Having proved his point that Abraham
was justified by faith and not by circumcision and that Abraham is the father
of us all and thus we are all justified by faith alone, Paul now turns to the
miracle of justification itself, in chapter 5.
Now that a person is justified by
faith, he or she has peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Justification comes through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and by no other
means. “I am the way and the truth and the life,” said Jesus. Jn.14:6,
and no one comes to the Father except through him. Jesus has ushered us into
the very presence of God. He has opened the door for us to the presence of God,
and our simple trust in Christ brings us this justification.
Being justified brings us many
blessings, especially that of having peace with God. We are no longer enemies
of God, but we have become God’s friends. Thus, we have peace with God, since
we are reconciled with Him through Jesus Christ. We were estranged in the
Garden of Eden, because of the Fall and now we are reconciled with God because
of Jesus Christ’s death.
In the new status, which is the
result of our justification, we have gained access by faith into His grace, and
we stand now in that privileged position. Jesus had called his disciples his
friends, and not servants, John 15:15, for they had learnt about the
Father’s concern for mankind and are involved in His business. It is a change
in the relationship that we have with God in the spiritual realm. This has come
about through Jesus Christ.
This reconciliation enables us to
rejoice in hope of the glory of God, the glory of God, which will be revealed
in us in future. Romans 8:18. We will share in the glory, which will be
that of Christ, in eternity. 2 Corinthians 4:17; Colossians 3:4.
That is the legitimate hope that we can entertain once we are justified. Verses
1 & 2.
But will this peace that is promised
to us, will it be with us throughout, especially when we live in this world of
trouble and turmoil, sin and sickness? What happens when sufferings come our
way? Will our faith be destroyed by these sufferings?
Paul says verses 3 to 5, that
sufferings will only strengthen our faith. It will help us to make moral
progress. Suffering produces perseverance; troubles will only produce endurance
in us. Our faith will never be destroyed by worldly tribulations. 1
Corinthians 10:13. Lord will not allow us to be tempted beyond our
endurance.
Perseverance in turn produces character.
Character formation is most important in the spiritual realm. As one struggles
to overcome temptations and tests, one builds up a strong moral fibre. Yes, as
in body building, there is no gain without pain. God uses life’s difficulties
and Satan’s attacks on us to build our character, like a silver being refined
in fire or gold tested in fire. Isaiah 48:10; 1 Peter 1:7
Character gives rise to hope, hope of
our future, salvation, justification, reconciliation and glorification. We are
sure of these, because God has assured us, by pouring out His love into our
beings by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.
We receive a deep assurance of God’s
love, for “God is love,” 1 John4:8, and in giving us love, God is simply
imparting to us something of His own nature. It comes to us through the Holy
Spirit, for love is also a gift of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22.
Now Paul goes on to show the extent
of God’s love for us that he justified us through the death of His Son Jesus
Christ. When we were still powerless to bring in our own salvation, Christ came
in to save us. He did this by dying for us on the cross. Verse 6. We couldn’t
have saved ourselves by our merits or good deeds, and in that helplessness and
weak condition, Christ came to help us.
In the real world, rarely will anyone
die for a righteous man. May be for a good person, some one might think of
dying. In India, a few people immolate themselves when a mass leader like M.G.
Ramachandran or Jayalalitha died, which is a very emotional response and not a
committed, thoughtful sacrifice. Verse 7.
In our case, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us and God demonstrated His love for us in this
manner. We were not worthy that Jesus should die in our place. We were neither
virtuous or worthy that he should have died for us, yet he did. That was a
voluntary sacrifice, which he brought himself to commit for our sake. Verse 8.
God loved us even before we loved
Him. 1 John 4:19. “We love because He first loved us.” God made no
demands on us. 1 John 4:10. It was His own initiative to redeem us from
our sinful state that forced Him to go to this extent.
We have been justified, that is,
declared ‘non-guilty,’ by the blood of Jesus Christ. We have been saved from
the wrath of God though Jesus Christ’s atoning death. We deserved punishment
for our sins, but Christ saved us by dying for us. Verse 9.
Christ’s death was the ground for our
justification, the initial act of salvation, whereby we are saved. Because of
that we are saved from the wrath of God, which otherwise would have fallen on
us on the Last Judgment Day. We have been acquitted from our past sins and
God’s love will keep us safe till the end, through the Holy spirit.
We have been reconciled to God
through the death of His Son Jesus Christ; and we shall be saved by his life, the
resurrected life, into eternity. John 14:19. “Because I live, you also
will live.” Verse 10.
Is there need for any other guarantee
to our souls?
We now can rejoice in God, through
our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have received reconciliation with God.
God has made peace with us sinners, taking us back into His bosom, as our
loving Father. What we lost in Eden in Adam, we regained in justification
through Christ. It is a full circle in human history.
Are you justified? Have you been
washed by the blood of the Lamb? Have you been declared ‘non-guilty’ by God?
Are you sure of your salvation? Have you been reconciled to God? Are you filled
with the love of God? Are you confident of your future glory in resurrection?
If not, go to the Author and Finisher
of our faith, Jesus Christ, repent and seek forgiveness for your sins and
obtain his pardon and mercy and love. As a result, let His peace flow through
your whole body.
Do not neglect so great a salvation.
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