Good morning. We are back in the book of Romans. Last time we saw that Abraham was fully assured that what God had promised He was able also to perform. And because of that: "it was reckon to him as righteousness". And it wasn't just for Abraham's sake. It was also for our sake to whom it will be reckoned, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. It talks in another place about Abraham believing while he was still uncircumcised; which meant that salvation was also for the non-Jew. Jesus was "delivered up because of our sins, and was raised because we were justified through His blood". We could not walk in newness of life if Jesus had not been raised from the dead. Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Because He died for us, we have peace with God. But we still needed Him to be raised from the dead so that we could live the Christian life through the Holy Spirit indwelling us. And we exult in hope of the glory of God; and not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations (seriously? How can we exult in them?). Because tribulation brings about perseverance. (I think I'll pass on that one.) But that brings about proven character which brings about hope. 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. We know we have hope because of that love in our hearts. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. We wouldn't do that. We might die for our family, but for someone who hated us? Our love does not go that far. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He didn't wait for us to first get our life straightened out – because we couldn't without Him. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. Father thank You that Your love has been poured out into the heart of the reader. He/she perseveres through tribulation and has obtained proven character. His/her hope is in You.

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