“JUSTIFIED BY FAITH!”

 Romans 5:1-5                                         (ESV)

Peace with God Through Faith

“[1] THEREFORE, since we have been “JUSTIFIED BY FAITH”, we have PEACE WITH GOD through our LORD JESUS CHRIST. [2] Through HIM we have also obtained access by FAITH into this GRACE in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of GOD. [3] Not only that, but WE REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, [5] and hope does not put us to shame, because GOD’S LOVE has been poured into our hearts through the HOLY SPIRIT WHO has been given to us.”

Since I was a youngster (a LONG time ago!) I have been told that whenever we see the word THEREFORE in Scripture that we must discover why the word is “THERE FOR”!  Seeing that this chapter begins with the word THEREFORE, it causes this poor country boy to dig to discover why it was being used at this particular time.  

To be “JUSTIFIED BY FAITH” clearly means that our SPIRITUAL account has been brought into a RIGHT STANDING with ALMIGHTY GOD, but not by our righteousness, but “through our LORD JESUS CHRIST”!  Just because we don’t participate in a particular sin doesn’t mean that we have graduated beyond the temptation to “play in the mud”!  But we have been “JUSTIFIED BY FAITH” because of what JESUS did on earth, not because we are “holier” than others, but because we were CHOSEN before the foundation of the world to be HIS!

There are no more complete words in the English language that can be used than we “REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because GOD’S LOVE has been poured into our hearts through the HOLY SPIRIT WHO has been given to us.”  We expect things to be peachy as we serve HIM, but JESUS told Ananias (speaking about HIS CHOSEN, Paul) in Acts 9:16 “For I will show him how much he must suffer FOR THE SAKE OF MY NAME.”

To realize that THE CREATOR has CHOSEN you to suffer FOR THE SAKE OF HIS NAME can be a scary thing.  Abraham, who the writer of Acts had just written about, was told that he AND SARAH would have a son.  He had to SUFFER through doubt and confusion, but ULTIMATELY THE PROMISE was fulfilled when Isaac was born when Abraham was 100 years old (Genesis 21:5)!  

Was Abraham one who deserved to be “set aside” by his CREATOR as a holy tool to be used to draw others to HIM? Abram, as he was previously known before GOD CHANGED him, simply TRUSTED GOD to do what HE SAID HE WOULD DO, not because he was a great person, but because GOD IS A GREAT GOD!  He was “JUSTIFIED BY FAITH” that GOD was able to do that which HE said HE would do…..not what he wanted HIM to do!  

We are incapable of adding to, or taking away from, what ALMIGHTY GOD has declared to be HIS PLAN.  We are CALLED to walk by FAITH, and to be “JUSTIFIED BY FAITH” as we allow GOD to be Glorified in our life and actions!!!