This Grace Wherein we Stand.
Romans 5:1 – 11
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5 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.
Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 5:10 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.
Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
..............................................
The Apostle Paul begins this chapter with the word, “Therefore”, (So then) (Since) which puts the following verses into context of the previous chapters 1 to 4.
Up to this point in Romans 5, the Apostle Paul has been convincing us that we are all sinners and under God's Wrath because of our unrighteousness.
In Rom 1:18, we read:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
In Romans 1:19 – 32 He tells us that all men are without excuse for God has been revealed from the beginning in the things created but men chose darkness rather than light.
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
God has revealed Himself in everything around us.
God revealed Himself in nature and God revealed Himself in the Law and the prophets.
Because of this, God's Wrath is revealed against Unrighteousness.
Even those that believed in God didn’t glorify Him, professing to be wise but they became as fools. They took the things that God created and turned them into idols.
Making for themselves, false gods of wood and stone and gold and silver.
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptable God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Paul tells us how God gave them over to vile passions, showing the depths of depravity that men can sink.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Rom 1:28 God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Quite a list!
It is very difficult not to find yourself in there somewhere.
“Hang on a minute, you may say..... I’m not like that”.
Really!
Read the list again, with an honest heart and even if you still deny it, read the last bit.
but have pleasure in them that do them.
Even if you insist that you are not guilty of any of these things, do you stand by and silently join in with them, not speaking up against them?
Paul makes it quite clear that we are all guilty in God’s sight.
That whatever “goodness” we may think we have.
In God’s sight, they are like filthy rags.
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.
Paul goes on in Romans 3 to show that all men are sinners and that there is no one righteous in God’s sight and that no one seeks after God.
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Paul goes on to say that
Rom 3:13 Their tongues are like open graves, They are full of deceit, and under their lips is like the poison of an asp.
Rom 3:14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Rom 3:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Rom 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
Rom 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known:
Rom 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
It is blatantly clear that we are all sinners and under God’s condemnation.
Having convinced us of our sin and unrighteousness, Paul goes on to show the only answer to this problem.
Paul has shown us that salvation is in none other than Jesus Christ.
Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Rom 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
In Romans chapter 4 the Apostle go on to show that salvation is by faith alone apart from works, using Abraham as the example.
For Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him as righteousness.
............................................
Now Paul goes on in our text, Romans chapter 5 to state that:
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
If you have come to the point where you agree with Paul in the first four chapters and you recognised your sin and have repented and believed in Jesus Christ.
Then in chapter 5, Paul is speaking to you.
However, if you have not agreed with what Paul preached in the first four chapters.
Then maybe you should read through them again, because somewhere in those verses you will find yourself.
Therefore being justified by faith
We stood before the court of God, as sinners, condemned, unclean and we were found guilty.
However because of Christ’s death and resurrection from the dead and our trusting in Him for our salvation, the judge can set us free on the merit of Christ’s atonement.
The punishment for our sin was laid on Jesus, the crown of thorns that represents the sin that came into world through Adam, was placed on Christ’s head. We have been redeemed, purchased by His blood and because of that, we now have peace with God.
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
“This grace in which we stand”.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that save a wretch like me.
GRACE, God’s Riches At Christs Expense.
John 1:17 16 From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.
17For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
For us, God’s grace cost nothing but it cost Christ everything.
We can now come into, (access) the presence of Almighty God, we can approach His throne of grace through the merit of Jesus Christ and rejoice in the fact that we have been chosen, elected into the family of God in Christ and can look forward to the sure hope of Glory.
Why? Because we stand in this grace.
Our salvation came to us through God’s grace, (past tense), but this grace, (Greek, (histēmi, from a primary word staō) is used in different tenses.
It is also in the present tense, - To stand – to abide) in God’s grace and is also future tense (to continue) in God’s grace.
Now we are saved, we stand in, continue in this grace.
We are at one with the Son and the Father.
God is our Father
We are counted righteous in Christ.
Our sins are removed.
We have access to the Father.
We have peace with God.
We have the assurance of eternal life.
Through grace, we have been saved – we are being saved and we will be saved.
Past, Present and Future.
However, even though there was no cost to us for the grace that God showed to us.
There is a cost to walk in that grace.
Jesus tells us that all who follow Him will have trials and tribulation.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
We have a cross to bear as we follow Jesus and Jesus said we must take up our cross and follow Him.
However, Jesus also told us not to be afraid of the world.
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Satan maybe the god of this world but we serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Satan is a defeated enemy, he just doesn’t know it yet.
Now the Apostle Paul is reiterating this truth in Romans 5.
Whilst we will experience trial and tribulation, we can glory in it because of what Christ has done in us.
Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5 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.
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
Spurgeon Quote:
A runner must be stressed to gain endurance. Sailors must go to sea. Soldiers go to battle. For the Christian, tribulation is just part of our Christian life. We should not desire or hope for a tribulation-free Christian life, especially because:
God uses tribulation wonderfully in our life.
God knows how much tribulation we can take, and He carefully measures the tribulation we face.
Those who are not Christians face tribulation also.
“A Christian man should be willing to be tried; he should be pleased to let his religion be put to the test. ‘There,’ says he, ‘hammer away if you like.’ Do you want to be carried to heaven on a feather bed?”.
“‘Tribulation worketh patience,’ says the apostle. Naturally it is not so. Tribulation worketh impatience, and impatience misses the fruit of experience, and sours into hopelessness. Ask many who have buried a dear child, or have lost their wealth, or have suffered pain of body, and they will tell you that the natural result of affliction is to produce irritation against providence, rebellion against God, questioning, unbelief, petulance, and all sorts of evils. But what a wonderful alteration takes place when the heart is renewed by the Holy Spirit!”
End of quote.
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Verse 4 is speaking about Christian growth and maturity. One virtue builds upon another as we grow in the pattern of Jesus.
Without tribulation, we would stay as little children.
As we grow into adulthood from childhood, we experience all kinds of knocks and losses and disappointments but it helps us to grow and mature.
As the song says in the musical “Annie”, “Its a hard knock life”.
So it is with the Christian walk. 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Most of us would rather have God just sprinkle patience, character and hope on us whilst we sleep.
We could then, wake up a much better Christian!
However, that isn’t God’s plan for me or for any Christian.
Therefore, we must accept and say to God, “Lord help me to be strong through my trials and tribulations.
We don’t need to search or seek out these trials, they will come, so we must not despise them but see them as God’s way of helping us grow in grace.
We can do this with confidence, knowing that:
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Our hope is not a wish but a sure hope. Our hope is a certain hope, because God has given us a guarantee of this hope.
Rom 5:5 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.
He has given us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and He is our guarantee.
2 Cor 1:22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
All who are born again of the Holy Spirit should recognise this love in our hearts.
Love for God, love for the Word, Love for the brethren and love for the lost.
God does not want His children living their lives not knowing the fullness of His love. We should never be satisfied with just a dripping of His love. He wants us to experience the outpouring of His love.
The remaining verses show us how much God loved each one of us.
Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 5:10 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.
Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
This should humble us, when we remember how much God loved and loves us.
For we could not save ourselves but God showed His love to us, whilst we were sinners, without strength, when we were His enemies.
This love was in Himself, for there was nothing in us that He should love us
No wonder He can say to us, “Love your enemies”.
Rom 5:10 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.
Justified by His blood and saved from wrath and being reconciled.
This reconciliation is not only for when we die; it is to help us live our lives right now.
God does not deal with us according to His wrath but according to His love.
He is now our Father, who may chastise us and correct us but it is out of His love for us, not according to His wrath.
God only allows chastening to bring loving correction and guidance.
Again, we have been saved, we are being saved and we shall be saved.
A prayer from Romans 5.
Heavenly Father, we thank you that through the Lord Jesus Christ, you have brought us to faith and that we have peace with You.
We thank You that we can access Your grace, and rejoice in the hope of eternal life through the merits of our Saviour.
We realise that whilst we journey through this life we will encounter trials and tribulation but we also know that through these trials we can learn patience and through patience gain experience and through experience gain hope.
We know that this hope that tribulation builds in us, is not a hope that will be disappointed, for it is Your love that is put in our hearts by the Holy Spirit
Whilst we were yet sinners and poor in spirit Christ died for us.
Your love exceeds mans love, for Christ died for sinful men and through His death we are justified in Your sight and will not suffer the wrath that is to come.
Each of us was at enmity with You but we are reconciled by the death of Christ and much more than that, we shall be saved by His life.
Thank You that we can rejoice in the knowledge that our sin has been washed away by His shed blood and that we are at one with You.
We know that sometimes our prayers are cold because we are so weak but we know that You are rich in mercy.
We pray that You do not measure Your goodness by the dullness of our faith but because Your loving kindness is far above all human affection, lend Your ear to our prayers.
We pray for all the brethren at this time of tribulation and we pray that You will meet each one at the point of their need according to Your will.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen
