Romans 5:1-11 (KJV)
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Continuing on from one of our gatherings last Saturday where we looked at Romans 3 with a focus on justification and sanctification let us look at it further.
Here, in Romans 5 we read that when we believe, have faith, in the gospel of Jesus Christ, His death on the cross, His resurrection,… we are justified before GOD – just as if we have never sinned. We then can rejoice in that fact (verse 2). This is where it all starts. But then, as we see in verse 3 to 5, we see that then a process of refinement starts. Refinement is painful, it requires tribulation, hardships, pressure, … to bring out all the dross like when gold is refined in a furnace. During that time GOD shows us, our faults, those things that He want to remove from our lives so that He can cultivate the fruits of the Holy Spirit more and more. “Galatians 5:22-25 (KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”. Let us not give up but endure and even rejoice in that process “Hebrews 12:3-7 (KJV) For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?”. This process of refinement is sanctification. A process of consecration reflecting more and more GOD’s holiness in our life. It is a process were we need to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. It is a process where we need to surrender, crucifying our flesh, praying “Father not my will but your will be done in my life”.
Praise the LORD for His great love, that He justified us us by His blood, saved from the wrath that GOD will pour out on all who reject Jesus Christ, Who is the Way the Truth and the Life. Now we are reconciled with Him, the creator of all things. Let us rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement from our sins, and let us consecrate ourself to Him Who was, Who is and Who is it come, cooperating with Him in the process of sanctification through His Word, which is Christ Jesus so we become spotless and holy. “John 17:17 (KJV) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” “Ephesians 5:26-27 (KJV) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

NOTE: for more on sanctification have a look at The Word and sanctification – 2024.04.09