Reading for October 2nd

 Read Romans 5.1-11. In verses 1-5: Peace with God through Christ. In verse 1; Gal 2.16. Peace results where justice and righteousness prevail (Isa 32.16-18). In verse 2: To experience salvation as gift, not reward, it to stand in God's grace (1 Pet 5.12; Rom 4.4-5). In verse 2-3: Boast is used positively here, meaning "take pride in" (Rom 3.27; 1 Cor 1.29). In verse 3-4: Suffering is properly understood within the larger perspective of resurrection hope. In verse 5: God's past activities provide the basis for hope (Ps 22.3-5). The Holy Spirit given to believers is the tangible expression of God's love (Titus 3.6). In verses 6-11: Christ died for sinners. In verse 6: The ungodly live against God (Rom 4.5). In verse 7: It is hard enough to die for a generous, good-hearted person. In verse 8: Christ's death for sinners who are neither good not righteous shows God's unusual love (Jn 3.16; 1 Jn 4.10). In verse 9: His blood: Jesus' death is understood as atoning sacrifice (Rom 3.25). In verses 10-11: Those yielding to the power of sin become enemies of God (Rom 3/9-18). Christ's death reconciles sinful humanity with God (2 Cor 5.18-19; Col 1.21-22), through his resurrection life, believers experience similar hope of being saved. In verse 11: God now becomes the proper object of pride (1 Cor1.31). Comments or Questions..