Romans 5:1-8 (NRSV)
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Chapter 5Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Verse 2through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. Verse 3And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, Verse 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, Verse 5and 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.
Verse 6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Verse 7Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person-though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. Verse 8But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
Devotion
Just before today’s reading, Paul has explained how Abraham became the father of many nations despite being too old to father a child, and Sarah a mother despite her history of barrenness. The Holy Spirit gave Abraham the faith to believe this promise, and God regarded Abraham’s faith as righteousness (Genesis 15:5-6).
Now Paul goes on to expound that likewise God has made us righteous; that is, we are justified by the gracious gift of faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit enabled this undeserved gift of faith at our baptisms. Paul marvels at the depth of God’s love, that while we were still weak, God sent Christ to die for the ungodly. There was nothing any of us could do to earn or enable Jesus’ sacrificial act on our behalf. God’s great love is shown in that while our sin still had us trapped, Christ died for us.
Prayer
Gracious Lord, we confess that we cannot by our own reason or effort believe in Christ as our savior, but you have called us and enabled our faith through the Holy Spirit and for that we humbly give you thanks. Amen.