If you haven't read chapter 5 of Romans lately, I'd like to share some verses with you, the first two from the Amplified Bible. Let the words sink and settle deeply in your hearts as you pay particular attention to the tense of the verbs. What joy and blessing are ours HERE and NOW.

"Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand.  And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of  God." Romans 5:1-2

The love of God is awesome! We were His enemies! Yet, He died for us.

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Last week we mentioned the horribleness of the death Jesus died to reconcile us to God; the just for the unjust, the guiltless for the guilty. The thought just should cause us to sing from the depths of our being: "And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, Sent Him to die, I scare can take it in; That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin! Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee; How great Thou art, how great Thou art."

Sin and death came by Adam, but righteousness and life came by Jesus Christ! "Well then, as one man's trespass [one man's false step and falling away led] to condemnation for all men, so one Man's act of righteousness [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God and life for all men." Romans 5:18  The Amplified Bible

The way to life eternal is through Jesus Christ and Him alone. He is the One who paid the sin debt -- the only sinless One who could! John 3:16 in a few brief words gives the life saving message that starts us on the worthy walk for those who believe: "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life." The Amplified Bible

With grateful hearts we sing again:
"Break forth into joy O my soul,
Break forth into joy O my soul.
In the presence of the Lord there is joy forever more!
Break forth, break forth into joy O my soul."

Blessings and joy to all this Easter and always!