The natural instinct of sinful man is that he must do something to merit salvation, but Paul is laying the foundation for a radical return to the original intent of Old Testament revelation. The doctrine of justification by grace through faith alone in the sacrifice of Christ for sinful men runs counter to every other religion in the world, but it is the only ground upon which an absolutely holy God can relate to sinners. In this chapter Paul completes his explanation of the necessity for salvation by grace. Man is utterly sinful and cannot be saved by personal performance (what he does) (Rom. 1:18-3:20). Even Abraham was saved by grace through faith (Rom. 4). This doctrine of justification by grace through faith offers peace and assurance of salvation to every believer.
The Fruit of Justification
In Romans 5:1-11 Paul reveals three benefits of justification, and each benefit is identified with the same phrase in the text. Because we are declared righteous we exult in hope (5:2), we exult in tribulation (5:3), and we exult in God (5:11). To exult means to rejoice, to celebrate, to be glad. Justification by faith allows the believer to have hope in spite of his own sinfulness, to joyfully accept tribulation because of how God uses it in the life of the believer, and to enjoy the very presence of God without fear of His judgment. How can this be?
Justification by Faith
The believer’s standing before God is not a righteousness of personal merit, but a righteousness by judicial decree. We are unworthy, but God, the Judge, declares that we are righteous because of our faith in what Jesus did on the cross for us. I am not righteous by personal merit. That is to say, I am not actually good enough in word and deed to be acceptable to God. “[God] justifies the ungodly” (Rom. 4:5). I am righteous by judicial decree. That is to say, I am acceptable to God by the merits of another in spite of my words and deeds. I am “being justified as a gift by His grace” (Rom. 3:24).
Vs.1: The result of this extravagent gift of God to the believer is peace with God. Bible scholars like to emphasize the difference between the peace of God and the peace with God. Peace of God is the freedom from fear we feel because we know our sins are forgiven; it is what we experience. The Peace with God is our judicial standing before God because we are trusting in His Son; it is what is true, regardless of what we feel. The peace of God may vary from time to time; some believers may not experience it because of their confusion about salvation; it is the result of my attitude toward my circumstances. Our peace with God is changeless, and all believers have it whether they know it or not; it is the result of God’s attitude toward me. In this passage Paul is talking about our peace with God (5:1); God has no wrath for the believer. By faith we have been introduced to God’s grace, and grace allows us to stand before Him without fear.
Vs 2: Justification by faith guarantees that believers can have the hope of glory. We actually can expect to go to heaven and live with God forever there. How can sinners have such a hope as this? Only by God’s grace. “Hope” as Paul uses this word in verse two, does not mean wishful thinking; it is a confident assurance. We are persuaded beyond a doubt that our faith in Christ qualifies us to stand before God in glory without fear of judgment. No salvation by any other means is possible, none other is needed.
Jesus Christ died on the cross to make the payment for sins. If I ask, He will forgive me for my sins and guarantee me salvation; then because of my justification by faith, I can have the peace of God and the hope of glory.
—to be continued
