Read passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5.1-5

Scripture
Therefore, since we are justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Observation
We have been justified by faith and that brings with it peace with God. Jesus has given us access to this grace.

We can boast in our hope of glory, but Paul tells us also to boast in our sufferings. Suffering produces endurance, character and hope. Our hope is in God’s love poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

Application
When we come to God we come with nothing. God is not interested in our money, talents and achievements, not even those we direct towards Him.

The only human trait that can influence God is our faith- our ability to trust that He loves us and wants to be in relationship with us.

With faith in the blood of Christ we can know peace with God the Father. Through Christ’s blood all my sins are washed away and all the power of satan is blown away like chaff.

Faith is a little thing- tinier than a seed. But when directed to God it moves the mountain of sin that separates us from Him. Instead of being at war with Him, we experience His peace, grace and love.

Prayer
Lord, I thank you for your love for me. Thank you for the blood of Christ that washes me clean from all sin. Amen.

Scripture

For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

Observation

We have the Spirit of God dwelling in us and therefore have no obligation to give in to sin. If we live by the flesh we will die, but if we crucify our flesh by the power of the Spirit we will live.

The Spirit confirms we are children of God. We are no longer slaves but fully adopted children, and God’s Spirit enables us to call God “Abba, Father.”

Being God’s children by adoption means we inherit with Christ everything of God’s glory. This implies we share also in Christ’s suffering.

Application

it is an awesome privilege to be bearers of God’s Spirit. Not only does the Holy Spirit equip us to be servants of God, He assures us that we are children of God not slaves.

We are adopted into God’s family- truly sons and daughters of he King of Kings.

This means that we are heirs with Christ to the entire creation- both what is seen and what is unseen. We get a share in the infinite glory of God!

Prayer

Lord, like a peasant summoned to live in the palace, I can scarcely comprehend what you intend for me. Thank you for this incalculable grace. Amen.

Scripture

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

Observation

All of creation is groaning, awaiting the new creation- the new heavens and the new earth.

Believers also groan, looking for an end to sin and suffering. We look forward to receiving our full inheritance as children of God.

In the meantime, we have the Holy Spirit to help us in our weakness. When we don’t know how to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes with groans that cannot be expressed in words.

Application

Part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to direct our praying.

The world is such a broken place, people are so caught in sin, that it is hard to know how to pray for people, situations or nations. But the Holy Spirit can show us exactly how to pray. Listening to the Spirit is essential to effective prayer.

This ministry of intercession is part of the gift of tongues. When we pray in the Spirit, we are allowing the Spirit of God to direct and form the words we use. Our words, incomprehensible to us, become a part of the groaning of the Spirit.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, teach me how to listen to you in my prayer times and to let you direct the words I use. Amen.

Scripture

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification

Observation

It wasn’t the law that gave Abraham the promise but the righteousness of faith. It is faith in the promise of God that has value not the law itself.

Abraham is our father in the faith in the sight of God. Abraham believed in hope and it was that unwavering faith that brought the promise to fruition.

Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness, but those words are for us also, for when we believe in Christ’s death and resurrection God makes us righteous.

Application

Faith is not just about abstract belief in God. Abraham trusted God’s promise about his heritage, the destiny of descendants yet to come. He didn’t just believe a promise, he bet his whole family’s future on God’s faithfulness.

True faith is an all or nothing venture. No safety nets or Plan B.

Salvation is about trusting that God is who He says He is. We come to Him with no goodness of our own and we trust Him to show us mercy because of Christ.

We need also to live by that kind of faith in our daily life. We trust God for a ministry that might one day emerge, for provision for a need that is bigger than our resources.

God is faithful and when we trust Him, He credits it to us as righteousness.

Prayer

No safety nets Lord! I put my trust in you today. Amen

Scripture

All glory to the only wise God, though Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

Observation

The Good News, the gospel of Jesus Christ, was hidden in the past but is now made plain. The message is now preached to the Gentiles everywhere.

Praise be to God!

Application

Hallelujah! God’s grace is open to everyone, not just Jews but every human being is able to respond to the gospel and brought into God’s kingdom.

People from every tribe, tongue and nation will be in God’s kingdom. Nobody is excluded except by their own choice.

Prayer

What an awesome God you are Father! You love everyone and have made salvation open to all. Thank you. Amen

Scripture

Christ died and rose again for this very purpose- to be Lord of both the living and the dead.

Observation
We should accept other believers who are weak in their faith and not argue about issues that are not important. Whether we elevate one day above others or refuse to eat certain foods it doesn’t matter.
What is important is that we accept that other believers are free to honour God in their own way. We must not judge or condemn the servants of the Lord.
We do not live for ourselves or die for ourselves- it is all for the Lord’s glory.
Each person must give an account of their own lives to the Lord.

Application
There are many controversies and disputes among christians, and the internet just exposes us to more ideas that we had not considered previously.
There are people who say that christians must worship on the Jewish sabbath and those who reject any organised gathering of christians. There are those who refuse to eat meat and others who warn against Halal certified products.
This is all very well. As Paul says, each group makes choices out of a desire to honour Christ.
When we condemn other believers because they don’t agree with our choices, or look down upon them as inferior, then we pass from grace to legalism.
It is not up to me to judge the disciplines and practices of other believers. What is important is that I seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness in all things.

Prayer
Lord help me to walk in your ways and to not judge brothers and sisters who follow rules that I disagree with. May we all extend your grace to one another. Amen.

Scripture

The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armour of right living.

Observation

We must love our neighbour, for in doing this we will fill every command of the law.

The day of salvation is getting closer. Therefore we must live holy lives. We must take off the old clothes of darkness and put on the shining armour of God’s light. Our lives must be decent and proper, reflecting the fact that we belong to the light.

Instead of all the sinful, fleshly ways of living, we must clothe ourselves with the presence of Jesus.

Application

It is wrong when christians do not live lives that are materially different from their neighbours. Many claim to be born again but their deeds deny this.

Our lives must first be marked by love for those around us. We love people because God first loved them. In doing this we fulfil every requirement of the Old Testament law.

Our lives must also be marked by holiness. We have been “called out” from the world, living in it but set apart from sin.

We must “clothe ourselves with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ”, allowing His love, His holiness, His grace to lead every aspect of our lives.

Prayer

Lord you have called me to a high path, a way of living very different from the world. Please help me to live a life that is honouring to the name of Christ. Amen.