Romans Chapter 5 cont'd
Now if in the past, Jesus shed his blood so that we could have peace with God in the present, surely we won't suffer God's wrath in the future. And if he died for us when we were God's enemies, now that he is alive again and we are his friends who share this resurrection life, surely he will bring us to perfection. The most difficult and unimaginable thing has already taken place!
Comments:
Here is the way that the NIV translates verse 10: For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
We typically think of being "saved" by the death of Jesus (which is obviously a big part of the deal), but here Paul distinguishes being "reconciled" to the Father and being "saved". The former is by means of the death of the Son and the latter is through the life (i.e. the resurrection) of the Son. And...we also have this "much more" language that Paul repeats several times in this chapter. What could be classified as "much more" than being reconciled to God through the death of Christ on the cross for us?!
It is that our salvation doesn't end with the new birth, but rather is inaugurated by the new birth. Now there is a whole journey in Christ that begins in this world and will carry on into the ages to come--a journey of LIFE in Christ. His death is very vital and important for us to always keep in view and proclaim repeatedly, but not enough is typically said and celebrated regarding the Life...his death is a doorway; his Life is a destination that is associated with this very meaningful journey. Salvation is Life and Life is to dominate our consciousness and inform our relationships and our pathway for all worship and service.
May the Holy Spirit make us aware today of the "much more" that God is doing in our lives this day to further conform us to the image of Jesus and to involve us in his plans and purposes for the people and work he puts in front of us.
1 comment:
Hi Michael!
Rom. 5:10 is my favorite verse. I love the "much more" language, especially since Paul audaciously places it next to the reconciliation obtained by Christ's blood- as you say.
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