Drink from The Well

Have you ever doubted something even when you had proof of its reliability? I felt this every time I got on roller coasters. Even though I had just seen the attendant strap and buckle people into the coaster and then watch them take off and return safely, I was still suspicious of my security when it was my turn. Every time I got on the rollercoaster, my lack of faith in its security was on full display. This resulted in my hesitancy, doubt and ultimately fear. Can you relate to this? Maybe it’s not rollercoasters for you but something else. Nonetheless, this is the experience of life at times.

You see, anxiety, doubt and fear are the complete opposite of what the Bible tells us are the benefits of believing and having faith in Christ. In a world where we can find many faux benefits in various things (some that are even very good), they are only temporary. God, through his word, is inviting us to see that the true lasting benefits we need only comes through a relationship with him—specifically, by placing our trust in his son Jesus and accepting his free gift of eternal life (Rom. 6:23). We accept this free gift of eternity with God by responding to Christ’s offer of salvation by the great exchange. Where he willingly takes the hell punishment that we deserved on the cross for us (Rom. 3:21-26). Once we’ve trusted in Christ and his finished work on our behalf, we now get to rest in him (Rom. 4:4-5). We no longer work to be accepted by God. Rather, because we have already been made right by Christ’s sacrifice, we get to do good works out of gratitude—from a heart of love for him that naturally flows out of us. And this is not for God’s sake, but for the sake of others as evidence of our faith (Jas. 2:14-25). THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST! In fact, Romans 5:1-11 tells us about some of the benefits of being justified, or made right in the sight of God. Said another way, it tells us about the benefits of believing in Jesus. We see from this passage that belief, or faith in Christ and his finished work on the cross for us will always produce: the reality of our peace with God, give us a renewed hope for today and tomorrow, and obtain for us the power to persevere in trials. And so, those who trust in Jesus, who now stand in grace, are once and for all justified through faith in him. Christ has now secured for them the eternal benefits of peace, hope, and power.

When we grasp what it means for us to be in good standing with God (understanding of the gospel), we begin to see the big picture. And this big picture helps us to conclude that we now have peace with God. For those who this is now true of, should begin to experience it in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. As mentioned before, we come to see that Jesus is the only way to the Father — the one who unites us to God. For he lived the life we will never live, died a death as our perfect substitute, and defeated death by rising from the dead. CHRIST IS OUR ONLY MEDIATOR (1 Tim. 2:5) —not Mary, the Pope, other saints, or even an angel. We also now have an eternal, living, future-oriented hope that can never perish, spoil or fade (1 Pet. 1:3-9). And finally, we can boast in God through Jesus because of his power in our lives through the Holy Spirit. He enables us to persevere as we are being conformed to the image of his Son (Rom. 8:29, 2 Cor. 3:18). 

When we think of good earthly benefits like owning a car or a house, having insurance, financial stability, and many others, it will be good for us to notice the temporariness of these things. Alternatively, we see that Romans 5:1-11 shows us the spiritual benefits available to us. These are benefits that are not only good for right now, but also for the future. These are eternal benefits that we will enjoy even more in eternity. And the only way we gain access to these benefits is by believing in Jesus Christ. If you are yet to trust in Jesus to save you, what are you waiting for? Believe in the Lord today, and you will be saved (Jn. 3:16, Acts 16:31). For those who already trust in Jesus and now have access to these benefits, what now? How should you apply these to your life? Well, I’m glad you asked. Four things come to mind:

1. Now that we are justified by faith in Jesus, we must delight in Christ as our mediator. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” (1 Tim. 2:5-6)

2. Now that we have peace with God and stand in grace, we must testify of his goodness at all times, in all circumstances. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5:16-18)

3. Now that God has proven his love by sending his son to die for us, we must rejoice in Christ’s beautiful exchange by living with gratitude and thanksgiving. “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Gal. 6:14)

4. Now that we have been reconciled to the Father through the Son, we have every right to boast in God. “But let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” – (2 Cor. 10:17)

What great benefits we get to enjoy now in this life, and even so more in the life to come?! If you are a believer who finds yourself standing in grace, you are once and for all justified through faith in Christ. And this passage affirms to us that as those “justified by faith,” we now “rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” (5:1-2). Paradoxically, we also “rejoice in our sufferings” because God is at work in and through them to nurture that “hope” (5:3-4). This doesn’t mean that suffering will make us feel happy, but it does mean our suffering accomplishes something. Our suffering is not meaningless, but purposeful (Rom. 8:28). Our suffering will also produce endurance in us, and enable us to trust God more. This endurance will produce character in us, which will produce in us a willingness to do the things that honor God. And finally, as believers in Christ with proven character, we become hopeful people who are convinced that the bottom-line truth of our reality is that we will spend eternity with God in glory (Rom. 5:1–5).

My encouragement to you today, friends, is to boast in NOTHING else but only in the righteousness of Christ. And because God justifies sinners through faith in his Son, this MUST be our only humble response to him. Let us also be reminded of this glorious truth through these lyrics from a hymn originally written by Edward Mote, a pastor and hymn writer in London in the 1700s. He writes, 

“My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name

When He shall come with trumpet sound

Oh may I then in Him be found

Dressed in his righteousness alone

Faultless to stand before the throne.”

By the way, in case you were wondering, I still doubt the reliability of roller coasters today, even though I don’t get on them as often as I used to. In fact, I don’t even want to get on them anymore. Clearly, this is evident of my lack of faith in them and the temporal benefits they provide. On a more serious note, I realize that the more I grow into the gospel, and trust in Christ’s righteousness and not my own, the more I desire to continuously put my faith in him. And in moments where I find myself doubting, I can relate to the father in Mark 9 by praying, “I believe Lord, help my unbelief.” (Mk. 9:14-28) We have seen from God’s word that faith in Christ and his finished work will always help us experience these realities: our peace with God, our stand in grace; our possession of a renewed hope (for today and tomorrow); and our power to persevere in all kinds of trials. So, now that we have been justified through faith in Christ, may we only boast in his righteousness and hope in the glory of God. Amen!

Cornerstone by Hillsong Chapel