Peace
Romans 5:1 || Discover the Peace in this promise: Because we have been declared perfect in the eyes of God, through faith in what He does, we have PEACE, all because of Jesus. Biblical Peace (shalom) is not only absence of conflict, the rich meaning of this word goes deeper to include: completeness, soundness, welfare, and restoration.
Dig Deeper: Genesis 15:15-16, Psalm 4, Psalm 29, Luke 2:11-14, Galatians 5:22-25
Hope
Romans 5:3-5 || The Greek words, “kauchaomai” (which means to “speak out loud”) and “thlipsis” (which means “tribulation”) demonstrate the overarching importance of this reality. We are in a war, called to join Jesus in pushing back the dark, crying out to Him in our sufferings, trusting Him to give us what we need when we need it, knowing He is preparing us for what is to come!
Dig Deeper: Matthew 24:4-14, John 16:19-24, Revelation 7:9-17
Love & Reconciliation
Romans 5:6-8 || What does God’s love look like? Look at the cross. Gaze at the empty tomb. And always ask: when did He love us? “While we were still ______”. That when informs the mission now! Love and Reconciliation guide us away from an “us” and “them” mentality.
Dig Deeper: Isaiah 40, Isaiah 53, Luke 15, John 10:1-18, 1 John 4:7-18