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Chapter 5

The Results & Basis of

Justification By Faith
Romans 5:1-11

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith,

we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
(Romans 5:1)

W
e are interested in results. Ideas, inventions, business
plans, and philosophies are screened by one question. Is it
effective? Does it work?
Many times in this epistle, Paul seems to counter anticipated
arguments and questions. The question could go something like
this:
OK Paul, I’m following you so far. I can see that my own
righteousness doesn’t amount to much. I know that I can’t get
myself into heaven. And I understand what you mean when you
say that my only response to God is faith and through faith, Christ’s
righteousness is credited to my account. But, can I really be sure
that it’s effective? Is it possible to stand before God in confidence?
In short:
Does Justification By Faith really work?
And Paul’s answer in this chapter is YES, it works. He gives the
hows and whys of salvation. He shows how the gap between us and
God is bridged: how we have access to God and confidence in the
future.
Romans In Focus

Peace with God (vs. 1)

I have a reproduction of Galesburg newspaper dated Tues. May

8th, 1945. The headline reads “War Ends Today, 5:01 PM, CWT”.
I can imagine all the rejoicing and celebration when folks read that
headline. And when we place our faith in Christ, the war is ended….
we have peace with God.
We were once enemies of God, rebels. (vs.10) We resisted God’s
grace, ignored His love. And we’re headed for defeat. But, the truce
has been established, hostilities have ceased.
Psalms 85:10 says “righteousness and peace have kissed each
other.” Peace with God is a direct result of righteousness. A believer
is justified (declared righteous) and then has peace.
Peace with God is not the same as the peace of God. Every believer
has peace with God, even if he doesn’t sense it. Christians worry
and fret about their salvation and cringe waiting for God to get them.
But, if they are saved, they have peace with God.

Access To Grace (vs. 2)

The most holy place in the temple (where God’s presence dwelt)
was restricted. No one other than the high priest could enter, and
then only once a year after a thorough cleansing. When Christ died
the veil was torn in two. Believers now have access to God.
Heb. 4:16 “let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,
so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time
of need.”
There’s no longer any veil (separation) between God and His
people. Notice that access is through Christ. He is our High Priest. He
is the one who always lives to intercede for us. We don’t have to go
through a man in order to get to God. We can directly communicate
and commune with God, through Christ.
 Chapter 5

“this grace in which we now stand.” We tend to think of grace

as only a part of salvation...A past event. But we continually need
grace.. . every day. I received God’s grace when He saved me. There
was nothing in me to merit it. He has no more reason to keep me
than He did to save me. I still sin. It’s not a matter of being saved by
grace and then working to keep it. We’re saved by grace and kept
by grace. And it’s in this grace in which we stand.

Hope (2b-5)

Christians are the only people on earth that have real hope. Not
cross-your-fingers type optimism or false hope. True hope is being
certain that your future is secure.

The object of our hope:

Our hope is “the glory of God -the very presence of God.
That’s what we’re looking forward to. Rom. 8:30 -”...those HE
justified, he also glorified.” It’s as good as done.

Developing Hope. (3-4)

“We also rejoice in our sufferings.” Why should we rejoice when we
suffer? Because we know that our pain is not meaningless. It has a
good effect. Rom.8:28 “and we know that in all things God works
for the good of those who love him.” All things, even our sufferings
ultimately produce good.
It takes adversity to develop character. Parents understand that.
As your child grows up, you give him more and more freedom and
responsibility. And when he makes a wrong choice and gets into a
jam, you resist the temptation to jump in and bail him out. Why? Do
you enjoy his suffering? No. You realize that he’ll mature and be a
better person because he handled his own problem.
Romans In Focus

As we mature in our Christian life, we are more secure in our hope.

We can look back at our past difficulties and see how God brought
us through. We know, by experience not just theoretically, how God
works those things for good. Which gives us more reason to trust
God for the future.

God’s Love (5-8)

Our hope is grounded in God’s love. How can we doubt that hope
with the love of God in our hearts.
Characteristics of God’s love:
We love because. Because of your personality, because of your
looks, because of what you’ve done for me, or because you love me.
But God’s love is completely different. He doesn’t need a because.
In fact, because “God is love” is the only reason you can give.
Paul asks the question “Why did Christ die for us who hated Him?”
He allows that you night possibly find someone who would sacrifice
himself for a good man… one worth saving. Would you die for your
spouse? Your kids? Maybe your best friend? How about a stranger
on the street? A rapist in prison?
But God’s kind of love is different. Christ died for his enemies. Not
because we deserved it. Not because anything on our part.

Security (9-11)

Considering that kind of love, how can any Christian doubt his
security. How can you worry and fret about losing your salvation.
Paul argues from the lesser to the greater. It Christ, by dying for
us, was able to save us, wouldn’t he be able to keep us saved by
living? If he would die for enemies, won’t he live for those who are
 Chapter 5

now his friends? We’re “saved from God’s wrath.” (9) We’re also
“saved through his life!” (10)

Basis for Justification By Faith (5:12-21)

Before I received the Lord, I occasionally went to church and heard

the preacher say that Jesus died for my sins. And I never could
understand :
How can the act of one man so affect the world?
I believed that Jesus died to pay for sin, but I couldn’t understand
what his death could affect me. I should have read this section of
Romans. Paul shows a contrast between Adam & Jesus that helps
to explain the question.
Adam —> Sin—> Death
From one man (Adam), sin came into the world, which lead to
death, which resulted in death to all men.
God created the human race to be perfect. But Adam disobeyed
God’s command and suddenly there was a change. The human
race fell and death was the result. Adam’s descendants inherited
his defective “gene” and they died. Even those who had no
commandments to break.

It’s nothing new for one man’s actions to affect the world. It happened
with Adam. He sinned and as a result we all are affected. Before you’re
too hard on ole Adam, let me ask you this: Could you do better? Adam
was perfect, without any flaws and he lived in a perfect environment.

Christ —> Righteousness —> Life

Notice the phrase “how much more” that Paul uses throughout these
verses. Christ’s obedience was more than sufficient to overcome the
results of Adam’s disobedience.
Romans In Focus

Adam’s act brought condemnation and death. Christ’s act brought

justification and eternal life. Not only did Christ undo all the damage
from the fall, He accomplished much more. We gain more than was
lost.
1. His grace overflowed to many (15)
2. We’ll share in His future reign (17)

Adam’s act brought condemnation and death. Christ’s act brought

justification and eternal life.