Dearest e-votees-
For the Wednesdays of Lent at Christ the Good Shepherd this year we are using the epistle texts from the preceding Sunday in our midweek worship.
For e-vos we will be doing the same thing. Blessings on your experience of Lent this year.
This week's lesson comes from Paul's letter to the church at Rome, the 5th chapter.
Peace,
Karl
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For the Wednesdays of Lent at Christ the Good Shepherd this year we are using the epistle texts from the preceding Sunday in our midweek worship.
For e-vos we will be doing the same thing. Blessings on your experience of Lent this year.
This week's lesson comes from Paul's letter to the church at Rome, the 5th chapter.
Peace,
Karl
----------
1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 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. 9 Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Romans 5:1-11, NRSV
The good news for us and for all is that Christ (the anointed one, the Messiah) died for the ungodly. God took on mortality and bore a mortal wounding for those far from God. All of us know how noble it is to sacrifice one's life for a buddy, a family member or an innocent. So many movies scenes have made cinematic hay over noble sacrifices for worthy recipients. But Jesus brings a whole new take to the picture. Jesus offers himself for Peter--the denier. Jesus offers himself for Judas--the betrayer. Jesus offers himself for Saul--the persecutor of the church--who becomes Paul the author of Romans. Jesus offers himself for the thieves on the crosses on either side of him. Jesus offers himself for those who crucified him--and prays for them with his dying breaths. Jesus offers himself for all who are estranged from and hostile towards and at war with God. Jesus offers himself for us. Through Jesus' death we have been reconciled to God by God.
Since we have been reconciled through his death we are graciously grafted into the life offered through his resurrection. Jesus did not stay dead. Our old Adams and old Eves are terminally ill but Jesus brings new life making us new Adams and new Eves. Through the faith that the Holy Spirit blows into our lives we are justified and at peace with God. We now have the power and the indwelling presence to boast of sufferings--knowing that they produce endurance. We now have the power and the indwelling presence to embrace endurance--knowing that God is forming our character through the things that come our way. We now have the power and the indwelling presence to be hopeful--which the enduring character God is working in us bears. We are secure and reconciled in God's love which Jesus bore on the cross and the Holy Spirit pours into our hearts.
Jesus has granted us access to the grace of God. We are able to stand in God's presence and kneel in service to others just as Jesus' showed us to do. Thanks be to God.
God, bring your power and your indwelling presence to bear in our lives. Amen.
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. 9 Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Since we have been reconciled through his death we are graciously grafted into the life offered through his resurrection. Jesus did not stay dead. Our old Adams and old Eves are terminally ill but Jesus brings new life making us new Adams and new Eves. Through the faith that the Holy Spirit blows into our lives we are justified and at peace with God. We now have the power and the indwelling presence to boast of sufferings--knowing that they produce endurance. We now have the power and the indwelling presence to embrace endurance--knowing that God is forming our character through the things that come our way. We now have the power and the indwelling presence to be hopeful--which the enduring character God is working in us bears. We are secure and reconciled in God's love which Jesus bore on the cross and the Holy Spirit pours into our hearts.
Jesus has granted us access to the grace of God. We are able to stand in God's presence and kneel in service to others just as Jesus' showed us to do. Thanks be to God.
God, bring your power and your indwelling presence to bear in our lives. Amen.
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