Gifts for Tough Times

Romans 5:1-2 gives a list of four gifts we receive because of faith in Jesus Christ:

Romans 5:1-2 (NKJV) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

These gifts are justification, peace with God, grace, and hope of God’s glory.

Being justified means having God’s approval, being regarded as innocent, “just as if I’d never sinned”, declared righteous. Justification and Righteousness are adjacent in Strong’s Greek Dictionary, so being righteous means to be in right-standing with God, having the ability to approach God without any feeling of sinfulness.

Being at peace with God means absence of conflict, reconciliation, full relationship, at one with.

Grace is privilege, undeserved favor with God (God is inclined to favor us, do favors for us), “God’s riches at Christ’s expense” (an over-simplification, but it works).

Hope of glory is the confident expectation of God’s manifestation and presence, experiencing God’s glory – both in this life (John 17:22) and eternally.

With these gifts, and God’s love poured out on our hearts (verse 5), we have more than enough capability to get through the tough times – pressure, affliction, hardship, trials or tests – mentioned in verse 3.

This is the basis for my sermon from May 30, 2010. The audio is available on the recent audio sermons page.

Persevere!

Doug