“The Gift of Transformation”

Scripture:   Romans 12:1-21

In this, our 10^th lesson from Paul’s letter to the Romans, we will be considering just what Paul meant when he called us to be “transformed” in Christ.  For the church in Rome, this challenge went much further than a simple renewed commitment in faith!  Rome itself was a cosmopolitan city unlike any other of that day, and the church could easily have been just as diverse in its own nature.  That’s what social culture can do, even to the faith of true believers.

 Another problem that plagues us is that we are living in a time of two directions – first, the age of “what is”, and second, the age of “what will be”.  The choice is before us - will we continue to live as we always have, or will we see the hope and promise that living in a way that brings change to this life of “what was”, and opens the door that leads us to “the day of renewal”!

 That’s what the way and word of Jesus Christ will do for us.  The renewing power that faith and obedience to the teachings of God, that which will come to us through the living example of His Son, has become our opportunity to not only change to a new way of thinking, but to be converted into a Godly way of being!  In a Christian sense, “transformation” is not as much a renewal in the way that others see us as it is a conforming to the way that God created us.

 So what does Paul have to say about this renewal and conformation for our lives?

 Read Romans 12:1-2

 What might the Apostle be trying to tell us when he uses this term “living sacrifice”?  For Israel, as well as all nations and cultures of that day, sacrifice was anything but a “living” gift.  After all, even Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary was about His death – until, that is, His resurrection lifted Him three days later! 

 And that, I believe, is Paul’s point – that when we surrender this life to the glory of God, we “die” to the “what is”, in order that we might live again in the way of Jesus Christ!  The old saying “in the world, but not of the world” keeps coming to mind in the context of this new life, for that is what the word “holy” implies.  This dying, that we might live renewed, allows us to be “set aside” (which is what “holy” truly means) to live, and serve, and please God in a way that the world can never do.

 And the next thought that we read of is that this change brings us to a new level of worshiping God!  Without this transformation in our life, worship will never be any more than simple words and actions.  But through the life that holiness brings, worship takes on a whole new meaning for us.  It is no longer a time burdened with repetition and verbalization, but rather one of glory and praise and celebration for all that the Lord is and has been doing on our behalf.  Through our renewing, worship moves from being a human and worldly offering to one that is Spirit-filled and joyful in every sense.

 We also read that transformation begins with it a change in our mind, which may be a new thought for many.  Normally, we think that it is our heart that changes from love of earth to love of God, and that this is what guides the rest of our being in renewal.  But Paul tells us that it is the newness of our mind that enables us to appreciate and understand the Lord’s call on our lives, and it is from there that we begin our journey of faith.

 Read Romans 12:3-8

 And what does renewal in Christ mean for us?  It seems that the hallmark of transformation involves a completely new focus for our lives!  Perhaps the prophet in Micah 6:8, tells us that the difference is not so much about what we begin doing, but rather, is the attitude, the desire, the heart that is obviously  behind our doing that makes all the difference.  The newness in our lives is revealed when humility replaces personal pride, when serious consideration of our own sinful condition takes a place of prominence over our judgment and criticism of others, when a desire to work in unity with others in service to the Lord supersedes our striving to gain personal recognition for those accomplishments that we see as our own successes, when the gifts that come from God’s Spirit become far more important to us than the abilities we have always worked to develop and proclaim in the world.

 Transformation through faith in Christ will always be far greater than anything we could ever do on our own.  Paul’s own experience taught him that, for when he met the Risen and Living Christ on the road to Damascus, life completely changed for him.  In Philippians 3:3-7, he tells us that in that moment, everything that he had always seen as the identifying marks of his life no longer held even an ounce of importance for him.  His final thought in that passage was this –“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.”

 Discovering Jesus for his life, choosing to serve Him in ways that he had always seen as heretical, finding new purpose and a new understanding in what true faith is all about became his focus and direction for the ministry that would guide him for the rest of his life.  He had died to worldly satisfaction and accomplishment, and had turned this new life into one that could now see others through the eyes and mind and heart of Christ.

 Read Romans 12:9-16

 As Paul was writing this letter, he was showing us all that the heart-felt attitude that now guided him had come through the conforming power of faith in Jesus Christ.  He was no longer willing to take any credit, any glory, any success for the work of God that had come through him, and instead, gave it all over to his Lord and Savior.  His life had become one in which his priority in service was now to lead others into the grace and salvation that he had found in Jesus.

 The conversion that John Wesley experienced is, in many ways, similar to that which the apostle Paul received – for both of these men, Jesus had shown them that the earthly way of “doing” things held no purpose, no eternal benefit for either of them.  And life changed for the better, just as it always does when we look to the truth and light of Christ, and allow Him to make us whole by faith instead of by personal and individual effort.

 Love of God, and our love of others, in that order, become the foundation that will enable the Church to grow and thrive, and anything less will be our downfall.  Every other attribute and effort that Paul lists here are based in that first command – love God and love others above all else. (Matthew 22:34-39)

 Read Romans 12:17-21

 The previous passage was primarily about offering the Lord’s blessings to others who are in need of them.  But these few verses set the stage for why those other commands are so important and what makes them so effective – in essence, leave judgment and retribution up to God, for neither of these are within our authority or part of our responsibility.  And Paul concludes with words that seem very familiar to us – words that are reminiscent of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25:31-46, in which He tells us that whenever we reach out to those who are in great need, who are struggling in this life, who are so wrapped up in the failures of earth that they can’t find their way to heavenly hope - it is then that we are truly serving Christ.

 It isn’t about giving great and monumental support to others – it is about being the kind of person for those who we have no relationship with, in the same way that we would be willing to help a friend, or even what we would do for ourselves.

 This is how a transforming spirit works and grows and blesses through every life that has become a living sacrifice on behalf of God and His ways.  It’s a God given gift that will continue to give throughout our life in Christ, and it will get stronger and more familiar each and every day that we work to share with others the gifts that the Lord has given to each of us. 

“Victory in Jesus”

 Scripture:   Romans 8:28-39

In recent messages, we have discovered that the apostle Paul believed that there is NEVER a reason NOT to rejoice in all that the Lord is doing on our behalf!  Whether it is suffering that is laying us low, or friendships that have turned sour, or an opportunity to share the glory of God with someone else who is struggling in life, or a passage in scripture that you just read and came to a new and glorious reassurance for this life of faith, or anything else that others may consider mundane, or obvious, or just plain outside the bounds of faith, it all is worthy of giving our Almighty God a word of thanksgiving and praise!

 Paul never simply offers us a command from God, and then moves on, expecting us to take it as truth all on our own.  He has a way of showing us exactly why he trusts in God’s call, whatever it may contain.  And he seldom, if ever, leaves any question as to what he is telling us and why it is worth our time and obedience. In verse 18 of chapter 8, Paul writes ¹⁸ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  And in our passage for today, the apostle gives a number of reasons that all of us should believe and trust in the fullness of this Godly revealing, too! 

 Read Romans 8:28-30

 God is at work on behalf of all who love Him and embrace His will for their lives.  But what is there about this qualification for being conformed to the likeness of the Son of God?  After all, weren’t we already created in the likeness of God? (Genesis1:26-27) Is this all there is to faith?  Is this “conforming” through faith one last step in securing our relationship with the Father?  Is it really that simple?

 In a sense, it is, but it also involves a very great change in focus and commitment that we must claim for our life!  And that isn’t always so easy and simple! But the Good News is that we don’t have to make this change all by ourselves.  We have the Holy Spirit to guide us toward and into the new way.  We have the church to help us through study, and worship, and experience, and missional opportunities.  And never discount the support that a close Christian friend can bring to your life.

 But this isn’t the end of Paul’s explanation – he writes that when we show our love and allegiance to our Lord God Almighty, when our heart-felt faith is firm in the Lord, He will know us, and will remember us, and will put a plan in motion that is designed specifically for each of us.  The future that we will have in God will be totally different than anything else that we might have ever known before.  The Lord knows all, and knows exactly how we will respond to His gracious gifts. 

 And Paul continues – for those who the Father now knows and has created the way for, He will also love in a way that is reflective of the way He sees and rejoices in His Son. And those He knows, He brings together to bear His good fruit; and those who are securely rooted in the Lord will also be vindicated from all of their sins.  And those who have been made worthy, will also receive the glory of God within their lives.

 Isn’t all of this sufficient reason to give our lives over in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ?  Renewed, restored, embraced, welcomed, and given a whole new outlook on what life and faith is all about!  Isn’t that enough?

 Read Romans 8:31-33

 Paul then begins asking a series of questions that each of us should pay close attention to. 

First, he asks a question that is similar to the one I asked a moment ago – What can we even begin to say to the Lord for all that He is prepared to do on our behalf?  I don’t believe that he asks this rhetorically, but rather in an honest sense to make us truly consider all that God has already done in preparation for our surrendering to Him in faith! 

The second question is designed to inspire our thoughts regarding divine power, divine presence, and divine knowledge, each of which is perfect, complete, and beyond anything that all of creation could ever put together on its own! And the obvious answer would be – Nothing!  Nothing can ever stand against the Lord and the promises He has make for those who love Him!

The third is about what the Father asked of His Son, and what comes to all who believe in the power of that Godly sacrifice.  If the suffering, death, and resurrection that Jesus accepted was made perfect in Him, that we might know His salvation, is there any goodness that either the Father or the Son would ever withhold from our lives?   Divine goodness comes to all by faith, so the answer again, is that nothing of God will ever be held back from those who believe and trust in Jesus!

The fourth is concerning the Judgment.  And the answer is given to us in Zechariah 3.  In that passage, the High Priest is standing before the throne of judgment, with Jesus in the seat of authority, Satan is present to present a case for our condemnation, and others are present to carry out the orders of the Judge.  But no one is allowed to speak a single word except Judge Jesus – not a single word of accusation by Satan, not even a word of acknowledgement by the unnamed others.  Only Jesus will have a say on that day.

 Read Romans 8:34-36

 The fifth – condemnation.  For those who believe and follow Jesus, there is no such word given for their lives.  Back in Romans 8:1, we read that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For those who believe, there is no condemnation from the Christ, and only He will be allowed to judge.

 The sixth – is there any way that we can lose our salvation once we have given our lives to Christ?  Basically, Paul is saying that we are under worldly attack every moment of our lives!  We are seen by the Enemy as being prime for destruction, even though God has already provided an eternal gift for all who love and honor Him.  Makes you wonder what delusion is at work in the evil one, who, for some strange reason, believes that He is just as powerful and right as God is!

 And Satan can try to do his worse, but as long as we stay strong in our faith, in the long run, God still wins, and so do all who love and worship the one and only Majesty.

 Read Romans 8:37-39

 And here is the “punch line” – through faith in our Lord Jesus, we are already victors in ways that Satan and all who follow him will never know.  Let me offer these priceless and victorious words once more:

  ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 In the victory that comes by faith in Christ, there can be no doubt, no hesitation, no “well, maybe”, no “I think so”, and never a single question or thought that God just might have overstepped His bounds on this one!

 Are we worthy of this incredible, unachievable, gift of God?  Only through the grace of our loving, holy, eternal and omnipotent God!  Victors through faith – that’s how perfect our imperfect faith can be – but only when it is founded and perfected in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Messiah, the Christ and Son of God.

"Life in the Spirit”

Scripture:   Romans 8:1-17

In John’s gospel, chapter 3:16-17 we read these very familiar words - “For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”  This is such an important passage because there are so many people who truly believe that God is far more condemning that He is as a dispenser of grace.  We see signs with these words so often, you would think that we would eventually get the point!

 But what about the condemnation that will come in the Judgment?   Isn’t there still a destruction waiting out there?  The truth is that Christ came to this world to bring salvation, and not judgment – that will come eventually, but that wasn’t the reason that Jesus lived and walked and taught among us!  Condemnation will only come for those who have refused to acknowledge the divinity and truth and authority of Jesus.

 Paul’s words in Chapter 8 are precious and familiar in one sense, as well as unfolding and newly revealing in another.  An interesting thought regarding scripture is that as many times as we read a particular passage, we can still discover more encouragement, and hope, and promise in totally new ways that contain even more power and majesty for the believer.

 Read Romans 8:1-4

 For those who have given their life to Christ, there is a renewed power in the Christ centered approach to the Law.   It’s a power that completes and enables, a power that fulfills and enriches, a power that is worthy and effective and blessed.  It’s the power of faith in Christ that comes to us through the Spirit of God.  It has nothing to do with the worldly concept of power, and everything to do with divine and holy power that is beyond anything that humanity can ever imagine or understand.

 The original law of God was simply a “place-holder” until the time for Jesus’ coming arrived.  The law of obedience in works had been nothing more than a beginning for the law of faith and trust that arrived with our Lord.  And Paul explains this in verse 3 – the purpose that the original gift of law brought was that salvation would come from perfection in obedience to the total word, which, of course, for imperfect humanity, would be nearly impossible.  This problem would be overcome with Jesus, for not only did He bring faith and teaching, but He also brought forgiveness for those times when we failed in faith.

 Paul tells us that it’s all about our submission to the way of Christ, which is the perfection that we truly need, and not to the “limited perfection” that we create in our own imperfect and worldly way!

 Read Romans 8:5-8

 The only caveat to Paul’s encouragement is that “free will” is still at play in our lives.  How many times do we allow, which in and of itself is a choice, sin to reenter our life instead of banning its presence from our being for all time?  The choice is between the world (which has been a part of us since birth) and the Spirit (who has only been part of us since the day we gave control of our life over to the Lord), and all too often the “familiar” seems to win out over the “perfect”! 

 If only we could keep our mind focused on the difference between the death and destruction that sin brings to our lives, versus the peace and presence that righteous living will bless us with every time we say yes to the Lord’s knock on the door of our heart!    And sin will reign within us, rejecting God as an inconsequential burden, until the moment when we make the decision to give Jesus a chance to make our life whole and worthwhile.

 And that’s the problem for so many folks.  They want the salvation that Jesus can offer, without having to turn their backs on those old, familiar, contented ways that have always been our choice.  In Deuteronomy 4:23-26, we read “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God”.  This isn’t a jealousy that we may be familiar with, but rather a divine desire for all to come to His way, and especially as an objection to “fence straddling” by those who want it both ways, without making an exclusive commitment to follow God’s way and no other.  Our Almighty God wants us to live completely in Him, to Him, and with Him, shunning all other allures and invitations that may come our way.

 Sin’s tactic to stay in the race is nothing less than to never give up, to never let us go peacefully, to never pass out of our sight, to stay close and to the best of its ability, to continue to send out attractive invitations to come back to its way of perversion and ruin.  And we have to see it for all that it truly is – a lie.

 Read Romans 8:9-11

 But here is the  hope – that when we come to Jesus Christ and claim Him as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit becomes our reminder of what the truth really is!  And if we have honestly and truly confessed Jesus as our Savior, sin will no longer have any hold on our life, and rejecting it will simply be a matter of our personal will, our own decision, our choice of all that allegiance to Jesus will do for us in this life and beyond.

 Did you know that you are in the Spirit?  Do we know what the Spirit can and will do for us when we believe and trust in Jesus?  Israel had put their trust in the Messiah, who they believed would come in power and victory, who they believed would be undefeatable, and that He would place every enemy under their feet and would make even the powerful their servants. 

 But then, isn’t this what Jesus will do for us when our faith is secure in Christ?  The only difference is that they also saw Messiah as a great warrior, in a human sense.  Unfortunately for Israel, that isn’t how Jesus came the first time, and He just didn’t fit the mold of their Messiah!  But we have the benefit of knowing how this age will end. 

 In Revelation19:11-21 - it is then, in those final days, when Jesus will, indeed, be that mighty warrior who will defeat sin and evil once and forever.  And He will do it alone while the faithful witness the power and majesty that are His and His alone.  And it is then that Satan’s managers of sin, the antichrist and the false prophet, will be condemned to destruction, and death will be the judgment for all who denied the only hope they could ever desire.

 There is no hope for those who are caught up in worldly sin – hope will only be for those who are in Christ, and who Christ has filled.

 Read Romans 8:12-17

 And Paul concludes the passage for today with the thought that we don’t only have to make a choice of which way we will follow, but that we have an “obligation” to choose the way of Jesus Christ.  But you may ask, who is our obligation to?

 Is it to Jesus, who left glory to come to this place, to be ignored, to be ridiculed, to be denied as the Son of God, and as a result, to give His life, that we might know eternity through God’s righteousness?  He didn’t have to do this, you know – but he did, out of a divine obligation to give each and every one of us a chance to know eternal life in Him!

 Or is it our obligation to others who might discover the glory of Christ through our faith and in the way we live out our faith?  Is it because of our testimony and witness to the working and presence of the Spirit for all who believe, and our example and encouragement that they might also come to Christ in Faith?  It may!

 Or is it the obligation that we have to our self, that each of us should be seeking out ways to be filled with the very best that we possibly can?  Who in their right mind would ever decide that sin is preferable to glory, and that death is a better option than eternity!  Many do, but then, didn’t God create us in His image, and to be one of His own? (Genesis 1:26-27)

 Perhaps the answer is actually “Yes” – all of the above!  Remembering that faith must never be indifferent, must never be inactive, must never be lazy, but must always be active, alert and outgoing in all that we do.  We are the Lord’s people, we are the harvesters in His field of souls, and our obligation is to be the best servant, the best disciple, and the best friend that we can possibly be to the lost and floundering of earth. (Matthew 28:18-20)

 May we wake up each and every day to the possibilities that await us, and commit to a life in faith that is the best reflection of Jesus that we can ever be. 

"Be Free, and Live!"

 Scripture:   Romans 6:1-14

In this, our 7^th lesson from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, we consider the question “If, for our eternal life, we have been justified and cleansed by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, why should we be worried about our ethical and moral activity in the here and now?”

 In the gospels, Jesus talks about the “Age” we are living in, but which “age” is He referring to?  Is it the age of sin and death, or is it the age of grace and righteous living?  The truth is that we are living in both, that they are running parallel to each other, and we have to choose which one we will align with!  It’s all dependent upon our “free will” and the direction that we decide to take!

 Just how deep IS our commitment to Jesus Christ?  I won’t say that there is some objective marker that tells us when our faith is strong enough, because we have never been given one.  However, since there is no measurable “faith goal” for us, the goal must actually be one of divine perfection which we will probably never quite attain!  So the goal is more about our desire for, and commitment to, following God’s commands in the very best way that we can, as well as loving them more than this life itself.

 In today’s lesson from Romans, Paul gives us some thoughts on this very issue, each of which should be of immense importance in our examination of the life we are leading, and how we can live a life that more closely reflects the love that our Lord Jesus has shown, and continues to show, to each and every one of us.

Read Romans 6:1-4

 As we concluded chapter 5 last week, we read that when the law was introduced to the world, it had the effect of increasing the transgressions that humanity committed, as well as the grace that God desired to show to all sinners.  In this, sin continued to bring about death, and grace, by faith in Christ, continued to grow us in righteous living and trust in eternal life.

 And now as chapter 6 opens, Paul anticipates the question that others may ask regarding the relationship between sin and grace – does the Lord want us to sin more, so that He can provide even more grace for our lives?  And the apostle responds with the thought that there is little grace for those who continue to be immersed in sinful living, but that grace is for those who die to sin, and live again though faith in Jesus Christ! 

 And as the Apostle continues, he describes the significance of baptism, that it is a sign that by faith, we die to who we were in the world, and are raised into new life in Christ!  In the style of immersion, where we are lowered beneath the water, and raised up out of potential harm -  the implication may be more obvious, but through any of the other forms of baptism – through pouring or sprinkling – the fact remains that baptism signifies that a radical change has occurred in our life, from one that honors the ways of earthly death, to a life that strives to live eternally by faith, and in the teaching and ways of our Almighty God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 Read Romans 6:5-10

 Here, Paul is making the connection between the death, burial and resurrection that Jesus received, to our death of worldly allegiance through baptism, and eventual resurrection in the life and grace of Christ.  His point is that when we give our lives to God in Christ, we also accept and receive all that Jesus has experienced and obtained through both His humanity and divinity!  In 2 Timothy 2:11-12 we read “¹¹ Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; ¹² if we endure, we will also reign with him.  If we disown him, he will also disown us;”

 Faith in Christ is that important for us – without life in Him, there will only be a worldly existence, and eternity will be lost to us.  But not only that - the glory and blessings that come through faith while we live in the here and now will also be missing, for the Holy Spirit will only work within those whose life is in Christ!  (John14:23-27)  And in John 16:14, Jesus reminds us that the Spirit provides us with only the words that he receives from the Lord!  Baptism is the beginning of our Hope in Christ, and without Jesus in our life, we will be eternally lost through all of time.

 Paul writes that since Jesus died once, He will be alive forever more!  I have little doubt that any of us would have a problem with that statement.  However, we also know that when Jesus received human birth, he was surrounded by the realm of sin!  But when He died, sin in the form of Satan’s temptations, in the form of worldly desires, in the form of human failure and lies, no longer held any meaning for Him.  He had escaped from the ravages that the “age of sin and death” held for Him, and by faith in the Lord Jesus, so shall we, one day!

 Read Romans 6:11-14

 Dead to sin but alive in Christ!  Aren’t those words of promise marvelous and encouraging to our tired and struggling souls?  As such, sin no longer has any hold on our lives, but unfortunately, we still have the capacity to allow sin back in to beat us up and wear us down, over and over again.  But, by God’s grace, it can never defeat us as long as our faith in Jesus holds strong.  The best part, though, is that by the power of the Holy Spirit and by our calling upon the name of Jesus, we can drive the world’s sin out and away from our hearts, and minds, and souls.  That’s what the love of God, and the love we show to Him, can do beyond all that the hatred of Satan will try to do to all who live in Christ!

 But then, we have to ask what Paul meant by the phrase “offer every part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness”!  Through Christ, we now have the authority to reject the temptations that sin will always try to bring against us!  Paul is calling us to use that authority whenever Satan begins his attack, and to send him packing right back to the pit of condemnation where he so rightly belongs!  Remember verse 7 – “anyone who has died [with Christ] has been set free from sin”! 

  We have to make the choice, usually every single day, of whether we will allow sin back in, or reject it wholeheartedly.  When we read the call to “not offer ANY part of yourself to sin and its wickedness”, it doesn’t mean that our thoughts are the only area of concern, but rather that every aspect of our entire being must be aware of sin’s approach.  This means our tongue, our hands, our feet, our ears, our eyes, and especially our heart, must constantly be on the alert for the world’s attempt to break the will within us that holds us in the love of Jesus Christ! 

 Are you familiar with that great Christian praise – “Except for Grace”

          Hear the words of the final verse:

 “Except for grace and our faith,

And knowing that God's love will forgive mistakes.
There's nothing that can clear our painful pasts,
Bear our bitter pain, or will ever take our place
(Nothing else will take our place)
Except for grace!
Except for grace!”

 And we can be strong and safe and blessed, through the grace of our Almighty and Loving God.  May He be praised, now and always.  Amen!

“Peaceful Perseverance”

 Scripture:   Romans5:1-11

The title for today’s message may confuse some folks, for the two words in the title are seldom used together.  To persevere in any given situation implies that it isn’t such an easy thing to deal with!  But then, our relationship with God requires commitment and determination, and isn’t the Lord’s salvation worth whatever it may take?  Obviously, staying on track with Jesus and His ways will never be easy, especially when the world continues to come against us with temptation after challenge after false teaching after threats after denial after persecution!

 And where does the “peaceful” part come in?  From the presence of God in our lives!  Think about Jesus’ purpose as He offered miracles, and healings, and difficult teaching and the love of God for all who would accept it - all at the same time that he was constantly being accused of heresy and blasphemy by the forces of worldly aggression!  There were those times when He had to take a very powerful and intentional stand against the false teaching of others, but through it all, His heart guided Him peacefully to the purpose that had led Him to the God denying people of this world in the first place.

 The salvation that He would ensure for all who came to the way that He was offering was never an easy path, even for the Son of God!  And yet, His focus remained on saving the lost and needy, those who God sees as “the sheep of His pasture” (Micah2:11-12).  And the peace that sustained Jesus Christ can be ours when we commit to staying the course, no matter what comes our way.

 Read Romans 5:1-5

 When we come to the Lord for His cleansing and justification, His peace will become ours.  And without it, we will be struggling throughout this life.  So what will that kind of Peace do for us?  It brings confidence and trust in all that Christ has offered us through faith.  It brings the ability to gratefully take those risky steps that lead us well outside of our comfort zone.  It immerses divine hope within the gifted promise of eternity.  And above all, it gives us vision and insight into the glorious truth that our Almighty God has blessed us with.

 The peace and freedom that comes to us by faith in Jesus Christ will sustain us as we take that stand on behalf of Jesus and against the illicit lies of the Tempter.  And Paul lays out the progression of our life in Christ when he speaks of the various levels that faith will see us through.

 As we grow in Christ, the world will begin to increase its opposition to our faith, and at first, we will struggle with each new form of oppression.  But if we stay strong, and refuse to surrender to the ways of evil, we will discover that our determination to remain in Christ will grow stronger by the day, which, in and of itself, is a gift that the Spirit will enable within us!  So maybe, we really should rejoice that the world never gives up in its attempts to drag us back into its abyss!  For without them, our faith just might stagnate and weaken, instead of growing stronger!

 But Paul doesn’t end there – he writes that staying strong in Jesus also builds our Christian character in ways that we never could on our own.  It’s a process of learning and discovering and experiencing those new opportunities that Christ introduces us to, and that, in turn, begins to change us even further.  We begin to reflect the image of Christ in all that we say and do and live.

 And if that, along with a heightened sense of the love of God, doesn’t strengthen the divine hope that sustains our faith, I don’t know what ever could!  And it is this hope and love that destroys any shame and reluctance that may have once been a controlling factor in our lives.

 Read Romans 5:6-8

 Remember that passage from Deuteronomy 6:4-9 that we talked about some time ago – that passage that is known as the Shema?  This ancient call to faith is further encouraged in Deuteronomy11:13-21, where we read that to love the Lord and to serve Him in the ways that He calls each one of us for, that we will find the strength and courage to resist the allure of the world.

 And in Numbers 15:37-41, there is even more encouragement to carry signs of faith with us wherever we go, so that they will be a constant reminder to keep the commands of God ever present in our heart and mind and soul.  Remembering all that Jesus has done for us is one of those prompts that keep us in the right way in life.  But never forget the state that we were in that caused the Glory of heaven and earth to give Himself up to the forces of wickedness at Calvary.  Who in their right mind would give their life for the ransom of someone who hated you right from the start?

 When Paul wrote those very familiar words – “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”, he was writing about you and me!  WE are those sinners!  WE are the unworthy of earth who caused the Son of God to do the unthinkable!  WE are the redeemed of earth, who are the very ones the Lord asks to believe and trust in all that He has proclaimed (Matthew 28: 18-20)! 

 Can we even imagine the extent of God’s love for us?  That’s what “matchless grace” is all about – for there is no one else who could, or will, ever love us as much as Jesus does!  And in return, how deep is our love for the One who did all of this so that we might have the hope to live with Him through eternity?  Shouldn’t we find the resolve to love Him in ever greater ways?

 Read Romans 5:9-11

 The blood of God that flowed so freely from the cross of Calvary, is not something that anyone should ever shrink from, but rather something that all should give thanks for, and joyfully immerse themselves in and through this sign of Godly love and cleansing.  And to think that the Father asked Christ to do this, not only while we remained unworthy of the Lord’s blessing, but to make us worthy and secure when we come before Him on that Day of Judgment! 

 So we need to continue to rejoice in all that comes our way simply because we love Jesus for all that He has done in our life.  He has made us whole; He has made us worthy; He has cleared the way for all who believe in Him and for all who trust in His word.  And faith is the finest way for anyone to show their love to the Almighty and All Glorious Lord Jesus Christ.

 Grow in Him today, rejoice in Him today, and begin to understand why perseverance in faith will bring us to the overwhelming peace that only God can provide.