Grace - Romans 5:1-8

Chapter 5 starts introducing new concepts here, which of “peace with God,” “hope,” and “love.” Abraham demonstrated firmness in faith, even when life didn’t work out the way that he wanted. But I think that stating it like this makes it sound like he was holding on for dear life and miserable while he waited on the Lord, but we know that that’s not the case.

God doesn’t want us to be unhappy while waiting, he wants us to be happy, even if we aren’t getting what we want at the moment. And really, that’s what the plan of salvation is, that we can be happy in all circumstances, even if they are dire.
Viktor Frankyl talks about this very concept in his excellent book “Man’s Search for Meaning” where he recounts his time as a prisoner in concentration camps in Germany during the 1940’s. The concept is pretty counterintuitive because it doesn’t make sense that your emotions can be independent of your environmental surroundings. Well, I guess that’s not true though.
We all know people and I know that I’ve felt it myself plenty, where our environment is just fine but we are still unhappy. And if the law of opposites plays into it, then it would mean that even if our environment is terrible, happiness is still a possible outcome for us. But I think the difference is that unhappiness is so much easier than reflection and hope and faith.
Paul says that “we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed.” It is through these tribulations that we grow closer to God and can “hope” that our faith is well placed. The IM says, “Paul’s teaching that ‘hope maketh not ashamed’ means that our hope in God’s promises will not disappoint us.”
And we also learn from Paul that “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Our ability to feel the love of God in our lives is similar to our ability to have the Holy Ghost with us. While there are extraordinary circumstances that necessitate God’s intervention in our lives, for the most part, he only gives us what we are ready for and willing to receive. It is the Holy Ghost who brings God’s love into our hearts, so I would think that if we want to feel God’s love, then we need to be worthy of the Holy Ghost.
Paul points out how unwarranted Christ’s sacrifice was for us, stating “scarcely for a righteous man will one die,” meaning that even for the best of men, others usually aren’t willing to lay down their lives for him. If even “a good man” were to not be worth the price of their lives to some, then how worthy are we as sinners to die for?
The IM points out that “the scriptures sometimes describe grace as something we receive from God as a result of what we do. For example, some scriptures teach that our actions can cause us to grow in grace or fall from grace.” I don’t think the concept of “grace” is different here then in other contexts, I think that it means Christ’s enabling power. As we put forth our own efforts to be obedient, we are given “grace” so that we can be strengthened in our efforts and build out testimonies.
The IM continues that grace as a reward for our efforts isn’t the only use, saying, “however, other scriptures describe grace as something we receive from God independent of any action of our own… The Atonement was not something we earned or deserved but was a ‘free gift,’ given ‘when we were yet without strength or when we were utterly helpless and powerless. Thus, the gift of God’s Son is an example of grace as the unmerited favor and assistance God is predisposed to give His children.”
The concept of “grace” as God’s enabling power works in both these scenarios. First, when we are righteous, God gives us strength to become even more so. And second, the opportunity for repentance and spiritual growth is given to all, regardless of anything we could ever do, it is a “free gift.” That gift is an opportunity to not only live forever, but to live forever more abundantly.