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Romans 5:1, 2 - Friendship and Peace.

Romans 5:1-2 (NIV) Therefore, since we have 
been justified through faith, we have peace with 
God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom 
we have gained access by faith into this grace 
in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the 
hope of the glory of God.  

Romans 5:1-2 (NLT) Therefore, since we have 
been made right in Gods sight by faith, we 
have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ 
our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, 
Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved 
privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and 
joyfully look forward to sharing Gods glory.  

COMMENTARY PEARL

   A 2018 study on teens use of social 
media found that less than a third of teens today 
prefer in-person conversation. Rather, they prefer 
to text or use some other digital means to 
communicate. 
   When youre friends with someone, 
youre constantly talking to them. Maybe you talk 
on the phone or in person or through texts, but 
its an ongoing conversation that continues 
through the day. And then you pick it up again the 
next day. 
   Really, thats what friendship is. 
Friends communicate with each other. Friends like to 
spend time with each other. In the same way, God 
wants you to communicate with Him. Hes always 
there, ready to listen and ready to speak to you. 
   How did this amazing friendship with God 
come about? We have friendship with God because 
Jesus made it possible. Theres nothing we can 
do (or have done) to merit it. We have this 
friendship with God because Jesus made it possible. 
   Romans 5:1 tells us, Therefore, since 
we have been made right in Gods sight by 
faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus 
Christ our Lord has done for us (NLT). 
   This friendship with God brings us 
personal peace. On the first Christmas, the angel 
said, Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace 
on earth to those with whom God is pleased 
(Luke 2:14 NLT). Peace with God takes care of our 
past. He no longer holds our sins against us. 
   Whats more, we have access to God. We 
can come to Him at any time. Verse 2 of Romans 5 
says, Because of our faith, Christ has brought 
us into this place of undeserved privilege 
where we now stand (NLT). 
   Because Jesus came to this earth, because 
of what He has done for us, we have an 
all-access pass into the presence of God. [Greg Laurie 
from Harvest Ministries; 
https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

COMMENTARY

Peace With God
   One day I posed a question to the 
waitress at my table: If you could ask God for 
anything, what would your request be? Her answer 
was immediate. I want to feel at peace. 
She tearfully explained that her grandmother had 
died and emotional turmoil resulted. 
   Many in our world are like this young 
woman, in that they desire inner calmness but have 
no relationship with the Lord. People often 
seek contentment by trying to improve their 
appearance, physical fitness, financial situation, or 
social status - or by abusing substances. But such 
things cant bring tranquility of heart or mind. 
Only a relationship with Jesus leads to true 
peace. 
   Prior to salvation, we were slaves to sin 
and living in opposition to God (Col. 1:21). Our 
transgressions had formed a barrier of hostility between 
Him and us, which we were helpless to cross on 
our own. Without Gods intervention, we could 
not have found the way of peace. But our 
heavenly Father provided the perfect solution to our 
sin problem. He sent His Son to pay for our 
iniquities and remove the separation that existed 
between us and Him. 
   When we trusted Jesus as our Savior, we 
were reconciled to the Lord (Rom. 5:10) and no 
longer at odds with Him. In Christ, we have peace 
with the Father. 
   Our triune God has provided everything we 
need for inner tranquility. The Father opened the 
way for us to be in His family. Jesus 
continually offers His peace so we can experience 
serenity of mind and heart (John 14:27). And the Holy 
Spirit cultivates the fruit of peace in our lives 
(Gal. 5:22). [In Touch Daily Devotional by Charles 
Stanley at www.intouch.org] 

Tyranny of the Oughts
   The breastplate of righteousness protects 
us from the feeling that we are not good enough 
to be saved. We now look at a feeling which 
Satan delights to whip up in the heart of a 
Christian - the feeling that we are only accepted by 
God when we are doing everything perfectly. The 
feeling gives rise to perfectionism - a condition 
which afflicts multitudes of Christians.  
   The chief characteristic of perfectionism 
is a constant overall feeling of never doing 
enough to be thought well of by God. Karen Horney 
describes it as "the tyranny of the oughts." Here are 
some typical statements of those who are 
afflicted in this way: "I ought to do better," "I 
ought to have done better," "I ought to be able to 
do better." There is nothing wrong with wanting 
to do better, but in the twisted thinking of a 
perfectionist, a person believes that because he or she 
could or ought to have done better, they will not 
be accepted or thought well of by God. They 
come to believe that their acceptance by God 
depends on their performance. They constantly try to 
develop a righteousness of their own rather than 
resting in the righteousness that Christ has 
provided for them.  
   If you suffer from this condition, then 
it's time to put on your spiritual breastplate. 
You need to remind yourself that the way you 
came into the Christian life is the same way you 
are enabled to go on in it - by depending on 
Christ and His righteousness, not on yourself and 
your righteousness. You are not working to be 
saved; you are working because you are saved.  
   Lord Jesus, I see that when I stand in 
Your righteousness, I stand in God's smile. But 
when I stand in my own righteousness, I stand in 
God's frown. Help me move over from frown to 
smile. In Your dear name. Amen. [Every Day With 
Jesus Bible with Selwyn Hughes devotional] 

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

   Understanding will never bring you peace. 
That's why I have instructed you to trust in Me, 
not in your understanding. Human beings have a 
voracious appetite for trying to figure things out, in 
order to gain a sense of mastery over their lives. 
But the world presents you with an endless 
series of problems. As soon as you master one set, 
another pops up to challenge you. The relief you had 
anticipated is short-lived. Soon your mind is gearing up 
again: searching for understanding (mastery), 
instead of seeking Me (your Master).  
   The wisest of all men, Solomon, could 
never think his way through to Peace. His vast 
understanding resulted in feelings of futility, rather 
than in fulfillment. Finally, he lost his way and 
succumbed to the will of his wives by worshiping 
idols.  
   My Peace is not an elusive goal, hidden 
at the center of some complicated maze. 
Actually, you are always enveloped in Peace, which is 
inherent in My Presence. As you look to Me, you gain 
awareness of this precious Peace. (Pro. 3:5, 6; Rom. 
5:1; 2Th. 3:16) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young] 

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE


http://www.abible.com/devotions/2015/20150803-2042.html 

EXCELLENT VIDEO SERIES ON 28 REVELATIONS OF 
JESUS 

1st of 28: Divine Dining: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_7j1QIKqmY 
2nd of 28: Pictures of the Divine: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lNI-OQ7-eQ 
3rd of 28: A Dirty Bible: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMkPvBuuFd4 
4th of 28: Cared For: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztXyJVdcCds 
5th of 28: Saved: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX45kGRe1HI 
6th of 28: You Can Change: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd0gkvK18fo 
7th of 28: Reprogramming Our Brains: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov36f_RapXc 
8th of 28 Our Holy Father: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XabXLEXsxbY 
9th of 28 Gifts of Service: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtuGZviodkA 
10th of 28 The Holy Spirit: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in89XVs4cGo 
11th of 28 The Law of God: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_Q601HjogI 
12th of 28 The Sabbath: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sakgnKoTzZI 
13th of 28 The Church: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkFw2XsTW-w 
14th of 28 The Gift of Prophecy: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiO2VC09NPI 
15th of 28 Stewardship: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z_lNLAataw 
16th of 28 Marriage and the Family: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EybxvMQ0K7E 
Live ongoing series in progress.

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs