Romans: From Peace to Hope

Romans 5:1-5

What does it mean to have a personal relationship with Jesus — not just to know about him, but to truly know him experientially? Today, we will explore Paul’s answer to this question. 

Before we start chapter 5, let’s review the focus of Paul’s letter to the Romans. 

After affirming the power of the gospel (Rom. 1:1-17), Paul pointed out why we need the gospel in the first place. Humanity has a sin problem (Rom. 1:18-3:20). No one has a right standing before God, and no one can earn it (Rom. 3:10-12). But Jesus came to fix humanity’s situation (Rom. 3:21-5:21). Through Jesus, we can have a personal relationship with the Creator God. 

Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Whenever we see the word “therefore” in the Bible, we recognize it as a “signpost.” The word “therefore” indicates that what we are about to learn is based on what we have already discussed, so it’s important to review what we’ve studied so far. 

In Romans 4, we learn that we are not justified before God through works (Rom. 4:1-8), religious rituals (Rom. 4:9-12), or by keeping the law (Rom. 4:13-25). Paul emphasizes that Abraham showed saving faith before he was circumcised and before the law was given. By faith—trusting that God's promises are true—Abraham was justified before God (Rom. 4:3). The same applies to us today. For everyone who believes that Jesus was “delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification,” the penalty of sin is removed from our account, and we are credited with having a right standing before God (Rom. 4:24-25). 

Since we have been made right (justified) by faith in the work of Jesus, we now have peace with God. This is a fundamental truth that is often repeated throughout this chapter. Peace with the living God comes only through his Son, Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1, 2, 9, 10, 11). Sin deserves God's wrath (Rom. 1:18). But we “are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Rom. 3:24-25a). 

Because of Jesus, and only because of Jesus, we can have peace with God. That is, God’s wrath on sin is appeased by Jesus, allowing those who trust in him to have a personal relationship with the living God. 

Bible scholar John Witmer says that the phrase “We have peace with God” is best translated as “Let us keep on enjoying the peace we have with God.” He explains that “peace has been made by God through our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Eph. 2:14a) . . . A believer is not responsible for having peace in the making it but in the sense of enjoying it.”[1]  Peace with God only comes through Jesus. 

Romans 5:2
Through [Jesus] we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

When a person trusts in the finished work of Jesus, two things happen. First, we gain access to life within the sphere of God’s grace. The word translated “obtained access” (prosagogen) describes the privilege to approach a person of high rank (see Eph. 2:18; 3:12). 

Let’s take a moment to reflect on how we've gained access through faith. From the beginning, Adam and Eve freely communicated with God until they sinned and were expelled from the garden. In fact, God reached out to humanity afterward, but there was no longer immediate access to his presence as Adam and Eve had experienced before. When God made the covenant with Abraham and renewed it through Moses at the giving of the law, he promised to dwell among his people by means of the tabernacle. However, even then, only the high priest could enter the holy of holies, symbolizing God’s direct presence.  

At the temple in Jerusalem, a heavy curtain served as a barrier to block anyone but the high priest from seeing or entering the holy of holies. But remember what happened when Jesus died on the cross? The curtain was torn from top to bottom, as if a massive hand reached down from heaven and ripped it like a piece of paper (Matt. 27:51).[2] Through Jesus’ work, humanity now has open access to God!  R. C. Sproul says, “When I believe in Jesus, his righteousness is imputed to me and I have access to God. It is a grace in which I stand. I have been elevated to a position of privilege, to stand in the presence of God by grace.”[3]

First, we are brought into his presence, and second, “we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” The word “hope” means to live with certainty. As we continue to enjoy God's peace, we are to keep rejoicing in the certainty that one day we will experience God's presence forever in heaven. We still fall short (Rom. 3:23); however, there will be a day when we share in Jesus' glory or exaltation. Jesus is our “hope of glory” (Col. 1:27; 3:4; 2 Cor. 4:17; 2 Thess. 2:14, et al.).

Our calling as believers is to continue enjoying God's peace, keep experiencing his grace, and always rejoice in the confidence that one day we will be forever in his presence. Yet... we live in a fallen world and face real challenges every day. How can we focus on enjoying and rejoicing in God even during life's painful moments? Paul responds with a profound theological truth: God never wastes our suffering.

Romans 5:3-5
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 

We find joy in life’s challenges because God never wastes our time. He uses every situation to help us grow. Suffering builds endurance (the ability to withstand difficulties without giving up). Only a believer who has experienced suffering can develop endurance. 

Endurance shapes character. The Greek term translated as “character” (dokime) refers to a personal quality that has been tested and proven. It describes an inner strength gained through enduring tests and suffering. 

Character nurtures hope. Hope is the confidence that God is active in our lives and preparing us for the plans he has for us. This hope never fails because we trust that God is growing us and getting us ready for eternity. We feel the love God pours out on us, and we sense the presence of the Holy Spirit encouraging us deep inside. Hope never fails but guides us toward the future glory of God! 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD 
Time in the Word: Read and reflect on Romans 5:1-5. Thank God for his peace, his grace, and the certainty of spending eternity with him.

Talking to God: How is God using current trials to shape your character, not just your circumstances? Ask God to help you see how your suffering might be building endurance, not just testing your limits.

Have questions?  Please send your questions to our team. We're happy to help as we study God's Word together. Submit your question below, and we'll respond soon. Let us know if you want to learn more about a relationship with Jesus or if you seek spiritual guidance.