Romans 5:1-5 –

¹ Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ² Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Introduction

Its baseball season.  I loved playing baseball.  Do you know what we did on gameday?  We took batting practice.  The infielders took ground balls and turned double plays.  The outfielders would take fly balls, and practice throws to 2^nd, 3^rd and home.  We never ever started a game without doing these things first.  Why was that?  After all, we practiced on days when we didn’t have games!  Why was it necessary to take batting practice before a game?  Because some foundational things must be done well if we are going to play the game well.  And so, we rehearse the same thing again and again.  Several years ago, I took Shelli’s nephew to a Brewers game.  We got there early.  Guess what professional players were doing before the game?  Batting practice, fielding ground balls, and catching fly balls in the outfield.

I say this to you this morning because for the Christian, there are some foundational truths that we must practice again and again.  It’s not enough to hear and believe a foundational truth when we first become a believer.  There are foundational truths that we must rehearse and understand and apply to our real-life situations each new day.  The “game” of life is infinitely more important than the game of baseball, and so we must practice, practice, practice.

And one of those foundational truths that we must “practice” or rehearse, is the doctrine of justification.  

The focus of today’s sermon will be on how our lives are impacted and changed by being justified by faith.  We are not justified by works, but by faith.  We will talk about that more in a minute.  But first, to fully understand the significance of being justified by faith, we must first rehearse what it means to be justified.

What is Justification?

Wayne Grudem defines justification like this: “Justification is an instantaneous legal act of God in which He thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us and declares us to be righteous in His sight” (Systematic Theology, p. 723). In other words, God declares, once and for all, that our sins are forgiven (past, present and future sins), and that we are counted as righteous. All of this is because of Jesus, who took our sin, and gave us His righteousness. When we are justified, it’s not that we no longer sin, and that we are now innately righteous. Rather, when we are justified, God, from His heavenly courtroom as a just judge, declares that we are no longer liable for our sins, and declares the righteousness of Jesus to be considered as our very own. Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to us, or it has been credited to our account. When God sees us, He sees the righteousness of Christ.

God has the authority to justify, and it is His act or declaration. Justification is an act of God. It’s a gracious act of God. It’s an undeserved gift from God.

But we receive it by faith.  

What Does It Mean To Be Justified by Faith?

Romans 5:1 begins by saying:  ¹ Therefore, since we have been justified by faith…  In chapters 3 and 4 of Romans the Apostle Paul makes it clear that no one will be justified by obeying the Law, because no one (other than Jesus Christ Himself) has ever obeyed the Law perfectly.  We all fall short.  We all sin. 

That is why Romans 3:10 says “There is no one righteous, not even one…”.  And so, Romans 3:20–26 says this:   ²⁰ For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. The Law exposes our sin before a Holy God.  ²¹ But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— (since we won’t be righteous by keeping the Law—news of God revealing His righteousness apart from the Law is really good news—but what is it?  Here it is…) ²² the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.  

We will never be declared righteous because have kept the Law perfectly.  Never!  We will be declared righteous by God’s grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.  What Jesus did in His death for us satisfied the wrath of God for our sin—and we receive this by faith, not works.  When we are justified by faith we are forgiven and declared righteous by trusting in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.  We are justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.  That is the exact opposite of us being justified by our keeping of the Law or our works.  

Chapter 4 establishes that even Abraham was justified by faith.  Romans 4:3 says:  ³ For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 

Before we talk about some of the blessings of being justified by faith, I want you to listen to an important word by Wayne Grudem: “Scripture never says that we are justified because of the inherent goodness of our faith, as if our faith has merit before God.  It never allows us to think that our faith in itself earns favor with God.  Rather, Scripture says that we are justified by means of our faith, understanding faith to be the instrument through which justification is given to us, but not at all an activity that earns us merit or favor with God.  Rather, we are justified solely because of the merits of Christ’s work” (Systematic Theology, p. 730).

We are justified to the praise of God’s glory alone!

Now…

When We Are Justified by Faith…

We have received a rich gift from God. And within that gift, there are many other gifts. Not only are we declared forgiven and righteous in God’s sight, verses 1-5 mentions at least 4 other blessings that come from being justified by faith.

One is that…

We Have Peace With God (v. 1b)

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  The fact of the matter is this:  Sin separated us from God.  We were alienated from God.  Without hope.  Without life.   Because of our sin, we stood condemned before God.  We were enemies of God.  We were hostile towards God.    

But Jesus Christ changed everything.  Ephesians 2:14 says Jesus is our peace.  Jesus gave us peace with God.  This peace is a state of reconciliation with God.  In Jesus we are restored to a right relationship with God.  Through Jesus, we are brought back to God.  We are at peace with God.  This is a real objective peace.  We have this because we were justified by faith.  It’s not a subjective feeling that comes and goes.  This is an objective fact.  We are no longer under condemnation of God; instead, we are restored to God and at peace with Him.  We have this peace with God whether we feel it or not—because it is a result of being justified by faith.  Its objective and never changing.

Now, there is also a subjective peace OF God that we can also experience.  As Philippians 4:6-7 teaches us: ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, (sometimes that is what we feel or experience) but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   This is a subjective peace that comforts us when we face troubles. 

At times we may feel more anxious, and at other times, we may feel or experience the peace OF God that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  This sense of well-being and quiet is the peace OF God—it’s a subjective experience.  Romans 5:1 is talking about Peace WITH God—it is a never changing objective reality because we are justified by faith.

But secondly…

We Now Stand in God’s Favor (v. 2a)

² Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand….  Through Jesus we have been given a way of approach to God.  We stand in His grace or favor.  And again, it is by faith in Jesus.  It’s not by works.  If it was our works, we would wonder if we were in God’s good favor or not.  If we are doing better for one moment, we may think we are in God’s good favor, and we can approach Him.  But if we were not doing well, we would feel or think God’s favor has been withdrawn, and we have to do something to regain it.  That, in fact, is what false religions face again and again.  They are constantly trying to regain or maintain favor with God.

But for the one justified by faith, NOT WORKS, we stand, always, in God’s good favor.  Amazing!  It is a great gift!

Hebrews 10:19–23 says it like this:  

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 

We have been given a way of approach before a holy God.  We can enter His presence with confidence.  We don’t have to wonder IF we are in or out of His favor.  Through Jesus we stand, always, in God’s good favor.  

We live every day with the amazing privilege to approach God by faith and find mercy and grace to help us in our time of need.  

But it keeps getting better…

We Also Rejoice in the Hope of the Glory of God (v. 2b)

…and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  We experience great joy because we are promised eternal life.  We are promised an eternity in the presence of God.  We have that certain and sure hope because of Jesus!  And it’s this hope that pulls us through dark valleys.  Because we are justified by faith, we are declared forgiven and righteous before God.  But we still battle with sin.  We still experience weakness and sickness and tears.  We feel pain.  We are hurt and persecuted.  We suffer.  But there is a day coming, when Jesus comes again, that we will be removed from all sin, and our sinful flesh will be no more, and we will feel no sorrow or sickness or pain or tears.  We will be in God’s presence, in our glorified bodies, enjoying God fully!     

Listen to how 1 Peter 1:3–9 says it:   ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹ obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 

The promise of glory is cause for JOY!

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL…

We Also Rejoice in Our Sufferings (v. 3)

³ Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings…. We know Glory will be great.  But because we are justified by faith, we don’t have to wait till Glory to begin to experience the goodness and love of God.  We all experience suffering.  In various forms.  Jesus promised all those who want to follow Him will experience sufferings and persecutions, just like He did.  Jesus was tired.  Jesus was mistreated.  Jesus was rejected.  Jesus was falsely accused.  Jesus was abused.  Jesus was crucified like a common criminal.  

But because we are justified by faith, and we have peace WITH God, and we stand in His favor, and we are not without HOPE, we can also rejoice in sufferings.  We can consider sufferings a joy.  That makes no human sense.  That may not resonate with you.  But it’s true.  James 1:2 says it like this:  ² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.

Why is that?  It’s because…

Suffering produces endurance (v. 3).  …knowing that suffering produces endurance.  God is at work in our suffering to do something good.  We are not alone.  Suffering is not pointless.  In our suffering the Spirit is at work to change us and grow us, and verse 3 tells us one of the ways we will grow.  We will develop endurance.  It is so easy to quick when problems come.  And problems will come.  Times of suffering will happen.  But the Holy Spirit is at work to grow our endurance so that we will keep trusting Jesus with all our heart even when life is hard.

And then, added to that…

Endurance produces character (v. 4).  ⁴ and endurance produces character.  There is so much that could be said here.  There are so many ways that the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives to develop Christ-like character.  One, I think of the Fruit of the Spirit:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  When we live in step with the Spirit, this is what we can expect the Spirit to produce in our lives.  Two, another passage that helps us see the kind of character that endurance produces is James 3:16-18: ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.  (that is character that produces lots of problems.  In stark contrast, listen to verses 17-18) 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 

These are just two examples of that many ways God is at work in our lives when we don’t quit—when we endure through trials, God grows Christ-like character in us.

And with that, you will not be disappointed, for verse 4 says…

Character produces hope (v. 4-5).  and character produces hope,⁵ and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.  We can rejoice in our sufferings because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

How, you might ask, do we know God’s love has been poured into our hearts?

Romans 5:6–11 says:

⁶ For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— ⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. ¹⁰ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. ¹¹ More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. 

We rejoice in our sufferings because through Christ God dwells with us by the Holy Spirit.  We are not alone.  We are not abandoned by God.  And He is at work to use even sufferings to bring about endurance (the ability to continue trusting Jesus against all odds), and character (the condition of our heart and life is refined and transformed as the Spirit molds the character of Christ into our lives), and hope (we have eyes that keep looking at and for Jesus).

Therefore, for the Believer:

• Life in a fallen world is not pointless.

• God is at work in our lives for our good.

• What is for our good is a transformed life.

• We have no good reason to have pity parties

• We have no good reason to give up

• We have no good reason to be hopeless

• We have every good reason to be filled with hope and joy!