Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, - Romans 5:1
"having been" Past tense. In other words, since this has already been done and we have been made justified (just as if I'd never did it) we have peace. It's something we enjoy now, already, currently. Not something we are striving for, not something we'll obtain in the future, not something we are maintaining, but something we have received already through faith and currently reside in, that is, peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. "Peace with God" The first result of justification by faith is peace with God and this is no small thing. Peace with God means our sins are completely dealt with and the wrath of God is satisfied, paid in full. Because it's past tense, it's done and can't be undone. Like we discussed last week, because it's in accordance with grace and therefore by God's doing, it's a sure thing, it's for certain. To be justified by faith is to be declared blameless before God by Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:34). God cannot both declare you blameless and yet find fault with you at the same time (Rom. 4:8, 1 Cor. 13:5). "Through our Lord Jesus Christ," this is the only way peace with God happens, this is the only way to obtain it. As Jesus said:
27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. - John 14:27
Jesus Christ is the only way, peace with God is not obtained through any other means (John 14:6). This was God's plan from the beginning (Gal. 3:16). When we yoke ourselves with Jesus Christ (Matt. 11:28-30) we yoke ourselves with Him who can and has accomplished what we cannot (Rom. 8:3). Therefore it is no longer based on our performance but for those who have received Jesus their righteousness is now based on His performance (Matt. 5:17). And we know He pulled it off! (John 19:30).
2 through 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. - Romans 5:2
The second result of justification by faith is access to God. "introduction by faith" Faith introduces us to grace. But it is "grace in which we stand". In other words faith doesn't do the work, God in His grace did. Like we said before, faith doesn't earn righteousness but rather God chose to apply His grace or "credit righteousness" on the basis of faith (Rom. 4:5, 16) but it is Christ who did all the work (Matt. 5:17). This is why boasting is excluded (Rom. 3:27), having faith actually nullifies boasting (in ourselves) because we cannot both be measured by Christ's righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30-31, 2 Cor. 5:21) while at the same time be measured by our own, it's one or the other, not both (Gal. 5:4-6). Actually, to trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross is to (at least to some degree) acknowledge our shortcomings. For why would one accept the cross if He never saw a need for it? (Gal. 3:24). "stand" a work accomplished entirely by Jesus (Rom. 14:4).
Satan loves to bind up Christians by way of accusations (Rev. 12:10). If he can get you to focus on your works or to even make faith a work as if it's something that earns righteousness; if he can get your eyes off the finish work of Jesus Christ (which is actually what having faith is); if he can get you to measure yourself according to your works, he will then proceed to show you how you don't measure up and will convince you that the door to God is closed. All lies. The door is not closed and never is because your righteousness is not measured by your merits but on the merits of Jesus Christ. Because it's by Jesus Christ the door is always open, the wrath is always satisfied and this is why God is confident to speak in past tense "having been" (v1). Even after I've been a miserable failure (which I feel often) I can still come to Him through the righteousness given to me as a gift, free of charge, by His grace, the gift that I received when I received Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2).
"and we exult in hope of the glory of God". In other words, we're very happy and joyful because of the hope we have of sharing, experiencing, and enjoying God's glory, God's goodness. God's glory will be revealed in my life and I rejoice in that! I'm often amazed at the amount of care God has in my life. He cares about things that only a God of His level of glory would care about. As self focused as I often am, God cares about me more! (Matt. 10:30). What amazes me more is, sometimes I have a focus on God where by faith I can see His work in my life and in these times I do exult in the hope of His glory. Other times though I'm walking by sight, yet I have not seen God given up on me. I've even seen His orchestration by sight and thought to myself "that must be God". He doesn't love me as long as I can see Him do it, nor does He do it based on my lovableness, but rather His love for me stems entirely from His nature and therefore when I waiver, He does not.
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; - Romans 5:3-4
These verses define real spiritual growth. To rejoice in the hope of His glory is much easier than rejoicing in tribulations. Can we be glad in tribulations? Yes, when we understand that these too have a good purpose and are being governed by God. Christ promised we will have tribulation but He didn't stop there.
33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33
A "tribulation" or a "crisis" is not tribulation nor a crisis if you're prepared for it. Trouble is not trouble if you came equipped to deal with it. Christ said we will have such troubles that in our own strength we are not prepared for. But to take courage because He is prepared for them, He has overcome the world. Will these tribulations be easy? No. Again it wouldn't be called tribulation if it were easy. Will God use them for our good (Rom. 8:28)? Absolutely. We may not see how, but were not called to figure out how God is working in them, though we often desperately want too. But rather we're called to trust that He is, that He who has every hair numbered has not mistakenly overlooked what we're going through. Therefore we can "exult in our tribulations" because God is bringing about the best good in our life. It may not be what we want, but He loves you more than you love yourself and by that goodness it's what He wants for you. God has an eternal perspective and I'm confident someday when we know in full (1 Cor. 13:12) we'll look at what God has done and go wow, thank you God that you didn't let up when I begged you too so that I could be here today, standing here complete, in glory!
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. - 1 Peter 4:12-13
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. - James 1:2-3
"Consider it all joy". He does not say to feel joy though you can, but to consider your trials to be a joyous occasion because, like Paul said, they produce spiritual growth.
Question: If you would answer according to wisdom. Would you rather have God alleviate your current struggle and have you then lack for all eternity or would you rather remain in this temporary struggle so you can be "perfect and complete, lacking in nothing"? Furthermore, if you would answer according to love, would you rather be equipped to comfort those in this world suffering similar things (1 Pet. 5:9) or would you rather to not be able to relate with them? (see also Heb. 4:15 in how Jesus relates.) And I'm convinced we'll thank Him in how that glory affected others that you were a light too as well (Matt. 5:14).
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. - 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
5 and 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. - Romans 5:5
"hope does not disappoint". The believer can have complete confidence that their hope in God will not be disappointed. Why do we have such hope? "because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit". Knowing the love of God automatically generates hope and because it's on the basis of God's love such hope does not disappoint. And such knowledge of His love has been given to us by none other than the Holy Spirit, God Himself! "who was given to us". once again, past tense and by way gifting (see also. 2 Cor. 1:22, 5:5, Eph. 1:13, Luke 11:13).
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. - Romans 5:6
It's important to note the condition in which Christ died for us. While we were "still helpless" and "ungodly". As humans it's our natural default to revert to this idea that we must be good so God will love us. This simply isn't the case. While humans earn the love of each other, God's very nature is love (1 John 4:8) and thus He loves us by default. If God loves us when we're completely helpless and ungodly then why do we think that we who are helpless must help ourselves before God loves us or we who are ungodly must be godly before God will love us. Furthermore it's error to think that after becoming a Christian that God's love has transferred from being unconditional to becoming conditional. That God who loved us while were were completely unloving (by human's measurement) now somehow bases his love on our performance thereafter. That would indicate God has changed and we know that God is unchanging (Mal. 3:6, Heb. 13:8).
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. - Heb. 13:8
7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:7-8
Paul is making a comparison here so let us do the same, if I may elaborate.
The word translated in English as love here in Greek is Agape. There are 4 types of love in the bible, Agape is the highest form of love, being charity. This is a deliberate and voluntary love that is sacrificial in nature and is unconditional, given without merit, neither requiring earning nor repayment. Agape love is beautifully described in 1 Corinthians 13 and is the very nature of God as written in 1 John 4:8.
When Paul says "God demonstrates His own love" He is saying this is the big "why!" That is, the very reason of God's great and matchless love that compelled Him "while we were yet sinners" to send Christ to die for us! (Isa. 53:10, Heb. 12:2). Make no mistake about it, God loves you and it's unconditional and it is for this reason He sent Christ (Eph. 2:4-5). This answers the big question "does God love me?" Paul is making a resounding "Yes! Look at the cross, Yes He does!" It has been made clear and you can be certain He does as shown in this demonstration. And the fact it is without condition is demonstrated by Christ dying for us "while we were yet sinners," and therefore enemies of God, who were not even seeking Him (Rom. 3:11). Because you had nothing to do with initiating it in the first place you can be sure it cannot be thwarted thereafter, not by you, not by anyone or any thing.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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
Furthermore He is saying compare for yourselves this love men. For one will hardly die for a righteous man, though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God! and He continues. If God had only died for good men we could understand that. The ever worldly and erroneous statement is that "God helps those who help themselves". But the idea that God died, furthermore, sacrificed His only begotten Son for the "ungodly" and "sinners" blows such a worldly notion out of the water. When's the last time you sacrificed your beloved one for your enemy?
Love, Agape, it's defined as charity or sacrificial love. That sacrificial part is what's missing from society and sadly often overlooked by us in the church. Christ said the world will know that we are His disciples by our love for one another? So let me ask this, does the church look different than the world? Do we stand out so as an unbeliever says wow, that love is not of this world..? We often are open to loving one another as long as we have resources to spare but when we're busy? It's no wonder than the enemy keeps us busy and feeling like we have not the time nor the resources. If that's not enough he'll try to get us doubting our salvation so we'll focus on that instead of telling others about the hope that is in us (1 Pet. 3:15). He attempts to get us focused on the waves so we will stop telling others they can step out of the boat (Matt. 14:29). To spend more time worrying and less time rejoicing (Phil. 4:4). Agape is the kind of love that drives people to willingly spend (sacrifice, be charitable with) their resources on behalf of others; their time and money and even their heart and soul (Luke 10:27-28).
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. - Romans 5:9
"having now been". Past tense. Since that is done, therefore "we shall be" future tense, yet to come (1 Thess. 1:9-10) "saved from the wrath of God". The wrath that is going to come when God judges the world (Rev. 16:1). If Christ died for us while we were still sinners in rebellion to God how much more then is He by the same motivation of His love, going to save us from the wrath to come? "through Him". The only means, the only avenue, the only Way.
6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. - John 14:6
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. - Romans 5:10
"having been reconciled" past tense "while we were enemies". The reconciliation to God happened while we were still enemies, accomplished through the death of His Son. If His death could reconcile me while I was an enemy, how much more will his life establish this loving relationship between God and me! "We shall be" future tense. Salvation is the end of the Christian career and includes both justification and sanctification. You cannot be saved and not sanctified, they are a package deal and as we discussed before, they are a guarantee (Rom. 4:16).
Because all of this comes only by way of Christ (John 14:6) then had Christ only died on the cross for sins we would have only been reconciled or other words, the wrath of God would have been satisfied for us but that's it. However these "much mores" are great because much more than just having the wrath of God satisfied is being raised in Jesus Christ into a life and relationship with God for eternity. This is why the resurrection was crucial. Like Paul said, if there was no resurrection than nothing matters and we are to be pitied (1 Cor. 15:16-19).
11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. - Romans 5:11
We can exult in God or boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have now (present tense) received the reconciliation, fully confident that what He has started in us He will complete. When we enter into this relationship with God, while there is still work to be done (hence the reason for tribulations), we have a guarantee that Christ will be successful. That He will bring about in us what He started. That Christ who is the author of our faith will indeed be the perfecter of it as well (Heb. 12:2). That Him who began a good work in us will complete it come the day of the Lord (Phil. 1:6). This is the promise from God who gave us the Holy Spirit as a pledge, a seal, a guarantee of our inheritance to come.
22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. - 2 Corinthians 1:22
5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. - 2 Corinthians 5:5
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, - Ephesians 1:13
How can you know you've been transferred from the realm of being God's enemy to being in a relationship with God? Well many ways actually (Rom. 5:5, 7:20, 1 John 3:10) but consider the transformation that has transpired in you thus far in light of what we just read in Romans 5. When you were yet a sinner and an enemy of God your mind was at enmity with God (Rom. 8:7, Col. 1:21) and hostile toward Him. But now you are no longer hostile but you concur with the law of God in your inner man (Rom. 7:22) even if your body still wages war. This is the work of Christ in you (Rom. 7:25-8:2).