The reasons for us feeling insecure at the start of 2022 are immense. Uncertainties abound—employment instability, relationships, the environment, finances, medical worries. This makes the key issue at the heart of Romans 5–8 acutely relevant. Assurance is the theme and Paul’s aim is to convince us that in this broken and unstable world our position before God is rock-solid and secure. Little could fill us with more joy at the onset of a new year.
Assurance in a broken world
Romans 5:1–8
Peace with God Through Faith
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 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. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 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.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
