Standing in His Grace - Romans 5

Peace and Hope

5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] 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[b]boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Paul continues to teach us the benefits we have by being justified by Jesus' death for us.  Most importantly we have peace with God.  Until we were justified by grace, we feared God and feared punishment.  We didn't want to approach God, because we felt unworthy and indeed we were.  But now because of God's grace in Christ, we have peace with God, which is no small thing.  Most people have no concept of having peace with God and don't know what they are missing by not having it.  But as a believer we should be reminded that as we come to God he sees us through the lens of His Son, so we are accounted as righteous because of what Jesus has done. 
Second, I like the phrase, "into the grace which we stand".  It is pure grace and unmerited favor that brought us back to God.  But we need to stand in this grace and not go back to the Law.  Because grace, getting what we don't deserve, is so foreign to us it is easy to try and please God by works.  Works are good but they flow out of grace not to get grace.  Grace is a gift and we need to continue to be thankful for it and live in it.   It is the only way to go.
Finally, we know that just because we have this new standing before God through Jesus, and stand in His grace alone, this doesn't mean we won't suffer.  Anyone who has been walking with Christ for any period of time knows this.  But Paul says even in our trials and suffering, they produce perseverance and character.  And suffering also serves to increase our hope that one day we will be delivered from this body of death.  
Take some time today to rest in God's peace, stand in His grace, and realize that even in our suffering God is doing a good work in us.  Most of all it increases our hope that one day we will be done with suffering and realize the hope that Jesus has given us.  

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