Since We Have Been Justified

Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because Godʼs love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

‭‭(Romans‬ ‭5:1-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

 

We have been justified - pardoned - acquitted - of our sinful acts - this means that we are declared blameless in God's sight.

This justification comes through faith - our confidence of and assurance -  in Jesus Christ. 

Because of this we have peace - unity and harmony - with God our Father. And why wouldn't we have peace with The Almighty God, knowing that He views us without blame? Furthermore we have peace with Jesus knowing that He has reconciled us with God. 

Now we stand unified with Jesus as our Savior - as the one that saves us from the penalty of sin - and Lord - as the one that leads our lives. 

Through Jesus - our Savior and Lord - we have access to God's marvelous, matchless grace. This grace in which we stand safely and securely in. 

So, given all of this, let us boast. We do not boast in our own selves or our own abilities. No, let us rejoice - with great joy - I say it again, rejoice - in Jesus Christ - in the hope of the glory of God. 

We have this hope only through Christ - and in what He has done for us. We have the hope - the great expectation - that we will one day soon stand before God and He will impart His glory on us. 

Yet, we not only rejoice in hope, we also rejoice in our current suffering. We are able to rejoice because we trust that our suffering - our trials, our hardships, our distress, our pressure, our trouble - produces perseverance. We learn not to give up or give in - even in the midst of suffering. This perseverance, then, produces spiritual maturity - because it drives us to a total dependence on God and a complete reliance on Him. 

In all of this, we will not - now or ever - be disappointed. How could we be disappointed? We are basking in God's eternal and unsurpassable love. And, God's Spirit is living in us bearing constant witness to His great love to us. 

Since we have been justified by faith, what else do we need? 

Running to meet your goal

As a general rule, I don't run. I don't particularly enjoy running, whether it is running for exercise or running as a competition, I don't enjoy it. Running can fall into two categories; speed and endurance.

• Speed: When I was in grade school we had to run through a series of chairs in gym class twice a week and by weeks end we would have run an entire mile. Near the end of our second grade year they announced that I was the fasted kid in second grade. My dad still credits me with the title and claims that I could beat all those second grade kids with my speed today.
• Endurance: When I was in college my wife (at the time she was only my girlfriend) asked me if I would train for a mini-marathon with her. I didn't particularly like the idea of running in a mini-marathon, 13.1 miles of winding roads and climbing hills, and I didn't like the rigorous training that came with getting myself into shape for it. But, while I didn't enjoy it, I did like the company that came with preparing and training, and because the love of my life wanted me to do it, I did it.

Hebrews chapter 12 has some to say about running, perseverance, and endurance (verses 1-2);

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" 

 Max Lucado had the following to say about this passage in his book "Just Like Jesus":

"The word race is from the Greek agon, from which we get the word agony. The Christian's race is not a jog but rather a demanding and grueling, sometimes agonizing race. It takes a massive effort to finish strong. Likely you've noticed that many don't? Surely you've observed there are many on the side of the trail? They used to be running. There was a time when they kept the pace. But then weariness set in. They didn't think the run would be this tough..."

What about you:

• Do you find that the "Christian race" is tough or even agonizing at times?

"let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" 

We each have a race to run, each of us have goals by which we need to reach and goals we set out to reach. Yet there are often things that keep us from reaching these goals because we fail to recognize that they are weighing us down and keeping us from fixing our eyes on the end goal and the prize before us.
Here are some questions for you to consider:

• What are your goals?
• Primary goals?
• Secondary goals?
• What steps need to be taken (by you) in order to achieve these goals?
• What will (you) need to stop?
• What are the costs of these goals?
• What are the benefits of these goals?

Read through Hebrews 12:1-11, considering this, thinking of the subject of your struggle with sin, your hardships, and God's discipline in your life. Stay focused on the goal and run your race with perseverance.