“Therefore, having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2).

Sin separated man from God (Isaiah 59:1-2).  All have sinned (Romans 3:23), and God is of purer eyes than to behold evil (Habakkuk 1:13).  A state of enmity exists between God and the sinner (James 4:4; Romans 5:10).

However, man can have peace with God.  This peace is possible through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1-2).  He died or us.  He died for the ungodly, sinners, and enemies of God (Romans 5:6, 8, 10). These three terms (ungodly, sinners, enemies) do not describe different conditions before God.  One condition is being described, man’s condition without the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.

Justification is possible.  Justification can be defined as: the state of one who has been declared to be, or counted as, just or righteous.  Two things are necessary for such in God’s plan: (1) Man is justified by the blood of Christ (Romans 5:9).  (2) Man is justified by faith (Romans 5:1).  Man must trust God and His plan for salvation (Romans 1:16).  He must have the kind of faith that Abraham had (Romans 4:16-25).   This is not mere mental belief (James 2:24).  Saving faith is obedient faith (Hebrews 11).  Man must obey the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:6-8).  The gospel at its core is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).  Man must die to the love and practice of sin (repent), be buried in baptism, and be raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:1-5).  It is through obedience to this form (pattern) of doctrine man is set free from sin (Romans 6:16-18).

It is through Christ that man can access this state of grace through the faith (note: the definite article is not present in 5:1, but it is in 5:2).  This results not only in peace with God (Romans 5:1), but also joy in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:2). Hope in the Bible is more than a wish. It refers to a “favorable and confident expectation” (Vine’s).  It has to do with the future (Romans 8:24-25).  There is one ultimate hope for a Christian (Ephesians 4:4), and this is eternal life in heaven (Titus 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:8).  Glory awaits (cf. Romans 8:18; 1 Corinthians 2:7; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 John 3:2).