Peace with God

Manuscript Notes

Outline Notes

Study Questions

PEACE WITH GOD

Removing Hostility through Reconciliation

Text: Romans 5:1-11

This morning, I am excited that we are returning to Romans to continue our journey through the greatest letter ever written – the Mt. Everest of the NT!  As we start a new section of the book in chapter five, I think it will be helpful to pull out our map and look at the big outline of the book so we know where we are on the trail and see how this part of the book supports Paul’s main message that the Gospel is the good news about how and why God saves the world through His Son and for His glory.

Setting the Context:  Five Big Sections (Romans in 5 Words_

1. 1. Euangelion 1:1-17
   2. Condemnation 1:18 – 3:20
   3. Salvation  3:21 – 8:39
      1. Propitiation (3:21-31)
      2. Justification (4)
      3. Reconciliation (5)
      4. Sanctification (6-7)
      5. Glorification (8)
   4. Confirmation 9:1 – 11:36
   5. Application 12:1 – 16:27

By the time we reach this section, Paul has explained why a person needs the good news of the gospel (1:1 – 3:20) and how this righteousness is obtained from God (3:21- 4:25). In chapter 5, Paul shifts his focus to those who have been justified by God on the basis of their faith (5:1). 

In the passage before us (5:1-11), Paul highlights two main benefits that enter the lives of those who have been justified by faith alone (5:1).

A person who has truly been justified by faith receives:

1. A new position with God
   • We have peace with God (5:1)
   • We obtain access/standing into a new realm/the kingdom of God (5:2)
2. A new perspective on life 
   • We rejoice (glory/boast) in the confident hope of being restored to the glory of God (5:2).
   • We rejoice (glory/boast) in our suffering (5:3).
   • We rejoice (glory/boast) in God to whom we have been reconciled (5:11).

This morning, I want us to focus on the first of two main benefits that come from our justification – “Peace with God.” This phrase is monumental in Scripture. From the day Adam and Eve sinned and shattered the “shalom” (peace) they once enjoyed with God, all of humanity has longed for the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a champion who would establish a kingdom characterized by righteousness and unending, everlasting peace! (Isaiah 9:6-7)

And one day, Paul picked up his pen and wrote these monumental words, “We have peace with God!”

I. The Nature of this Peace (5:1)
We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Position vs. Possession – “with God” vs. “from God”
2. Present Reality vs. Potential Hope – “We have Peace with God!”
3. Permanent vs. Temporary

II. The Need for this Peace (5:6-8)
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1. Our relationship with God before justification – ungodly sinners who are the objects of His righteous wrath.
2. Our denial of that reality – we are not spiritually healthy but “weak” and “unrighteous” sinners.

III. Obtaining this Peace (5:1, 9)
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 

1. This peace was procured by Jesus Christ our Lord.
   Ephesians 2:13–17 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
   

   Add A Note

   
   
2. This peace is based on His Sacrificial Death in Our Place
   Romans 5:9–10 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
   Colossians 1:19–23 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
   

   Add A Note

   
   
3. Faith Alone is the requirement to obtain this peace
   Romans 5:11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
   

   Add A Note

   
   

IV. The Effect of this Peace (5:2)
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

• Because justified people now enjoy eternal peace with God, they also have permanent access to a new Realm and have been granted citizenship in a new Kingdom—the kingdom of God that functions as a realm where grace prevails! Paul employs kingdom and dominion language to depict sin and grace governing two separate realms.
  Romans 5:20–21 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
  

  Add A Note

  
  
• In the old realm, the Kingdom of Sin and Death – sin reigned over us, and death had dominion over us (Romans 6:8-12).  
• In the new realm, the Kingdom of Grace and Life – grace reigns over us, and righteousness has dominion over us, leading to life!
  

  Add A Note

Conclusion:  Responding to this Peace 

As we consider these incredible benefits, God wants our hearts to respond in two very specific ways.

First, a text like this should give us a new perspective on life – rejoicing!

Question:  Are you a person who is known for your joyfulness?

Second, a text like this should motivate us to a new purpose in life – being unashamed, unstoppable ambassadors for reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Question:  Are you a good ambassador of the gospel?  Are you using your life and vocation to implore others to be reconciled to God?