1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
Paul began chapter 5 with the word “therefore”. In the English language, “therefore” is used as the segway to the final point that ties together the facts that were just presented. To sum it up, Paul said that because we are made right (or justified) in God’s sight by faith, these things are guaranteed to happen:
(1) We have peace with God. We no longer need to worry about our eternal salvation. We can rest in the peace and assurance that by believing in Christ, we will join Him in heaven the very moment that we leave this earth. We can enjoy the peace of mind in knowing that it is not based on anything that we do or don’t do. It is God’s free gift to us. All we need to do is ask, and it will be given to us.
(2) Christ has brought us into a place of highest privilege. Through our faith, we are now children of God. He has adopted us into His family, where we now enjoy all of the benefits of being a child of the most awesome, wonderful, loving, and powerful King of all time.
(3) We now stand confidently and joyfully in this place of highest privilege. Christ is now our high priest. He is our advocate – our representative. We no longer need to go through an earthly priest – we can go directly to God the Father, through God the Son, with the help of God the Holy Spirit. There is joy in having a relationship with God, and this joy comes from knowing that we will one day share in His Glory.
As we move ahead in chapter 5, Paul begins to take us down the path of living in Christ. Life in Christ is a two sided coin - Salvation on one side, and Sanctification on the other.
Salvation or Justification is the blessed assurance that we are now a child of God, and that our eternal destiny is guaranteed by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ. It can never be taken away from us. It is not based on anything that we did, and we most definitely don’t deserve it. It is accomplished 100% by our faith in Jesus Christ – nothing more and nothing less.
Sanctification is the process of learning how to be more and more like Christ. It is a work in progress, and it is often times a struggle. Paul comforted his Roman believers with words of hope. He asked them to look at life from a different perspective. Before they knew Christ, the trials of daily life were meaningless – they were mundane and pointless. But now that they know Christ, they can rejoice in everything that comes their way – even problems and trials – because they have the confident assurance of their salvation is backed by the eternal love of God that is manifested in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that fills our hearts with His love.
Paul continued in verse 6, by making an incredible statement that is oftentimes overlooked: Christ came at just the right time. What do you think would have happened if Christ would have come 1000 years sooner? Or maybe even 2000 years sooner, in the time of Abraham? Would people have believed? Probably not, why? The world wasn’t ready. As you read and study the Old Testament, you see God’s plan slowly unfold. God knows the hearts of man, and knew that man had to first be convinced that (1) there is only one true God, (2) that man is sinful by nature, (3) that man is separated from God by his sin, and (4) that man is in need of a savior.
What would have happened if God would have waited 1000 more years, or 2000 years and showed up today? Would we have believed? Most likely not. Even before the time of Christ, man has been progressing in knowledge of arts and science. We look back at the seven wonders of the ancient world in amazement of what they were able to accomplish with so little. But, can you imagine if some of the great minds of the first century could see us today? They would be blown away by what man has accomplished. They would think we are gods. If Christ showed up today, in the same humble manner that He had to in order to fulfill prophecy, would people have even recognized Him? All of His miracles would have been written of as special effects, or slight of hand. And if He was put to death as He had to be, would it have even made the news? If it did, I’m sure He would be put in the same news file as David Koresh, or Jim Jones – Just another religious whack job.
No, in God’s perfect plan, He sent His Son at the perfect time. But it gets better. Christ Himself said that there is no greater love than to give ones life for a friend (John 15:13). I disagree! As Paul pointed out in verse 8, God showed that there is no greater love than to give ones life for his enemies. Isn’t that incredible? Christ died for us when we were His enemies. Would you do that? Are you willing to take the place of a death-row inmate that killed someone you loved? Of course not – it defies logic. But that is exactly what Christ did for us. We owed a debt that we couldn’t pay, and He paid a debt that He didn’t owe, why? John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that anyone who believes in Him will never die, but have everlasting life.” He did it because He loves us, and because of that, we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God.
Study Questions
Do you feel God’s peace?
Do you realize that when you put your faith in Christ, your name is written in the Lambs Book of Life? Your eternal address is heaven, and there is no one that can erase your name from that book. How great is that? We can now live the rest of our lives here on earth, confidently and joyfully looking forward to the day when we will meet Christ face to face. That’s God’s promise.
Are you going through trials?
God never promised that He would keep us from trials, but He did promise that He would be with us through them. And, in doing so, He would help us learn to endure. Endurance develops strength of character, character develops our confidence in our salvation, and all of it will be worth it. Why? Because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love. Ask the Spirit to fill your heart. You won’t be disappointed.
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