After opening the letter by exposing our sinfulness, Paul now shifts to show us the benefits of living a life made right with God. What Paul says is true: “Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege.” Take a moment for that to sink in. Imagine yourself ushered before God, hand in hand with Jesus. You hear Jesus saying on your behalf, “This one is yours, Father.” It wasn’t anything we did; Jesus brought us before the throne of God. In our brokenness, we may feel undeserving of God’s mercy and love, but we can still find hope.
This whole chapter overflows with verses that should give us believers that hope. Verses 3-4 say: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Paul experienced trials and problems, but did he ever lose hope? On the contrary, it seems he trusted God even more.
Verse 8 is another nugget of truth that may astound us. “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” God didn’t wait until we had it all figured out because he knew the law was too much for us to follow. God loved us so much he couldn’t bear to leave us stuck in our mess. Jesus came to save us, and that truth benefits us in so many ways.
Paul suggests such truth should make us want to rejoice. We can do just that, closing out the craziness of the world because the truth of God’s love never changes. “So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” Have you ever thought about being a friend of God? A friend. That’s the kind of relationship God desires from us.
God created Adam as the first man, and I believe that he wanted that friendship with Adam, too. When you think back to creation and the great privilege and responsibility God gave Adam, it is overwhelming. Paul wants to bring our memories back to that original man for a reason. That man, Adam, was the first one to sin, to fall short of God’s great desires. Before there were even laws to break, sin entered the world through Adam, setting us all up for failure.
Paul says in verse 19: “ Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.” God couldn’t leave us without hope. The other person, of course, is Jesus, God’s one and only Son.
It is through Jesus’ work on the cross that we have the best friend ever. Jesus came so that we could have hope for our future. Even the prophet Jeremiah knew God was the source of all hope. Jeremiah 29:11 says: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Our Romans text speaks of hope, peace, and joy. Rest in those benefits today.
Let’s pray. Lord Jesus, because of you, I can overflow with peace, joy, and hope. Having you in my life secures my future in your hands. Thank you for that. How grateful I am to call you my friend as well. It helps me to talk to you and feel closer to you when I imagine you like that. Forgive me for being sinful and lost, but you knew I would be weak and need you. Thank you for always being there. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
