How can anyone choose the most extraordinary chapter in the Bible? Certainly, I can’t. But reading Romans 5, you’ll wonder if this might be it. Every time I delve a little deeper, I’m blown away by its truths. Can I be so bold as to ask you to read Romans 5 this week? Why not? You won’t be sorry.

That first verse is jaw dropping–‘Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Rom. 5: 1). It sounds like a peace treaty has been signed after a lengthy and brutal war. Well, it has.

Our war, involving multiple armaments of sin, has brought enmity and division into our relationships with God. Yet, peace comes, not from anything done by you or me, but from God Himself by the shedding of His only Son’s blood on the cross. Our part? To believe, to trust, to toss our life His way, into His hands. Too hard to do? Try it.

Verses six and eight bring us to the mountaintop–‘For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly…God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ (Rom. 5: 6, 8).

Our good and gracious Lord shows such love for us who were His enemies. When we could care less about Him and His ways, still He paid the ultimate price to free us from all our sin, making us His own forever, clean as a whistle. Think about that for a moment. Unbelievable? Too good to be true? Am I selling ‘Father John’s Miracle Elixer of Life’ snake oil? No. Believe Romans chapter 5. It’s true!

Now we find ourselves on the ‘friends and family’ plan with God. Check this out–‘For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation’ (Rom. 5: 10-11). Keeps getting better. God’s gifts roll out with an increasing acceleration. However, we’ve earned none of them. They’re all from His generous and loving heart.

Romans 5–an extraordinary chapter in the Bible? Certainly is, and I’ve only covered a smidgeon. Treasure it in your Bible. Blow the dust away and dig in. Spend more time in its pages, where you’ll discover that Jesus has become even closer than any best friend ever. Doesn’t get much better than that. Agreed? Enjoy!

Lord God, thank you for your Word. May I treasure it in my heart and mind. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.