The Righteousness of God: Peace with God
Therefore. Because we have been justified through faith, consequences follow. Not conditions but conclusions. Not promises but present possessions.
Peace with God. Access to grace. Hope of glory. These are not future possibilities but current realities for the justified.
Peace with God
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Justification produces peace. Not peace with ourselves or circumstances, but peace with God.
The war is over. Hostility has ended. We are no longer enemies but friends. The Judge has become Father.
Jesus Christ is the mediator of this peace. Through Him, we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
Access means introduction, like entering the king's presence. We stand in grace, not by our merit but by His favor.
Justification ends the war between God and man.
Rejoicing in suffering
"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
Peace with God does not eliminate suffering. It transforms it.
We rejoice in suffering because suffering is not meaningless. It produces perseverance, which forms character, which strengthens hope.
Trials refine and confirm faith. Suffering is God's tool to deepen our dependence on Him.
And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the guarantee of future glory.
Suffering produces character, and character produces hope.
While we were still sinners
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Human love has limits. Dying for a righteous or good person is rare. But Christ's love exceeds human love.
God demonstrates His love not just by declaring it but by dying for us. While we were still sinners. Not after we cleaned up. Not when we became worthy.
While we were enemies, Christ died for us. This is love for the undeserving. This is the scandal of grace.
The cross is the proof of God's love.
Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
How much more
"Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!"
If God reconciled us while we were enemies, how much more will He save us now that we are justified.
The logic moves from the greater to the lesser. The hard part is done. Justification guarantees final salvation.
For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life.
Christ's resurrection life secures our salvation. Not only His death but His life saves us.
Justification guarantees final salvation.
One man's act
"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned."
Paul introduces the Adam-Christ parallel. Sin entered through Adam; death followed sin. Death spread to all because all sinned.
Original sin: Adam's sin affects all his descendants. We are born in Adam, under sin's dominion.
But the gift is not like the trespass. Adam brought death; Christ brought life. But Christ's work exceeds Adam's in power and scope.
One sin (Adam's) brought condemnation. But grace covers many sins and brings justification. Grace is greater than sin.
Adam's sin brought death; Christ's obedience brings life.
Grace reigns
"For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous."
Adam's disobedience constituted many as sinners. Christ's obedience constitutes many as righteous.
Imputation works both ways: Adam's sin imputed to us, Christ's righteousness imputed to us.
The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.
Grace always exceeds sin. Sin abounded, but grace superabounded. Grace is not just sufficient; it is abundant.
Where sin increased, grace increased all the more.
Final exhortation
Romans 5 describes the blessings of justification: peace with God, access to grace, hope of glory, and the certainty of final salvation.
We rejoice in suffering because it produces character and strengthens hope. We rejoice in God because He has reconciled us through Christ.
Adam brought sin and death. Christ brings righteousness and life. Grace reigns through righteousness to bring eternal life.
Do not underestimate the power of sin. But do not underestimate the power of grace. Grace is greater. Grace is sufficient. Grace superabounds.
In Adam, all die. In Christ, all are made alive. If you are in Christ, you have peace with God now and salvation forever.
Closing prayer
Father, thank You for peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You for demonstrating Your love by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. May we rejoice in the hope of Your glory and persevere through suffering, knowing that grace reigns through righteousness to bring eternal life. In Jesus' name, amen.