#1627 Romans 5 Part 1 For A Good Man

 

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we boast in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not put to shame, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man, though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Romans 5: 1-11 LSB

Romans 5: 1-11

V. 1 Having been justified by faith - Therefore indicates that we are flowing off of the previous chapter, and in Romans 4:25 we left off with "25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." 

 

Christ didn't die for a show, not for a sweet story, not because we were so loveable, no, quite the opposite, He chose to love us while we were sinners, and because He is holy, He did not put away justice but instead paid the price. It is mind boggling because the One receiving the injustice is Christ, the innocent One. So this justification is received by faith which we saw before is a gift from God, not because you were clever and figured something out. This faith gives us the power to believe that we have been justified not by our own works but because of the worthiness of Jesus, the One Who had to take on human flesh, because it was man who sinned, but who also had to be God, because it is God Who was the offended, and Who is eternally opposed to sin. So the object of your faith is Christ, believing that yes, I am a sinner, and yes, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord because He was the sacrifice that was found expectable by the Father. Being justified means you are now in good standing with God because of Christ, and the evidence of this is that the Holy Spirit will work in you, convicting you of sin, bringing you to repentance, and being more and more conformed to the image of Christ.  

Haldane explains that "It is not by faith, abstractly considered, that we are justified, nor even by faith in everything that God reveals. It is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Even this phrase itself, namely, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, is still elliptical, and supposes the knowledge of what is to be believed with respect to Christ. It is not believing in His existence, but believing on Him as revealed in the Scriptures, in His person and work. In the same manner as we have the phrase, “justified by faith,” we have the phrase, justified by the blood of Christ. As, in the former case, faith implies its object, so, in the latter, it is implied that we are justified by faith in the blood of Christ. The blood of Christ justifies by being the object of belief and of trust. (An Exposition on the Epistle to the Romans)

True faith that saves one's soul includes at least three main elements (1) firm persuasion or firm conviction, (2) a surrender to that truth and (3) a conduct emanating from that surrender. In sum, faith shows itself genuine by a changed life. (Click here for W E Vine's similar definition of faith) - PA

V. 2 Into this grace in which we stand - Remember, grace is unmerited favor, you can either believe in yourself, your own personal goodness, or believe in Christ, Who God accepts. 

…23so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 24Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life. 25Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.… John 5: 23-25

1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,… 1 Corinthians 15: 1-3

Hodge explains that...

There is a joyful confidence expressed in these words, an assurance of ultimate salvation, which is the appropriate effect of justification. We are authorized and bound to feel sure that having been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, we will certainly be saved. This confidence is the only fitting response to the merit of his sacrifice and the sincerity of God’s love. It is not founded on ourselves or on the preposterous idea that we deserve the favor of God or the equally preposterous idea that we have in ourselves strength to persevere in faith or obedience. Our confidence is solely on the merit of Christ and the free and infinite love of God.

Although this assurance is the legitimate result of reconciliation, and its absence is evidence of weakness, in this, as in other respects, the actual state of the believer generally falls far short of the ideal. He always lives below his privileges and goes limping and stumbling when he should rise up with the wings of the eagle. But it is important for him to know that assurance is not an unbecoming presumption, but a privilege and duty. (Commentary on Romans) - PA

Vs. 3-5 We boast in our afflictions - There is a dangerous teaching now that attaches itself to Christian vocabulary, and it can be seen in Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, and charismatic circles especially, that teaches men that Christianity is a pyramid system, a means to prosperity. Joel Osteen is one apostate that comes to mind, writing books like "your best life now", and this is in no way my best life, no matter how good things may get here, my best life is in eternity with Christ. If this is your best life I feel sorry for you. Many of the prosperity teachers assume that people are suffering more than others because they lack "faith", see, a word from the Bible, but do they get it right? Remember Job, he was a man that loved God and that God said there was no one like him on the earth, but Satan asked to be able to hurt him to test this, and God allowed it. When Job had lost almost everything his own wife told him to curse God and die, but Job praised God sitting in the dirt covered in boils, having lost his children, his wealth, almost everything. Job's friends assumed his terrible state was because of some hidden sin, yet he was in better standing with God than them. It was the same with Paul when the "super apostles" tried sell their version of this nonsense back then. 

10Now I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. 12I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need.… Philippians 4: 10-12

V. 6 For while we were still weak - It wasn't our strength, but Christ's willingness to die.

…5“Do you not know what they are?” replied the angel. “No, my lord,” I answered. 6So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts. 7What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. Then he will bring forth the capstone accompanied by shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’ ”… Zechariah 4: 5-7

Vs. 7-8 While we were yet sinners Christ died for us - It pains me that I have made so light of my sin when I think about how futile it is. As if I know more than God, or see a better way than the One Who created everything that I understand so little of. I marvel at this because the apostle Paul is right, rarely will one die for a righteous man, and the Scripture is clear, there is none righteous, not even one. God, Who is infinitely opposed to sin, comes and dies for sinners. I have been in the corporate world for a long time now, and most people won't even stand up for someone that we consider good by our standards. God only owed us death in order for justice to prevail, yet He offers His Son in my place. In the place of someone who deserved to die according the standard of the One Who made and therefore owns everything, Christ came. If you aren't moved by that then you have a really low view of God, no comprehension of holiness, and a delusional, high opinion of your own goodness. You are in complete opposition to what God claims is reality, but Who is He compared to your genius? 

12This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are My friends if you do what I command you.… John 15: 12-14

Vs. 9-11 We boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ - I take no pride in myself but in God, and what He has done for me and through me.

Spurgeon comments...

OUR text begins with these words, “And not only so.” It is the second time in which they occur in the chapter (Ro 5:3), I might almost have said the third, for a similar expression is used in another verse. The apostle had been mentioning very great and amazing privileges; he had gone from great benefits to yet greater; he had advanced, I might say, from silver to gold, and from gold to the priceless crystal; and when he had reached the highest point that we could have thought to be conceivable, he adds, “And not only so.” There is always in Christian privilege a yet beyond. The ancient mariners spoke of the pillars of Hercules and the Ultima Thule, and they supposed that when once their sails had whitened the sea in that direction they had come to the end of the universe and could go no further; but, more venturous prows forced their way to a new world, and proved that the former boundaries were imaginary. Even so we may have concluded in the early days of our Christian experience that we never could be happier, that we never could enjoy greater privileges, that there could not be greater treasures than we had discovered; but even at this present we have pushed far beyond our young attainments, and are preparing for yet more far-reaching endeavours. We have not yet attained. Far be it from us to imagine that we are or have all that the Lord intends. Let us not sit down contented with the notion that the gospel contains no more, for rest assured, to him who is able to follow after it there are whole worlds of privilege yet to be discovered. We are only at the foot of the mountain as yet. We may take for our motto the words, “Higher, higher, higher,” and may soar aloft again and again on eagles’ wings, for heaven is higher than our loftiest flight. At the end of all we have known and experienced there may be written, “And not only so.” A nobler future allures us, a higher line of spiritual things invites us; let us by faith and patience press forward to it. The borders of Immanuel’s land have yielded us choice fruit, but the inner valleys are rich with Eshcol clusters, and the brooks in the heart of the country overflow with milk and honey.

The present passage indicates a high attainment in spiritual life, when the soul learns not only to rejoice in salvation—which is an early experience, or to rejoice in tribulation—which is a far riper fruit, but advances even beyond that, and learns to make her joy, her glory, and her boast in God, in God alone. “And not only so, but we joy in God.” There is the point of elevated experience of which the apostle speaks with such confident familiarity. It certainly touches the confines of heaven, if it be not altogether heaven. This is the joy of angels and of spirits purified from all stain; they joy in God. Yet this is an attainment possible to us here. I might confine my thoughts to that subject, but it might be for profit if I use the text in another way, embracing that thought and making it the main topic of discourse, but taking a somewhat wider range. My text seems to me to describe the progress of a soul towards God. There is the first step visible in it, though somewhat in shadow and rather implied than expressed. The second step is very clear; it is “receiving the atonement,” or more correctly “the reconciliation.” The third step shines in a yet brighter light; having received the reconciliation, “we joy in God” and so we complete our fellowship with Him, and ascend to an elevation which, if it be not in heaven, lies on the confines of it. (Amen, let it be so for every reader of Romans 5 dear Lord. Amen) (Romans 5:11 Joy in a Reconciled God - Pdf) - PA