“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
Paul the Apostle devoted a substantial portion of Romans chapter four to a discussion of Abraham’s faith. Here in chapter five, Paul will now offer another Biblical example to support his teachings. But this time, Paul’s investigation will lead him to events that took place long before Abraham’s birth. In fact, he will return to the origin of human existence to illustrate the enormous value of Jesus’ atoning work on our behalf.
But before we get into that portion of Romans chapter five, Paul will build on the concept of justification by faith that he established in the preceding chapters. That discussion will center on the benefits that accrue to those who place their faith in Christ. Paul will begin this chapter by listing several of those blessings, such as…
- Peace (verse one).
- Access to God (verse two).
- The development of positive characteristics such as perseverance, character, and hope, even in the midst of tribulation (verses three and four).
- The love of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit (verse five).
- Deliverance from God’s wrath (verse nine).
- Reconciliation with God (verse ten).
- Rejoicing in God through Christ (verse eleven).
We begin this chapter with a now-familiar reference to the word “Therefore.” This transitional word links Paul’s teaching from the closing verse of the previous chapter with the catalog of blessings he will chronicle for us over the next few verses. We should also note the specific construction of this passage: “…since we have been justified by faith” (ESV). Much like a final verdict rendered in a human court of law, justification by faith results in a judicial declaration of one’s right standing before God.
That assurance brings us to a quality that is often elusive for many: peace. On a personal level, the fear of death may be the greatest impediment to peace that most human beings face. However, those who have been justified by faith can face the afterlife without apprehension. As Jesus reminded us in the Gospel of John…
“Let not your hearts be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in me. There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me where I am. If this weren’t so, I would tell you plainly” (John 14:1-3 TLB).
We’ll continue this discussion concerning the peace that justification by faith brings in our next study.