The Blessings of Justification – Romans 5:1-5

Romans verse by verse. Having established the doctrine of justification by faith, the Apostle Paul now outlines the riches we possess in Christ.

This chapter: Contains a wealth of teaching concerning what the believer has in Christ. The Apostle now assumes that he and those addresses are enjoying the marvelous gift of salvation (Hendriksen)

This lesson: Focus now turns to the blessings the believer possesses because of his justification by faith. Not the phrase “we have” in Vs. 1 & 2

There are 4 blessings in these verses. As justified saints we now have…

A New Peace (Vs. 1)

The Meaning of this peace (1a)

1. Refers to our standing before God (position)
2. ‘peace’ = cessation of hostilities
3. Before Salvation we were enemies of God on account of our sin and therefore under his wrath
   1. Col. 1:20 “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross…”
   2. Ephesians 2:13-14 “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;”

The Mediator of this peace (1b)

1. This peace is obtained through Christ
2. Jesus is the Prince of peace! There is no peace outside of Christ.

A New Position (Vs. 2a)

The means of access

1. Through Christ – “by whom” We are again pointed to the mediatorial ministry of our Lord Jesus
2. Through faith

The place of access

1. Reference to our new standing in Christ
2. ‘stand’ = in the perfect tense. A permanent, unalterable condition. We have left enemy ground and now stand upon a place called grace!
3. 1John 3:1 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:”
4. As sons and daughters of the king, we have guaranteed access moment by moment, to the throne of grace: Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Before our salvation, the throne of God was to us a throne of judgment. Now it is a place where grace is dispensed into our lives.

A New Process (Vs. 2b-4)

A Sure hope (2b)

1. We have a know-so salvation
2. This hope is a joyous hope
3. The object of this hope is “the glory of God”
4. Hebrews 6:19 “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast,”

A Sanctifying hope (3-4)

1. Tribulations
   1. “not only so” = idea is “on top of all of that” or “in addition to that”
   2. ‘glory’ = same word translated ‘rejoice’ in Vs. 2.
   3. ‘tribulations’ = lit. means to crowd or press in upon, to be under pressure. It refers to the trials, troubles, persecutions, sufferings and testings of the Christian life. The word is also translated ‘affliction’, ‘anguish’, ‘persecution’, ‘trouble’ and ‘burdened’
   4. Question: How can one rejoice in times of suffering?
   5. Answer: Because we know something. We know that there are spiritual fruits that come as a result of trials. We recognize that suffering is one of the major things our Lord uses in our lives to perfect and mature us to make us more like Christ.
   6. James 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
   7. Note: The rejoicing is not in the trials themselves but in the knowledge of their positive effects in our lives.
   8. Illustration: Paul’s Attitude to suffering: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
   9. Illustration: Joseph’s attitude to suffering: Genesis 50:20
2. Patience
   1. Means to stay under something, to bear up. Has the sense of ‘endurance’ or ‘perseverance’
   2. Example: James 5:11 “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”
3. Experience
   1. Lit. means ‘proof’. A reference to Christian character. We come allow the trial to produce patience in our lives. That in turn brings us to a place of greater experience as we have proved the faithfulness of God in our lives practically.
   2. Note: This is why older saints who have walked with God have a wealth of experience to share
4. Hope
   1. Hope is now strengthened afresh as we have proved the faithfulness of God
   2. From this we see that the believer’s hope is two dimensional. The first reference is to the hope that springs from the assurance of our salvation. It is now strengthened afresh from the proof the believer has of the reality of his union with the Saviour (Haldane)

A New Power (Vs. 5)

The gift of the Holy Spirit

The operation of the Holy Spirit

1. “shed abroad” = to pour out. The word denotes both abundance and diffusion. The idea of spiritual refreshment and encouragement is conveyed through the metaphor of watering (Key)
2. “love of God” = the Divine love which we do not possess in our fallen human nature. It is the love which God is (1 John 4:8)
3. Spurgeon referred to this process as “the perfuming of the heart”

Conclusion

The clay and the Potter (Jeremiah 18:1-6)

1. Are you at peace with God? Have you been justified/saved?
2. How are you responding to the trials the Lord is allowing in your life? Are you submitting to the hands of the potter or resisting?

Sermon 20 of 42 in Romans Series

Sermon Audio Id: 111117213362