Influence

DEVOTION

ROMANS

INFLUENCE

Rom 5:1-2

5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

 NIV

It would seem the most foolish of lives to be at war with God. However, it appears some people are at war with God. This passage makes it clear there is only one way to be at peace with God. That way is justification through faith. This gives us peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This having peace with God through Jesus gives us access by faith into this grace. That is powerful stuff. To be rendered just or innocent through faith gives us this peace or spiritual prosperity with God. Because we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, because we believe he is the Son of God, we have been rendered by God to be innocent. The verdict is innocent, which means we get to go free. We get to stand in his grace, which is the Charin grace, which is defined as both a gracious act, and his divine influence upon our heart. He certainly is gracious toward us. His graciousness was displayed to us by sending Jesus to be the sacrifice for our sin. His graciousness is also shown in the fact he is influencing our heart. The effect of that influence is shown in how we reflect it in our lives. If we are saved, born again, being a believer, a Christian, then we should be reflecting God’s grace in our lives, his influence in our lives. Why would someone not want that kind of life? Why would we want to ignore his influence? Allowing God, or accepting his influence only enhances our lives, not to mention being rendered innocent. This provides us with eternal life. How could anyone refuse that? But it seems people just don’t care about eternal life. Some people would just want to live according to their own wants and desires, believing whatever they want to believe. They say they don’t believe in God, but in fact by their disbelief they have declared war on God and are now subjects of his wrath. They lives are pitiful no matter what they physical or material life appears. This type of thinking might even be within the community of believer. When we read the various things the Lord has against the believers in those seven churches of the revelation given to John, we can see it is possible to say we are believers, but still refuse to accept his grace, his influence in our lives. Here is where we need to be watchful. Here is where we need to examine our lives and see if we are truly living under his influence which also means his authority. This is done through faith, so where is our faith? What do we believe, who do we believe? Who are we influenced by?