Scripture Reading(s)
Romans 5:1-5
5:1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
5:2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.
5:3 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
5:4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5:5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Reflections
Paul was not a man who boasted about much but he did boast about Jesus and God’s grace. Paul has a very Greek thought process so sometimes following him can be like doing a math problem or a riddle but in the verse above Paul was telling the Roman church that Christians have a hope that is unbreakable. What is the reason for this hope?
We have this hope because we have been justified before God through Jesus, who bore all of our sins on the cross, for all who are willing to follow and have faith in Jesus. Now this hope is not a hope for something small. Our hope is that since we are heirs with Christ we will also be sharing in the glory of God. Now THAT is worth boasting about. That God loved us so much that He is willing to share His glory with us.
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