Romans 5:1

Ro 5:1-11. The Blessed Effects of Justification by Faith.

The proof of this doctrine being now concluded, the apostle comes here to treat of its fruits, reserving the full consideration of this topic to another stage of the argument (Ro 8:1-39). 1. Therefore being--"having been." justified by faith, we have peace with God, &c.--If we are to be guided by manuscript authority, the true reading here, beyond doubt, is, "Let us have peace"; a reading, however, which most reject, because they think it unnatural to exhort men to have what it belongs to God to give, because the apostle is not here giving exhortations, but stating matters of fact. But as it seems hazardous to set aside the decisive testimony of manuscripts, as to what the apostle did write, in favor of what we merely think he ought to have written, let us pause and ask--If it be the privilege of the justified to "have peace with God," why might not the apostle begin his enumeration of the fruits of justification by calling on believers to "realize" this peace as belonged to them, or cherish the joyful consciousness of it as their own? And if this is what he has done, it would not be necessary to continue in the same style, and the other fruits of justification might be set down, simply as matters of fact. This "peace" is first a change in God's relation to us; and next, as the consequence of this, a change on our part towards Him. God, on the one hand, has "reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ" (2Co 5:18); and we, on the other hand, setting our seal to this, "are reconciled to God" (2Co 5:20). The "propitiation" is the meeting-place; there the controversy on both sides terminates in an honorable and eternal "peace."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

ROMANS Chapter 5

Introduction

The design of this chapter, which has usually been considered as one of the most difficult portions of the New Testament, especially Rom 5:12-21, is evidently to show the results or benefits of the doctrine of justification by faith. That doctrine the apostle had now fully established. He had shown in the previous chapters,

(1.) that men were under condemnation for sin;

(2.) that this extended alike to the Jews and the Gentiles;

(3.) that there was no way of escape now but by the doctrine of pardon, not by personal merit, but by grace;

(4.) that this plan was fully made known by the gospel of Christ; and

(5.) that this was no new doctrine, but was, in fact, substantially the same by which Abraham and David had been accepted before God.

Having thus stated and vindicated the doctrine, it was natural to follow up the demonstration, by stating its bearing and its practical influence. This he does by showing that its immediate effect is to produce peace, Rom 5:1. It gives us the privilege of access to the favour of God, Rom 5:2. But not only this, we are in a world of affliction. Christians, like others, are surrounded with trials; and a very important question was, whether this doctrine would have an influence in supporting the soul in those trials. This question the apostle discusses in Rom 5:3-11. He shows that in fact Christians glory in tribulation, and that the reasons why they do so are,

(1.) that the natural effect of tribulations under the gospel was to lead to hope, Rom 5:3,4.

(2.) That the cause of this was, that the love of God was shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost. This doctrine he further confirms by showing the consolation which would be furnished by the fact that Christ had died for them. This involved a security that they would be sustained in their trials, and that a victory would be given them. For,

(1.) it was the highest expression of love that he should die for
enemies, Rom 5:6-8.

(2.) It followed that if he was given for them when they were
enemies, it was much more probable, it was certain, that all
needful grace would be furnished to them now that they were
reconciled, Rom 5:9-11.

But there was another very material inquiry. Men were not only exposed to affliction, but they were in the midst of a wreck of things--of a fallen world--of the proofs and memorials of sin everywhere. The first man had sinned, and the race was subject to sin and death. The monuments of death and sin were everywhere. It was to be expected that a remedy from God would have reference to this universal state of sin and woe; and that it would tend to meet and repair these painful and wide-spread ruins. The apostle then proceeds to discuss the question, how the plan of salvation, which involved justification by faith, was adapted to meet these universal and distressing evils, Rom 5:12-21. The design of this part of the chapter is to show that the blessings procured by the redemption through Christ, and the plan of justification through him, greatly exceed all the evils which had come upon the world in consequence of the apostasy of Adam. And if this was the case, the scheme of justification by faith was complete. It was adapted to the condition of fallen and ruined man, and was worthy of his affection and confidence. A particular examination of this argument of the apostle will occur in the Notes on verses 12--21.

Verse 1. Therefore (ουν). Since we are thus justified, or as a consequence of being justified, we have peace.

Being justified by faith. Rom 1:17; Rom 3:24; Rom 4:5.

We. That is, all who are justified. The apostle is evidently speaking of true Christians.

Have peace with God. Jn 14:27. True religion is often represented as peace with God. See Acts 10:36, Rom 8:6, 10:15, 14:17, Gal 5:22. See also Isa 32:17:--

"And the work of righteousness shall be peace, And the effect of righteousness Quietness and assurance for ever."

This is called peace, because

(1.) the sinner is represented as the enemy of God, Rom 8:7, Eph 2:16, Jas 4:4, Jn 15:18,24, 17:14, Rom 1:30.

(2.) The state of a sinner's mind is far from peace. He is often agitated, alarmed, trembling. He feels that he is alienated from God. For

"The wicked are like the troubled sea, For it never can be at rest; Whose waters east up mire and dirt." Isa 57:20.

The sinner, in this state, regards God as his enemy. He trembles when he thinks of his law; fears his judgments; is alarmed when he thinks of hell. His bosom is a stranger to peace. This has been felt in all lands--alike under the thunders of the law of Sinai among the Jews, in the pagan world, and in lands where the gospel is preached. It is the effect of an alarmed and troubled conscience.

(3.) The plan of salvation by Christ reveals God as willing to be reconciled. He is ready to pardon, and to be at peace. If the sinner repents and believes, God can now consistently forgive him, and admit him to favour. It is therefore a plan by which the mind of God and of the sinner can become reconciled, or united in feeling and in purpose. The obstacles, on the part of God, to reconciliation, arising from his justice and law, been removed, and he is now willing to be at peace. The obstacles on the part of man, arising from his sin, his rebellion, and his conscious guilt, may be taken away, and he can now regard God as his friend.

(4.) The effect of this plan, when the sinner embraces it, is to produce peace in his own mind. He experiences peace; a peace which the world gives not, and which the world cannot take away, Php 4:7, 1Pet 1:8, Jn 16:22. Usually, in the work of conversion to God, this peace is the first evidence that is felt of the change of heart. Before, the sinner was agitated and troubled. But often suddenly, a peace and calmness is felt, which is before unknown. The alarm subsides; the heart is calm; the fears die away, like the waves of the ocean after a storm. A sweet tranquillity visits the heart--a pure shining light, like the sunbeams that break through the opening clouds after a tempest. The views, the feelings, the desires are changed; and the bosom that was just before filled with agitation and alarm, that regarded God as its enemy, is now at peace with him, and with all the world.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ. By means of the atonement of the Lord Jesus. It is his mediation that has procured it.

(e) "Therefore being justified" Isa 32:17, Eph 2:14, Col 1:20.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Introduction

The effects of justification by faith, peace with God, Rom 5:1. The joyous hope of eternal glory, Rom 5:2. Glorying in tribulations, Rom 5:3. And gaining thereby patience, experience, and hope, Rom 5:4. And having the love of God shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit, Rom 5:5. The state of the world when Christ died for it, Rom 5:6-10. Jesus Christ is an atonement, Rom 5:11. Sin and death entered into the world by Adam's transgression, and all became guilty before God, Rom 5:12-14. God's grace in sending Christ into the world to save fallen man, Rom 5:15-19. The law is brought in to show the exceeding sinfulness of sin, Rom 5:20. The grace of Christ is to be as extensive in its influences and reign, as sin has been in its enslaving and destructive nature, Rom 5:21. Is the former chapter, the apostle, having proved that the believing Gentiles are justified in the same way with Abraham, and are, in fact, his seed, included with him in the promise and covenant; he judged this a proper place, as the Jews built all their glorying upon the Abrahamic covenant, to produce some of the chief of those privileges and blessings in which the Christian Gentile can glory, in consequence of his justification by faith. And he produces three particulars which, above all others, were adapted to this purpose. 1. The hope of eternal life, in which the law, wherein the Jew gloried, Rom 2:17, was defective, Rom 5:2. 2. The persecutions and sufferings to which Christians were exposed, Rom 5:3, Rom 5:4, and on account of which the Jews were greatly prejudiced against the Christian profession: but he shows that these had a happy tendency to establish the heart in the hope of the Gospel. 3. An interest in God, as our God and Father - a privilege upon which the Jews valued themselves highly above all nations, Rom 5:11. These three are the singular privileges belonging to the Gospel state, wherein true Christians may glory, as really belonging to them, and greatly redounding, if duly understood and improved, to their honor and benefit. Verse 1 Therefore being justified by faith - The apostle takes it for granted that he has proved that justification is by faith, and that the Gentiles have an equal title with the Jews to salvation by faith. And now he proceeds to show the effects produced in the hearts of the believing Gentiles by this doctrine. We are justified - have all our sins pardoned by faith, as the instrumental cause; for, being sinners, we have no works of righteousness that we can plead. We have peace with God - Before, while sinners, we were in a state of enmity with God, which was sufficiently proved by our rebellion against his authority, and our transgression of his laws; but now, being reconciled, we have peace with God. Before, while under a sense of the guilt of sin, we had nothing but terror and dismay in our own consciences; now, having our sin forgiven, we have peace in our hearts, feeling that all our guilt is taken away. Peace is generally the first-fruits of our justification. Through our Lord Jesus Christ - His passion and death being the sole cause of our reconciliation to God.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

The grace of God, through the righteousness of Christ, has more power to bring salvation, than Adam's sin had to bring misery, (15-19) as grace did superabound. (20-21) Verses 1-5 A blessed change takes place in the sinner's state, when he becomes a true believer, whatever he has been. Being justified by faith he has peace with God. The holy, righteous God, cannot be at peace with a sinner, while under the guilt of sin. Justification takes away the guilt, and so makes way for peace. This is through our Lord Jesus Christ; through him as the great Peace-maker, the Mediator between God and man. The saints' happy state is a state of grace. Into this grace we are brought, which teaches that we were not born in this state. We could not have got into it of ourselves, but we are led into it, as pardoned offenders. Therein we stand, a posture that denotes perseverance; we stand firm and safe, upheld by the power of the enemy. And those who have hope for the glory of God hereafter, have enough to rejoice in now. Tribulation worketh patience, not in and of itself, but the powerful grace of God working in and with the tribulation. Patient sufferers have most of the Divine consolations, which abound as afflictions abound. It works needful experience of ourselves. This hope will not disappoint, because it is sealed with the Holy Spirit as a Spirit of love. It is the gracious work of the blessed Spirit to shed abroad the love of God in the hearts of all the saints. A right sense of God's love to us, will make us not ashamed, either of our hope, or of our sufferings for him.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain