Romans 5:1-11: "The Result of Justification"

The beginning of Ch. 5 ends the example of Abraham as proof that from the beginning salvation has always come by grace through faith. Paul has done a wonderful job using scripture and Jewish tradition to show his readers that man is saved only through the blood of Christ and not by works. The transition of Ch.5 begins with "Therefore". This therefore, was used to summarize all that had been said in the previous two chapters. Basically, Paul is saying, "because we have seen that salvation comes through faith and not by works, we can all agree that we have "been justified by faith". Justification is the act in which we are deemed as righteous by God through the imputation of Christ's righteousness into the faithful believer. It is as if we have lived Christ's perfect life and He has already bore the wrath of God for our sin on the cross. We will notice from the language Paul uses that justification is a one time process never to be reversed. He says, "having been justified". When God deems us righteous through the blood of Christ it is a one time thing that will stand forever. Once we are justified we are always justified. One of the tremendous benefits of justification is that now we have, "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ". Paul had previously shown us that we are all at war and enmity with God. We all have sinned, none of us choose righteousness. Romans 2:5, "But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath . . ." The beautiful reward of being justified by God, is that through "our Lord Jesus Christ" we are now at peace with Him. We no longer are in opposition to the most powerful force in the history of the world. We can lay our heads down at night and know that we have peace with the God of the universe.

Paul goes on to tell us of another reward we receive through justification, "through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith in this grace in which we stand". We can experience the everlasting grace of a loving father. At first, some may be defensive when they find out that their salvation was not predicated on anything they did. They may fight and clamor for some type of part in this act of salvation. However, if we sit back and really think about it, how wonderful to know that we do not control our salvation. I am much more comforted to know that my salvation is in the hands of my gracious Father, rather than my sinful self. It is a beautiful thought to know that despite all that I have done to Him, it is because of grace that I am saved. MacArthur writes, "Histemi (stand) here carries the idea of permanence, of standing firm and immovable. Although faith is necessary for salvation, it is God's grace, not the believer's faith, that has the power to save and to keep saved."

Another reward of justification is the ultimate goal of the "hope of the glory of God". This is not a 'I hope it comes true', but rather the very hope that is a certainty. We only have to hope for it, because we have not attained it yet. But one day in eternity we will be glorified w/ God in heaven. MacArthur writes, "As the apostle has already established, salvation is anchored in the past because Christ has made peace with God for all those who trust in Him (5:1). It is anchored in the present because, by Christ's continual intercession (Heb. 7:25), every believer now stands securely in God's grace (v. 2a). Next he proclaims that salvation is also anchored in the future, because God gives every one of His children the unchangeable promise that one day they will be clothed with the glory of His own Son."

We can see Paul's enthusiasm and joy increasing as he tells his readers of the wonderful rewards of justification. He continues, "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint." Only Christians can exult in their tribulations. Because we have the hope of salvation, and can understand that God has his sovereign hand on everything, we can rejoice in our tribulations. Paul explains the eventual results of tribulations. When we are faced with trials we gain perseverance, and when we have learned perseverance God creates in us proven character, and the proven character is evidence in our own live of our salvation, which gives us our hope in glorification with God. It is amazing to see the pattern God has set out for our lives to show us that we are children of His. We are exhorted several times in scripture to be joyful during trials. James 1:2-3, "Consider it all joy my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." Also, we can see the apostles living this out in Acts 5:40-41, "And they took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them to speak no more in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name."

Paul then goes on to say that we will never be disappointed in our hope that we have because, "the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." How joyful and excited should we be in the fact that the God who was once our enemy is now our Father who loves us. MacArthur writes, "God even graciously imparts His love to us. For those who accept His offer of salvation, God takes His indescribable and undeserved love and pours it out within the hearts of those who believe, through His own Holy Spirit who he gives to them". It is interesting to note that instead of His wrath being poured out, it is now His love being poured out. We are told that the love being poured out to us is through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit asks as our guide to lead us in truth, and as our comfort as evidence for our being justified.

MacArthur continues to explain, "Knowing that his readers would want to know more about the quality and character of the divine love that filled them, Paul reminds them of the greatest manifestation of God's love in all history, perhaps in all eternity: For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. While men were utterly helpless to bring themselves to God, He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us, notwithstanding the fact that we were ungodly and completely unworthy of His love." Paul has done a wonderful job painting the picture of man's utter depravity in the previous 4 chapters. He has made us aware of our complete and utter dependence upon God for salvation. In Eph. 2 we see that we were, "dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest." Despite our demeanor towards God as one of complete rebellion, He still decided to come in the middle of our helplessness to provide a way for salvation.

To help us fully understand on a human level how amazing that sacrifice was Paul exclaims, "For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die." Paul is basically saying it takes a pretty amazing person to sacrifice his life for someone he loves. But imagine dying for someone who utterly despised you. That is how ridiculous God's love is for us. In fact, "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Showing us that it was nothing we had done to make us attractive to save, Paul tells us that even while we were in utter and complete rebellion towards God, He still came and died for our sins. MacArthur writes, "Even when men openly hate God and do not have the least desire to give up their sin, they are still the objects of God's redeeming love as long as they live."

To help us understand the certainty with which God will deliver them, Paul explains, "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him." If God died for us and gave up His Son for us when we were in complete rebellion to Him and enemies with Him, how much more should we be secure in His love for us as believer's who have been covered by the blood of Christ? Paul continues to reiterate the point saying, "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." Paul continues to revel in the wondrous result of justification for the believer. His desire is to help him understand that it is only by grace through faith that we are justified, and to be justified holds all of these wonderful promises. To finish his thought off and give the final result of our justification he adds, "And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation." As believer's we should be exulting in our wonderful God who provided this plan of reconciliation. MacArthur writes, "The abundant joy that God gives His children through the Lord Jesus Christ includes grateful joy in their salvation and simply in who God is."

As a Christian it is no wonder we should have constant joy. Paul has done a remarkable job to either introduce us or remind us of the wonderful rewards we have in being justified before God. This is one reason why we can be joyful at all times.