It’s Not Our Doing – Romans 5:1-11

A text – Romans 5:1-11

5 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but wealso boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

⁶ For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. ⁸ But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more surely, therefore, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. ¹⁰ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. ¹¹ But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

A reflection:

Sometimes we each feel that we are just not good enough, just not smart enough, just not able enough to be loved and respected. And that feeling may indeed be justified, because most people are pretty demanding. You may not be smart enough for her, or able enough for him. But you never have to worry about that with God. God loves each human being so much that it doesn’t matter what your gifts or your foibles are, God loves you anyway and throws the whole bundle of salvation over you like a blanket because Jesus already paid for it and you get it just by believing it’s yours.

It’s really important that, as Paul says in verse 6, “while we were still weak, at the right time” Jesus died for us. If we had to get it right first in order to deserve it, we would be just like the Pharisees Jesus was always arguing with. It’s not about rightness. It’s about accepting a gift while we are absolutely wrong.

This is very hard for some of us who are used to being smart or right or hard-working, as though we can earn forgiveness and salvation by getting an A or accomplishing something fantastic. But in living a life of faith and dependence on God, it’s our mistakes and our lacks where Jesus’s light shines through to others. They can see that even though we’re a little cracked, God is making use of us and glad to do so. A little cracked. The people who know me well would say, “ More than a little cracked…”

Our humility, brokenness, and weariness are just what God needs. So never give up, Paul says. And God will be there to sweep our limp bodies up and save us, no matter what. Jesus has done all the hard work, while we were incapable of picking up a tissue. That is something to boast about. God is so good.

A prayer:

Lord God, thank you for loving us. Thank you for saving us while we were incapable of doing anything worthwhile for ourselves. Help us to see that we don’t have to get it right and that we could not earn your love even if we tried. We can accept it as a true gift, and that will make you smile. Amen.