Access WhereIn You Stand!!!

Again my apologies for those who read this blog and check it for a new post. My time in blogging is limited, however it is something I desire to continue to do and hopefully will do more often in the future. I pick up where I left off in Romans 5 and what I have called, "Paul's List".

The second "spiritual blessing" that Paul mentions after learning that we are justified by faith by Christ's faith (that is,accomplishing the work of the Cross; the death, burial, and because death could not hold Him and the promise that God would raise Him from the dead, the resurrection) is "we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand." Christ paid our sin debt on the Cross, but was raised, so that He may offer this gift freely to those who would receive it simply and only by faith and no works. The first "spiritual blessing"; "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Christ is our peace, our peace between Almighty God and us; once sinners. We now have restored fellowship with our Maker, a fellowship that we will touch on more when we talk about our "sonship status" and our "adoption".

Romans 5:2a, By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand"

Paul names the second "spiritual blessing" by again recognizing "by whom" it is that "we have" this "access", whom is, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. This chapter is filled with our identity in Christ, for without His work and what He has accomplished we would be left without justification, let alone any of these "spiritual blessings". It is by Christ that we have access. What is access?

Access in the OT dealt with the priests in the tabernacle/Temple. The priests of Israel only had access unto God and only the High Priest had access into the Holy of Holies, into the very presence of God. Does this mean we are priests today? Frankly we are not priests. The Levitical priesthood was established by the law of Moses in which we are not under today. Paul explains this in chapters 6-8. We are under grace, in fact, we do not need to be priests in order to have access. Most of us today are Gentile sinners and it is in this dispensational and spiritual status that God saves us in, "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:6)." The access we have is given to us by no covenants, but by His grace through faith. Access toward God is something that has been reconciled for us through Christ and is much needed to enjoy the peace that we now have with God our Father. Priests in the OT had to come to the Temple of God for their access, today God resides in the earthen vessel (mortal body) of the believer. Due to this through the Spirit of God our access is unlimited. It is access to enjoy fellowship with no barriers, no sin, no temple, no difference whether a Jew or Gentile today. We are members of the church the Body of Christ established by the grace of God, not priests, but members of Christ's body. This allows the amazing privilege for each member to have unlimited access to God the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord. Access to God is vital to our communion with our Lord and Father; however, this access is not specifically mentioned here, although assumed.

The verse actually states, "by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand". This verse is glorious; the grace that saves us provided through the means of the Cross, the grace that provides for our peace with God the Father, is not grace that we are removed from based upon our performance, but is solely based upon "by whom", that is, CHRIST. It is due to His work at Calvary that our access is unlimited, "access by faith into this grace wherein we stand." What is "this grace"? The previous chapters up to this point in Romans has provided for this answer and Paul sums it up for us in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4,

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and WHEREIN YE STAND; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and taht he was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"

The Corinthians were being tossed to and fro by preachers that were really in the snare of Satan. They were teaching that there isn't a ressurection. Paul says if they keep it in memory they will be "saved", not from sin, for they had received and stand in the gospel. They were forgetting and Paul is reminding them trying to lay the foundation he has already established in Romans. "This grace" explained in Romans in which "we stand" is "the gospel" and all it's glorious provisions. It is standing in Christ. He has provided the "full" payment of our sin debt. He has provided His righteousness and credited it to our account. He has provided peace. It is "this grace" wherein we stand. WE STAND IN HIM. It is "this grace" "wherein we stand", but also "have access" to it "by faith". Faith is opposite from works it is an internal response to God's word, it stems from the heart based off the Word of God, and trusts solely in every word of scripture. Faith, since it is internal gives us the freedom no matter what the circumstance to rest in God's provision; in "this grace". It should be a continual thing for if "access" is a "spiritual blessing" it should be one that is greatly taken advantage of. Unfortunately, like the Corinthians one can believe in vain. This does not mean they did not believe, but they don't keep in memory their stand, which causes turmoil both internally and externally.
This instance of Paul talking about our standing is unique. It is just that, our standing; a standing that we did not earn. It is a standing received as it was bought by Christ Jesus. It is a standing that can never be taken away, for it is in Christ and He is RISEN. This is a position. However, in many other passages through Paul's epistles there are exhortations and commands to "stand fast" or "stand". These deal with our condition. They are commands to stand in our standing. We receive our position by faith and we access it by faith. One is our position the other is our condition, this is important to know. The former deals with our justification which once justified it can not be taken away, the latter deals with our sanctification. Utilizing our justification in our every day life and having it impact our inner man, stretching forth to our outer man, and producing the life of Christ.

Romans 5:2a, "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,"

We have access and we utilize it by faith. It is access into our standing in Christ and the unlimited provisions of the Cross. My hope and prayer is that we all would utilize and rest in the finish work of the Cross. Believe that ALL your sins are forgiven. You are no longer a sinner, but "accepted in the beloved". We have peace with God. If God's says it, it is true. My plea is for all those who read to take hold of these things and be thankful, for it "redounds unto the glory of God".

God Bless and next time we will look at, Romans 5:2b, "and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

Look Up,
Josh Strelecki

Justified By Faith

I have not written for awhile now, for my time varies in busyness and then busy relaxing. However, I have found a short few minutes to write. Through my weekly reading through first Romans-Philemon and then the rest of the NT writings, Romans as well as all of Gods Word has become dear to my heart. In Romans Paul explains the power of the gospel. The first part of the gospel is the wrath of God and that everyone is deserving. Paul then explains the gospel and how it is redemptive, a propitiation, and serves as justification. Paul explains the Cross no longer as bad news as Peter did in early Acts, but as good news and power. He explains it as a gift to be received by faith. After this Paul goes into detail about faith alone and Abraham. By the end of chapter 4 we understand Christ died for our sins was buried and rose again.

Romans 4:25, "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

God raised Christ from the dead for our justification, to declare those who believe righteous. That is, Christ's righteousness is credited to our account. By the time one gets to Romans 5 one has been taught the preaching of the Cross, the gospel of God's grace, and how one is to receive God's gift. It is through faith one is justified.

Romans 5 starts out by teaching now what the Spirit has done and what God has given to that justified person. It is this reason why I write.

Romans 5:1-2, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

Paul lists 3 things here in the first two verses of chapter five. 1)We have peace with God, 2)We have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, 3)Rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

First, notice the words in verse one before Paul's list. "Therefore being justified by faith", notice the "ed" at the end of "justified". It is past tense, it is a state of "being". One who believes the Cross work of Christ is justified. They have a standing before God not with any righteousness they have done, but of Christ's righteousness. It is done. It is a standing that never changes because it is solely based upon Christ. In fact, Romans 8:34, "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." I quote this because as sure as Christ lives forever so is your state of being as justified, because Christ maketh intercession for you based upon the Cross and it is Christ's perfect faith on the Cross that justifies a believer. The three things Paul lists are results of "therefore being justified by faith". Before I use the rest of this blog to touch on the first of the list, I quickly want to note something. In this chapter and these verses no hint of perseverance to the end in order to be saved is mentioned. Under grace the believer is given everything right up front. This is opposite of Jews in time past and in the future, for they have to hold fast until the end.

"But Christ as a son over His own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." Heb. 3:6

"For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;" Heb. 3:14

"And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:" Heb. 6:11

"Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." 1 Pet. 1:9

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, e sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"
1 Pet. 1:13

Jews in early Acts and in the future will have to believe until Christ returns during His second advent, or else they will not receive the grace of God. They receive the end of their faith which is their salvation. This all changed with the raising up of the Apostle Paul. We today, however, receive the gift of grace first the moment we believe.

"That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ." Eph. 1:12

"Therefore being justified by faith", one has as their standing and in their possession numerous spiritual blessings. The first mentioned in Romans 1 is, "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"

"We have peace with God", the two parties mentioned are the "justified by faith" and "God". The spiritual blessing is "peace with God". This is a drastic change from what Paul says in Romans 3:19, "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." Everyone is guilty, but if one believes the gospel, that is, Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, one is justified by faith and has as their present possession "peace with God". What a fantastic spiritual blessing to have? One that not only works in your heart and soul, but affects your mind and life. What does it mean to have peace with God? It means the wrath written about in chapters 1-3, your wage of sin (Rom. 6:23) has been settled. It is because of Christ payment of your sin debt (redemption) that God not only declares you righteous, but now looks upon you in peace. It is not that God has given you righteousness, but think that it is unfair. Now God because of Christ not only looks on you with peace, but "we have peace with God". Relationship is now welcomed through Christ and much more. God through the work of Christ has provided reconciliation, that is, to restore fellowship with His human creation. He has provided this by the Cross, but those who believe "have" it, we have restored relationship with Christ. Praise God.

"Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh." Eph. 2:15-17

The first "making peace" mentioned in this passage is between Jew and Gentile, but then Paul speaks about "reconcile both unto God" and "having slain the enmity thereby" that is, "by the cross". Then God sent Paul to preach "peace" to the Jew and Gentile. This is what Paul is talking about in Romans 5:1, "peace" was achieved for us on the cross, preached to us through the gospel, and for those that receive it by faith, HAVE IT!!!

As I end I will mention that I will write again on this chapter and especially Paul's list. The first result, yea rather spiritual blessing one "has" after by faith receiving the gospel of grace, the first blessing one pulls out of that gift, is "peace with God". What a glorious blessing to attain and have, not by any works we have done, but solely on Christ. It is to have restored relationship and fellowship with God Almighty the possessor of heaven and earth and that in kindness, love, and grace, because it is Christ that satisfies God the Father. It is Christ, "whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood", God is true to His Word. May you "therefore being justified by faith" take hold of your spiritual blessing in Christ, to "have peace with God" and let that peace rule your mind and heart. It is peace you have, not insecurity, a sense of condemnation, but "peace". May you not "stand fast" in order to get peace, but "stand fast" in it because you "have" it.

Look Up,
Josh Strelecki

Summer Family Bible Conference

Well I returned late last week from Rolling Meadows, IL. This was the place for the week long conference that Grace Impact put on. It started Saturday the 18th, through Thursday the 23rd. The theme this year was, "The Case For Grace". I was reminded daily of the grace of God and how through His Word it works effectually in me. I was reminded of how the grace of God works within me, when at times I get so focused on myself and what I practically can do, not understanding it is "He who works in me".

There were many topics, "The Humility Grace Displays", "Grace and Discipline", "Grace and Gifts", "Grace in the Future Kingdom", etc. Sunday my wife and friend from Twin Cities Grace Fellowship arrived at the Holiday Inn where the conference was being held, to catch the final evening message. Richard Jordan's message was titled, "The Word Grace Delivers" his text being Ephesians 2. His preaching caught my hear as he stood up and proclaimed boldly that he along with most at the conference stood for some things. It was very encouraging as he kindly, yet boldly took a stand for the KJV Bible and it being the final authority, Paul our Apostle whom Christ sent to the Gentiles with the gospel of the grace of God and the mystery of Christ, and lastly rightly dividing the word of truth to recognize the clear divisions in the Bible and that God has two programs within the canon of scripture. It was and is a great blessing to have "fellowship of the mystery" (Eph. 3:9), to have fellowship with likeminded saints.

The other message that really caught my hear was a message by Thomas Bruscha, titled "The Humility Grace Displays", as he spoke mainly on Philippians 2:1-11. This message as he preached the word worked effectually in me. He preached about having the mind of Christ, that the all sufficient, omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotent, did not count it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Thomas spoke about Christ giving up His divine attributes not completely, but at times, for the sake of doing God's will in order to offer salvation to all mankind. He spoke about Christ coming from heavens glory entering into time, being one place at one time, specifically Calvary. I think the one the hit me the most was Jesus Christ learning, Hebrews 5:7-9, "Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared; though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey;". Christ learned obedience through that which He suffered, the most High God possessor of heaven and earth, learned. It is this Christ who resides in me, it is this Christ that lives through me, it is this Christ who died, was buried, and rose again for my justification and that freely. It was and is and always will be God's Word working in me and motivates my inner man and quickens my mortal body to bring forth fruits of righteousness, not by me, but that are by Jesus Christ.

Father of Glory I thank you for your grace displayed at Calvary. I thank you that you have set forth Christ to be a propitiation (to satisfy your justice) through faith in His blood, and that I am and all who believe can be justified (declared righteous), by your grace through the redemption (payment of sin debt) that is in Christ Jesus. I thank you that because of the faith of Jesus Christ Your righteousness is given freely to all, but upon all them that believe!!! I hope and pray those that may read, would trust the grace of God through faith, that Christ died for their sins, was buried and rose again and that through simple faith in the work that you have done, that cost You Your Son, we may be saved. I hope and pray that they may receive eternal life as a present possession now by the Cross of Christ through faith, and the complete (past, present, future) forgiveness of sins, and an eternal inheritance in the heavenly places. It is truly in Christ. Amen

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