Romans 5:1–21: Peace with God, and the One Man Jesus Christ (two sessions)
Justified by faith: peace with God and the hope of glory
See what justification brings now and assures for the future: access into grace, hope that does not disappoint, God's love shown in Christ's death “for the ungodly” (5:6), and the certainty that the justified will be “saved from wrath through Him” (5:9).
Outline
- Peace with God and the hope that does not disappointRom 5:1–5
- Christ died for the ungodlyRom 5:6–8
- Much more: saved from wrath, reconciled while we were enemiesRom 5:9–11
observation · 4
Read 5:1–2. What does Paul say follows from having “been justified through faith”? Through whom does it come? What have we gained access into, and what do we rejoice in?
Read 5:6–8. What were we when Christ died? How does Paul compare dying for a righteous man or a good man? How does God prove His love?
In 5:9–11, what has already happened to us, and what will “much more” happen? What were we when we were reconciled? Who reconciles, and what do we do with the reconciliation?
interpretation · 5
Many early manuscripts of 5:1 read “let us have peace with God” (literal), while the BSB has “we have peace with God.” What difference would each make? What in 5:2 and 5:10–11 might help decide? Does the same question arise for “we rejoice” in 5:2–3?
Christ “died for the ungodly” (5:6) and “died for us” (5:8), and we are “justified by His blood” (5:9). What does “for” mean here? Look back at 3:24–26. Who is “a good man” in 5:7: the same person as “a righteous man,” or someone different?
In 5:9–10 Paul argues “how much more.” From what to what? What is the wrath we will be “saved from”? Does this mean the justified will be kept to the end? What does “saved through His life” (5:10) add?
We were “enemies of God” (5:10). Does that mean only that we were hostile to God, or also that we stood under his hostility? In 5:10–11 and 2 Cor 5:18–20, who reconciles whom?
Implies In Paul, God takes the initiative and reconciles his enemies to himself through Christ's death (5:8–10; 2 Cor 5:18–19). Believers receive the reconciliation; they do not bring it about (5:11).
Background: in the non-canonical 2 Maccabees (cited for historical context only), God is asked to be reconciled to his people (1:5; 7:33; 8:29): there God is the one reconciled. Paul uses the verb of a wife and husband (1 Cor 7:11), and apostles plead as ambassadors, “Be reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:20).
Uncertain Whether ἐχθροί (echthroi, “enemies”) in 5:10 is only active, hostile to God, or also passive, under his hostility. The historical note leans to both: 5:9 speaks of wrath, and in 11:28 ἐχθροί stands opposite ἀγαπητοί (agapētoi, “loved”). The active-only reading stresses that our hostility ends (Col 1:21).
application · 3
We “have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand” (5:2). After you have failed, how should this change the way you come to God?
Paul says “we also rejoice in our sufferings” (5:3). What hardship are you facing now? How could 5:3–5 shape the way you face it, without pretending that it does not hurt?
“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (5:8). When you doubt God's love, what does this verse point you to? How does the “much more” of 5:9–10 strengthen assurance?
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