“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.”― Rom. verse 5:1.
THE apostle, in the former chapters of this epistle, has declared and discussed the state of all mankind, whether they be Jews or Gentiles, as under sin. He has proved that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” He has shown that it is impossible for man to deliver himself through the law: “For by the law is the knowledge of sin,” and therefore, by the deeds of the law every mouth is silenced, and he whole world proved to be guilty before God, so that by the deeds of the law, it is impossible hat flesh can be justified in God’s sight. By the law sinners are shut up under condemnation; but I, the law sinners can never receive justification. He next declares the saving grace of God, by which the ungodly are justified freely through with, and that solely by the death and resurrection of the Lord and Saviour. Jesus Christ. For the believer Jesus shed His blood, and died on the cross; for the believer Jesus rose from the Lead, and ascended to the right hand of His Father; for the believer Jesus lives at the right Land of God, making intercession, and, therefore, the believer is freed from condemnation―he is justified.
The text at the head of this paper may be taken either as the conclusion of the apostle’s former argument, or as the beginning of his statement of the blessings which follow as the effects of this righteousness by faith, by which the believer is brought into a state of acceptance with God. Thus viewed the passage as it looks nick to the apostle’s argument, has a doctrinal aspect; but as it looks forward to the statement of the effects of this righteousness by faith, it has an experimental aspect; “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.” These two, doctrine and experience, should always go together―the doctrine as the foundation of the experience, the experience grounded on the doctrine, and both combined, producing a godly, practice. Justification by faith is the great cardinal doctrine of Bible Christianity. It was the truth taught prominently by the apostles. It was he watch word of the Reformation. It has ever men the test of a rising or falling church. The bold, distinct, and simple preaching of this doctrine has ever preceded or accompanied every genuine revival of pure Christianity since the days of the apostles.
Justification with man means to vindicate one in his conduct. We can only justify a man by proving that his action in our sight was right, and that he had done no wrong. This, however, is not God’s method of justification. Before God justifies a man, he proves the man to be a sinner, and the man himself must confess that he is guilty. The publican, standing afar off, not daring to lift up his eyes, and smiting upon his breast, cries, “God be merciful to me a sinner,” and then “went down to his house justified.” To him that “believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Jesus “was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.” God justifies the ungodly by forgiving them their sins, and cleansing them from all unrighteousness, only for the sake of Jesus. God’s method of justification is one that harmonizes with righteousness and law, because in Jesus righteousness is established, the law is magnified, and all the claims of divine justice meet and are satisfied by His atoning death. God at first placed all mankind in Adam, in whom they became sinners, and now God by His own mercy, His free and sovereign grace, places all believers in Christ Jesus, in whom they become righteous, and are justified. By the disobedience of the one, many became sinners; so by the obedience of the One the many shall be made righteous. Adam’s one transgression made all who came of him by natural birth sinners. Christ’s one act of obedience becomes the fountain of life to all who are His children, by the second birth, in the way of grace.
The sinner is justified solely by faith in the Lord Jesus. Nothing else is needed, nothing else can avail, as a means of justification. The sinner has nothing to do, but simply to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, who has done everything.
“Cast your deadly doing down,
Down at Jesu’s feet;
Stand IN HIM, in Him alone,
Gloriously complete!”
The moment the sinner takes his position as a sinner, deserving hell and nothing but hell, and then looks to Jesus for salvation, trusting in Him alone, that moment he is justified. We have simply to believe that Jesus Christ died to save sinners, and trust Him to save us, and the instant we do that, we are saved, and “HAVE” as a present privilege, to be enjoyed now, “PEACE WITH GOD.” “We have peace with God,” through faith in the Lord Jesus as a present fact. “By nature” believers “were the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved), and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” By nature there was enmity between our souls and God: but that enmity has ceased, and our warfare is accomplished, the moment we believe in the Lord Jesus. Though God was angry with us, His anger is now turned away, and we are comforted by Him. God is now our salvation, in whom we may trust, and not be afraid. Jehovah is now our strength and song; He also has become our salvation. God is at peace with us, and we are at peace with God, through the blood of the Cross. This is a settled fact. Believers now have peace with God.
This, that is a present fact, should also be a present feeling. Believers have an inward peace as a fruit, wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit. The instant we believe that Jesus has made a full atonement for all our sins, we must have peace of conscience. Let us illustrate this. You owe a large sum of money, you are unable to pay it, you are anxious and distressed in coa1 sequence. I tell you I have paid your debt. The moment you believe me, your anxiety and distress cease. The Hebrew has sprinkled the blood of the paschal lamb upon his lintel and two side posts; he retires into his inner chamber with his family; he believes that God’s eye will rest upon the blood, and that the destroying angel will pass over; immediately he has peace, and the peace which he feels is in accordance with the measure of faith he has in God’s word concerning the sprinkled blood. The fact is securely settled, because God who is faithful has promised. The feeling is produced by the Holy Spirit enabling him to believe in the fact on the sure testimony of God. The feeling is an accordance with the measure of our faith in the fact; but the fact is in no way altered, though our faith may be weak and trembling. Weak faith is as secure as strong faith: for not the strength of our faith, but the strength of Jehovah’s grace is our salvation. Believers in the Lord Jesus are justified by faith, and have peace with God; not because of their feelings, but because Jesus is risen for their justification.
“My God is reconciled,
His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child,
I can no longer fear;
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And, Father, Abba, Father, cry.”
Again, we urge thee to look unto Jesus: for He is “mighty to save.” See Him, as at Calvary, He hangs on the accursed tree, dying the just for the unjust. His limbs are all torn and lacerated. On either side of Him are stretched, in nailed agony, two malefactors. Beneath, the maddened nation rage, and swell, and foam. Devils are there surrounding the crucified Son of God. Jehovah’s face of tender love is withdrawn. Angels tremblingly hover around the Cross, but dare not approach. It is sin’s atoning hour. The crisis of the world has come. The Son of God bears, and bends, and is crushed beneath the load of His people’s damning guilt. Now the innocent suffers for the guilty. The Lamb bleeds for the wolf. But amid the blackness of the heavens, amid the cursing of the people, amid the mockings of infernal hosts, amid the terrific weight of His people’s guilt, amid the hiding of the countenance of His God, a feeble cry is heard, shrill, distinct, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” That cry reaches the bleeding Saviour’s heart. And, amid His agony, amid His burden, amid His loneliness, amid His solitary helplessness, He pauses to reply to the penitent and dying criminal that hangs at His side, and gives to him eternal life. Oh, was not this “MIGHTY TO SAVE!” Look now to Jesus, and He will save you in like manner; for to this end, behold, He died at Calvary, and now lives making intercession at the right hand of God.
This gospel suits the human race,
It meets the dying sinner’s case;
Where darkness broods in gloomy night,
It sheds a pure and heavenly light.
This gospel brings good news to me,
It breaks my bends, and sets me free,
Renews my strength, and bids me rise,
To claim a mansion in the skies.
This gospel is a joyful sound
Wherever guilty men are found;
It points to Christ, the ever blest,
Who gives the weary sufferer rest.
This gospel is a shining light,
Before it darkness takes its flight;
It brings the wand’rer from abroad,
And makes him feel at home with God.
This glorious gospel took its rise
Within the gates of Paradise;
But now it spreads through earth abroad,
And many sinners turn to God.
Then let this glorious gospel fly
Through every realm beneath the sky;
Hosanna! let the people sing,
And praise the everlasting king.
T. W. M