In this morning’s sermon text, the Apostle Paul declares that “while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son” (Romans 5:10). We’ll declare this truth right along with him when we sing, “Let us love the Lord who bought us, pitied us when enemies” (Let Us Love And Sing And Wonder). Because of Christ’s atoning work on the cross, we who were still enemies “have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). The peace which we cry out for when we sing “Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us Thy peace” (Lamb Of God) is found in the blood of Jesus— “this is all our hope and peace” (Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus). Because of His death, we can sing confidently “what heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!” I pray that the Lord would fill us with His peace this morning. —Henry C. Haffner
Key Words: Justified, Access, Hope, Shame, Ungodly, Sinners, Enemies, Saved
Keystone Verse: God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Romans 5:1-11
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. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. 10 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. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.