“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
My Notes
What Does Romans 5:1 Mean?
Paul declares the result of justification by faith: peace with God. Not peace from God (though that comes too). Peace with God — the hostility between you and God has ended. The war is over.
"Justified by faith" — declared righteous, not through works but through trust. The verdict has been rendered: not guilty. And the basis is faith, not performance.
"We have peace with God" — the word "have" (echomen) is present tense, indicative. This is a statement of current reality, not a future hope. You have peace with God right now. The relationship has been reconciled.
"Through our Lord Jesus Christ" — the peace was not achieved by you. It was achieved through Christ. He is the mediator, the peacemaker, the one who stood between a holy God and sinful humans and brought the two together.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How is 'peace with God' different from 'peace from God'?
- 2.What does it feel like to live as though the war with God is still on when it has already ended?
- 3.How does justification by faith rather than works change your daily sense of standing before God?
- 4.Where do you need to receive the peace that has already been made through Christ?
Devotional
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God. The war is over. The hostility between you and God has been resolved. Not through your effort. Through faith. Through Christ.
Peace with God. Not just peace of mind. Not just emotional calm. Peace with God — the fundamental relational conflict has been settled. You are no longer at odds with your creator.
Justified by faith. The verdict has been rendered. Righteous — not because you are, but because faith connected you to someone who is. The justification is legal, complete, and irrevocable.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ. The peace was brokered by a person. Jesus stood in the gap between a holy God and guilty humanity and made peace. The reconciliation is his work. You receive the benefit.
Do you live as someone at peace with God? Or do you live as though the war is still on — still trying to appease, still performing to earn favor, still carrying the anxiety of someone who is not sure where they stand?
The peace has been made. Through faith. Through Christ. The verdict is in. And it is peace.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Therefore being justified by faith,.... Not that faith is at the first of our justification; for that is a sentence…
Therefore - οὖν oun Since we are thus justified, or as a consequence of being justified, we have peace. Being…
Therefore being justified by faith - The apostle takes it for granted that he has proved that justification is by faith,…
The precious benefits and privileges which flow from justification are such as should quicken us all to give diligence…
Rom 5:1-11. The security and happiness of the state of Justification; its basis being the Divine Love
1. Therefore being…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture