Romans 5:1-2
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
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You and I, all mankind actually, were not born into a peaceful world, quite the contrary as a matter of fact.
I personally was born in the midst of the Second World War, l then went to school in my early years as the Korean War (not a conflict, but a war) was taking place, and then started my adult life as the Bay of Pigs happened leading to the Cuban missile crisis. It was at that time I had just joined the U.S. Navy as an aircrewman flying patrols in the far North Atlantic skies watching for Russian submarines and missiles that might be sent to blow up the world! Oh, and by the way, in time for the Vietnam War. I was flying on patrol when the radio message came in alerting us to the attack on an American destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin—which by the way was not quite accurate. Definitely no peace there. Not before nor since as the daily news each day makes very clear!
The Scriptures say woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, {Is.45:9} so I for one now really appreciate having peace with God. A real peace that was gained by bloodshed—the blood shed by the one and only truly innocent Man, the Prince of Peace. That of course was Jesus Christ on the cross on a little hill called Golgotha at Jerusalem! He obtained for us, and for whosoever will receive it, a glorious and unshakable peace that surpasses all understanding. {Php.4:7}
And as the apostle Paul wrote “thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” {1Cor.15:57} Words confirmed by John to all who are led by the Spirit of God, the children of God, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” {1Jn.5:4} That is the free gift of God which does not come to us by our works, so we have nothing to boast of other than the Lord Jesus who purchased that gift for us with His blood! {Eph.2:8-9}
Which brings us to the next part of today's verse, our access to the Lord by faith! We can go to the throne of grace with confidence as it says in the letter to the Hebrews. {Heb.4:16} We can go directly to the Father through Jesus to receive mercy and find grace. No intermediaries, no other intercessor required! {1Tim.2:5} The Lord said in the Sermon on the Mount that when we pray we should direct our words to our Heavenly Father. {Mat.6:9} When that does become the reality of our lives and the nature of our relationship with the Lord it certainly will result in us rejoicing, with joyful shouts of praise.
“For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12)
REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS; AGAIN I SAY REJOICE |
