Justified By Faith Series

Romans 5:1-11 Justified by Faith

Introduction:

Romans 5:1-11 weaves together themes of faith, love, hope, and glory, threading them through the Life events of Christ on the earth.

“justified (dikaiothentes) by faith”. The word dikaioo means to be made just or righteous—not guilty, declared innocent from a legal perspective or viewpoint.

In Greek the word “Dikaiothentes” is a perfect tense, indicating the completed action. Our justification has already been accomplished. It is by the grace (undeserved gift) of God that we are justified (Romans 3:24), but our faith gives us access to that grace (Romans 3:26). Hence, we are saved by grace rather than faith, but faith makes us experience that grace.

We are being justified by faith, we have peace with God, we have access to God by faith. Faith changes our new life stand, we were useless, hateful and enemies but today children of God. We have Shalom with God. Shalom is not the absence of hostility. But of well-being, prosperity.

Justification by faith gives us three blessings according to this passage hope of sharing the glory of God, tribulations to mould our character and reconciliation with God.

5:1-2. We Rejoice in Hope of Sharing the Glory of God.

He says that we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. In the Old Testament it was a far-reaching idea even to be closer to God, then sharing is impossible. The theophanies of God to every great man and woman in the Bible were afraid to see God and have fellowship with him. They were terrified and afraid that they would die if they see God, e.g., Jacob, Manoah and his wife, John-Peter and James were afraid at Mount of Transfiguration.

God is described as Holy, righteous, consuming fire, zealous, lives in unreachable light, lives in praises of men and flies through skies. He is enthroned as King of Kings and known as Lord of Lords. His appearance is described in Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation.

Peace with God was an impossible task for humanity. They tried to please God through their sacrifices but failed and through their good deeds but failed. However, Trusting faith in God could do what the Law couldn’t do it for many centuries. Jesus said I don’t reject anyone to come to me. He said I will give them rest, peace, eternal life, safety and security on the earth.

Sharing of the glory refers to the new identity in Christ that we became children of God or heirs of glory. Because of our ancestral sin, we are enemies of God but the faith in the Son of God gives us the privilege of Children of God.

Through Jesus Christ we are made Righteous, we are justified, we are given access to the grace of God. Our faces shine gloriously on the day of pension, salary, get awards and prizes, and when you see your favourite person in a gathering.

5:3 We Rejoice in tribulations

Suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, character produces hope.

The incoming of the Holy Spirit, the anointing of the Holy Spirit brings the Love of God in us. The love of God gives the compassionate heart, merciful eyes, tender care to all those who are around us. It’s true that the anointing of the Holy Spirit gives all gifts, such as speaking tongues, healing, prophecy, interpretation, prayer and faith and so on. But above all is the LOVE as per 1 Corinthians 13.

Habakkuk 3:17 and 18 says that he will rejoice in the Lord, even if the fig tree fails him, grapes fail him, olive crops fail him, sheep and cattle are not growing.

Disciples were happy because they counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 5:41). 2 Corinthians 6:9 says, ‘sorrowful, yet rejoicing’. Hebrews 10:34 throws very threatening challenges for us saying that the disciples were rejoicing even when their properties were confiscated. Suffering will bring you the glory of God (1 Peter 4:13).

Paul gives a big list of sufferings he had gone through prison, flogging, exposed to death, again and again, 39 lashes for 5 times from Jews, three times beat with rods, once stoned, three times shipwrecked, dangers from rivers, bandits, dangers from own and gentile persons, dangers at sea, city, country and false brothers, laboured, toiled and had sleepless nights, been hunger and thirst, naked and pressure of concerns for the churches (I Corinthians 11:23-29).

5:11 We rejoice In God

Basically we are powerless and ungodly but Christ died for us. No one will die for good person, righteous person – for that matter even we don’t stand with the right person when it touches our own rights. To resist the devil, to resist the corruption, to resist the evil of the majority. God demonstrated his Love on the Cross. Often we deny the power of Godliness, we afraid to demonstrate the loving and righteous God through our lives. We are reconciled to God through the blood of Jesus Christ.