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70.  Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have access by faith into this grace in which we now stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.         -Romans 5:1-5

Look at all these things believers are said to firmly possess: justification, peace, access, joy, hope, flowing love, and behind it all, the Holy Spirit! Christian, now that you have been born again, one of your calls is to search the Scriptures to find out who you now are in Christ. These are blessings secured for you by Jesus and are to be enjoyed – they are devotional food for you to live by! And Romans is increasingly clear that just as you couldn’t do anything to earn this standing before God, you can’t do anything to lose it! If you doubt this, check this next thought out –

 

71.  Much more, then, having been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.              -Romans 5:9-11

A lot of people who believe you can lose your salvation live in fear of God’s wrath. Here Paul tells us that because we have been justified by Christ’s blood shed for us, WE ARE SAVED FROM WRATH. In the next verse we are told this happens because Jesus lives, not IF we live right for Him. We are told to rejoice because we’re reconciled, because we’re God’s friends now, no longer His enemies, no longer under His wrath. If a person can lose their salvation, and thus go on to face God’s wrath, then Paul’s words here are meaningless. But they are not meaningless, they are Bible truth, the subject of a great means of rejoicing for Paul and us!

 

72.  Therefore as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through the one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover, the law entered that the offense may abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.                        -Romans 5:18-21

It was Jesus Christ’s righteous act that allows God’s free gift of salvation to be offered to sinners. And now grace reigns through Jesus Christ’s righteousness so that true believers hav e eternal life. Check out verse 19 again. Whose obedience makes many righteous – people’s or Jesus Christ’s? Only the3 obedience of Jesus Christ! After stating this Paul states a startling truth – true believers can not out-sin the grace of God. Wherever sin abounds, grace abounds all the more! Take a moment for that to settle in! What a remarkable truth! God’s grace is truly remarkable! But I hear someone saying, “But wait – if you teach that, people will go out and do whatever they want, just presuming that God will always forgive them. Interestingly enough, Paul answers that very objection next!