Paul’s theme is that man is made righteous by faith. In other words, man is set free from sin and evil by believing in the blood of Jesus Christ. This is the theme of the whole book of Romans. Today’s theme is what happens after a person believes in Jesus Christ and is saved.
I. Peace with God (vs. 1,2)
First let’s look at verses 1 and 2. Until now Paul has said that man is made righteous by faith. In chapter 5 Paul tells us what the result of man becoming righteous by faith, in our life what fruit it will bear. Here it says, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1) By believing in Jesus Christ we are able to have peace which we didn’t have at all up until the time we believed. Another way of saying it is like verse 10, “We were God’s enemies.” However, God’s only son, Christ, to pray the price for our sins died on the cross so that he removed the enmity between God and us and reconciled us to God.
What happens if we continue in a relationship as enemies? If you think about it on a human level it is easy to understand. For example, when there is a crack in the relationship of a couple, both of them irritant and there is no peace and it leads to divorce. When there is no peace in the family it is like hell. That’s because the home is supposed to be a place where you can experience refuge and peace, but that peace has disappeared. If there is no peace within the relationships of the national government, then war occurs and causes confusion throughout the world. In the work place, the greatest problem that occurs is not the amount of salary, but troubles in human relationships. This is a very difficult situation. It takes a lot of endurance to have to work everyday with a person who you can’t stand to see his face. The same is in the church. When there is no peace in the church then grace and strength disappears, and conflict is never ending. Peace is the most important ingredient needed for man to live. It is God who gives peace. Peace with God is the base of all relationships of society and from it peace is born. Peace with God comes from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Up until man’s relationship with God was as it says in verse 10 was a relationship as “enemies”. There was no peace between ourselves and God. In other words, it was an attitude of antagonism toward God. If such a person came before God, he would have to die. That’s why in the Old Testament, there was a high priest because man couldn’t go before God. The only way that a person could come close to God was once a year when the high priest would go into the Holy of Holies and sprinkle the blood of an unblemished lamb upon the ark of the covenant. By pouring out the blood of the lamb the wrath of the Lord was appeased. When the High priest did this, he wore two things when he went into the Holy of Holies. One thing was a rope that was tied to his waist and the second were bells handing from the hem of his clothes. They did this because the High priest that entered into the Holy of Holies could not go before Holy God and there were some people who died. To go before Holy God was to put your life on the line. Therefore, if the people could not hear the bell, then they would know that the High priest had died. No one could go inside so they could pull on the rope and pull him out. This rope and bell was a symbol of how fearful it is for sinful man who is antagonistic towards God to go before God.
However, by the blood of Jesus Christ, we are given peace with God. We can boldly come before God.
Hebrews 10:19
By Jesus dyeing on the cross, we are set free from this type of fear and can go boldly before God. We can see this in by the fact that when Jesus was put on the cross, the curtain of the temple was torn in half.
Matt. 27:51
Up until now the wall that was between God and us was completely removed By the blood of Jesus we can boldly enter the Holy of Holies and go before God.
Paul says about this event, “Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” (1,2) “This grace in which we now stand” means that we can without fear boldly go before God. God who up until now was only an object of fear, is now our Father whom we can run to be with and can boldly come before. “Gained access” means to go near. It also means to be led and introduced. It means that Jesus takes the hand of us who as a result of our sins, our relationship with the Holy God was broken and leads and introduces us and brings us near to our God, the Father. The way that this is done is by us believing in our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ that he died for us on the cross.
Such amazing grace! By Jesus, “we have gained access by faith into this grace.” (2) It is not because of something that we have done. There is nothing that we have done, it is only by faith that this way was opened. As a result we now can boldly by the name of Jesus Christ go before God and pray.
II. Rejoice in our sufferings (vs. 3-5)
Not only did it become possible for us to have peace with God, but we can also rejoice in our sufferings. Let’s look at verses 3 to 5.
A big difference between Christianity and other religions, between new religions that are considered to be self profit religions is that in general other religions see sufferings and troubles as evil and look for ways of escape from them. However, in Christianity this is not necessarily so. In Christianity suffering and troubles are not necessarily seen as evil. They are seen as things that should be welcomed. Here we are told to “rejoice in our sufferings”. (3) The reason is “that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us” (3-5) The believer’s hope is the blessed assurance of our future destiny. Heaven in promised to those who believe in Jesus Christ.
This hope is brought about by suffering. “Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us.” (3-5) Therefore we can rejoice in suffering. If we can we want to avoid trouble. However if troubles cause us to grow and lead us to heaven, then we should rejoice. Therefore, James said, “Consider it pure joy, my brother, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)
“Character” means “Finished the test”. It is like when a factory makes a knife. It is put through fire and hammered and put in fire and stretched. This is repeated over and over again. Through sufferings God produces character within us.
In the Bible there are many saints that experienced sufferings. One of such people was Jacob in the Old Testament. When he was born he was grasping his brother’s heel. During his lifetime he deceived many people for his own profit. God caused him to suffer over and over. He deceived his father and brother and had to leave his home. He worked for his uncle and next his uncle deceived him. He suffered over and over. As a result of such troubles in his life, he searched for God, and spiritually was made into good character. On his way back from Laban he wrestled with God for a whole night and God put out his hip. Through such an experience he was made into Israel, in other words, he realized that victory is in God.
Jacob suffered and persevered. For Jacob Rachel’s, whom he dearly loved, death was a very knocking down experience, but he continued to have hope. This is what a person who has experienced God working in his life is like.
Psalm 119:71
The Gospel is strength. Man’s real strength comes from the Gospel, from the Word of God. The ability to rejoice in our sufferings is the real strength. Those who believe in Christ have been given this strength.
III. God has poured out his love (vs. 5-11)
The third point is the reason that hope does not disappoint us. That is “because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (5) This verse tells us how we can control our emotions when we are suffering. It is “because God has poured out his love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” (5) that we are able to have joy in the midst of suffering. When “God has poured out his love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” (5) we are able to be full of peace and joy and hope. No matter what king of suffering comes our way, we are able to rejoice.
Vs.6-8
Here Paul is telling us about the greatness of God’s love which can be seen in that God poured his love out on those who weren’t worthy. Paul uses 3 words to describe those who aren’t worthy. One is “when we were still powerless”(6). Another is “ungodly”. (6) Another one is “sinners”. (8) “powerless” (6) means not having power. In other words it is the condition of having no spiritual strength. For example, Paul said to the Ephesians, “You were dead in your transgressions and sins.” (Ephesians 2:1) They were powerless in this way. They were powerless spiritually. They tried to cover it by putting up a front.
“Ungodly” (6) refers to those who do not worship God. When God made man, God made him in God’s image. However when man sinned he lost this spiritual side. As we saw in chapter 1, man didn’t worship God as God, they weren’t thankful, and “their foolish hearts were darkened.” (1:21) The “ungodly” are like this.
”Sinners” originally meant those who miss the mark. Man missed the mark of what God made him to be and did what he was not to do. He began living the way he wanted to. This is what a sinner is like.
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men.” (1:18) but Jesus died for such men and thus showed his love for man. God hates sin, but at the same time he loves sinners. No matter how deep a sinner, God loves him. This can be seen in the fact that God gave his only son. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (6-8)
Man respects righteous people. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that someone is willing to die for such a person, but someone might be willing to die for an outstanding person. However, it is unlikely that someone would die for an unrighteous, sinner. But there was someone, God’s son, Jesus Christ. Christ’s love never changes. This unchanging love is now being poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. God’s love never changes. Therefore, Paul said, “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (9-11)
We who have already been made righteous by Jesus Christ, “how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! “. (9) We who were the enemies with God, by the death of the Son we have been reconciled with God, “how much more having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (10) That is “because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” (5) That is how much we are loved. We can rejoice in the Lord.
Sometimes we get discouraged, but in reality we have a huge power. We who have already been made righteous by Jesus Christ have been reconciled to God, “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (11) This is “because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” (5) This love gives us life.
This love is the most necessary thing that is needed for this country as it moves to recovery after this huge earthquake. “And hope does not disappoint us.” (5) May we take this hope and one step at a time and rebuild this country.