December 20
Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory.
Romans 5:1-2 (NET)
The use of the word “link” has increased in recent years. Through a link, people have the freedom to have direct access to certain information on social networks or the Internet. If you do not have the link, you lack access to such information. In difficult times, the need to access hope is visible. Our recent experiences in this conflictive, broken world, including the experience of a global pandemic, have amplified this need for hope. Romans 5:1–2 tells us about the link that provides hope, and that link is Jesus; through Him we have access to God, who gives us peace, especially in difficult times.
The first two verses of Romans 5 explain one aspect in the past, but also various comforting words for the present. The action of the past is that we were declared justified through Jesus. The decision we made at some point in the past to believe in Jesus marked our lives and now we are justified before the eyes of God. Now we are made justified before Him by faith in Jesus. This action, however, also impacts our present.
Our present is described in the verses with various verbs and a few key nouns: “we have peace,” “we have also obtained access,” “we stand,” and “we rejoice.” These four phrases show what the link, Jesus, has given each of us access to through faith in Him. Today we have peace, we have access to His grace, and we are participants in His glory. All peace, grace, and glory are aspects that the believer can enjoy and has access to in the present, especially in a world with so much commotion. We need to remember, in Him we have hope; He has the control of everything in the world.
This is a good reminder for this holiday season, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. In Him we have peace with God, justification, His grace, and joy. The act of believing in Him has justified us, and today is the time to live accordingly, knowing that He has forgiven us. Jesus is the only link to access true hope.