Romans 5:1-2: Throw Open the Doors
Second Sunday of Easter, April 8, 2018
On this Second Sunday of Easter, we rejoice in God’s goodness as we throw open the doors of our hearts to Christ.
We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. (MSG)
God always works through inversion, turning our thinking on its head in order to show us what we already know, to give us what we already have . . . the gift of eternal life.
He has brought us by faith into this experience of God’s grace, in which we now live. And so we boast of the hope we have of sharing God’s glory! (GNT)
God always works through fidelity, abiding with each of us as we work in the kingdom, giving us what we already have . . . the gift of steadfastness.
Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. (NRSV)
God always works through invitation, calling each of us to live in the Spirit, to give us what we already have . . . the gift of God’s grace.
So, since we have come to be considered righteous by God because of our trust, let us continue to have shalom with God through our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah. Also through him and on the ground of our trust, we have gained access to this grace in which we stand; so let us boast about the hope of experiencing God’s glory. (CJB)
God always works through determination, persisting with each of, giving us what we already have . . . the gift of God’s love.
On this Second Sunday of Easter, we throw open the doors of our hearts to God’s goodness, fidelity, and love, reveling in God’s justification.
When we compare differing translations of Paul’s advice to the Romans, we find ourselves eager to praise God as we throw open the doors of our hearts to God’s goodness.
Images from: http://tracyhurst.com/throw-open-the-doors/ and https://lauramadrigano.com/a-heart-wide-open/