Romans 5:1-11 (NIRV)
1 We have been made right with God because of our faith. Now we have peace with him because of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through faith in Jesus we have received God’s grace. In that grace we stand. We are full of joy because we expect to share in God’s glory. 3 And that’s not all. We are full of joy even when we suffer. We know that our suffering gives us the strength to go on. 4 The strength to go on produces character. Character produces hope. 5 And hope will never bring us shame. That’s because God’s love has been poured into our hearts. This happened through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6 At just the right time Christ died for ungodly people. He died for us when we had no power of our own. 7 It is unusual for anyone to die for a godly person. Maybe someone would be willing to die for a good person. 8 But here is how God has shown his love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 The blood of Christ has made us right with God. So we are even more sure that Jesus will save us from God’s anger. 10 Once we were God’s enemies. But we have been brought back to him because his Son has died for us. Now that God has brought us back, we are even more secure. We know that we will be saved because Christ lives. 11 And that is not all. We are full of joy in God because of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of him, God has brought us back to himself.
Discussion:
1. How can we be made right
with God?
2. What is so special about
God’s love?
3. How can we be joyful in
suffering?
4. How can we share in the
glory of God?
5.
What is the relationship between “suffering”, “perseverance”, “character”,
“hope” and “not put to shame”? (NIV: ...we know that suffering produces
perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does
not put us to shame,.... )
Reflection and Application:
6. Have you
experience joy and peace even in suffering? Why and how? Please share.
