Romans 5:1-8
5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
I am a bit obsessive about access.
“My door is always open.” That statement sounds like good news to most of us. If an employer, teacher or elected official speaks those words to us with a welcoming smile, it means we enjoy access to that person — that this worthy personage will make time for us, no matter what else may be going on.
That’s the policy many of us operate under as pastors. A few of us publish office hours, but most of us are prepared to make time if the need is urgent. Figuratively speaking, our study doors are always open. A big part of ministry is offering people access to ourselves.
Access is a precious commodity in our world. In Washington, D.C., lobbyists pay big money in the form of campaign contributions to buy access to elected officials. Whenever a former senator or member of the president’s cabinet signs on with one of those lobbying agencies a few blocks from the Capitol, ethical alarms go off. Such a move causes consternation along the banks of the Potomac River. These former officials have recently had extraordinary access to the highest levels of government. It now appears they’re trying to sell that access to the highest bidder.
Access is an issue for members of racial-ethnic minorities trying to move into certain neighborhoods — just as it is for businesswomen seeking access to male-dominated social clubs where so many business deals are cut over power lunches.
People want to have exclusive access to a person, if only for a few moments.
The book of Romans is the apostle Paul's longest letter in the Bible, and Paul wrote this letter before he visited the Roman Church.
Paul was laying the groundwork before he visited because he might have been worried about how the visit would go. Paul wasn't sure the Roman Church would receive him, and he wasn't sure the Roman country would accept him.
Paul collected offerings from Gentile churches in Macedonia and Asia, and Paul was worried the Roman church would not take a gift from the Gentiles. This idea is funny because the Romans were oppressing the Jewish-born Christians while the Jewish-born Christians had trouble, including the Gentiles.
This church is also in the city of Rome, Roman leaders did not let their military generals come close to Rome because they feared a potential takeover, yet these people who professed to follow a king of kings lived in their city. The Roman Government was always scared of being overthrown, so much so that their military leaders couldn't come back home with their soldiers because the Government would see that as an attempted takeover. Now you have this group of people living in the city who were not treated warmly.
Paul used the Roman letter to address these issues and many more. First, Paul lets the believers in Rome know that the Gentile Christians and the Jewish Christians are justified by faith, not by some sort of social status. As believers, we are made right in God by faith and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
So now, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith in God's promises, we can have real peace with God because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. Because of our faith, he has brought us into this place of the highest privilege, where we now stand. We confidently and joyfully look forward to becoming all God has in mind for us to be. Paul is showing the people how to connect to something peaceful in the middle of the tests and trials.
I. A SUMMARY OF JUSTIFICATION (5:1-11): Paul lists five results of divine justification.
A. The believer has peace with God (5:1): This is accomplished through the work done by Jesus
Christ.
Therefore 5:1 is a transition phrase. Paul spent the first four chapters laying the groundwork for what he wanted to say in chapter five. That we are justified by faith.
B. The believer has access to God (5:2): This high privilege brings about great confidence and joy concerning the future.
Christ has removed a barrier so that we can have access to God. The Greek word Paul uses for “access” literally means “having an introduction.” It’s as though we were travelers to a foreign land, carrying with us letters of introduction to the court of the king.
A great many of us already possess such a letter of introduction to a foreign government. That’s what a passport is, literally: a letter of introduction. If you, as a citizen of the United States, open your passport, you’ll read these words on the first page:
“The Secretary of State of the United States of America hereby requests all whom it may concern to permit the citizen/national of the United States named herein to pass without delay or hindrance and in case of need to give all lawful aid or protection.”
It’s a letter of introduction. When Paul celebrates “access to grace,” he’s picturing a small scroll, rolled up and bearing the wax seal of a king or governor. You can’t cross the border without a passport; and you can’t experience the grace of God without presenting your “letter of introduction” — your confession of what Christ has done for you.
C. The believer has assurance from God (5:3-4).
1. The fact of this assurance (5:3): It helps us in time of suffering.
2. The fruit of the assurance (5:4): Suffering produces perseverance, which produces character,
which produces hope.
The power of sin is broken.
Being justified by faith makes us at peace with God, gives us hope for the future and power for the present.
Being reconciled means a change in the relationship.
Boast in our sufferings - appreciate the hard work we have done.
D. The believer is indwelt by God (5:5): The Holy Spirit lives in the hearts of believers.
E. The believer is preserved in God (5:6-11): A believer's salvation is secure, guaranteed by:
1. Christ's past work on Calvary's cross (5:6-8)
a. What he did (5:6): He died on the cross for us.
b. Why he did it (5:7-8a): He died because he loves us.
c. When he did it (5:8b): He did it when we were still helpless and hostile sinners.
The God who justified also glorified
Christ died for the ungodly when people rarely even die for the worthy. While we were still in our mess, Christ saw fit to save us.
What Christ did freely and gladly is a love higher than any human could ever attain. Some people won't give up their place in line or their lunch, and Christ gave up his life.
Just to be clear: “salvation” describes the future of God’s people in terms of their rescue from a terrible fate; “glorification” in terms of the status they will enjoy; “resurrection” in terms of their new embodiment of the other side of death.
God has established true peace, so different from the pax Romana, on the foundation of true justice, so different from the Roman Iustitia, and has done so through the Lord Jesus, so different from the lord Caesar.
When you know that you win in the end, the current situation doesn't seem so bad.
The grace is unilateral and unconditional, it can’t be bought by conditional methods.
May we all come to learn, day by day, to rely on God’s grace alone. Trusting in God’s promises, may we know ever more fully God’s grace as we have seen it in Jesus Christ. May you realize, in the deepest part of us, that our Lord truly offers access to grace!
