Romans 5:1-11
“Therefore being justified by faith” (v. 1). Paul is speaking to believers. Being justified by faith is the starting point of every believer’s walk with Christ. Being justified by faith establishes a relationship with God the Father that is not dependent upon the law. Jesus satisfied the law for all who believe. Believers are justified in the sight of God because God counts belief for righteousness (Gen. 15:6). God views the hearts of men and sees all. God knows those who trust Him and those who lean to their own understandings.
Being justified by faith means God sees the righteousness of His Son in all who believe. Being justified by faith means that one will be changed in the twinkling of the eye when Jesus returns (I Cor. 15:52). It means that one will dwell in the presence of the Lord for all eternity. Being justified by faith means that one is sealed by the Holy Spirit whose presence is evidence that one belongs to God (Eph. 1:13-14). It means one has been purchased by the price which Jesus paid upon the cross.
Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is the avenue by which believers have access to grace — access to the unmerited favor of God. Because we stand in God’s unmerited favor, we rejoice in hope of His glory (v. 2). Hope, by itself, is colored with hews of uncertainty. God is not willing that believers be uncertain. It was for this purpose that He sent the Comforter (Jn. 14:16). For believers, hope of His glory is certain — as certain as His creation. The sun, moon, stars, the earth, and all life speak of the certainty of His glory. We rejoice in the expectation (certainty of hope) of His return.
In verse 3, Paul states that we (believers) glory in tribulation. No one, believers included, relishes the stresses which tribulation brings. Everyone rejoices when troubles disappear. Believers, alone, rejoice during tribulation because, standing before God in grace by faith, we know that all things work together for good to them that love God (Rom. 8:28). Believers can rejoice in tribulation because God is true to His every promise. Good shall come from tribulation. It is as certain as the sun, moon, and the earth itself.
Tribulation produces patience (v. 3). Patience is the ability to endure hardship without getting angry or upset. Patience is an unnatural thing. Jesus demonstrated patience by enduring the slow understanding of the disciples and by answering the Pharisees with grace rather than wrath. Jesus willingly suffered death upon the cross, forgiving those who crucified him (Luke 23:34). His patience is characterized as “long-suffering,” choosing love over immediate judgment. Through tribulation, believers are empowered to become more like Jesus.
Patience, in turn, produces experience. Experience, in this instance, is manifested in Christlike behavior — the behavior of Him who came to reveal God’s love to all men. When we witness Christ in ourselves, we see that which is not of our doing. We see and we have hope, the expectation that we shall be transformed like unto Him (Phil. 3:21). Our hope is certain, evidenced by the work of the Holy Spirit which dwells within our hearts (v. 5). We become increasingly aware of the love which is He has bestowed upon us. Awareness of His love is cause to grow in knowledge of His love and to be moved to love one another as He loves us.
In verses 6 through 8, Paul iterates upon the love which the Holy Spirit has revealed to believers. The apostle describes the spiritual condition of all men before Christ paid the sin debt upon the cross. All were helpless, unable to find God. When we, the ungodly, were without remedy, Christ died for us. Verses 7 and 8 capture a picture of God’s love. It is contrary to human nature for one man to lay down his life for another. One might consider dying for a righteous cause. Some men might be willing to die for a good man, but that is not what the Son did. Jesus Christ laid down His life, not for good or righteous men; He died for ungodly sinners who knew Him not. Such was the love of God before we knew Him.
God’s love is beyond measure. Because His love is beyond measure and because God responds to our believing Him, it is with absolute certainty that Paul declares: “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (v. 9). Because believers are justified, we are not subject to the wrath which is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness (see Rom. 1:18). There is wrath, however, which believers store up, which wrath shall be judged (see Rom. 2:5). We know to do good but do not do it. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins” (I Jn. 1:8-9). Jesus arose from the dead to sit at the right hand of the Father. Because Jesus lives and serves as an advocate for all whom He has made atonement, we have a better standing than when we did not know Him as Lord and Savior. Christ suffered all of the wrath which was reserved for us. We need merely ask, and forgiveness is given. His blood is sufficient to cover all transgression.
Our hope is based upon both what Christ has done and what He shall do. Our hope is certain. Because He died, we are reconciled. Because He lives, we joy in His promise: “I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3). Again, His love is beyond measure.
