IN the studies of this wonderful book of Romans, the verses considered for the last two or three weeks have presented to us the plan upon which God bestows His gift of righteousness upon the repentant sinner. The next verses to be considered tell of the very desirable condition into which the individual is brought who has accepted and acted upon the plan.
"Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God thru our Lord Jesus Christ; thru whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh steadfastness; and steadfastness, approvedness; and approvedness, hope; and hope puteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts thru the Holy Spirit which was given unto us." Rom. 5:1-5.
In these verses Paul reaches one of his wonderful conclusions: "Therefore," that is, because of the acceptance of the plan presented in preceding statements, we are "justified by faith." To "justify" is to make righteous; it is to bring the character into harmony with the law of God. Paul has presented the plan upon which this great work may be done, and the individual who has accepted it is spoken of as having already passed into the actual possession of the indescribable blessedness of justification or right doing.
"Being therefore justified by faith," having actually passed into the possession of the gift of righteousness, "we have peace with God thru our Lord Jesus Christ." The only thing that puts any one at variance with God is sin; it is wrong doing. And the thing that brings us back into harmony with Him is righteousness, right doing. And being thus put into harmony with God by His own plan and by His own power, we have a peace that can not be described. And we are secure in our possessions of this peace, for we know that God accepts the work of His own hand. He accepts promptly every individual who will receive His free gift of salvation thru Christ.
We have this peace "thru our Lord Jesus Christ." It comes to us thru the mighty Source of all power. This peace does not come from any of the transitory promises or plans of men. It comes from none other than God. Then it is an abiding peace, for it is on a strong foundation. We may have it forever.
"Thru whom [Christ] also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand." The apostle continues to emphasize the fact that we receive all these great blessings from God by faith; and having received them by faith we are able to "stand." God does not give us some unstable thing, but gives a cleansing and a peace and a power that strengthen us to "stand."
And having received this justification we9rejoice in hope of the glory of God. One of the most blessed of the fruits of the Spirit is joy, and joy gives rejoicing. There is no true joy anywhere outside of the gift of the righteousness of Christ. The wrongdoing that is so natural to man fills one with remorse and sadness, but he who has passed from death unto life thru Christ is filled with the joy that can not be described; it must be possessed in order to be understood and realized. The soul that is made sad by the buffetings and remorse of sin should seek the Fountain of Life and taste of this rich and abiding joy.
"And not only so, but we also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh steadfastness; and steadfastness, approvedness; and approvedness, hope; and hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts thru the Holy Spirit which was given unto us." Verses 3-5. The joy of the Christian becomes so deep and so helpful that he learns to rejoice even in his "tribulations." We rejoice not because of the affliction of the tribulation itself, but because of the "steadfastness," the "approvedness," the "hope," and the "love of God" that are implanted within us. The tribulation is necessary to the working out of the righteous character. And so the individual can rejoice in the midst of it because he can see by faith the end that the Lord is seeking to accomplish in him. "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, tho now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth tho it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ: whom not having seen ye love; on whom, tho now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:6-9.