Therefore, since we have been...

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

3Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

4perseverance, character; and character, hope.

- P68

5And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. - P68

9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!

10For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

11Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
- P69

6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly - P69

Paul continues his teaching on faith with a reminder of what being justified by faith implies: that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This peace is more than the absence of conflict; it is a restored relationship with God along with the assurance, security, and joy it brings. Because of this new standing, believers can rejoice even in suffering. - P70

Suffering as a believer produces endurance, which shapes character, and from character springs hope. This hope is not wishful thinking but a deep, unshakable confidence in God’s love and future promises even when our circumstances say otherwise. - P70

Suffering is not the end of our story. It is part of how God matures us and deepens our trust in Him. - P70

Lord, thank you for giving up Your Son to rescue me even when You saw me at my worst. Thank you for the peace I have with You through Jesus Christ. Grant me endurance in my trials so that my hope may be unshakable. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P71

Being justified through faith brings peace with God. Believers boast in God‘sglory and also glory in suffering, which produces perseverance, character,
and hope. God‘s love is poured out into believers‘ hearts through the HolySpirit. Christ died for the ungodly at just the right time and believers are nowjustified by His blood and reconciled to God. - P69

When Christ died for us, we were enemies of God, ungodly and powerlessto do anything about our state. As Paul points out, it is rare to find anyonewilling to die for a righteous person, yet it was when we were at our worstthat Jesus gave His life for us.  - P70

Our salvation did not begin with our efforts,
goodness, or any kind of merit on our part. It is fully God-initiated androoted in His grace. Because of this, we can be fully assured of our salvationand the hope of eternal life. If God loved us when we were His enemies,
how much more will He complete His saving work now that we are reconciled to Him? - P70

"No one suffers well without a real and abiding hope in God." - Marshall Segal - P70

As Christians, our greatest and deepest hope should always be in Christ, inhow He has made our lives new and continues to mold our hearts to alignwith who He intended us to be. Nothing else and no one else was meantto be our deepest hope except for the Lord, and nothing else can fill theplace in our heart where the Lord was meant to be.  - P71

Therefore, when wefind ourselves tempted and frequently placing more of our hope in thingsor people other than the Lord, it is important to pray and ask God to helpus make Him the greatest and truest hope in our life. He is the only Onewho can withstand the weight of our hope. - P71

19Without weakening in his fa...

19Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. - P64

21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

22This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."

- P64

23The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone,

24but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

- P65

Abraham believed God‘s promise even when there seemed to be no reasonto hope. He did not waver in faith, even though his body and Sarah‘s wombwere as good as dead. He was fully persuaded that God could do what Hepromised. This faith was credited to him as righteousness, and this appliesalso to us who believe in God today. - P65

Though faced with human impossibility—his old age and Sarah’s barrenness—Abraham still hoped for a multitude of descendants, not out of naïve optimism, but because of his confidence in God. - P66

His hope was anchored in the character and power of the One who promised he would be the father of many nations. He did not waver in unbelief but drew strength in faith. - P66

When our circumstances seem hopeless, do we let our limitations drain us of faith or do we find strength through faith in God’s promises? - P66

Faith is not a denial of reality but a confident trust in God’s ability to fulfill His word. Scripture invites us to hold fast to the belief that God is both able and faithful to do what He has promised. - P66

Abraham‘s faith was "credited to him as righteousnessemphasizes that this applies not only to Abraham but to us as well. Abra-ham‘s story illustrates the timeless truth that we are made right with Godthrough faith, not by our works. The foundation of our righteousness isnot based on our merit but on what God has promised and accomplished.
- P66

Just as Abraham believed in God‘s promise to give him a multitude ofdescendants, we too are invited to trust in God‘s promise of redemptionin Jesus. Christ‘s death and resurrection secured our justification, and faithis simply our response to that finished work. Jesus is the object and sourceof our faith.  - P66

By placing our trust in Him, we are declared righteous beforeGod: restored, forgiven, and accepted. - P66

resurrection, through which I have been made right with God. I cannot earn Your grace; I gratefully receive it by faith. Strengthen my trust in You and help me live each day in the righteousness You purchased for me. In Your name, amen. - P67

 she perseveres in believing in the Lord and His goodness. Shedoes so daily as she faces various and increasing physical challenges whilenavigating life in a world that often does not make everyday facilities acces-sible for people with disabilities.
Today‘s passage reminded me of my friend because she continuously be-lieves God is good, holy, worthy, and true, and she makes sure to let othersknow how He has been faithful to her throughout her life and in her day-to-day as she wrestles with the various emotions and challenges that comewith having a terminal disorder.  - P67

Like Abraham‘s faith, her faith is an exam-ple of persevering in the Lord, cultivating a heart that trusts Him becauseof who He is, and knowing that He is there with us in our sufferings. Inseemingly hopeless circumstances, we can let our faith be strengthened byGod‘s promises to be with us for the rest of our lives and to walk alongsideus in the new life He has given us. - P67

17As it is written: ˝I have m...

17As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. - P61

Paul answers the question of whether the blessing of righteousness is onlyfor the circumcised. He explains that Abraham‘s faith was credited to him asrighteousness before he was circumcised. Therefore, he is the father of all whobelieve, both circumcised and uncircumcised. The promise comes by faith sothat salvation may be by grace and guaranteed to all of Abraham‘s offspring. - P61

Abraham was called righteous by faith before he was circumcised, and he later received circumcision as a sign of that righteousness. In this way, he became the father of both the circumcised and the uncircumcised—solely on the basis of faith. This has been God’s plan from the beginning: to extend His blessing to all who believe in Him. Therefore, there is no room for boasting before God—not even for Abraham or David. - P62

Likewise, no matter how long we have been Christians or how much we have served in the church, there is no place for pride or discrimination. Instead, we are called to humbly walk in unity with those who share the same faith, extending grace to one another along the way. - P62

Paul also uses the example of Abraham to speak about promises that comeby faith. God promised that Abraham would become a great nation and bea blessing to all the peoples of the earth, and He promised that Abraham‘sdescendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Abraham believedGod, and in the end, God‘s promise waswas fulfilled.  - P62

Now, a way has beenopened for all people to receive the benefits of God‘s promise as descendantsof Abraham through the same faith that he had. This is God‘s grace: thatwe may receive His promise by faith and become heirs of His blessing. Maywe remember this and continue to live in the blessedness of the promisethat comes by faith. - P62

Dear God, thank you for the grace of becoming an heir of Your abundant blessings. Help me to respond in faith in every moment of my life and to live in harmony with others who share the same faith for the work of Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P63

God‘s grace urges me to choose what pleases Him. It pushes me beyondmy comfort zone to reach those who have not yet experienced this grace. Itcompels me to surrender my ambitions and humbly obey His will. God‘sgrace made it possible for Jewish and Gentile Christians to accept one an-other in love, and it continues to enable us to love, forgive, and accomplishwhat our sinful nature resists not because it is always easy, but because - P63

1What then shall we say that ...

1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter?

2If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.

3What does Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

4Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation.

- P56

5However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

6David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7"Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

8Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them."

- P57

Paul uses the example of Abraham to discuss justification by faith and its relationship to works and righteousness. This can be a risky move since the Jews regard Abraham as the father of the circumcised and a model of obedience. However, Paul explains that a person is not justified by their works; even Abraham is credited with righteousness because of his belief in God, not his works. - P58

The one who trusts in God and places their faith in Him is credited with righteousness. Sometimes, we fall into a pattern of striving for righteousness through our works; we think we can earn righteousness by what we do. However, - P58

Paul reminds us of the power of faith: The righteous are those who place their trust in Jesus. - P58

Paul offers another biblical example of an important and influential figureto the Jewish people David. In the Psalms, David declares that the onewhose sins are forgiven by God is truly blessed. The Lord does not countDavid‘s many sins against him. David can be declared righteous despite histransgressions because he humbled himself and repented of his sin. This isan encouraging word for those who struggle with the idea that they couldever be declared righteous by God.  - P58

We can rejoice in the knowledge thatthose who humble themselves and truly repent before God can receivethe blessing of forgiveness and know that the Lord will not hold their sinsagainst them. - P58

"Faith‘s exclusive function is humbly to receive what grace offers."- John Stott - P58

Dear God, thank you for the examples of Abraham and David that show me the power of faith and the grace of Your forgiveness. When I struggle, remind me that righteousness is not earned and that You will not hold my sins against me. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P59

 As I learnmore through Scripture, aiming to be a faithful steward of God‘s Word, Isee that God has already given us everything we need in the Bible. Our partis to stay committed to reading it daily and seeking to understand it well. - P59

22This righteousness is given...

22This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,

23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

24and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

25God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—
- P52

The laws of God ultimately point us to Jesus, who fully embodies the glory of God. Despite humanity’s sinfulness, God held back His judgment so that Christ could offer redemption through His sinless life. His sacrifice did not negate the Law but restored what humans alone could not achieve. - P54

The Law cannot make us righteous, but it helps us recognize the depth of our sin for which only God can atone, making the righteousness we now receive from Him all the more meaningful. - P54

Paul tells us to have faith in Christ because we can trust a God who is able to bestow righteousness apart from the Law in a fully gracious manner. In this way, Jesus stands at the center of our salvation, revealing both His justice and grace in full measure. - P54

Gracious God, thank you for Your loving commands. Help me to center Christ in my life so that I may follow Your laws with joy and compassion. Help me to share Your love through my actions, and may You be glorified in my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P55

Paul explains that the righteousness of God has been made known apart fromthe Law. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all whobelieve. All have sinned and fall short of God‘s glory and are justified freely byHis grace. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement to demonstrateHis righteousness and justice. - P53

Paul does not dismiss the Law but redefines its role in our lives. Christiansdo not follow God‘s Law out of obligation or to earn salvation. We upholdGod‘s Law as an extension of our faith and trust in God.  - P54

The Law is a wayto live out our faith. We do not boast in our achievement of following God‘slaws. Instead, our actions celebrate Christ who made our righteousnesspossible.  - P54

His commands are not burdensomethrough which we can express our newfound;ause they are an avenuein Christ. The Lawis not a means of achieving righteousness through works; it shows what itlooks like for God‘s people made righteous by Jesus to live out their faiththrough God‘s grace, - P54