Weekly Devotional - March 19th

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus

Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.    And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;    and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;   and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Roman 5:1

Why must we be justified by faith to have peace with God?  Because our relationship

with God is estranged.  It has been this way since the Garden when Adam could not obey God perfectly and was removed from the eternal glory of paradise.  As Adam was our federal head, we inherited the debt and condition of his disobedience.  This is why the grand narrative of the Bible is God’s plan of redemption. That plan is slowly revealed in scripture and consummated through a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. It is through our faith in Him that our relationship with God is restored, and we have peace.