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Text: Romans 5:1-11
Paul has established that man has to seek to be justified by God, not by himself. This offer of justification is dispersed through a promise. It’s accomplished by the Seed of Promise who is Jesus Christ. And it’s obtained by giving glory to God through faith in God’s promise and His ability to accomplish what He said He would.
Now, Paul will describe the accomplishments of Jesus Christ. Paul isn’t assuming his readers are all participants in this when he says “we”. But he is saying that if you do participate with God in reconciliation, this is what Jesus Christ has accomplished.
Peace with God
- What does peace with God mean?
- It means there isn’t a call for repetition of sacrifices anymore. The old agreement, the old testament testified of this new testament and gave way to this better covenant. The blood of bulls and goats that could never take away sin testified to the death of Jesus Christ which would be effectual once and for all. Since God the Father was satisfied by Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, then Christ’s work is eternal. It doesn’t need to be repeated.
- Isaiah 53:10-12 is the clearest prophecy of this event satisfying the Father.
- The pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand
- The Father shall be satisfied
- Colossians 1:19-20
- Hebrews explains this over and over in Hebrews 7:27, 9:12,26,28, 10:10.
- Does this mean everyone participates in this reconciliation? No.
Access to this grace
- Grace is favor. Maybe unmerited favor? But Jesus Christ grew in the Father’s grace according to Luke 2:40. So a definition that seems to cover the most ground without contradicting itself is favor.
- Grace has always been in operation, before, during, and after the law. The favor of God has always been in operation with people. What is new under the New Testament is peace with God, also known as the Father being fully satisfied in a man, the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
- Paul preached on Mars Hill that the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. The ignorance was the fact that the Seed was concealed until the fullness of time.
- The Father is no longer looking for a mediator.
- Grace is not a new thing in the New Testament.
- Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
- Moses finds grace in the eyes of the LORD and subsequently the Israelites in the wilderness are recipients of the favor of God according to Exodus 33.
- Solomon said God gives grace to the lowly which James reiterates (4:6).
- The particular grace Paul is discussing is peace with God through Jesus Christ.
- John 1:14-17
- Hebrews 13:20-21
Rejoice in hope of the glory of God
- Notice what the hope is in. Hope is in God’s glory.
- Rejoicing in hope is illustrated by salvation being put on as a helmet and a guard for the mind.
- Isaiah 59:17
- Ephesians 6:17
- 1 Thessalonians 5:8
Glory in tribulations
- Jesus said in him there is peace, but in the world there is tribulation for his people (John 16:33)
- Acts 14:21-23 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
- Going back to the Old Testament, Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season because he counted the riches of Christ greater than the riches of Egypt. Now see 2 Corinthians 1:3-5.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5.
- A Christian is not appointed to God’s wrath, but tribulation and affliction because of Christ is inevitable. Here’s the reason why. Jesus Christ himself had to go to the cross and to follow him as your Shepherd is to participate in Christian affliction.
The love of God poured out (vss 6-11)
- The love of God that occupies a Christian’s heart is the death of the LORD Jesus Christ on the cross for sins. John 3:16 is the classic statement.
- There is joy that Jesus Christ has provided atonement once for all.
- But it also shows the way to the crown is through the cross. Something
- Jesus Christ would say over and over and over again. Take up your cross and follow me. He that finds his life shall lose it, but he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.
- Paul would say if we suffer with him we’ll reign with him.
