Romans 5:1-11

Romans 5:1-11

In this beautiful passage, Paul begins to talk about what it means that we are set right by faith, rather than trying to be right by our own works. Paul uses a word translated “introduction” in verse two, which has a special nuanced meaning. The word was used to describe a face-to-face or intimate introduction. But it was also used to describe a ship coming to a safe harbor. The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was sailing toward the safety of Whitefish Bay when she sank about 15 miles from the “introduction” of the place of safety. Paul says by faith we are “introduced” to the safety of God’s grace.

However, we mustn’t think that this will mean smooth sailing. The life of faith doesn’t mean an absence of trouble, but rather safety and victory because of those troubles. We “exult,” Paul says, in the pressures of the life of faith. The word he uses here is from the root word for “neck,” and it means to hold your head up high. No one likes the hardship and struggles that we live through, but they produce wonderful things in us. Things such as perseverance, character, and hope. The most certain way to keep our children from maturing well is to protect them from struggles and hardship. It is true for us as well. God allows the hammer blows of life to come to us that will shape us. The most certain way to always be immature in our faith is to avoid hardships. Take on the giant challenge and embrace the difficulty, and if we are seeking God‘s will in it, we will be better for it.

Finally, verses 6-12 are one of the greatest passages of grace in the Bible. When everything was just right, Christ died for us. We have a hard time imagining a person dying a torturous death to rescue someone who was just a “nice guy.” It might happen for someone with admiration, respect, and love. But Jesus died a horrible death for the lives of the most egregious and disgusting persons. Imagine for a moment the vilest person you can. Perhaps it is a corrupt public servant, a pimp who sells little boys and girls; maybe it’s a serial seducer who ruins homes; perhaps it is the parent that molests their own flesh and blood; or even the occultist that cannibalizes their victims, or maybe it is you. Whoever that most loathsome creature is, Christ died for them. That means two things: first, God loves sinners; no one is beyond His love. Second, it means that reconciliation is a potential for all men. No one is lost because the sacrifice was insufficient; rather, they are lost because the sacrifice was rejected.

“Lord, thank You for your great sacrifice for me. AMEN”