Thoughts on a Sunday morning - Romans 5:1-11

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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. 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. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 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. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

As believers, what should be our response to this passage? Are we to work to obtain these things? Or rejoice because we already have them?


1. Peace with God - This passage says "since we have been justified" (past tense - already done), we have peace with God." = a done deal, we already have it

2. Stand in grace - This passage says "we have also obtained access (past tense - already obtained) by faith into this grace in which we stand." = a done deal, we're already there

3. Hope of the glory of God - This passage says "we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." This hope is not an uncertain thing, not something we really wish for but aren't sure we'll get. This hope of the glory of God is a sure thing (c.f., Rom 8:24-25; Col 1:27; Heb 11:11). = a done deal, though still in the future

4. Suffering produces endurance, character, and hope - This passage does not say we may experience sufferings. It assumes that we will. But even though sufferings are a sure thing, we know that God works everything together for good (c.f., Rom 8:28) = a done deal, we will experience suffering in this broken world but good will come of it

5. God's love in our hearts - This passage says that God's love has already been poured into our hearts. Why? Because we have been justified by faith and have peace with God (go back to verse 1). The love of God is already in our hearts. = a done deal, we already have it

6. Saved from the wrath of God - This passage says that since we have been (past tense) justified by His blood, we will be saved from the wrath of God by His life. = a done deal, though still in the future

7. Reconciled to God - This passage says "we were reconciled to God (past tense) by the death of His Son" AND "we have now received reconciliation" (past tense) "through our Lord Jesus Christ." We are already reconciled to God. = a done deal, we already are


So what don't we have that still needs to be worked for? Nothing! This passage tells us we already have it all. We may not always FEEL like we do, but feelings are fleeting. We can't rely on them. We can, however, rely on the word of God.

So take God at His word (faith), and REJOICE!


Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer (Rom 12:12).

Redeemed

Recently I heard this phrase used:  "We are all in the process of being redeemed."  Can this be true?  Are believers really being bought on the installment plan?

Our English word "redeem" is actually a translation of three Greek words:

Agarazo: to buy at the market.

Ex-agarazo: to buy out of the market.

Lutro: to set free (upon receipt or payment of the ransom price)

The Easton Bible Dictionary explains redemption more fully:

[It is] the purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is apolutrosis, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of lutron in man's relation to man (Lev. 19:20; 25:51; Ex. 21:30; Num. 35:31, 32; Isa. 45:13; Prov. 6:35), and in the same sense of man's relation to God (Num. 3:49; 18:15). There are many passages in the New Testament which represent Christ's sufferings under the idea of a ransom or price, and the result thereby secured is a purchase or redemption (comp. Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; Gal. 3:13; 4:4, 5; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6; Titus 2:14; Heb. 9:12; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19; Rev. 5:9). The idea running through all these texts, however various their reference, is that of payment made for our redemption. The debt against us is not viewed as simply cancelled, but is fully paid. Christ's blood or life, which he surrendered for them, is the "ransom" by which the deliverance of his people from the servitude of sin and from its penal consequences is secured. It is the plain doctrine of Scripture that "Christ saves us neither by the mere exercise of power, nor by his doctrine, nor by his example, nor by the moral influence which he exerted, nor by any subjective influence on his people, whether natural or mystical, but as a satisfaction to divine justice, as an expiation for sin, and as a ransom from the curse and authority of the law, thus reconciling us to God by making it consistent with his perfection to exercise mercy toward sinners" (Hodge's Systematic Theology).

Hodge couldn't be more emphatic — our debt has been fully paid.  It is not being paid little by little, bit by bit.  Christ died to pay the penalty against us once for all.

Hebrews 9:11-15 speaks of this — "he entered once for all into the holy places ... thus securing an eternal redemption."  If believers are all in the process of being redeemed, as being claimed, wouldn't Christ have to be dying again and again (Heb 9:6-10)?  (See also Once for all.)

Hebrews 9:11-15 — But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Titus 2:14 tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself for us, "that He might redeem us from all lawlessness, and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." Our Lord died to redeem us from all iniquity, and He redeemed us unto Himself to be his people. He desires that we should be zealous of good works, but as believers we belong to Him now — bought outright, paid in full.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:11-14).

No, we aren't being bought on the installment plan.  We are fully redeemed now. We were "bought with a price" and "redeemed to God” (1 Cor 6:20; Titus 2:14). We were "redeemed from the curse of the law" (Gal 3:13). And some day our mortal bodies will be made incorruptible and perfect (Rom 8:22-24). What a glorious day that will be!

May I suggest that instead of saying, "We are all in the process of being redeemed," a more appropriate statement might be, "We are all in the process of being sanctified"?  But even then we must be careful, for the Bible speaks of sanctification as being both already completed (positional) and in the process of being completed (practical).  We should be clear about which one we are speaking.  (See also Who we are - part 3.)

Redeemed—how I love to proclaim it!

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;

Redeemed through His infinite mercy,

His child, and forever, I am.

Redeemed, redeemed,

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;

Redeemed, redeemed,

His child, and forever, I am.

Redeemed and so happy in Jesus,

No language my rapture can tell;

I know that the light of His presence

With me doth continually dwell.

I think of my blessed Redeemer,

I think of Him all the day long;

I sing, for I cannot be silent;

His love is the theme of my song.

 

by Fanny J. Crosby

Who we are - part 3

Another way to view this battle going on within us is to look at what Scripture calls "sanctification." Sanctification has to do with being set apart from the world unto God's service.

Sometimes sanctification is confusing because passages in the Bible which talk of it seem to contradict one another, with some speaking of sanctification as being already accomplished, and others saying it is still in process of being completed.

For example Heb. 10:10 says, “we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” This is finished work. This is but one example; others are 1 Cor 1:30, 2 Thes 2:13, and Heb 10:14.  But then in 1 Thes 5:23 Paul writes, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly.” Here sanctification is still uncompleted.  Other verses that speak of it in this way are Rom 6:19, 2 Cor 13:11 and 1 Thes 4:3-7.

These seeming contradictions disappear when we see that the first verses refer to our position before God. We are positionally sanctified — set apart for God’s eternal purpose and perfect in God’s sight — because we are in Christ.  It is a finished work.  And the second verses refer to our life here on earth, called our practical walk. We should be wholly set apart for God’s use and live perfectly before Him; however, because our sin natures are still within us, this will never fully happen while we're on this earth.

Nevertheless, Scripture stresses the pursuit of practical sanctification. Interestingly, it first points to all the things that God has done for us and who we are now through the death and resurrection of His Son.  It is only after this that Scripture pleads for a life lived in harmony with this exalted position (Rom 12:1; 2 Cor 5:17; Eph 4:1; Col 2:6). This should be an example to all preachers.  Those who teach that we should be living a certain way without first stressing who we are in Christ, are merely preaching works (Gal 1:6; 2:15-21; 3:1-3; 5:1).

It is to be concluded, then, that positional sanctification is not a second work of grace to be pursued after salvation.  Rather, it takes place at the moment of salvation. If we have placed our faith in Jesus Christ, we have been set apart once for all — we are God’s sanctified ones (1 Cor 1:30).

Practical sanctification, however, is an ongoing process which involves a human response. It is the will of God that we pursue it. Will we choose to do so?

Who we are - part 2

Since our position before God is perfect in every detail, does this mean we are living perfect lives now?  No, we know that isn't true.  So we're perfect but we're not perfect?  Yes, because now we have two natures instead of one — an old, totally corrupt nature AND a new, perfect nature — and they are waging a war within us (Rom 7:14-25; Gal 5:17).

The old nature in the believer is the "desires of the flesh." It is called "the flesh," "the old self," "the natural person," "the the mind that is set on the flesh." And just as "those who are in the flesh cannot please God," (Rom 8:8), so are those things which we as believers do in the flesh cannot please God. "The flesh" is totally depraved. God calls it "sinful flesh" (Rom 8:3), warns that it looks for "opportunity" to do wrong (Gal 5:13), and says that "the works of the flesh" are all bad (Gal 5: 19-21).

When we receive Christ, our old nature is not cleaned up (Rom 6:6; 8:10; Col 3:3).  Rather, God considers it dead and instantly gives us a new creation (Jn 3:6; 2 Cor 5:17; Gal 2:20; Eph 2:1-6; 4:20-24).

From that moment on our "new self" and "old self" aggressively compete for possession of our mind, emotions, and body. Spiritual growth is needed to strengthen our "new self" in this war, and there is no growth without Bible study and prayer (Rom 8:26-27; 10:17; Eph 1:16-18; Phil 4: 6-7; Col 3:16; 4:2; 2 Tim 2:15; 2 Thes 1:11-12; Heb 4:12). A relationship with a local assembly of believers is also essential to growth, so that we may "…encourage one another and build up one another..." (1 Thes 5:8-14).

It's important to understand that struggling with our old nature is a lost cause. It’s like wrestling with a chimney sweep — you just get dirty. The only way to victory in this battle is not in fighting, but in recognizing that the battle has already been won, that He died our death so that we may now bury our old self and forget him (put off "the old self") and focus all our attention on Jesus Christ and our new life in Him (put on the "new self").  I think Stam says it well:

"'The flesh,' even as it remains in the believer after salvation, is that which was generated by a fallen begetter. It is the old Adamic nature. It is sinful in itself. It cannot be improved. It cannot be changed. 'That which is born [begotten] of the flesh is flesh,' said our Lord (John 3:6), and it is as impossible to improve the 'old man' in the believer as it was to make him acceptable to God in the first place. The 'old man' was condemned and dealt with judicially at the Cross. Never once is the believer instructed to try to do anything with him or to make anything of him, but always to 'reckon' him 'dead indeed' (Rom. 6:11), and to 'put him off' (Col. 3:8-10).

After describing this battle within us all (Rom 7), Paul comes to a conclusion in Rom 8:1 and bursts out in praise, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus."  So although our walk may be one of confusion, our position in Christ is one of peace — we are complete in Him (Col 2:10)!

To me, the following poem describes this battle rather well:

Two natures beat within my breast.
One is foul, the other blest.
The one I love; the one I hate.
The one I feed will dominate.
(Author unknown)

A day is coming when we will no longer have to deal with our old, dead natures. Only our new natures — which are already perfect in every way — will go home to be with the Lord.  What a glorious day that will be!

Who we are

New creations (2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15)
Complete in Him (Col 2:9-10)
In possession of every spiritual blessing (Eph 1:3) – (“One could say that he will live for the Lord in order to be blessed, but since we have already been blessed with all spiritual blessings, no amount of good works can add to that fact.” – Charles C. Ryrie in The Grace of God)
Heirs of heaven (1 Pet 1:4)
Adopted as full grown sons (Rom 8:15; Gal 4:1-7)
Chosen in Christ or set aside before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4; 2 Thes 2:13)
Born of God (Jn 1:12-13; 3:6-7; Tit 3:5; 1 Pet 1:23; 1 Jn 5:1)
Saved by grace, through faith, entirely apart from works (Rom 4:4-5; Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5)
Made acceptable in the Beloved One (Eph 1:6-7)
Forgiven of our sins (Eph 1:7-8; Heb 1:3; 1 Jn 1:9)
Justified by the finished work of Christ (Acts 13:38-39; Rom 3:24; 5:8-9; 8:33-34; 1 Pet 2:24; 2 Cor 5:21) – (Justification is more than the forgiveness of sins. It is to be in Jesus Christ, clothed in His righteousness; standing before God as though we had never sinned.)
Kept by the power of God (Rom 8:29-31; 1 Pet 1:5; Jude 1, 24)
Can never be separated from the love of Christ and of God (Jn 13:1; Rom 8:31-39)
Have received everlasting life (Jn 3:36; 6:47; Rom 6:23; Rom 11:29)
Will never perish (Jn 3:16; 6:37; 10:28)
Have a standing before God in grace (Rom 5:1-2; 6:14)
Have a standing before God in Christ (2 Cor 5:16-17; Eph 1:6; 2:10)
“Perfected forever” by “one offering” (Heb 10:10, 14; 13:12)
Already seated in the heavenlies in Christ (Eph 1:3; 2:6; Col 3:1-2)
A member of the Body of Christ (Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 12:12, 27; Eph 1:22-23; 5:30-32; Col 1:18)
Built into the temple of God (1 Cor 3:16; Eph 2:19-22)
Taken out of the realm where Satan holds sway and placed in the realm of the Son of God (Col 1:13; Jn 17:11, 14)
Reconciled to God (Rom 5:10; Eph 2:12)
Brought near to God (Eph 2:13)
Heirs of God (Gal 4:7; Col 1:12; Eph 1:18)
Temples of the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5; 1 Cor 6:19; 2 Tim 1:14)
Given the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of this inheritance unto the day of redemption (Eph 1:6, 13; 4:30; 2 Cor 1:20-22)
Objects of God’s unfailing care (Rom 5:8-10)
Objects of His never failing love (Rom 8:38-39)

This is who we are — our position before God — no matter how long we have been saved, how little or how much we know the Bible, or how “spiritual” (1 Cor 3:12-15) we may be.  Our position before God is all of God and all is through Jesus Christ — we contribute not a bit to it. We only believe. And since faith is dependence upon God, this does not add to what God has done (Rom 4:5).

Also, all of  the characteristics of our position before God listed above, except for the unfailing care and love of God, are a finished work (Heb 10:10-14) — not something in the process of being completed.  And this position has been sealed with the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption of the body (Eph 4:30).  The seal denotes a finished transaction (Jer 32:10), security, and an unalterable position (Dan 6:17; Rev 20:3).