Justified by Faith 9/21-26/19

21-26 Sept 2019 - Justified By Faith – Revised Manna from 2010 by Dorothy

Romans 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:2 “By whom (Jesus Christ) also we have access (permission) by faith into this grace where we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”  

            What does being justified by faith really mean? NCV says, "Since we have been made right with God by our faith, we have peace with God."  
            Justified means to prove or show to be just, right, legal, or reasonable 2: to release from guilt of sin (Merriam-Webster). Being justified is like, just as if I had never sinned before.  To be justified by faith is to say "I have been made right with God by faith . . ."        
           How did that happen? "This happened through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has brought us into that blessing of God's grace that we now enjoy. And we are happy because of the hope we have sharing God's glory" (Romans 5:1b-2).
            So that means we will be free from all the troubles? "We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out His love to fill our hearts. He gave His love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given us" (Romans 5:3-5).
              Summary addition on the peace of God:

Dorothy: I was impressed with the word, peace. The Hebrew word for peace is shalom. The basic meaning of shalom is harmony, wholeness, soundness, well-being, and success in all areas of life.

            When God created the heavens and the earth, He created a world at peace. After God had finished creating the world, “every thing . . . was very good” (Gen. 1:31). When God came down to fellowship with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening, there was peace for Adam and Eve because they had relationship with God.

            But after their fall, they lost their inner peace with God because they felt guilt and shame before God. Their sin destroyed the peace of harmony with God so therefore they had no access or permission to come to Him until God built an altar and slain the sheep with blood offered. God made coats of skins and clothed Adam and Eve. (Ref. Gen.3:21)

            This was the type of Christ who was to come through the death on the cross and brought back the harmony of peace with God the Father through Jesus’ blood. So therefore, when we believe in Jesus Christ, we are justified (made right) by faith and have peace with God through Jesus Christ.

            We now have access (permission to enter) to our heavenly Father and Jesus restored our peace relationship with God, our Father.  Now the message that Christians proclaim is the good news of peace through Jesus Christ (Acts 10:36). So let us be thankful that Jesus' blood washed us and His blood cover us and all God sees is our faith in Him. Hallelujah!

Chorus: At the Cross
At the cross, at the cross
Where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith
I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
(Isaac Watts, Melodies of Praise)

God bless you!

Dorothy

PS. Song: I Have Peace

I have peace, I have peace

Where in Him I first receive,

And the peace in my heart to stay,

Peace was there by faith,

I received my peace,

And now I have peace all the day!

(Inspiration by Anonymous)