Day 929: Romans 5- Jesus Won Salvation

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.
Death in Adam, Life in Christ
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one-man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one-man Jesus Christ.
18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Meditation
God’s love has been poured out in Christians, liberating believers from the bondage of sin. Jesus has won salvation. The power of the gospel invites disciples to live from Christ’s victory.
 
Living from the victory of Jesus includes celebrating the benefits of justification in Christ. We have peace with God (1) so we can rejoice in hope (2) and suffering (3). Christians celebrate growth in character (4) and have hearts transformed by God’s love (5). We, who were once “weak,” “sinners,” and “enemies” of God, have been reconciled to God through the work of Jesus (6-11). God shows His love through the work of Christ (8) as He pours out His love through the Spirit of Christ (5).
 
Represented by Adam we are dead in sin (12-14). Represented by Christ we can “receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness” through faith (15-17). In Adam all die. In Christ all are made alive, so grace may abound all the more and sin might not reign in our mortal bodies (18-21). The love of God, through the work of Jesus, liberates believers to walk in grace, living as champions through the finished work of Jesus.
 
John Stott wrote, “For the essence of sin is humanity substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for humanity.” Jesus is God substituting Himself for our sin, winning believers’ salvation, so we can open our hearts to the extravagant love of God and be liberated from the penalty and power of sin.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading in regards to the victory Christ has won believers? Which benefit do you want to reap in your life?
 
-What does your life look like when you do not live from the victory of Christ?
 
-God’s Spirit is the vehicle through which God’s love is poured out in you, the love proven by the work of Jesus, who died for you. How can God’s lavish love lift your eyes to live as a champion, winner, victor in Jesus? Where do you need to not live defeated but live from the victory of Jesus?
 
Key Verse
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.