Readings for Lent and Easter

Faith, the Riches of Life^[a]

Chapter 5

At Peace with God

Hope Does Not Disappoint. ¹ Therefore, now that we have been justified by faith, we are at peace^[b] with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom by faith we have been given access to this grace in which we now live, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we realize that suffering develops perseverance, ⁴ and perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. ⁵ Such hope will not be doomed to disappointment,^[c] because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Reconciliation Already Obtained. ⁶ At the appointed time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Indeed, it is seldom that anyone will die for a just person, although perhaps for a good person someone might be willing to die. ⁸ Thus, God proved his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

⁹ And so, now that we have been justified by Christ’s blood, how much more certainly will we be saved through him from divine retribution.^{[d] 10} For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more certain it is that, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. ¹¹ And not only that, but we now even trust exultantly in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have already been granted reconciliation.