After the great faith-and-grace chapter, Rom. 4, follows a paragraph of eleven verses, rich and sweet, which tells us of the believer's new position in Christ and the blessings that spring from the "justification by faith" which he has received. Seven items stand out:

      1. He has peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1).

      2. He has access, through Christ, by faith, into this grace in which he stands (v. 2.)

      3. He rejoices in hope of the glory of God. (v. 2.)

      4. He rejoices in his tribulations also, for they bring strength and hope to him. (vs. 3, 4.)

      5. The love of God is shed abroad in his heart through the Holy Spirit which is given to him. (v. 5.)

      6. The knowledge of this love is his assurance of salvation. (vs. 6-10.)

      7. He rejoices in God, through the Lord Jesus, through whom he has now received the reconciliation. (v. 11.)

      Let us give these seven items more particular notice.

      1. When we are justified, (i. e., accounted righteous) by faith in Jesus Christ (See 3:21-24 and 4:23-25) there is perfect peace with God, all cause of controversy, alienation, fear having been removed. We have this peace in fact, and by covenant, though not always in our feeling and realization; for many who stand upon this ground of peace with God through Christ allow themselves for one reason or another to be troubled by fears and misgivings. (This may account for the preference given, by some to the reading "let us have peace," which indeed has strong authority in Greek manuscripts, but seems out of place at this stage of the apostle's argument. For here Paul is declaring, not exhorting.)

      2. The justified man stands in grace. Not only was he saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8), but by this same faith in Jesus Christ, he has now obtained entrance into the realm of grace. He stands on grace-footing before God.

      3. This being the case, he foresees the victory, and therefore rejoices in hope of the glory of God--i. e., of sharing His likeness and glory. (Comp. Rom. 8:18.)

      4. Even tribulations, such as Christians must always suffer (Acts 14:22) can not dishearten him but rather add to his joy; for the enduring of such tests confirms him in patience, and brings to his heart a sense of God's approbation, and the experience of His power in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9, 10) which in turn results in a new and firmer hope.

      5. This hope, he knows, can never "put to shame"--i. e., end in disappointment. For through the Holy Spirit which is given him, a realization of the love of God is shed abroad in his heart. (Here is the first mention of the Holy Spirit in reference to the Christian.)

      6. The proof of the love of God (which he describes and contrasts with human love) is that when we were yet without strength, aliens, sinners, and enemies, Christ died for us. (1 John 4:16.) If [23] He loved us that much then, certainly now that we are justified, will He save us to the uttermost and will not let us perish. (Rom. 5:9, 10.) (How does He save us by His life? Not only as in Heb. 7:25, but by sharing His resurrection life by union with Him. John 14:19; Col. 3:3, 4.)

      7. Now, since through the Lord Jesus we have received the reconciliation, God Himself is our joy. Time was when the thought of God was unwelcome. It filled us with dread and terrors of judgment. But now, having received the "reconciliation" (which is the work of Christ, that "love which broke every barrier down"), the justified man rejoices in God.

      These verses are worthy of our most earnest thought and meditation. Commit them to memory: they will come to your help in future times of need. Here we have the Christian's blessed state--far greater and better than aught the world can give or know. If Christians generally fall short of this blessedness which is described in these verses, it is not because it is not theirs, or because they cannot have it. The apostle sets forth facts. These things are ours, by grace. God's word is true, and the promise is to us who believe. Let us take possession by faith in Jesus Christ our Lord of that which He has wrought for us and freely gives to us.

      Our next lesson covers the rest of Romans 5 (verses 12-21). Go over it with care. At first reading it may seem difficult to take in. Note how in v. 12 the apostle begins a sentence, which is never finished. Perhaps you may be able to finish it. Try and see. Verses 13-17 can be looked on as an excursus--a sort of side explanation. His main thought is resumed in v. 18. Note the contrast that runs through these verses between Adam and Christ; and how the whole argument turns on the connection between "the one" and "the many." Also the triumphant conclusion in vs. 20, 21.

      How is the Past, Present, and Future of God's children set forth in verses 1 and 2? On what is our "peace with God" based? What further three things follow upon justification by faith? Why is the Christian's hope so sure to him? How does he show the superiority of God's love over human love? What is the argument of verse 10? Why does the Christian now rejoice in God? [24]

[LOR2 23-24]