Read Romans 5:1
What is the condition of the people the apostle is talking about (Romans 5:1)? Through what have they been justified? Who has peace? With Whom? Through Whom? By what title is He called here? What does this mean that we are unto Him?
What is the condition of being justified like? Romans 5:1 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In this verse of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the condition of being justified is not just a legal standing and a condition of peace, but also a condition of servitude.
Believers can develop the habit of thinking of salvation entirely in terms of being forgiven of sin and given a righteous standing with God. And most of Romans to this point has focused on standing of righteousness before God (over-against being under wrath). But now the letter shifts to the believer’s strengthening for righteousness from God (over-against enslavement to sin).
In the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith and for faith; both the standing and the strengthening come only from Jesus, and both come through the mechanism of faith. So, into what condition has this righteousness by faith brought us? Last week, we considered how it brings us into a condition of peace. Now, we focus on how that peace comes through our Lord.
We have peace with God “through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Since Jesus alone is righteous (cf. Romans 3:10–22), and Jesus alone can propitiate for sin that is against God’s glory (cf. Romans 3:23, Romans 1:22–25), peace with God can be had only through Jesus.
But Who is Jesus? In some cultures, it is common to name men Jesus. None of them can get you peace with God. And certainly true and real peace can come only in the true and real Jesus. Not Jesus as we like to think of Him or Jesus as we wish He were, but only Jesus as He actually is.
So the Spirit adds the title “Lord” here. He is Lord (Master), and we are servants (slaves). He is Christ (Anointed, i.e., King), and we are subjects. This is the only Jesus through Whom we can have peace with God.
If we are not ransomed, redeemed subjects of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, we do not have peace with God. If we have peace with God, it is as subjects of the Lord Jesus.
Justification has brought the believer into a status of ransomed, redeemed, purchased servitude— joyous servitude, as we will see in a moment, but still servitude! A Christian is a servant. He must live entirely to fulfill the will of his Master. Someone who is a servant of an earthly master is keenly aware of this, all day, every day. Shall we be less so, when our Master is seated on the throne of heaven?
What would a log of your time and spending suggest about whether you are a servant of Christ?
Sample prayer: Lord God, thank You for this righteous standing into which You have brought us in Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Grant unto us to know also the glorious condition into which You have brought us. Give us Your own strength, joy, and hope in Christ, in Whose Name, we ask it AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP117B “What Blessedness” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”
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