Bold Powerful Words

When the Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Roman Christians, it did not take him long to pen those powerful and bold words which are found in the 16th verse of the first chapter, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith..."  As we come to the opening words of chapter five that very spirit of boldness permeates every word Paul is writing.  In powerful and bold language he writes, "Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ..."   What is written stirs our soul to its very core.  It is filled with holy boldness.    

Paul is now through with this tedious business of explaining the real condition of the Jewish members of the church who think more highly of themselves because of their birth than they ought.  With these opening words he is ready to march forward with the triumphant news about what God has done through Christ for each one in the Roman Church as well as each one of us.  It is obvious from these bold opening words of chapter five that Paul knows the supreme value of peace with God.  From the very beginning of our life on this earth, our soul searches for its perfect partner.

The people we love, those who surround us every day of our living, meet many of our needs, but they cannot provide that soul oneness which we long to know.  This peace with God that the Apostle mentions is a oneness with our Creator that enables us to be restored to the life set forth in the pre-Garden moments of the story of beginnings.  Our soul longs to hear the words about being very good once again and to be able to live with that inner sense of goodness restored.  It is Christ who does this for us.  No one else.  It is Christ and Christ alone!