The Benefits Of Justification By Faith In Christ Series

The Benefits of Justification by Faith in Christ

Romans 5:1-5

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

We are continuing our study in the Book of Romans. The apostle Paul takes it for granted that he has proved that justification is by grace through faith and that the Gentiles have an equal part with the Jews in salvation by faith in Christ Jesus. Now he proceeds to show the effects produced in the hearts of the believer by the doctrine of Justification. Believers in Christ Jesus are justified by faith through grace. Their sins have been pardoned by faith in Christ Jesus and they have been reconciled to God.

What does it mean to be reconciled to God? What are the benefits of reconciliation? Today I want us to consider the benefits of Justification by grace through faith in Christ. The word "justification" means "to justify." In a legal sense, it means declaring one just or righteous. The first blessed benefit of our justification by faith is that the believer receives peace from God and reconciliation with God. Pardon and peace go together, they accompany one another. The believing sinner experiences a discharge from guilt and is freed from God's wrath. But more than that, the believer is instantly brought into a state of friendship and reconciliation with God. There is no middle state between God’s favor and His wrath. A person is either an enemy of God or a friend of God. There is no middle ground. Either one is saved or unsaved. One is either in Christ or out of Christ. Either the believer has been drawn to the Father or there is still a wall of separation between them. To be almost saved is to be completely lost. The true believer in Christ has settled the issue. He is no longer an enemy of God. There is no longer a wall of separation between the believer and the heavenly Father. The believer has been justified by God and peace with God has been declared. The first wonderful benefit of Justification is peace with God! The believer experiences this new peace with God because of God’s own mercy and grace. God extends his mercy in the behalf of the believer. His mercy withholds punishment that every prodigal son deserves, while His grace throws a party when he returns. Grace kills the fatted calf, puts a ring on his finger, clothes on his back and strikes up the band. Have you ever considered what it means to have peace with God? What does it really mean to have peace with God?

Peace with God

Romans 5:1 “If Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

Through the sacrificial blood of Jesus we have perfect peace with God. The justice of God has been fully satisfied and peace has been proclaimed. There is “peace on earth and goodwill toward men.” The blood of Jesus has brokered a peace between God and every justified person both Jews and Gentiles. Peace with God is a two-fold peace. This two-fold peace with God means that God is no longer angry with us because of our sin and rebellion. His anger has been appeased. He will not satisfy his justice upon us although our sinful actions deserved it. God forgives and receives us as if we have never committed a single sin. The blood of Jesus has washed away every sin, releasing the believer from the penalty and power of sin.

When a person commits a crime against the laws of the land, he receives due process. If he is convicted after a fair trial by his peers, he is sentenced and most of the time, imprisoned. Occasionally, some received a pardon from a governor or president. The pardon means the penalty is removed and the person may go free. Even though the person is freed, his criminal record remains intact. The community still looks upon them with suspicion and rightly so. The person experiences freedom, but not peace. When God justifies the believer, He pardons the sin, releases them from bondage, expunges the record and declares peace. God removes any obstruction that has prevented a peaceful relationship. Not only that, God appoints a mediator, Christ Jesus, who is able to maintain the peace. Believers still have a tendency to wander away from God. They are prone to wander and leave the God they love. Like sheep, they fall into divers temptations. Our mediator, Jesus the Christ maintains our peace with God and answers all the accusations of Satan. It is mind boggling to think that no matter what we have done, in a moment of time, we can be instantly and thoroughly pardoned and reconciled to God. This concept is revealed throughout the Scriptures as we discover the frailties of men and women used by God. God used former murders, thieves, harlots and other chief sinners to accomplish His purpose. The Apostle Paul called himself the “chiefest of sinners” because he persecuted the church of God.