God's Time
By Archie White II

Romans 5:1-5
Death in Adam, Life in Christ

1THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 2Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. 3Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. 4And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. 5Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. Amplified Version


Life Application:
5:1 As Christians, we have been justified (declared righteous) by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We have been reconciled back unto the Father. As a benefit of our salvation, we can possess God's perfect peace, which may differ from peaceful feelings such as calmness and tranquility. Peace with God means that we have been reconciled with Christ; however, it does not mean that we are exempt from experiencing difficult circumstances. Rather, we have been given power through the Holy Spirit who who enables us to conquer and trample satan and his schemes! Hallelujah!! God's perfect peace is there with us to comfort us in the midst of the storm. Hostility no longer exists between the Father and His children. Sin is no longer blocking our relationship. Peace with God is possible only because Jesus paid the price for our sins through His death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave.

5:2-5 Christians now stand in a place of highest privilege ("this grace in which we stand"). Not only has God declared us righteous, but He has drawn us close to Him and destroyed the gap that kept us from His presence, fellowship and blessings. As children of God, we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (The the Anointed One and His Anointing) (Romans 8:17). Because we are now in covenant with Christ, 100% of God now belongs to the believer and 100% of the believer now belongs to God. Instead of enemies of God, we have become His best friends - in fact, His own children whom He loves unconditionally (John 15:15; Galatians 4:5). As Paul states clearly in 1 Corinthians 13:13, faith, hope and love are at the heart of the Christian life. Our relationship with God begins with faith, which helps us to recognize that we are delivered from our past by Christ's death. Hope grows as we learn who we are in Christ and all that God has prepared and provided for us; it gives us the promise of the future. God's love consumes and transforms our lives. It astounds our intellect and gives us the ability and desire to love others.

5:3-4 For first-century Christians, suffering was the rule rather than the exception. Paul proclaims that in the future we will become, but until then we must overcome. "Glory in tribulations" is defined as rejoicing in suffering. We rejoice in suffering not because we like pain or deny its tragedy, but because we know God is using life's difficulties to cut out everything that is not like Him. We will experience storms in our lives, yet those same storms will produce growth and maturity in us as they develop our character. Problems we run into develop our patience - which in turn will strengthen our character, deepen our trust in God and give us a greater confidence in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Your patience will be tested in some way everyday. It is a good part of life though it sometimes hurts. God is the Potter. We are the clay. Thank God for His love and His willingness to deal with our imperfections.

Amen!! HEAR W.E. GO! IT'S ALL ABOUT HIM!!

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