Eight blessings
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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." (Romans 5:1-2)
May 23, 2025
Dear friends,
Lately, I've been studying Paul's Epistle to the Romans, which is an in-depth explanation of the gospel. The first chapters deal with the universal problem of sin -- you and me and everybody, no exceptions. Chapter three explains the work of Christ on our behalf, and chapter four, the nature of faith. By faith we are justified (declared righteous) in God's sight. Through Christ and what he has accomplished on our behalf we are declared righteous, and we now have a new life.
In chapter five Paul lists eight blessings we now have because we have been justified by faith in Christ.
1) Peace with God (5:1, 10, 11). Though we were once alienated from him, now God has reconciled us to himself through his Son. Our greatest need is to be forgiven and righteous in God's holy sight (2 Cor. 5:17-21). Through Christ we no longer have to hide in guilt or shame, for he has brought us into fellowship with himself. The Apostle John wrote, "…that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:3)
2) A standing in grace (5:2). In Christ we have a warm welcome and free access to the Father through his Son. And we have a secure position before him: "...this grace in which we stand..." We are "justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus..." (3:24) We do not begin the Christian life by grace and then perfect ourselves by works, but rather, we continue to live by faith in his marvelous grace. "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)
3) The hope of glory (5:2, 4). Though we have turned away from the glory of God (1:23; 3:23), now in Christ we have a bright future, both in seeing and sharing in God's glory. Hope is more than wishful thinking, it is the confidence based upon God's word, that we will indeed possess the future he promises. We shall see God's glory and be glorified with Christ forever (cf. 8:18-19). Once we were without hope, but now we "…have been brought near by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:14)
4) A purpose in suffering (5:3-4). We have a new way to look at painful trials. God grants tribulation, but with it he grants endurance. And that works good for us, testing and proving our character, and making us fit for his new creation. "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison..." (2 Corinthians 4:16-17).
5) The love of God (5:5-8). We are the recipients of the outpouring of God’s love. His love is unique, and is demonstrated at the cross of Christ. His love is sacrificial (literally) -- done for us, not when we were godly, but when we were lost and ungodly. Christ's death satisfies God's every requirement for righteousness (3:25-26). Once we did not see or feel or believe that, but now we do. Now we can say, "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever." (Psalm 136:1)
6) The Holy Spirit (5:5). The Spirit pours out the knowledge of God's redeeming love into our hearts, and Paul also says that the Holy Spirit "has been given to us." The Spirit is God’s gift to believers that we might know truth and that we might know experientially our position before him. It is the Spirit who will enlighten, empower, and lead us in this new life God has for us. Paul will write much more on this in chapter eight of Romans.
7) A complete salvation (5:9-10). Christ's saving work is not just for the beginning of our salvation, but for its completion, too. Jesus died, but now he is risen, alive, and ascended to the Father’s right hand. His death secured our forgiveness, but more, now he lives to make intercession for us, and will return one day to save us from the judgment coming upon the world. "It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died —- more than that, who was raised —- who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (8:33-35)
8) The joy of the Lord (5:2, 3, 11). Because of all this we can rejoice in the Lord. This word here for rejoicing can also be translated "to exalt, to boast" (BAGD). It means here to have a joyful confidence in what the Lord has done, is doing (even through trials and suffering), and ultimately, in the Lord himself. Being able to rejoice in the Lord at all times and in all circumstances is a singular blessing for those who belong to Christ (Philippians 4:4-9).
Note: these blessings are more relational than material. We should thank God for the material blessings we receive, such as health and finances. But these blessings are greater -- they have to do with a restored relationship with God through Christ. Because we have trusted Christ, we are forgiven, accepted, and bound for glory. God is for us, we are secure in Jesus, and all things are working in our favor as children of God. We are loved, empowered, and filled with joy. These are the blessings in sight here.
These blessings come to us through faith in Christ. It is by simple, childlike faith that we are justified before God. We no longer need -- as we did before we knew Christ -- to validate or justify ourselves through our supposed goodness, or through what we have accomplished. We need not yield any more to rebellion or despair or to any form of self-righteousness. We are restored to fellowship with God by his grace alone.
Is this all real to you (and to me)? Are we experiencing these blessings? Think about these words from Francis Schaeffer: "God has promised such things as peace and joy to those who have believed Him, but unless we are united to these promises on the basis of Christ’s finished work through faith, they’re not real to us. Faith links us to the promises of God for the present life, just as it did for our initial salvation." (Francis Schaeffer, The Finished Work of Christ)
That's it for this week!
Sandy
Afterwords is an occasional newsletter on topics of interest to me (Sandy Young) since my retirement from full-time pastoral ministry. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.