ADVENT REFLECTION VERSE
Romans 5:1-2
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2 speaks of the peace we have with God through faith and the hope of His glory. How does this truth shape the way you approach challenges in your life, especially during the Advent season of waiting and reflection?
Disappointment and the Human Condition
“Disappointment is a part of life,” common sense tells us. BUT GOD has fixed that broken cycle for all humanity of all time, all because God Himself is Love. God’s love is the most certain thing we can all stake our lives on for eternity.
If you’ve lived long enough as a human being and down to the everyday grind of life, you will, at one point or another, encounter disappointment.
Advent Reflection: Moving from Disappointment to Hope
As part of this Advent season, as we reflect upon what the Lord has done this past year and maybe even the past several years of our lives, we can definitely be recipients of good news and hopeful expectation. Though we have been let down by our families, our friends, our jobs, and our circumstances, there is ONE thing we can count on: met-appointments (versus dis-appointments) and met-expectations found in the hope and fellowship of the Trinity, specifically through the Lord Jesus Christ, our King and Savior.
Romans 5:1-11: A Message of Eternal Hope
Context of Romans and Its Message to Us
In Romans 5:1-11, we observe Paul’s letter to the church in Rome written around 57-58 A.D., within 20 or so years after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. The young church faced scarcity, uncertainty, and the lurking threat of death. Yet, Paul delivers a powerful truth: the same hope that sustained them holds us up today as believers, fueled by Jesus’ resurrection power.
God’s Act of Love in Christ
In verse 8, we see GOD as the primary actor in the story of redemption. Jesus, as God, came down as a Jewish infant, took on flesh, endured human suffering, lived sinlessly, and died and rose again for us. He accomplished this while we were ungodly (v.6), sinners (v.8), and enemies of God (v.10).
Understanding Our Need for Salvation
Recognizing Our Condition
But none of this love makes sense without understanding the depths of our own sin and need for repentance. As Jesus said, He came to heal the sick, not the “healthy.”
Without recognizing our desperate need for salvation, God’s love cannot fully resonate with us.
Advent: A Time to Reflect and Look Ahead
During this Advent season, as we celebrate Jesus’ arrival into the human story and look forward to His second coming, let’s not forget the sinful past from which we were delivered. Let us meditate on the height, breadth, and depth of God’s love and the cost that made us adopted sons and daughters of God, siblings to Jesus Christ, and co-heirs of His Kingdom.
Heart Checks:
Read the passage Romans 5:1-11 in at least 3 different translations.
Scripture Writing: Write down the verse Romans 5:8 in three versions of your choice of translations on a separate piece of paper if you need more space.
Craft a prayer based on your reading and based on the words of scripture you just copied. For example, “Dear Lord, please help me recall the days I didn’t have Jesus as King of my life…. I was an ungodly sinner and your enemy. But you showed your love for me…. “
Would you die for your loved ones?
What about the stranger that did not treat you well, in the past?
What sins did the Lord transform you and saved you from?
How far along have you come?
Do you look forward everyday to see Jesus face-to-face?
Name one person you will tell about the Love of Jesus this week. Be specific who, and when you will speak to them about your story of God’s love for you and what difference it has made.
My beautiful best friend in the world, reached out to me and invited me to join. She always seems to know when I’m struggling.