Day 361 – Scriptures of Peace

December 28, 2022

Romans 5:1-5

5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 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.

Daily Devotion

By: Kathy Johnson

Martin Luther said “In the whole Bible there is hardly another chapter which can equal this triumphant text.”

When I read these verses in the Amplified Bible it was like WOW!  I had to break it down and reread it several times. There is so much to rejoice about and feast on in these verses.

Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed). 

We have peace with God. We are reconciled to Him. There is nothing between us. Jesus died for us and we have been completely forgiven.

Romans 5:2 Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power]. 

Through Jesus we have access to this grace. We rejoice with the confident assurance of enjoying the glory of God.

Romans 5:3 And not only this, but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; 

We can rejoice in our times of trouble knowing it produces endurance. Sometimes I am concerned we in America may not experience enough hardships to endure real persecution; if it comes to us, as it has to many other countries. We are so blessed compared to most of the world. If we can grasp the concept: I need this trial to be battle hardened. Then we can rejoice in our suffering.

Romans 5:4 and endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of eternal salvation]. 

Enduring suffering produces spiritual maturity. And spiritual maturity brings confidence in the assurance of eternal salvation.

Romans 5:5 Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.   

Let us rejoice in God’s love, peace, hope, grace, safety, security, confident assurance, and in our suffering.