Romans 5:2... we got there in the end!

 "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:2

I noticed as I was looking at this verse (in the KJV, ESV and the NIV) that the footnotes explain that some manuscripts omit the 'by faith'. While it may seem somewhat innocuous to do so it would rather be like omitting the 'through our Lord Jesus Christ at the end of verse one.

It doesn't add to the understanding of the action of our faith and justification by leaving 'by faith' out, but it does sort of detract from the heavy emphasis that Paul has put on faith in chapter 4. Also it describes rather well the key that is required for us to enter the room wherein we will stand in the Almighty's grace.

It is yet again an example of that multi-faceted elements of justification, faith and grace and the many many contexts in which those words can apply to us as Christians... while remaining so very very singular in purpose. Vast applications, but ultimately serving a single purpose.

I realise my painkiller addled mind may have wandered into a theological La-la land so I'll try and expand on how this line of thinking presented itself. Below is what I wrote immediately following my first full look at verse 2.

'Following the declaration at the close of verse 1 that peace has been achieved 'with God through our Lord Jesus Christ' Paul adds a most important point regarding this access. The same sacrifice that affords us this peace (where there was once enmity) and the propitiation that allowed us to ultimately be justified also allows us to access an inner sanctum of grace. A condition or place where we can stand in his grace.  

Now grace is so very multi layered while remaining in essence so simple. Grace means of course 'unmerited favour' and it is only by grace that our justification and peace with God can be achieved (through our Lord Jesus Christ!). But grace means even more than just an action of favour. An indication and my reason for saying this lies in the words "wherein we stand" (KJV) or "in which we stand" (ESV). It (grace) is also a condition or state, a 'place' even if I can put it such a way.

'The grace in which we stand' - once found not guilty and even righteous we can stand in the very presence of Jehovah, our spiritual being is in a state of grace. Grace (unmerited favour) affords the chance to be in grace (standing in his presence spiritually).

It is rather like being so blessed as to be invited to the King's palace quite undeservedly and through no action or deed on our part. In receiving the invitation we are conscious that just to be invited and to attend the palace alone is an act of great favour by the King. Then on arrival and we are invited directly into an audience with the King. Once there we are made to feel so very comfortable and the King is so approachable answering all of our questions in full. A wonderful place to stand... in the very presence of the King. Invited by grace, attending by grace and in his throne room basking in his grace.

And to top it all His son stopped us at the door and gave us some of His finest clothes to wear so the King would find us acceptable and worthy of seeing.'

I hope that cleared up why I thought what I did.

Grace is my new favourite word!

Romans 5:1... one more time!

I had some interesting feedback from the blogs I posted about Romans 5:1, generally positive... which was annoying as I prefer criticism on such things as they make me re-scrutinise what I've written. I did have a comment passed about my post on 'Peace with God'. In it I talked about God's hate of sin. It seems that when I commented that God could not sin as we knew it (actual quote was: "He cannot hate as we understand the word, for to hate is to sin") it was taken to mean that God doesn't hate. Well He does, which is why I then added the example of Hoeksema's 'Holy NO'.

In hindsight maybe I should have described His hate as one that we cannot know, as our understanding is of hate is sinful. The Almighty has a divine, Holy, wrathful hate that is utterly just and pure... not something we can fully, truly appreciate.

I hope that clears up any confusion on that matter. I endeavour to make my posts clear and theologically sound, but am aware that I will frequently muddle my thoughts and consequently perhaps not do my biblical opinion justice.

But on with Romans 5:1 once again. I was greatly reassured that having written the posts without commentary support and having (in all honesty) just written them off the cuff, that on listening to a Peter Jeffery sermon (listen to the one titled 'Peace') on the verse and reading the chapter on the verse in 'Righteous by Faith Alone' (Herman Hoeksema) I had covered in brief many of their points. Just not quite as eloquently!

However, as is often the case, in hindsight I realised that perhaps I'd missed a massive amount out! In writing the posts I knew that there was so much more in each that could've been added. But then you'd have been reading a 45 page blog... not a habit I'll try and fall into.

But as I read Mr Hoeksema's chapter last night something was highlighted that Peter Jeffery had touched on and perhaps I hadn't.

We are either condemned in our sin or justified. Or we are either guilty or not guilty. There is no sliding scale of righteousness for that impending court case. We cannot be semi-righteous, or semi-condemned. We are of one condition or the other. In the case of the Christian of course what cause for praise and celebration there is in our new found legal position before the Lord!

But it gets better. Once declared 'not guilty', once we have been justified, no other charge can be brought to us. Consequently the position cannot be reversed; we cannot return to the dock and be found guilty. This is because when the gavel fell in judgement of our souls (or will) the great Judge doesn't just pronounce us 'not guilty'. He brings down the hammer and to our relief the words 'not guilty' are issued forth, but this is followed without hesitation by the gavel pointed at us and we are affirmed as 'righteous'! (James R Hamilton can take credit for this illustration).

For that court date our legal intercessor the Lord Jesus Christ has laid out his finest of clothes for us to wear. Gleaming and perfectly tailored they cover our filthy rags and as we stand in the dock the divine judge sees us as guiltless, adopted heirs and children. We cannot be found guilty... cannot! A perfect legal representation and promises by the Lord Jesus ensure it!


I know I may seem to be labouring the point Christian, but isn't justification a wonderful word? I want to have it tattooed on my forehead sometimes! 'Justified'. Tattoo aside surely our witness, language, demeanour, countenance and soul should shout to all who know us - 'bought and paid for'. And if anyone wants to check that the purchase is valid - the receipts can be found in the bible!


One of which, funnily enough can be found in Romans 5:1... regardless of the version!

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," (NIV)"

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" (KJV)

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (ESV)

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," (NASB)

A boiling pot of sin.

This may seem somewhat tenuous and a rather incomplete thought, but this is the sort of path my mind takes when I'm driving to and from work.

I am umm-ing and ahh-ing about studying a Masters degree in 'Social, emotional and Behavioural Difficulties'. I work in a special needs school for boys with such problems and clearly it is a good choice of continuing professional development.

I was considering as I drove the nature of the boys and their problems and one of the given module titles for the MEd when I came up with one of my analogies/illustrations. The boiling pot on the stove.

Sometimes the lads at my school quite literally need to 'boil over' to let off some pressure. Literally they need to 'pop' as a way of venting the anxieties and frustrations of their lives and normally do so physically and emotionally as they are not equipped to manage such situations and feelings successfully. So the image is of a saucepan of water simmering, then boiling. The boiling of the water becomes more and more violent until it boils up and over the side of the pan. There is a lot of sizzling and foaming. Hot water splashes and any hand near the pan is at risk of getting scalded. The pan is stained and a big wet puddle is left surrounding the pan, which ultimatley has to be mopped up.

Now this pot if not watched carefully can easily boil over again. Certainly you wouldn't fill it up again then walk away from it. Why? Because it'll just boil over again!

To prevent the pan boiling over and making a mess it has to be watched and the flames which heat it have to be controlled to ensure it doesn't get over heated. When the pan is boiling there are things you can do to control it and ensure that it doesn't bubble over. You can turn the heat down, remove some water or take the pan off the hob completely. More specifically you can be more proactive and consider if the pan is big enough and deep enough to be placed on the flame in the first place.

In context with the boys at school - we have to monitor their emotions as they 'simmer'. If they look like they're going to boil over we have to manage the heat (or the antagonist), remove some of the boiling contents (the content of the problem) or if we can remove the 'pan' from the heatsource altogether and place it somewhere it can cool down (take the boiling 'boy' and give him an environment where there is no antagonist to get him boiling again).

Now none of these are easy. They require skill and understanding and most importantly it requires a commitment to keep revisiting that boiling pot and decide quickly which way is best to prevent a 'boil over'. Ultimately I suppose we're trying to teach the 'pan' to monitor itself, the heat that affects it and we try to instil in the pan the ability to remove itself from the heat early.

So how does this apply to the Christian?

The boiling water is sin. We are the pan. The heat is temptation.

Placing oneself knowingly on the heat of temptation we are at risk of allowing the sin in our lives to boil over, making a horrible mess that takes time to mop up. The boiling waters of sin also pose a risk of scalding to anyone close to the pan.

As we try to teach our boys at school to not put themselves on a direct source of heat, should the Christian also not place themselves knowingly in the way of the heat of temptation? We cannot, of course, always avoid heat/temptation but that doesn't abdicate us of our responsibility in trying to spot all potential sources of heat.

We should surely pursue the shade of the fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ; the calming, soothing breeze of the Holy Spirit and immerse ourselves in the cooling waters of His Word.

"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26: 41

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." James 1: 12

"And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." Luke 22: 46