Reconciliation Through Christ

MEMORY VERSE: “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” —Romans 5:8

ROMANS 5:1-11

PAUL wrote that “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself.” (II Cor. 5:19) Through sin the whole world was alienated from God, and the only way they could be reconciled was through the blood; that is, the sacrificial work of Christ. Those who are alienated from God do not have peace with God, so Paul, using another word, wrote, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”—vs. 1

The peace that comes from justification is but one of the blessings which comes to the consecrated believer. As Paul shows, it is by, or through, this reconciliation that is brought about through the acceptance of Christ that we “have access into this grace [or favor] wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.—vs. 2

What is this “hope of the glory of God”? It is the hope of attaining to joint-heirship with Christ in his kingdom and, in the resurrection, of being exalted to the divine nature—the nature of God. But this “glory of God” is not attained without cost. Paul says that we “glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, endurance (RSV) and endurance, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us.”—vss. 3-5

Here Paul describes trials and tribulations which come upon the Christian, and explains that by these character is developed—provided, of course, that the love of God is shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Spirit which is given to him. If this is his experience, and he endures the trials, his hope is strengthened, for he knows that he is passing the test which his Heavenly Father permits to come upon him. He now has a hope which maketh not ashamed,” one in which he will never be disappointed.

The love of God which is shed abroad in our heart is that love which prompted him to give his beloved Son to be our Redeemer. Paul writes, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” (vs. 6) This was a marvelous demonstration of divine love. Paul continues, “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.—vss. 7,8

“Much more then,” Paul continues, “being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” (vs. 9) The translators of the King James Version of the Bible were believers in eternal torment, and this fact is often reflected in subtle ways, as in the statement, “We shall be saved from wrath through him.” Actually, the wrath of God is revealed through the sentence of death which came upon the whole world. The wrath of God is revealed on every hand. Everything which reminds us that death is reigning emphasizes the fact of God’s wrath, but the word wrath does not imply eternal torture.

Paul continues, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (vs. 10) It is through faith, demonstrated by works, that we are now justified, and those who faithfully follow in the footsteps of Jesus have the example of his dedicated life to guide them in the way of life. He is their shepherd, their Advocate, their Elder Brother, their Head, and in all the ways suggested by these titles of the Master he is their helper; and basic to it all is the fact that he shed his blood for them that they might be reconciled to God and have peace with him.

Paul sums up the thought, saying, “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” (vs. 11) How blessed is the thought that we “joy in God.” It reminds us that God loved us, and gave his Son for us. It is not that Jesus came in between us and a vengeful God. The loving plan of salvation is God’s plan, and Jesus cooperates with him in carrying it out. Yes, “we joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” and eventually the whole world will joy in him.

QUESTIONS

What is God’s plan for reconciling the world to himself?

Can Christians attain the glory of God without being tested?

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