(Romans 5:1-11) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: {2} By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. {3} And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; {4} And patience, experience; and experience, hope: {5} And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. {6} For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. {7} For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. {8} But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. {9} Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. {10} For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. {11} And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
By inspiration of God the apostle Paul reveals and expounds the doctrine of justification by faith in Rom. 3:21-5:21. In the above passage we find some of the blessed results of being justified by faith. Notice that the first word in v.1 is “Therefore”. What is said in the passage is based on what was said in the previous two chapters concerning justification. Notice that our justification is spoken of as a done deal (“being justified”). The blessings that “we have” (v.2,11) are the result of this justification. We did not earn the great blessings spoken of in this passage. They are ours "through our Lord Jesus Christ" (v.1, 11)
We receive justification through faith alone without works. But our justification is BY the faith of Christ (Rom. 3:22; Gal. 2:16). The apostle Paul speaks of the “faith OF Christ” seven times in his epistles. The doctrine of justification by the faith of Christ is only found in Paul's epistles. Jesus Christ was obedient to His Father's will (Phil. 2:8). The Father made Him a promise before the world began (Titus 1:2). He had faith in the Father's will, promise, word, and plan. By His faith He accomplished what the Father sent Him to do. His faith is perfect and proven. Because we are justified by His faith there is no need for our faith to be tried in respect to justification like the tribulation saints (Jam. 2:14-26). Our justification is not a process. It is instant and permanent.
We receive justification through faith alone without works. But our justification is BY the faith of Christ (Rom. 3:22; Gal. 2:16). The apostle Paul speaks of the “faith OF Christ” seven times in his epistles. The doctrine of justification by the faith of Christ is only found in Paul's epistles. Jesus Christ was obedient to His Father's will (Phil. 2:8). The Father made Him a promise before the world began (Titus 1:2). He had faith in the Father's will, promise, word, and plan. By His faith He accomplished what the Father sent Him to do. His faith is perfect and proven. Because we are justified by His faith there is no need for our faith to be tried in respect to justification like the tribulation saints (Jam. 2:14-26). Our justification is not a process. It is instant and permanent.
Being justified by faith, WE HAVE:
1. Peace with God
As lost sinners we were enemies of a righteous and holy God (Rom. 5:10; 8:7-8). I believe that deep down all lost sinners have a sense of that reality to a degree in their heart (of course, Holy Ghost conviction intensifies that reality). That is why so many are going about trying to do what they can to make peace with God. But it is not possible for sinners to make peace with God by their own works. He will not accept anything that we try to offer Him. We do not need to make peace with God because Christ made that peace for us when He died on the cross for our sins! He made reconciliation for us (Rom. 5:10). Peace with God is only available "through our Lord Jesus Christ". He made the "atonement" for our sins through His blood (Rom. 5:11). An atonement is basically a payment that is made to bring two disputing parties together (at-one-ment). The payment is made by the offending party to the aggrieved party. Since in our case, we could not make the necessary payment, the aggrieved party actually became one of us so that He could make the payment for us! The word atonement is used 81 times in the OT and just once in the NT. The blood sacrifice of animals atoned for the sins of the people but is was not permanent. The atonement that Christ made with His blood is permanent! In the OT an atonement was made but in the NT "the atonement" is received. The moment that we receive Christ by faith we instantly and permanently have peace with God through the reconciliation and atonement that Christ accomplished through the blood of His cross! Our peace WITH God can never be altered (this is different from the peace OF God).
2. Access to God
It is by GRACE that we have a right standing before God. As a result of this standing we have full and free access directly to God by faith. This access to God has not always been available to man. Before Adam fell into sin he walked with God in the Garden of Eden but after the fall God drove man out of the garden. When the law was given to Israel the people "stood afar off" and were warned not to come near Mt. Sinai "lest they die". In the tabernacle and then later the temple there was a thick veil that separated the people from God's presence in the most holy place. Only the high priest could enter once a year on the Day of Atonement. As Gentiles we were even further off from God. There was a middle wall of partition that kept us out (figuratively in the ordinances of the law and literally in the temple). But in Christ we are made nigh to God by His blood (Eph. 2:11-18). The apostle Paul is the only writer to use the word "access" (note that our access is by the faith of Christ, Eph. 3:12). This access is not through any man, any church, or any religion. It is only through being a member of the Body of Christ. As children of God we can go to our Father at any time and for any reason and know that He loves us and welcomes us into His presence. He accepts us as He does Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:14-16)!
3. Hope of the Glory of God
The first three results relate to our past, present, and future. "Peace with God" takes care of the past: He will no longer hold our sins against us! "Access to God" takes care of our present: we can come to Him at any time for the help we need! "Hope of the glory of God" takes care of the future: one day we will be glorified together with Him! The hope of the Church is the certain expectation and anticipation of Christ coming for us and being glorified together with Him. No matter what our circumstances may be, we can "rejoice in the Lord alway" because of this blessed hope that the Holy Spirit makes real in our heart. Anybody can rejoice in the good times. Do you rejoice in tribulations (Acts 16:25)? Because of this hope we can glory in our tribulations. Do we glory or gripe? We must suffer before we are glorified (Rom. 8:17). It is important for believers to KNOW that God uses the tribulations of life to help us grow spiritually. We will not glory in tribulations if we do not KNOW that (Jam. 1:2-4). Tribulation works patience and patience works experience (we experience that God's grace is sufficient) and experience works hope. Although we must endure tribulations in this life God has promised that we will not have to endure THE great tribulation that will come upon this world when He pours out His wrath (Rom. 5:9-10). When Christ comes secretly for the church He will save us from the wrath to come (1 Thess. 5:9) and we will not only be with Him but we will be like Him (Phil. 3:20-21)! We shall be saved by His life. Because He lives, we shall live (Rom. 4:25). A.C. Gaebelein wrote, "All believers are exempt from the wrath to come because they are one with Him who is the administrator of the judgments of God."
4. Love of God
It has been the rule, not the exception, for God's people to be persecuted in this world (2 Tim. 3:12). Our suffering and persecution does not mean that God does not love us or that He is punishing us (Phil. 1:28-30). God has already proven His love for us (Rom. 5:6-8). We are not ashamed to live by faith because the love of God is made real in our hearts by the Holy Ghost that is given to every believer upon salvation. He is the earnest and the seal (Eph. 1:11-14).
5. Joy in God
The world knows nothing of real and abiding joy for it is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). Because of all that we have through justification by faith we can "joy in God" every day (Phil. 4:4)! Consider Paul's circumstances when he wrote Philippians! Real joy is not based on what is going on around us but on Christ who lives within us. NO amount of tribulation and suffering can diminish what we have in Christ.
5. Joy in God
The world knows nothing of real and abiding joy for it is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). Because of all that we have through justification by faith we can "joy in God" every day (Phil. 4:4)! Consider Paul's circumstances when he wrote Philippians! Real joy is not based on what is going on around us but on Christ who lives within us. NO amount of tribulation and suffering can diminish what we have in Christ.
These five results concern our unchangeable STANDING in Christ and confirm that we have eternal security as members of the Body of Christ.
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