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Continued Meditation on Romans 5
Continued Meditation on Romans 5
Wow. That is my response every time I read Romans 5. Phrase after phrase are piled upon one another, each demanding our consideration. “Think on these things” said Paul in Phil. 4.
The main point is that NOW, because of Jesus, God invites everyone into a loving relationship. This opens up the Jew and Gentile divide and now ‘the two are one now body of people’. Such includes the forgiveness of sins, but much more: we are now God’s children. We need in our Bible reading to often slow down, and mull over, contemplate, meditate, chew-on, digest, etc. These are the words of God Almighty unto us, His creation.
Take some paper and your pen (pencil?) and write out each phrase! Read it from a personal level (while it is written in a more generic ‘everyone’ group approach, it has to be applied BY YOU. YOU must grasp these great thoughts. Such requires TIME, time alone with the text, time spent in thinking about it, biblical mediation. This, when done well, results in our exultation in the hope of the glory of God (vs. 2). SO, rather than write my words about such a passage, I would point you to read, reread, and read again Paul’s inspired teaching. Ok, now go read.
Hugh DeLong
Romans 5:1-11
(1) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
(2) through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
(3) And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
(4) and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
(5) and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
(6) For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
(7) For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
(8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(9) Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
(10) For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
(11) And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
