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)

Romans 5: 1 (for the last time... until next time).

Romans 5: 1 “... peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.”


For a third time we can visit this verse and consider something more. We are justified by faith we know. We are also consequently at peace (or have peace) with God where once there was enmity. This process is by grace – our salvation, every part of it, is an act of grace. We have also established that this grace can only be imparted to us because of the Lord Jesus Christ’s propitiatory death and his glorious resurrection. The sacrifice made in atonement has allowed us to reach this state of being considered worthy in His sight, again, only as we are clothed in His righteousness.

Now while it may seem to be revisiting a point already made, these things are made possible through not only the Lord Jesus Christ but, note Paul’s words, our Lord Jesus Christ. Our personal saviour and our corporate high priest. Verse one is such a complete statement, in just 15 words Paul manages to convey and underscore so many essential aspects of our salvation. The sentence would be correct without adding ‘through our Lord Jesus Christ’. Paul has already in Romans 3 completely established our depravity and in chapter 4 he has incisively stated our justification can only be through faith, using Abraham as an example. He also underlines that out righteousness before God is imputed to us, never earned.

So again, the mention that this is achieved ‘through our Lord Jesus Christ’ is unnecessary to our understanding of the process of justification. So why add it?

Well firstly and fore mostly it is a comment surely of praise and glorification. Paul is reminding the Romans of the essential vehicle of salvation that is both the man and the Lord Jesus Christ. In all things we should include the wonder working power of Jesus and His blood. It is not enough to merely comment on the functions and legality of atonement, propitiation and justification. It is not enough to merely describe the peace in our souls gained where once there was hostility. The Lord Jesus Christ “delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification” stands astride all this in His Glory. He straddles the eternity between condemnation and salvation as a bridge for us to access eternal life. He is the peacemaker and doorway through whom we can be justified.

To omit His name is to defame His part in the process! (for without Him there would be no process!) To pay lip service to the name of Jesus is not enough! His name should not sneak quietly from the corner of our mouths or be added to a prayer as an almost forgotten addendum! We should in all things praise and magnify His name!

Paul was not merely reminding us of who our intercessor is. He is not even being repetitious or verbose in his wording. He is reinforcing and reminding the Romans and us of who achieved this wondrous work. Not some faceless god, not a legal action performed behind closed doors, but our loving, all sufficient Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ. One whose name should leap fully from our mouths in praise and adoration at every possible turn. Paul was making an unambiguous statement in verse 1 of this fifth chapter, but in it he is also posing a question.

Are you adding His name to all that you do?

Is it lip service?

Are you giving Him the praise his gift of eternal life and joy should merit?

Do it today Christian, do it in everything you do!

Romans 5:1b 'peace with God'

Romans 5: 1b “...we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”


In my last post I hope we identified how our justification is achieved and that it is all by grace and not in any part by our works. It is a complete work of His and not of us. This has now allowed, or afforded us, ‘peace with God’. The act of repentance is turning from sin, literally to turn away. Just as the Israelites left Egypt and were not to look back, or ‘return’ to Egypt, and as Lot leaving Sodom was to not look back, neither should we.

This ‘peace with God’ is achieved first through reconciliation. This reconciliation is with God where before there was hate and enmity. As we turn in repentance, He too turns to reconcile us to Himself and shines His countenance upon us. Once again it is God who does the work here. He comes to us. He is/was the offended party and the reconciliation is His to give. Our hate, spite and ungodliness was/is an affront to Him, deserving of divine wrath and judgement. Hoeksema put it (my paraphrase) that God’s ‘hate’ of sin is rather a ‘holy NO’. He cannot hate as we understand the word, for to hate is to sin. His wrath, His hate and anger are divine and holy. God will not have sin, the price must be paid the propitiation must be made. His non tolerance of sin is an everlasting, eternal ‘NO’. There cannot be a more definite, consistent refusal.

Peace with God is not possible without Christ’s intervention. Our enmity and our sinful disposition put us on the wrathful end of this holy NO. Again, in Romans 3: 10 - 18 we get an explanation of why. ‘None are righteous’ (v10), ‘no one seeks God’ (v11b) and there is ‘no fear of God in their eyes’ (v18). Our nature is at war with God’s prior to our salvation. Our sin despises Him and seeks to keep us facing away from Him; it is comfortable in keeping its back to the sunrise of God’s glory.

‘But now’ (Romans 3: 21) Jesus has satisfied the wrath. The lamb was slain and our sins pardoned by the holy scapegoat Son of God. ‘Therefore’ (v1a) we can be justified, we can be clothed in His raiment, dressed in Jesus’ own righteousness and presented worthy in God’s sight. This and this alone grants us access to the Almighty.

To ‘have peace’ is to truly be with Him. To be in His presence ‘through our Lord Jesus Christ’ is to know peace. Peace in our mind, heart, body and soul. It is an all enveloping, complete peace that can only be found in His presence and in having full assurance that the work is finished, that we do not need to rely on ourselves to receive or earn His love and grace. Once more the work is His and the list of God’s grace to us grows longer – to be with Him, to be in His presence, to offer sacrifices of prayer and praise are further benefits of having peace with Him, all enmity dead and gone.

To be with Him Christian! Consider that.

In Jesus’ complete work you are not just afforded salvation from the condemnation of your sin, not just justified in His sight, not just made whole and worthy, not just to be ultimately glorified, not just to be an heir and adopted son, not just clothed in Jesus righteousness, not just full of His grace and love. You are granted God’s full and blessed peace... and all in His presence.

Oh what a Saviour, oh to be with Him.

Romans 5: 1

Well I sat and watched Zulu. Then I had a short bible study and prayer time on the beatitudes (Matthew 5: 1 - 12). Then I remembered my earlier mention of reopening my studies on Romans. So having read the whole chapter I scrutinsed the first verse a little closer, and felt prompted to scrawl this. I apologise for any disjointed theology or spelling/grammar I haven't properly proof read it. I shall do so when my head has stopped spinning - it took me twice as long to type it up as it did to write it!!! I hope you benefit from it somehow...

 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 5: 1

‘Therefore’ – this ‘therefore’ can be considered in context rather like the ‘But now’ at the start of Romans 3: 21. ‘As a consequence of’ or ‘resulting from’ an action not of our own, but of Christ’s. Romans 3: 21 is fundamental in our redemption as it explains to us in no uncertain terms how the new covenant is established. ‘It was like this... but now it is like this...’ (Though the Jews would have required faith too, a lone reliance on adherence to the law was still justification by works).

Romans 3: 10 - 18 outlines how we are all under sin and condemned by our nature, ‘there is none righteous, no, not one’. We must first recognise, through the Holy Spirit’s prompting, our true state and the uselessness of our reliance on works. We cannot, Paul says, justify ourselves by any means. Christ alone can satisfy for our sins and none other but He. (Romans 3: 1 - 20)

So through, or by God’s righteousness imparted to us through Jesus Christ’s atonement, we can be saved, made acceptable in His sight. ‘But now’ Christ has become our great high priest and intercessor.

Romans 3 describes how ‘by works of the law’ (3: 20) no man can be justified. And ‘(but) now’ His righteousness has been manifested apart from the law we can be clothed as righteous through faith and faith alone in Christ’s propitiation. Christ being 'put' (ESV) or 'set' (KJV) forth by God for His purposes. Therefore by faith alone we are justified. This not being an action of our own, but once again, it is an action of Him and Him alone. While we possess faith it is only a faith given to us by grace. Just as we are graciously afforded our redemption, justified with undeserved merit.

This ‘peace’ then with God (5:1) is ‘through our Lord Jesus Christ’, He is once again all sufficient. Not only is He now our high priest and intercessor, not only is He made propitiation for our iniquities, not only as a spotless lamb put forth by God for us! He is also our faith and our conduit for receiving God’s grace and peace. What a complete saviour! What a masterful work!

Every part of our salvation is by Him, just as “all things were created by Him and for Him” (Colossians 1: 16) so are we. In every part He has control and dominion, a truly sovereign Lord. Our conviction, rebirth, justification, sanctification, faith and ultimate glorification is His. We are unable to do any part of it ourselves – “for by works... no human being will be justified...” (Romans 3: 20 ESV), “by deeds... shall no flesh be justified in His sight.” (KJV).

‘Therefore’ we are left with so little required of us – simple obedience, prayer and praise. The work is complete! Rejoice and be glad Christian that your salvation depends solely on a gracious, loving, Sovereign Lord and not on your own sinful, fallible, disobedient self!