PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!
Romans 5:1-5
“1Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”
JUSTIFIED BY FAITH
After thoroughly explaining our justification by faith in what we call chapters 3 &4, the Spirit is now going to elaborate on the effects of that justification. Being made righteous or being justified does not happen through our adherence to a moral code of “do’s and don’ts.” Righteousness is imputed or credited to our account when we believe in God and His Son. Being righteous is being in a state of unblemished character and this happens by our being justified. God makes us righteous by giving us His righteousness.
Before we were justified, we were enemies of God; hostile toward Him; alienated from Him; without Him and without hope. But in Christ we have been made a friend of God; we have fellowship with Him; we draw near to Him; and we have hope and peace. Our debt of sin has been stricken from the record and we now are made able to stand before God without blemish and even with confidence. Therefore we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
This peace is only available through Jesus.
1. When Jesus was manifested in the flesh the heavenly host exclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14).
2. Peter said, “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:34-36).
3. The “peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
“2through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God”
OBTAINED OUR INTRODUCTION BY FAITH
1. Grace is abundant (2 Corinthians 4:15) and “more than abundant” (1 Timothy 1:14). Through faith we have been introduced to it.
2. We have stepped into life with Christ and fellowship with Him. In this fellowship there is an abundance of blessings to enjoy. He blessed us with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3) and has given us “everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).
3. In fact all things belong to us, “whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God” (1 Corinthians 3:22-23).
4. So when we talk about the “riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7; 2:7) we have a lot to talk about. Through faith, we have obtained our introduction into this grace!
STANDING IN GRACE
1. Concerning this grace Peter exhorted “those scattered abroad” to “stand firm in it” (1 Peter 5:12).
2. Paul told Timothy to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1). When we consider our own strength and ability we shrink back because we are weak. But when we consider the power and might of God we boast because He is strong and able. Even those who are “weak in faith” can stand in grace “for the Lord is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:4).
3. The wiles and schemes of the devil are at work against us, his flaming arrows fill the spiritual sky headed our way but we can “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). Wearing the full armor of God we can “stand firm” (Ephesians 6:11, 13, 14). The riches of His grace, many blessings and abilities given to those in Christ enable us to “stand firm.” Consider the armor of God: loins girded with TRUTH; breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS; feet shod with the GOSPEL OF PEACE; the shield of FAITH; the helmet of SALVATION; and the sword of the SPIRIT. The armor of God is from God and enables us to “stand firm.”
4. These are the things which are ours as we “stand in grace” by faith. This “great salvation” not only wins the war for us but also equips us for the battles. Therefore, we exult in the hope of glory. We get a taste of it now as we are being transformed into the image of the Son and we hope when it will be a reality.
“3And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us”
EXULTING IN TRIBULATION
It is easy for us to exult in the hope of glory but we also exult in our tribulations. This only occurs in Christ. The key to exulting in tribulation to seeing the outcome of that tribulation. We must see the Promised Land in order to endure the 40 years in the desert. And make no mistake about it, we are currently in the desert. So we, with Abraham and company, confess that we are “strangers and exiles on the earth” “seeking a country” of our own (Hebrews 11:13-14).
As we live by faith our tribulation brings about perseverance. It was Joshua and Caleb who lived by faith and persevered eventually entering into the land of Canaan. Perseverance brings about proven character. James would say “I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18). Proven character brings about hope. Hope is the “earnest expectation” that Paul spoke of (Philippians 1:20). And hope does not disappoint. We have a God who “cannot lie” and who is faithful. Our hope is not wishful thinking but “earnest expectation.” What God has promised, He is able also to perform (Romans 4:21).
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The love of God has been poured out within our hearts. His love toward us produces life to the full. Knowledge of this fact is equipping and strengthening to the soul.
1. Paul prayed that the church in Ephesus “may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:18-19). And again, “may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God” (2 Thessalonians 3:5).
2. It is the Spirit through whom God pours this love into our hearts. Those who have Christ in them through the Spirit are “convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
3. For this reason, those in Christ do not need a strict law to govern their behavior; instead they prefer to do what God would do. They desire to be as close to Him as possible. They “press on” so that they may “lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12).
4. They have a keen understanding of immense love with which God loves them and it overflows into words of praise like “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are” (1 John 3:1).
5. Those aware of their innate inability to be pleasing to God reflect back on their sinful life and say “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:4-5).
These words are not taught by man but overflow out of a heart wherein the love of God has been shed abroad. These individuals do not need to be led in worship or praise because that is the result of their conversion dawning on their hearts and understanding the love of God. Thus the psalmist was ahead of his time in saying:
“1O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; my soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. 3Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You. 4So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. 5My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.” (Psalm 63:1-5)
This is the result of contemplating the love of God toward us. In Christ we have that love shed abroad or poured out within our hearts. This is done through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. This is effective in spiritual life. God’s love, as well as His grace, is not only enjoyable but also fruitful. Oh the benefits and results of being made righteous.