[Romans Study 11-1]
Surprising Blessings of Our Justification [Romans 5:3-11]
5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Why Should Christians Be Excited About Their Faith in Christ?
Before we study today’s text, let us consider an important question: “What is the benefit of having faith in Jesus Christ?”
How would you answer? Most Christians would say, “my sins have been forgiven and I am promised eternal life.” This answer is correct, but it is about the future blessing, the one received in heaven. These are not the only blessings that God has in store for us. There are many more riches that come from God’s grace that are offered to the justified believers, and we should be enjoying these in our everyday lives. These blessings are the highlights of today’s study.
Apostle Paul would never be content with such a timid answer, he would challenge us with a further question: “Do you really think this is all you are given when you are saved?” He points this out not only for the hope of future blessings, but toward the hope that Christians find in their daily lives, especially when facing trials and tribulations. The Apostle enumerates these blessings of our justification in the text.
Why should Christians be excited about their faith in Christ? What other benefits are given through their justification?
Peace with God
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Romans 5:1)
First, according to the first verse, they now have peace with God. Human beings were born as children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3) but God’s wrath over us has been eternally lifted. His holy wrath has been satisfied completely in Christ. Once we were condemned, and now we are acquitted. The guilt and shame of our sin has been permanently and perfectly removed, for all past, present, and future.
Access Into His Presence and Grace
“through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. …” (Romans 5:2)
The second blessing is found in the next verse: we have gained access into His presence and His grace. It is as if a sailor had struggled against the raging ocean waves and has finally come to moor his ship in the safety and peace of the harbor.
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus.” (Hebrews 10:19)
A guilty sinner has been set free and gained access not only to His court but to the Most Holy Place, the very presence of God, where even the high priest was allowed to enter only once a year, or he would perish. “The LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.” (Leviticus 16:2)
We now have gained the authority to come before the Almighty God in His ever-flowing grace.
Hope of the Glorious Conclusion
The second verse tells us of yet another blessing promised to us: “… And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:2) Ponder the heartfelt awe when we stand before our creator, and know that one day we will be transformed into the likeness of Christ and His glory. There is no despair and darkness in the believers’ futures.
Glory ‘In’ and ‘On Account Of’ Sufferings
Another surprising blessing is offered in the next two verses: “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4) The text reads that we also glory ‘in’ our Sufferings.
Here, we must contemplate a meaning that may well be missed. You can notice how Paul puts it. ‘Not only so,’ he says, ‘but we also glory in our sufferings.’ (v.3) Now that word ‘in’ is most important. He is not saying that we glory in spite of sufferings. People have often thought that it means that; so though these things are happening, we will still go on glorying: we glory in the midst of them. It does mean that, but it means more than that. It is a very good thing that we are able to glory in the midst of our tribulations, but the Apostle goes well beyond that. He says we glory on account of them, because of them. That is the meaning of the word ‘in’ here. Not in spite of, not in the midst of, but on account of, because of – we glory because of our tribulations.
The next question that we have in mind is: ‘Why do we glory ‘in’ and on account of our sufferings?’ To this, the Apostle answers, “because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (vv.3,4) He says our suffering is not the end of the tragic story that we recognize as our own lives, but after suffering comes something shining and beautiful that we may not see now. ‘Our sufferings are for a good cause; they themselves are blessings!’ – this is the unbelievable message that the Apostle instills in us.
True Christians ought to know that suffering does not end in suffering, but it plays an important and positive role in the course of their Christian walks. Therefore, they do not glory merely in spite of sufferings, but on account of them, and because of them, as God has ultimately ordained them for their good and for His glory. Justified believers are the mighty people of God who rejoice even ‘in’ their sufferings and because of their sufferings.
Resurrection After the Cross
True Christians will know that based on His promise, tribulations carry God’s will. And tribulations are not just tribulations, but they are glorious resurrection-to-come disguised in suffering. The cross does not end in death and misery. Resurrection of eternal life and glory follows. This was what God demonstrated through the life of His Son, and that of many Christians.
“Persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” (2 Corinthians 4:9-10)
The Gospel teaches us the unchanging truth that there is resurrection awaiting tomorrow after the painful cross of today. As long as God exists, the cross will not end in darkness, but in a bright morning of a new and eternal life that has been born. In his body the Apostle carried about the death of Jesus. He never forgot the spiritual law of the cross and resurrection that the Lord demonstrated through His death and subsequent eternal life. This is the reason why the Apostle was never destroyed but always rejoiced in the Lord: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)
What should Christians look for in tribulations? They should not look at the problems nor at themselves only. They should not look down to the earth but they should look up to God in heaven. Then they will see the glorious resurrection that comes beyond the painful cross. Just as trees remain healthy when they look toward the Sun and their roots toward water, Christians should retain God in their hearts and look toward Him to continue to grow in faith.
Reasons for Glory in Sufferings; What Do The Scriptures Teach About Our Sufferings?
If you truly open your eyes and ears to His Word, you will be surprised to see that God has spoken to us about glory in suffering throughout the Old and New Testaments. Jesus Himself taught: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Jesus warned us to take heart because trouble will surely come to His believers. He Himself had overcome the world after having suffered.
Furthermore, Christ taught that the persecuted are blessed and their reward in heaven is great: “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12)
The Psalmists also wrote of the mysterious world of tribulations to the believers: “Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O LORD, And whom You teach out of Your law;” (Psalm 94:12)
“Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.” (Psalm 119:67) “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.” (Psalm 119:71)
“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” (Psalm 34:19)
Republished with permission from Dr. Christy Tran, the author of “The Epistle to the Romans: Paul’s Love Letter from God.”