Romans 5: 5-11

(Romans 5: 5-11)

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

 

We can summarize three major benefits of a person justified by faith in his life. First, they will be issued a new ID. On his ID card, he was no longer a sinner, but a righteous man. Those who are justified in Jesus Christ are no longer enemies of God, but have peace with God. Second, they walk the narrow and narrow path the Lord spoke of. 『And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; .』

 

Third, they find joy in tribulation. Because they endure in tribulation, and if they endure, they become disciplined and become more mature, and eventually their hope for heaven becomes clearer. Because the hope they will see at that time is incomparable with the sufferings that pass now. But tribulation also wears out the saints. But at this time, the Holy Spirit helps. “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 』

 

Those who are justified by faith have good privileges, but at the same time there is something that must be remembered so that those who live by that grace will not fall into indulgence. First, believers should not forget not only their new status, but also their old status (old person). The apostle Paul reaffirms his past status. In the past, he was the weak, the incompetent. He was also a sinner. Beings themselves were selfish beings full of rebellion against God, and they were those who loved themselves and money. And in the past he was the enemy of God. They were idol worshipers who liked rather than what God hated.

 

They took competition for small profits before their eyes, justifying lies and greed. They were indifferent to inequality and rationalized that the loss of the weak was due to their laziness. It was easy for them to blame the strong for a chance, and they were worldly people who rejoiced in sneering, gossiping, partying, indulging in the pleasures of alcohol and sexuality, and bragging when an opportunity arises from vain pride.

We who acted and thought like that were brought back to life because of God's love and Jesus' Atonement on the cross. God's wrath poured over that very cross, and He died and I came to live. Therefore, before I am justified, I must never forget who I was and how I came to be justified.

There is another thing not to forget. 『And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 』Saints are not called as those who mourn, but ultimately as those who rejoice in God. In God, there is no such thing as stopping us from the privilege of rejoicing. Therefore, no matter what circumstances we may face, we must live a life of reconciliation with God and joy in God day by day because of God who justifies us, Jesus who takes our sins instead of us, and the Holy Spirit who pours out God's love every day. . In order for us to live that way, we must remember, as the Apostle Paul said, “I die every day.”