If This, Then Much More

“Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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… 

“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation…

“For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many… If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1-2,8-11,15,17

“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” “If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:11,31-32

Paul never ceased to be amazed at the riches he’d received by grace from his Savior. As his fluid writing illustrates, he could go on and on about all Jesus had done and continued to do for Him. His life aim was to declare the whole gospel, not only unto salvation but to produce a thriving, fruitful life in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3-12)

We might be grateful for Jesus’s death for our sins, and rightly so. Yet that is not all that should fill our marveling hearts. The Lord intends we delight in and take advantage of the ‘much more’ His death produced. If it is true we’ve been justified, the door has been opened to a wealth of visible and invisible riches. Salvation, peace, access by faith into grace, full reconciliation, union with Christ in resurrection reality and power. Life, and all things.

Can we help but be captivated by and responsive to His eternal riches and promises? The Holy Spirit pouring love into arid hearts. multiplied purposefulness. Victory over pesky besetting sins. Peace that passes all understanding and guards our hearts and minds from fear and anxiety. Eternal security, abounding hope. His Spirit’s comfort, counsel, advocacy, and deposit for future inheritance. Joy, patience, self-control. (Luke 6:38; John 14:16,26; Romans 5:5; 15:13; 2 Corinthians 1:20-22; Galatians 5:22-23; Philippians 4:6-7)

How do our lives demonstrate the much more of salvation? Would others describe us with nouns or verbs when describing our faith? What love, what encouragement, what beauty, vitality, forgiveness, service, or generosity flow from our lives to exhibit the ‘more than we can imagine’ of Jesus? How will we tap into the riches of salvation in new, vibrant fruitfulness? (Philippians 3:20-21)

Lord, may I flourish in and with Your bounty, to Your constant praise.