Remember Your Future (Saturday)

Romans 5:1-11

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while 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. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

We who trust in Christ have been "justified," declared righteous by our holy God! That is our standing with God, and nothing can ever change that. Our "peace with God" is his kindly affection toward us because Christ paid for our sins once for all. God is forever at peace with us, no matter how fickle our inner peace may be at any moment.

Our secure standing with God causes us to "exult in hope of the glory of God." This means we have joyful, confident expectation of experiencing the glory of God and even sharing in his glory forever.

Verse 5 assures us that our hope will not be a disappointment, "...and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." The basis of our assurance that our hope will not disappoint in the end is not our own strength of goodness, but the free love of God is poured out to us and in us.

Here is a delightful, logical argument Paul gives us to reassure our hope. It is an argument from the greater to the lesser. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while 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." Here is how it is summed up: since a dying Savior justifies wrath-deserving sinners and reconciles us to himself, how much more will a resurrected, living Savior keep us safe and fulfill his promises in which we hope?

Do you struggle with assurance? What truth in Romans 5:1-11 grounds your confidence in Christ?


Lord, thank you for how lavishly you have treated me. I believe you love me more than I know. I am sure that the sufferings of this present age are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Lord, I delight in You! Amen.