For while we were still weak

Intro

ESTHER READ

Romans 5:1–6 ESV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Illustration

For the past five years, one of the most searched terms on Google has been “hope.” It has outpaced searches for political upheavals, technological breakthroughs, and even the ever-popular “how to make money online.” If Google is the oracle of our collective consciousness, then we’re not just looking for the best oat milk latte near us—we’re looking for something deeper.

But what does it mean? Are people feeling more hopeful or are they…frantically grasping for it? The data doesn’t tell us whether we’re inspired or empty-handed, only that we’re looking….for meaning in a crisis-ridden age

The past few years haven’t exactly been a breeding ground for unbridled optimism. If anything, they’ve felt like a slow-motion apocalypse set to a TikTok soundtrack. Climate anxiety? Check. Economic uncertainty? Check. Social media-fueled existential dread? Triple check. And yet, through it all, people have consistently typed “hope” into a search bar like it was a lifeline.

Historically, searches for spiritual and existential concepts tend to spike in moments of crisis. In 2008, “prayer” surged during the financial collapse. In March 2020, “faith” trended as the world collectively realized we had no idea what we were doing. People look for meaning when the world stops making sense.

But the ongoing years-long trend of searching for hope suggests something different. This isn’t just a reaction to one specific disaster. It’s a constant, underlying hum of uncertainty—a long-term condition rather than a momentary outcry. Right now, the story seems more like…a desire for something bigger, steadier, a foundation that is more trustworthy than the shifting sands of modern life.

PRAY

BODY

In Romans chapter 5, Paul gives us some magnificent truths.

First, we are justified by faith, and therefore we have peace.

Secondly, that peace is the result of an outpouring of grace in which we stand.

Third, we can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Eternity. This cloak of grace in which Jesus covers us with, allows us to come fully exposed before God, and be counted as righteous!!! Our hope as believers is established on this truth, that because of Jesus and his imputed righteousness, we have access to the father not only now, but IN HIS PRESENCE for in all eternity.

Fourth, because of these, we can rejoice in suffering, in trials, and even in temptation. Why, because it produces in us endurance, and endurance character, and character hope.

Fifth, Hope is not just offered, but poured out into our hearts by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

And finally, This was all accomplished while we were still weak needy sinners.

Number 1: we are justified by faith, and therefore we have peace.

Romans 5:1 ESV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Justification— Justification is a Christian’s judicial acceptance by God as not guilty because their sins are not counted against them.

Paul uses the first 4 chapters of Romans to set up this part of his argument, hence the therefore at the beginning of chapter 5. So let me quickly sum up those first 4 chapters of his argument preceding the therefore.

chapter 1: Paul introduces himself and his mission to preach the gospel. He explains that the gospel reveals god’s righteousness and that everyone needs it. He describes how people turned away from god, worshiping idols and falling into sin, showing humanity’s guilt before god.

chapter 2: Paul warns that God’s judgment is fair and applies to everyone, not just non-Jews. Jews who have the law aren’t automatically righteous if they don’t obey it. True obedience and a heart that honors God matter more than outward religion.

chapter 3: Paul emphasizes that no one is righteous on their own — all have sinned and fall short of god’s glory. The law shows us our sin, but salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works. Righteousness is a gift from God to all who believe.

chapter 4: Paul uses Abraham as an example: he was counted righteous because of his faith, not his works or the law. This shows that salvation by faith has always been God’s plan, available to anyone who believes, not just to Jews.

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Because of this, Paul can continue his argument confidently asserting that we have been justified by faith alone, and in that faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ.

Now, earlier in Pauls letter, in chapter two, Paul linked glory, honor, immortality, and peace with eternal life. So this peace that Paul is talking about is more than an inner sense of well-being. Paul is saying that our peace comes by way of the end of hostility between God and us, who were once enemies of God. We have been delivered from the wrath of God that was due us, and this was done by the shedding for Jesus blood. And this reconciliation can be received and experienced by the believer, only through faith. And upon receiving such a remarkable gift, that the wrath of God has been lifted, that we continue to receive grace upon grace, that our sins are separated from us as far as the east is from the west, that we are counted friends with God, that in our belief we receive the spirit of God, within us, to guide us, to strengthen us, to remind us of truth, that we have been given access to the father, and deeply loved by him. These gifts given in our reconciliation to God create in us an overwhelming peace.

Number 2: peace is the result of an outpouring of grace in which we stand.

Picture lake Michigan and the vastness of that body of water. Now I want you to imagine that water as grace. Right, we are swimming in an overwhelming amount of grace.

We, as christ followers have a responsibility to talk about, speak to, preach, and even yell to others about the hope found in abiding in Christ.  Consider for a moment the amount of people you may see or interact with throughout your day.  They may show you a smile, they may portray a sense of confidence and well being, but most, most are yearning, most are lost and exhausted from the fight to stand on ever shifting sands of objective truth.   And we, we have the truth.  We have the foundation, we have the keys to the kingdom of God, and so, in love we should be spreading the gospel wherever we go.