Passage: Romans 5:1-2
The Big Idea
After proving that salvation comes only by being justified by grace through faith, Paul shows us the practical benefits. First, we have peace with God: not just a calm feeling, but an end to hostility, because the price has been fully paid. Second, through Jesus we have access by faith into all of God’s grace: everything we need, everything we long for and everything we’re called to become. We stand where we should have fallen, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory.
The Benefits of Justification (5:1-2)
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2).
Up to this point, Paul has shown that the only way of salvation is being justified by grace through faith. Now he explains the practical benefits. It’s far more than an interesting idea.
Justified by faith is a legal verdict. In Romans 1:18-3:20, we were found guilty before the court of God’s law, God’s glory and our own conscience. Then Paul explained how, because of what Jesus did, God’s righteousness is given to all who believe. The verdict “guilty” is replaced by “justified,” and justified by faith.
Peace with God
We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the first benefit. Because the price was paid in full by Jesus’ work on the cross, God’s justice toward us is satisfied forever.
- This isn’t first of all the peace of God that calms our hearts (Philippians 4:7), wonderful as that is.
- This is peace with God: the war is over. We’re no longer His enemies (Romans 5:10).
We used to be at peace with sin and at war with God. Now we’re at peace with God and at war with sin.
Spurgeon told a struggling believer, “I am delighted to find that sin stings you, and that you hate it… A sin-hating soul is a God-loving soul.”
Peace with God is a major benefit of the gospel. It reverses what happened in the garden of Eden. Adam and Eve hid from God; now we can come near.
Access to Grace
But there’s more!
- God justifies by faith. Faith in whom? In Jesus and what He did.
- We have peace with God through Jesus.
- Through Jesus we also have access into all God’s grace: all His gifts and goodness toward us. Also by faith.
- We stand. We stand when we should have fallen. His help holds us up when we aren’t strong enough.
- We rejoice in the hope of God’s glory: all that God is, His glory, will be our reality forever.
Access to grace is always by faith alone.
What Is Grace?
Bob Hoekstra, my teacher in the New Covenant, describes grace as God’s free provision for us through His Son, given as we humbly trust in the person and work of Jesus. It supplies everything we need, everything we long for, and everything we’re commanded to walk in and become. And all of it is given despite our inadequacy, because we could never deserve it, never earn it and never produce it ourselves.
Look again at that middle part: everything we need, everything we long for, everything we’re commanded to become.
Do we believe that?
Or do we think we need something more, long for something more, or have to produce what we’re commanded to become on our own?
Jesus is sufficient. But we experience the New Covenant by believing that He really is.
Grace Takeaway
The war between you and God is over; Jesus ended it at the cross. And now the door to all of God’s grace stands open, accessed by simple faith. What do you need right now? What do you need to become? What do you need God to do that you can’t do yourself? Bring it to Him. You stand in grace, and in that grace you have peace, help and a glorious hope.
For Discussion
- Why do we need peace with God?
- What does it look like to have this peace? What are the evidences?
- Is peace with God a gift or something earned? How do we receive it?
- Read Romans 1:7. Describe the relationship Paul describes between grace and peace.
- Whose faith justifies us? Faith in whom?
- What is grace? Do you believe Jesus provides everything you need, long for and are called to become?
- What do you need God to do in your life right now that you can’t do on your own?
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