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How could we possibly rejoice in our suffering?
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why would we rejoice in suffering?
The answer is because It is that sufferinf that produces endurance, and endurance produces character and character produces hope --- but this hope is no ordinary hope, it is a hope in God , that produces no shame becuase it has been poured into us by the Holy Spirit.
Life in Christ
Paul goes on in verses 12-21, with e detail explination of this hope we have in God. What is that hope, that the same way we have all been marked by the sin that entered the world through one man (Adam), In that same way but infinately better, Christ died and it is through His sacrifice, his atonemnet that All are made righteous before God.
Thoughts
Can I truly say that I rejoice in suffering?
Have I understood what it is to be justified?
Prayer
Lord, would you continue to work in me, renewing my mind to the truth of your salvation. Father allow me to come to you knowing that I have been Justified though Christ and help me approach you Lord in the fullness of what it means to have access to your grace. Let your Holy Spirit pour more of the hope only you can give, in me.