Wednesday 1st April
Read Romans 5:9-11
“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For 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! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (NIVUK)
If Jesus is the price of our justification, He is also the prize.
Paul’s words outline three ‘prizes’ won for us by Jesus. First, we are justified – declared right with God. Second, we are saved from God’s wrath – an underappreciated but immensely welcome truth. Finally, we are blessed with the ultimate prize – nothing greater than God Himself! That is the meaning of Paul’s final flourish.
‘Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ…’ (v11).
We are blessed to rejoice in God Himself. It is the capstone blessing in a series of blessings won for us by Jesus’ death and resurrection. It was the hope of Christians past to behold the face of God Himself and enter His presence. He was their highest joy. If anything else has captured first place in your heart, according to the good news Paul outlines here, you are being short-changed.
