This chapter details the benefits we enjoy through Christ (5:1-11) and then talks about the contrast between our identity in Adam or in Christ (5:12-21). Paul will ramble a bit here, and I continue to picture him dictating to Tertius as he walks and gets excited about his subject. Everything here will jump off from verse one: "Since we are justified by faith..." Assuming Paul has made his case thus far in Romans, that we stand right with God as a gift of His grace, received by faith (and not works), ....so what? What are the fruits of this justification?
Our benefits include...
5:1 Peace with God (through our Lord Jesus Christ)
5:2a Introduction to this grace in which we stand (obtained through Him, mind you).
The word here for "access" or "introduction" could be a formal word, such as presenting a person to a king. It might be used for a ship being ushered into a safe harbor. "In which we stand" is a perfect tense in the Greek, indicating a past action resulting in an ongoing condition. There is a sphere, so to speak, of safety, security and welcome into which grace brings us. Here, nothing can disturb us or touch us; nothing can separate us from God's love. I think of the old Buster Keaton movie where the wall falls, but doesn't touch him because he is standing in the one safe spot.
5:2b Rejoicing in hope of sharing God's glory. We fell short of this in 3:23, but now we believe we are on track to one day step into and share the very beauty and power and joy of God.
5:3-4 Rejoicing in suffering. What? Suffering, as a person in Christ, is not pointless but productive suffering. Good comes of it (see 8:28). The word for suffering here is thlipsis, pressure or trouble. It creates in us endurance (not a passive submission, but the powerful ability to withstand any challenge); character (proven under fire, as of a metal purified in a furnace or a veteran proven in battle); and hope (a solid confidence). And this hope, verse 5, will not disappoint us...because God's love has been poured out in our hearts by His Spirit!
5:5 is the first mention of the Spirit in the book, and the outpouring is another perfect tense...an initial outpouring which results in a continual infilling.
5:6 Christ's Death and Life
Christ died for us while we were helpless, and at just the right moment in time. This demonstrates...
5:7-8 God's Love
It is rare to die for a righteous person (the word may mean good, but in a cold, impersonal way); maybe one might die for a good person (the word here means attractive in goodness, charismatic and lovable). But God shows his love in this; while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
5:9-10 Therefore, since we are now justified (echoing verse 1)...
MUCH MORE shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him.
If his death justified us while we were rebels and enemies, MUCH MORE, now standing reconciled, will we be saved by His life. Perhaps meaning that a living friend is even more of a help than a dead one!
Some churches focus exclusively on the past tense salvation of justification. While this is vital, there is MUCH MORE to salvation...more than what He did 2000 years ago, there is what the living Christ wants to do in me and for me TODAY.
5:11 We rejoice THROUGH our Lord Jesus, THROUGH whom we have received our reconciliation.
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