Romans 5:1-11 – Reconciliation and Peace
Week 4 - March 16-22
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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. Not only that, but 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.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. ”
Conflict can be devastating, especially when it is with someone you love. In fact, the closer we are to someone, the more conflict with them will throw off everything else in our lives. It makes it hard to think about or focus on anything else.
Romans 5 is a turning point in the book. The first four chapters are focused on our righteousness, or right standing before God, showing that our only hope is God’s grace through faith, not our actions. Stop and reread Romans 5:1 again. And again. The gospel is not just about our standing in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Our justification is the foundation for reconciliation – that peace is made with God.
What a relief! Uncertainty, rebellion, and conflict with our Creator will throw off everything else in our lives. It will impact every other relationship we have and eat away at our souls over time. It’s almost too good to believe that peace has been made through Jesus. That we are brought back together in a restored relationship, and able to turn to God, fully known and fully loved, counted as sons and daughters in one big family.
Questions to Ponder:
When have you successfully worked through conflict with someone you love? How did your relationship change? How did it feel to be reconciled?
How does knowing that you have peace with God free you to live?
Who in your life can you extend this peace to? Is there anyone with whom you need to reconcile?