Reaping the Benefits
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Key Verse: “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Selected Scripture: |
THE KEY VERSE OF OUR lesson is addressed to those who have, through faith in Jesus, righteousness imputed to them. This is what is meant by the phrase ‘being justified by faith.’ As a result of this reckoned righteous condition, these have many potential benefits accrue to them. First, ‘we have peace with God.’ Formerly, as sinners condemned through our inheritance from Father Adam we did not have peace with God. In our undone condition we were at enmity with him, the opposite of being at peace. However, through the blood, or merit, of Jesus’ ransom sacrifice, and by our full faith in it, we have obtained peace with Almighty God, and he is able to deal with us as his children. The Prophet Isaiah speaks symbolically of how one obtains this peace by using the example of clothing that covers natural imperfections and blemishes. He says, “My soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.”—Isa. 61:10
Another benefit obtained by those in this justified condition is that they have access to God which they did not have earlier as enemies. Now they have a tremendous hope for the future. All this causes such in this condition to rejoice and glorify God (see Romans 5:2). But this is not all by any means. Paul continues this lesson by telling us that, as one justified by faith, we will have a lifetime of experiences and these are specially designed for us by God to help us develop our faith, to test our loyalty under all circumstances. He says, “Not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”—Rom. 5:3-5, New American Standard
Paul reminds us lest we become conceited in our own minds, that God showed his love to us by sending his Son, Jesus, “while we were yet sinners.” (Rom. 5:8) Verse 10 says, “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.” The death of Jesus as the ransom provided the means whereby we might have peace with God, but that wasn’t sufficient. In order to obtain the full salvation which God desired, it was required that Jesus not remain in death, but be raised again to life, to apply the merit of his sacrifice to the bar of God’s justice, and hence buy back Adam’s race from the condemnation of sin and death. All this was God’s intent and plan, made possible by his mercy and unending love for his creation. Truly the apostle could say, “We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement [reconciliation].”—Rom. 5:11
This is summarized in verses 20 and 21. Paul says, in essence, that just as offences abounded because of the Law, and sin has reigned over man even unto death, how much more has God’s grace abounded and reigned “unto eternal life.” “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” (Rom. 5:18) By the obedience of Jesus we receive the benefit of life.