Sermon Notes
Introduction
Paul establishes a hard truth: everyone, Jew and non-Jew alike, has rebelled against God and stands guilty before Him, and that rebellion has justly earned His wrath. There is no hope apart from faith in Christ Jesus. To show that this justification is for Jew and non-Jew alike, Paul points to Abraham, whose faith was a full confidence in the promises of God, and such is the faith we too must place in Christ Jesus. From here the apostle unfolds the good news: God, in His grace, makes guilty people right with Himself through faith in Jesus. Having repeated the phrase "justified by faith" and emphasized "grace," he now introduces a series of rich new themes, "hope," "peace with God," and "God's love."
1. Justified, then Peace
Paul, once again, used the phrase, “justified by faith.” The phrase is a courtroom term. God declares those who believe as not guilty. The apostle then introduces a lofty idea: “peace with God.” Peace with God is the result of justification by faith. It means no more war with God.
Romans 5:1: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Faith Into Grace
Paul writes that through Jesus we “have obtained access” into grace, and in that grace “we now stand.” Picture being escorted into a king's throne room; Jesus brings us all the way in, and there we stand, secure and permanent. 2 Then Paul adds that “we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”
Romans 5:2: Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3. God’s Love Amid Suffering
Paul explained God’s wrath in the earlier part of the letter. Now, for the first time, he explains God’s love. Through suffering and hardship, He builds our character, producing hope. 3 This hope does not put the believers to shame. The reason is God’s love in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
Romans 5:3-5: Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Application
- After understanding the wrath and justice of God, we must now understand that the justification through faith leads to peace with God. This is not necessarily about inner peace, although it is part of it. It is about no longer becoming enemies of God.
- When suffering abounds, remember where we stand, firmly in the grace of God. That security should lead us to rejoicing as we hope for His glory. We live by faith, meaning we are convinced of the promise despite the various trials.
- Let us rejoice that God’s love is poured in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Note that Paul did not begin with God’s love; he began with God’s wrath against sin. In every season of life, let us meditate on God’s love in the context of His justice, and the justification by faith in Christ.
Study Guide
- Paul begins with “Therefore.” Explain the connection to chapters 3-4. Then explain the peace of God. (Hint: it is not inner peace) (Ro 5:1)
- What do the verbs "obtained access" and "stand" reveal about the believer's position, and how does "the hope of the glory of God" relate to Romans 3:23? (Ro 5:2)
- Why does Paul arrange the chain in verses 3–4 (suffering → endurance → character → hope) to end on hope, and what reason does verse 5 give that this hope “does not put us to shame”? Ro 5:3-5)