Every human life is hanging from one of two belts.

Romans 5 opens with the marvellous news that believers in Christ enjoy peace with God, stand in grace, and look forward to a glorious future. After addressing how suffering can deepen faith (verses 3–4), Paul turns in verses 5–11 to show why this hope does not disappoint. Two pivotal realities underpin the believer’s confidence: God pours out His love in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and He demonstrates His love in Christ’s atoning sacrifice.

Romans chapter 5 marks a turning point in Paul’s letter to the Romans. After establishing in the earlier chapters that all humanity is unrighteous in God’s sight, Paul now shifts the focus to the incredible blessings that flow from being justified through faith in Jesus Christ. This section, particularly verses 3 to 11, lays out the transformative consequences of salvation.

After establishing in chapters 1–4 that no one is naturally in right standing with God, in Romans chapter 5 Paul now presents the transformative consequences of being made right with God.

In Romans 4:16-25, Paul deepens his argument about how human beings are made right with God—not through our own efforts, but by faith. Building on the example of Abraham, Paul explains that righteousness is credited to us as a free gift from God.

In this passage from Romans 4, Paul returns to the topic of justification and uses the example of Abraham to illustrate that righteousness before God comes not from human effort but through faith. Paul argues that if Abraham had been justified by works, he would have had something to boast about. Instead, the Scripture reveals that Abraham’s faith—believing God’s promise—was credited to him as righteousness, even before he was circumcised.

We live in a world that often celebrates religious “tolerance” by insisting that every faith is just another path up the same mountain.  “All religions lead to God,” it’s said—so let’s learn from one another and leave it at that.  But does that claim really hold water?

Why Does the Resurrection Matter?

The claim that science has rendered Christianity obsolete is a recurring theme in modern discourse. Eminent figures such as Peter Atkins, Richard Dawkins, and Sir Julian Huxley have argued that as scientific knowledge expands, religious explanations become unnecessary. Their contention is that science, with its systematic study of the natural world, can account for every phenomenon, leaving no room for God or miracles.

The question of suffering is an ancient one, asked in many forms: "If God is so good, why is there so much suffering in the world?" Many grapple with this question, especially when facing personal loss or witnessing large-scale tragedies. While we may not find a simple answer, Scripture offers perspectives that can anchor us in faith when we confront suffering.