Since we began the book of Romans, Paul has addressed the majority of the chapters to the Jews. After beginning with the fact that God separated him unto the Gospel concerning the Son of God [Romans 1:3], which is a Gospel that has the natural ability to save [Romans 1:16], (This gospel is given in its entirety in 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4 Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day according to the scriptures.), Paul then turned his attention to the Jews. The Jews that Paul was writing to had a false belief that just because they were Jews, they were righteous before God, regardless of how they acted. This of course was not true, and Paul uses Abraham, the father of the Jews, to prove his point. God did not declare Abraham as righteous because of circumcision, but because he took God at His word [Romans 4:3]. Righteousness comes out from faith, not by works or by any quality of law. Some of the Jews thought that because they had the Mosaic Law they would be found righteous before God; however, the Law was not given so that man could be found righteous before God, rather, it was given so that everyone would be without an excuse and all would become accountable to God[Romans 3:19]. The righteousness of God did not come through circumcision, nor was it found in any quality of law. It came through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came in the flesh, and died for the sins of the whole world. Directing faith at Christ through the Gospel for salvation – Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day – is how we become righteous before God. For it was Christ’s resurrection that proves we are righteous before God through faith [Romans 4:25]. Now Paul turns his attention from the Jews, to those that God declared righteous through faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1-11 “Therefore, having been declared righteous out from faith, we have peace with God though our Lord Jesus Christ. Also through whom we are in a state of having access by the faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast upon the hope of God’s opinion. And not only this, but we also boast in tribulations, intuitively knowing that tribulations work out patience and patience works out proof, and proof works out hope and the hope will not put to shame, because the love from God is in a state of having been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who He gave to us. For while we were yet weak, in due time Christ died on behalf of the ungodly. For with difficulty on behalf of a righteous man, one will die; even perhaps on behalf of a good man, one may also dare to die. However, God demonstrates His love towards us, for while we were yet sinners Christ died on behalf of us. Therefore, much more having been justified now by His blood shall we be saved from wrath through Him. For since being enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled we shall be saved by his life. And not only, but also we boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we now have reconciliation.”
Romans 5:1 “Therefore, having been declared righteous out from faith, we have peace with God though our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“Therefore” always goes back to the preceding context. It was because Christ was delivered over because of the result of our trespasses and God the Father raised Him from the dead, that we have been declared righteous. We offend God before we sin because we first determine to do something that lacks in character. Although this determination is not a sin, for sin is always an act, you must determine to commit an act of lawlessness before you will do it. Since sin is the result of our trespasses, the result of these trespasses was why Christ was handed over for death. In fact, an offense caused our natures to become bent towards doing acts of lawlessness. Now it is often far easier for us to do an act of unrighteousness that an act of righteousness. However, since Christ was delivered over because of our sins – the result of trespasses – through faith, we are justified before God. The result of being justified before God is that we now have peace with God. We have peace with God through Christ only.
Romans 5:2 “also through whom we are in a state of having access by the faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast upon the hope of God’s opinion.”
We now, and always will, have access to this grace wherein we stand by faith. This is a state of having access, we had access from the point of salvation, we have access right now, and we will continue to have access indefinitely. This access is not going away, ever.
The faith that provides this access is taking God at His word regarding the work of His Son. This is not just believing, but believing something specific because faith is always based upon a promise. Our promise is this context is that all who believe that God the Father raised Jesus from the dead, who was delivered because of the results of our trespasses and was raised because of our justification, will be saved.
Grace is an attitude of God’s whereby He gives a benefit without consideration of merit. Since we now stand in this grace, in which God is not considering our merit, we can boast in the hope of God’s opinion. Not considering merit is not ignoring sin, grace never overlooks sins; rather, God provided a way for grace to be manifested through Jesus Christ.
It is God’s opinion of us that give us a basis to boast. The basis for hope is always a promise. Faith gives hope substance and makes it a reality in our lives – Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the substance for things hoped for, the evidence of the not seen accomplished deeds. We have promises: we are righteous before God through faith in Jesus Christ and we have peace with God. It is not about what we did, or do, it is about what He did, and continues to do. God’s opinion of one who is in Christ is that they are righteous before Him, not because they are always doing things right, but rather because Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to them. Righteousness is imputed by faith, not earned by works.
We also have peace with God. God is not angry with us. He is not sitting on his thrown waiting to punish us; He is at peace with us.
Romans 5:3 “And not only this, but we also boast in tribulations, intuitively knowing that tribulations work out patience…”
We have more to boast in than just God’s opinion of us regarding righteousness and peace, as if that is not enough. We can also boast in tribulations. How so? Tribulations are times of trouble that are brought about because of persecution. God uses these tribulations to produce patience in us. A tribulation tests our faith and through this testing, produces patience. James 1:2, 3 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you fall into diverse temptations, experientially knowing that the testing for approval of your faith works out patience.” This testing is not to determine if you have enough faith, but rather what the quality of the faith is that you have. Remember, Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of accomplished deeds not seen. Faith is not blind; it is based upon a promise. Tribulations bring opportunities to understand your faith through patience. Since faith is taking God at His word, the only way you are going to know if you will take Him at His word is through patience in tribulations. The human will produces patience in circumstances; although, not entirely on its own. The human will needs something to focus on, something the give it hope. Patience is a long holding out, usually with circumstances. Tribulations give us the opportunity to grow in patience.
Romans 5:4 “and patience works out proof, and proof works out hope…”
Patience puts hope to the test not to determine what is bad or wrong with it, but rather to determine what is good. Patience will work out proof that the hope is real, for this proof will in itself work out hope. Since a promise from God is the basis for hope, it is not a matter of if we will receive what God has promised, but when we will receive it. In tribulation with patience a promise from God can be relied upon to take you through the time of trouble. In this case, the promises that God gave us are already in our possession. We are righteous before God, not will be righteous before God. We have peace with God and we have access into this grace wherein we stand through faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:5 “and the hope will not put to shame, because the love from God is in a state of having been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who He gave to us.”
Hope will not put us to shame because the Holy Spirit pours out the love that God has for us in our hearts. The heart of a man is the center, where the spirit, soul, and body come together. Within the heart, reside the determinate will and the person.
The heart of a man:
· Has the ability to think, Matthew 9:4 “and Jesus, intuitively knowing their thoughts said, why do you think evil in your hearts?”
· Has the ability to rejoice, Acts 2:26 “Because of this my heart was caused to rejoice….”
· Can be filled with sorrow, John 16:6 “but because of said this to you, your hearts are filled with sorrow”
· Obedience can come from the heart, Romans 6:17, “…but out from the heart you obeyed that form of doctrine that was delivered to you.”
· Can be deceived, Romans 16:18, “….and through smooth and flattering speech they thoroughly deceive the hears of the unsuspecting” [unsuspecting, innocent, harmless]
· Possess the determinate will, 1 Corinthians 4:5 “…and will manifest the determinations of the heart…” All three parts of a man express desires. The desires of the body relate to physical things for its well being and comfort; the desires of the soul relate to emotions; the desires of the mind relate to logics. However, what we actually do has to be determined. We choose from the desires that we have the ones we will do.
As far as the location of the heart, it is not in your chest, but rather in your head. It is here, within the heart – the center of our being, that all we do is determined. This is where the Holy Spirit poured out the love of God with the result that His love abides in us.
The love that the Holy Spirit poured out in our hearts is a type of love that seeks the best for the one being loved. This truly is God’s love. We can show this type of love in our lives also, but only because we now have the Holy Spirit, who, when we are framing our minds on the things above – our position and possessions in Christ- and governing the manner of our life according to those things, will manifest Christ’s character in us, Galatians 5:22,23. One of the aspects of this character is this same type of love. This love is supposed to be directed at other believers, John 13:34, 1 John 4:11, which is how we show God our love for Him, 1 John 4:12.
Romans 5:6 “For while we were yet weak, in due time Christ died on behalf of the ungodly.”
While we were weak, feeble, had no strength, Christ died on behalf of the ungodly. Ungodly means not manifesting the life of God. Paul has already addressed that fact that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory or opinion of God. There were no righteous ones, not one. Christ’s death was not an un-timely death; rather it happened at the correct time. The Son of God came to be found in the outward form of a man at the exact time appointed by God, Philippians 2:7. The prophets spoke of this time, and many signs where presented for the Jews to identify His coming. Although Jesus came to fulfill the prophecy of a Messiah to the Jews, it was through His death that He became Christ – the risen and glorified one, Acts 2:26. Jesus’ death did many things: It showed the spirit beings that God had been acting right in regard to man’s sin in the past, Romans 4:25; It was a satisfaction for the sin of the whole world, 1 John 2:2; It reconciled man to God, 2 Corinthians 5:18; And it provided salvation for all those who direct a God given faith at Christ through the Gospel for salvation, 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4. This was all done without any effort from mankind, for we did not possess that ability to do it.
Romans 5:7 “For with difficulty on behalf of a righteous man, one will die; Even perhaps on behalf of a good man, one may also dare to die…”
For whom would you die? Certainly not one who is wicked, ungodly, unmerciful, cruel, and wants nothing to do with you. Laying your life down for another is not an easy thing to do; however, there are some whom we greatly care for that we would do so.
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His love towards us, for while we were yet sinners Christ died on behalf of us.”
God demonstrated His love towards us by way of comparison. The word translated “demonstrate” means to put together by way of comparison or combination; hence, to show, prove, establish, or exhibit. This comparison is the fact that while we were still sinners Christ dies on our behalf. What man would die for one who has totally rejected him?
Romans 5:9 “therefore much more having been justified now by His blood shall we be saved from wrath through Him”
We are not appointed to any quality of wrath, 1 Thessalonians 5:9. Christ’s blood has justified us before God, which means, we will not face God’s wrath. Whether it is the Great Tribulation where God’s wrath is poured out upon the earth, or judgment for our sins. Since we are justified through the blood of Christ, we are also saved from the wrath of God.
Wrath is the outward manifestation of anger. There are different ways that God manifests His wrath towards mankind. Some that we may not even think are a manifestation at all. Like, how it is manifested in Romans Chapter 1 where God’s wrath is revealed by allowing mankind to continue in its rejection of God and perversion of mind and body. At first, it seems as those who do wrong, pervert who God is, and their bodies are not punished for their wicked ways. However, this is not true, God is allowing them to fill up to the full His wrath that will come upon them.
Soon, God will manifest His wrath in a very visible way in the time known as the Great Tribulation. The Great Tribulation happens shortly after the rapture. The rapture is the snatching away of the Church from earth, 2 Thessalonians 2:3. All who are in Christ, both those having died and those still living, will be caught up to meet Him in the sky, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. Christ saved us from this wrath, for we are not appointed unto any quality of wrath, 1 Thessalonians 5:9.
God will not allow you as a Christian to be condemned with the world, so he chastens or child trains, you when you continue to sin, 1 Corinthians 11:32; Hebrews 12:6, 7. This is a manifestation of God’s love towards us. Remember, the type of love that is poured out in our hearts is a love that seeks the best for the one loved. Since we are now justified before God, we will not face any of God’s wrath.
Romans 5:10 “for since being enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled we shall be saved by his life.”
Reconciliation is the act of bringing two or more parties that disagree into an agreement. The death of Christ brought about this reconciliation because it satisfied God. It paid the penalty for our sins. And now, since Christ has been raised from the dead because of our justification, we are now reconciled to God.
Romans 5:11 “and not only, but also we boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we now have reconciliation.”
God did all this work, therefore, our boast is in God through Jesus Christ. For it is only through Jesus Christ that we have access to this grace wherein we stand.
Justification comes by faith; it always has come by faith. Abraham believed and God counted it to him as righteousness. The promises that God gave to Abraham and his seed were not based upon them keeping the Law, but rather, by taking God at His word. Even under Law, the Jews still had to believe that God was in the temple to be saved. The Law in itself would not save them. In fact, God did not give the Law for salvation, it was given to shut every mouth and make all accountable before God. Christians do not have the promises of Abraham, nor are we included in the inheritance of the Jews; however, our salvation also comes out from faith. We direct faith at Jesus Christ through the Gospel for salvation. By taking God at His word, He reckons that faith to as for righteousness.
We did not earn the right to be saved, we could not earn the right to be saved. We had no strength and were lost in our sins. Our salvation comes because God did something no one else would do, He sent His Son to pay our penalty at a time when we in no way deserved to be saved.
However, now that we are saved, we can have confidence in the promises that God has given us. By taking God at His word, these promises bring hope, and hope does not put us to shame. Even when times of trouble come, no matter how hard they are, because the promises that we have are real, the only thing tribulations are going to bring is a deeper conviction in the promises, for they will in themselves put the promises to the test to determine what is good in them, which will strengthen our hope. Tribulations work out patience, patience works out proof (approval), proof works out hope. Hope, because the promises are real. Because of that, we can boast, not only in God’s opinion of us, but also even in tribulations.
In Christ Jesus, we are now righteous before God, not by our own works, rather, because God has imputed Christ’s righteousness to us. Since we now have this righteousness, shouldn’t we govern the manner of our lives accordingly?
