Romans 5:1, 2 - Friendship and Peace.
Romans 5:1-2 (NIV) 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. And we rejoice in the
hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2 (NLT) Therefore, since we have
been made right in Gods sight by faith, we
have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ
our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith,
Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved
privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and
joyfully look forward to sharing Gods glory.
COMMENTARY PEARL
A 2018 study on teens use of social
media found that less than a third of teens today
prefer in-person conversation. Rather, they prefer
to text or use some other digital means to
communicate.
When youre friends with someone,
youre constantly talking to them. Maybe you talk
on the phone or in person or through texts, but
its an ongoing conversation that continues
through the day. And then you pick it up again the
next day.
Really, thats what friendship is.
Friends communicate with each other. Friends like to
spend time with each other. In the same way, God
wants you to communicate with Him. Hes always
there, ready to listen and ready to speak to you.
How did this amazing friendship with God
come about? We have friendship with God because
Jesus made it possible. Theres nothing we can
do (or have done) to merit it. We have this
friendship with God because Jesus made it possible.
Romans 5:1 tells us, Therefore, since
we have been made right in Gods sight by
faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus
Christ our Lord has done for us (NLT).
This friendship with God brings us
personal peace. On the first Christmas, the angel
said, Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace
on earth to those with whom God is pleased
(Luke 2:14 NLT). Peace with God takes care of our
past. He no longer holds our sins against us.
Whats more, we have access to God. We
can come to Him at any time. Verse 2 of Romans 5
says, Because of our faith, Christ has brought
us into this place of undeserved privilege
where we now stand (NLT).
Because Jesus came to this earth, because
of what He has done for us, we have an
all-access pass into the presence of God. [Greg Laurie
from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
COMMENTARY
Peace With God
One day I posed a question to the
waitress at my table: If you could ask God for
anything, what would your request be? Her answer
was immediate. I want to feel at peace.
She tearfully explained that her grandmother had
died and emotional turmoil resulted.
Many in our world are like this young
woman, in that they desire inner calmness but have
no relationship with the Lord. People often
seek contentment by trying to improve their
appearance, physical fitness, financial situation, or
social status - or by abusing substances. But such
things cant bring tranquility of heart or mind.
Only a relationship with Jesus leads to true
peace.
Prior to salvation, we were slaves to sin
and living in opposition to God (Col. 1:21). Our
transgressions had formed a barrier of hostility between
Him and us, which we were helpless to cross on
our own. Without Gods intervention, we could
not have found the way of peace. But our
heavenly Father provided the perfect solution to our
sin problem. He sent His Son to pay for our
iniquities and remove the separation that existed
between us and Him.
When we trusted Jesus as our Savior, we
were reconciled to the Lord (Rom. 5:10) and no
longer at odds with Him. In Christ, we have peace
with the Father.
Our triune God has provided everything we
need for inner tranquility. The Father opened the
way for us to be in His family. Jesus
continually offers His peace so we can experience
serenity of mind and heart (John 14:27). And the Holy
Spirit cultivates the fruit of peace in our lives
(Gal. 5:22). [In Touch Daily Devotional by Charles
Stanley at www.intouch.org]
Tyranny of the Oughts
The breastplate of righteousness protects
us from the feeling that we are not good enough
to be saved. We now look at a feeling which
Satan delights to whip up in the heart of a
Christian - the feeling that we are only accepted by
God when we are doing everything perfectly. The
feeling gives rise to perfectionism - a condition
which afflicts multitudes of Christians.
The chief characteristic of perfectionism
is a constant overall feeling of never doing
enough to be thought well of by God. Karen Horney
describes it as "the tyranny of the oughts." Here are
some typical statements of those who are
afflicted in this way: "I ought to do better," "I
ought to have done better," "I ought to be able to
do better." There is nothing wrong with wanting
to do better, but in the twisted thinking of a
perfectionist, a person believes that because he or she
could or ought to have done better, they will not
be accepted or thought well of by God. They
come to believe that their acceptance by God
depends on their performance. They constantly try to
develop a righteousness of their own rather than
resting in the righteousness that Christ has
provided for them.
If you suffer from this condition, then
it's time to put on your spiritual breastplate.
You need to remind yourself that the way you
came into the Christian life is the same way you
are enabled to go on in it - by depending on
Christ and His righteousness, not on yourself and
your righteousness. You are not working to be
saved; you are working because you are saved.
Lord Jesus, I see that when I stand in
Your righteousness, I stand in God's smile. But
when I stand in my own righteousness, I stand in
God's frown. Help me move over from frown to
smile. In Your dear name. Amen. [Every Day With
Jesus Bible with Selwyn Hughes devotional]
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Understanding will never bring you peace.
That's why I have instructed you to trust in Me,
not in your understanding. Human beings have a
voracious appetite for trying to figure things out, in
order to gain a sense of mastery over their lives.
But the world presents you with an endless
series of problems. As soon as you master one set,
another pops up to challenge you. The relief you had
anticipated is short-lived. Soon your mind is gearing up
again: searching for understanding (mastery),
instead of seeking Me (your Master).
The wisest of all men, Solomon, could
never think his way through to Peace. His vast
understanding resulted in feelings of futility, rather
than in fulfillment. Finally, he lost his way and
succumbed to the will of his wives by worshiping
idols.
My Peace is not an elusive goal, hidden
at the center of some complicated maze.
Actually, you are always enveloped in Peace, which is
inherent in My Presence. As you look to Me, you gain
awareness of this precious Peace. (Pro. 3:5, 6; Rom.
5:1; 2Th. 3:16) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2015/20150803-2042.html
EXCELLENT VIDEO SERIES ON 28 REVELATIONS OF
JESUS
1st of 28: Divine Dining:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_7j1QIKqmY
2nd of 28: Pictures of the Divine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lNI-OQ7-eQ
3rd of 28: A Dirty Bible:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMkPvBuuFd4
4th of 28: Cared For:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztXyJVdcCds
5th of 28: Saved:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX45kGRe1HI
6th of 28: You Can Change:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd0gkvK18fo
7th of 28: Reprogramming Our Brains:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov36f_RapXc
8th of 28 Our Holy Father:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XabXLEXsxbY
9th of 28 Gifts of Service:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtuGZviodkA
10th of 28 The Holy Spirit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in89XVs4cGo
11th of 28 The Law of God:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_Q601HjogI
12th of 28 The Sabbath:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sakgnKoTzZI
13th of 28 The Church:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkFw2XsTW-w
14th of 28 The Gift of Prophecy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiO2VC09NPI
15th of 28 Stewardship:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z_lNLAataw
16th of 28 Marriage and the Family:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EybxvMQ0K7E
Live ongoing series in progress.
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
