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Romans 5:1-2, 5-8?New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Results of Justification
5?Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2?through whom we have obtained access[b] to this grace in which we stand; and we[c] boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.
5?and 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.
6?For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7?Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person?though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. 8?But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
This third Sunday in Lent we continue our journey to embrace our liberation. Jesus Christ has liberated us. We have not only had our freedom announced, but we?are being made free as well. Our King is a King who has declared?us liberated and is liberating us from the bondage of our sin.
This work toward freedom can be painful, but even while we are still in the process of being freed, God deluges our hearts with His love so that we have hope!
Often we lose hope. Often we doubt. But God, while we were turned against Him frittering away our lives, showed us His love in a remarkable way: Our Liberator died for us.
For reflection...
If we are honest, we are deeply aware of the struggle going on inside ourselves. It's a struggle?for freedom.
How does knowing you have been declared free help you to embrace your freedom?
How does Jesus' love being poured into your heart through the Holy Spirit give you hope?
What does it personally mean to you to have hope that will never disappoint?
