I Found What I'm Looking For
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." - Romans 5:1-2
If the Christian life is so victorious then why do pastors spend the majority of their time preaching to encourage defeated Christians? Many believers seem to cry out the U2 song, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.”
What we are looking for is Jesus Christ and the fullness He brings to our lives. Our verses today give us an introduction of the blessings God offers to us everyday. We have peace (v 1), hope (v 2), growth (v 3), love (v 5), and are saved from wrath (v 9) through Jesus Christ. These blessings would make any life more fulfilling.
The key to receiving these blessings is to be justified, through Christ, by faith. Justified means “to be declared not guilty.” It means to be forgiven of all our sins based on Christ’s death on the cross (Romans 5:9). We are not only forgiven, but also given “access” to God. The idea of access is pictured at the crucifixion of Christ. In the Old Testament, only the High Priest could go behind the veil in the Temple and then only once a year. When Christ died on the cross, the veil in the Temple was torn in half by God signifying our complete access to the Father. Through this access we have continual opportunities at the blessings described in Romans 5.
When I was in college, I had a summer job in a local factory. I had an opportunity to share Christ with a man who had a reputation of being indifferent, at best, to Christ. As I finished communicating the gospel, he looked at me and said, “I have everything I thought I would ever want. But you have something I don’t have—peace. I have no peace, no real hope for my future.” Here was a man who desperately wanted what only Christ offers. He needed Christ. He is the only way we can find what we are looking for.
Prayer
Lord, thank you that all I would ever want is simply a result of having a loving relationship with you. Help me to sense the peace of your presence and the joy of my salvation. Amen
If the Christian life is so victorious then why do pastors spend the majority of their time preaching to encourage defeated Christians? Many believers seem to cry out the U2 song, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.”
What we are looking for is Jesus Christ and the fullness He brings to our lives. Our verses today give us an introduction of the blessings God offers to us everyday. We have peace (v 1), hope (v 2), growth (v 3), love (v 5), and are saved from wrath (v 9) through Jesus Christ. These blessings would make any life more fulfilling.
The key to receiving these blessings is to be justified, through Christ, by faith. Justified means “to be declared not guilty.” It means to be forgiven of all our sins based on Christ’s death on the cross (Romans 5:9). We are not only forgiven, but also given “access” to God. The idea of access is pictured at the crucifixion of Christ. In the Old Testament, only the High Priest could go behind the veil in the Temple and then only once a year. When Christ died on the cross, the veil in the Temple was torn in half by God signifying our complete access to the Father. Through this access we have continual opportunities at the blessings described in Romans 5.
When I was in college, I had a summer job in a local factory. I had an opportunity to share Christ with a man who had a reputation of being indifferent, at best, to Christ. As I finished communicating the gospel, he looked at me and said, “I have everything I thought I would ever want. But you have something I don’t have—peace. I have no peace, no real hope for my future.” Here was a man who desperately wanted what only Christ offers. He needed Christ. He is the only way we can find what we are looking for.
Prayer
Lord, thank you that all I would ever want is simply a result of having a loving relationship with you. Help me to sense the peace of your presence and the joy of my salvation. Amen
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