THE BOOK OF ROMANS, Chapter 5, Results of Justification.

 

The Book of Romans, Chapter 5

Results of Justification

Romans chapter 5 is a major turning point in Paul’s argument about salvation. Paul explains, in chapters 1 through 4, that justification comes by faith apart from works of the Law. Paul now explains the results and implications of being justified before God.

Romans 5 teaches that through faith in Christ, believers move from Adam’s realm of sin, condemnation, and death into Christ’s realm of grace, justification, reconciliation, and life.

This is not merely theological theory. Paul intends it to reshape how we, as believers, view God, ourselves, our suffering, sin, salvation, and humanity itself.

This is a call for us as believers to rest in reconciliation with God, endure suffering with hope, reject self-righteousness, live from identity in Christ, trust grace more than sin, and worship God for salvation that could never be earned.

Results of Justification

Romans 5:1, Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, verse 2, through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God. Verse 3. And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations , knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; verse 4, and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; verse 5, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

(Commentary Break): It would be helpful for our understanding and application of these profound truths to define certain words:

(1). Justified – that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God by faith.

(2). Faith – This is not a tentative belief based on circumstances or personal view. It is the substance of things expectantly hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen which we know will come to pass based on God’s character and His promises.

(3). Grace – The unmerited, un-earnable favor of God.

(4). Tribulation – Afflictions, distress, anguish, persecution. (Please note: the Greek word used here, ‘thlipsis’, is the same word Jesus used to describe the Birth Pains tribulations from Matthew 24:3-14, And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

And Jesus answered and said to them, “(Referring to Seal 1 of the Birth Pains phase of the tribulation), see to it that no one misleads you.  For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people. (Next is Seal 2), And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. (Then comes Seal 3) For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be (Seal 4) famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

 (The comes Seal 5) Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. (Next Jesus uses recap of Seal 1 and Seal 5), And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, (Then comes the beginning of the Great Tribulation, Seal Six, the Seven Trumpet Judgments and the Seven Bowl Judgments) and then the end will come.

Paul is preparing Christians through the warning that their current trials and tribulations will be intensifying so they must not lose heart but they must endure; and these tribulations have the greater purpose of creating in them the perseverance necessary to endure; the proven character which is the maturity and completeness in likeness of Jesus. The development of character through perseverance is a refining process, akin to the refining of metals, where impurities are removed, and the true nature is revealed. This character is not merely moral integrity but a tested and proven faithfulness to God, reflecting the image of Christ, who is the ultimate example of perseverance and character; and this tested, tried and proven character will develop a hope within them Character, once developed through perseverance, leads to hope.

This hope is not wishful thinking, but a confident expectation rooted in the promises of God. The biblical concept of hope is often tied to the assurance of salvation and the future glory that believers will share with Christ (Romans 8:24-25).

This hope is anchored in the resurrection of Jesus, which is the foundation of Christian faith and the guarantee of eternal life (1 Peter 1:3-4).

The transformation from character to hope signifies a deepening trust in God’s faithfulness and a forward-looking perspective that transcends present circumstances.

This hope is also a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah, who would bring salvation and restoration to God’s people (Isaiah 53). In the New Testament, hope is a central theme, encouraging believers to remain steadfast in their faith and to look forward to the return of Christ (Titus 2:13).

And importantly, these words of instruction, preparation and encouragement were not only meant for the disciples (the Christians) of Paul’s day, but they are meant for you and for me, today. The End of All Things and His return is near. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 6. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Verse 7. For one will hardly die for a righteous person; though perhaps for the good person someone would even dare to die. Verse 8. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

(Commentary Break): Verses six through eight lay the foundation of justification; and verse eight is the recapitulation and the cornerstone. The profundity of this amazing truth is hard for even the regenerate mind to grasp. But it is the clarion call to all who can hear – God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Come to Him now! (End Commentary Break).

Verse 9. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. Verse 10. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Verse 11. And not only this, but we also celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Verse 12. Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned— verse 13, for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not counted against anyone when there is no law. Verse 14. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the violation committed by Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

Verse 15. But the gracious gift is not like the offense. For if by the offense of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many. Verse 16. The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one offense, resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the gracious gift arose from many offenses, resulting in justification. Verse 17. For if by the offense of the one, death reigned through the one, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Verse 18. So then, as through one offense the result was condemnation to all mankind, so also through one act of righteousness the result was justification of life to all mankind. Verse 19. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. Verse 20. The Law came in so that the offense would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, verse 21, so that, as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Commentary Break): Paul, in the foregoing (verses nine through twenty-one) compares and contrasts our former state – dead in our trespasses and sins, with our present and future state – made alive in Christ, and raised up with Him, seated with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. He shows the superiority of current state of being saved, justified and reconciled by God’s grace through faith. (End Commentary Break).

End Chapter 5.

“For by grace we have been saved”, “sozo” – made safe, in all circumstances, for all things are made to work together for our good, for all of us who are called according to His purpose; made whole, given a life, a destiny and an eternity of a greater purpose; made healthy, in all our activities, endeavors and relationships).

This is accomplished through faith, “pistis” – which is the substance of things you and I expectantly hope for and the evidence of things we do not yet see but which we know are coming to pass based on God’s character and His promises.

Glory, praise and thanks to God our Father, Jesus our Lord and the Holy Spirit our guide and comforter.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Next: (Coming Soon). The Book of Romans, Chapter 6, Believers Are Dead To Sin, Alive To God.

(Previous): The Book of Romans, Chapter 4, Abraham’s Justification by Faith.

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