Did you ever get something for no apparent reason whatsoever? It could be from anybody including your wife, mom, dad, kids, friend, etc. It feels strange at first and maybe a little uncomfortable. But after the initial shock is over it feels really good to know that someone loves you. In Romans 5, Paul explains that God gave us something out of the love He has for us: reconciliation…
Reconciliation has to do with relationships and if any of you have been through a divorce or even had a close relationship strained you know that it takes two to mend the relationship. If one of the two has made up their mind to leave then the other can do nothing to change their mate’s mind. Begging or reasoning will be for nothing. On the other hand, if both agree that the relationship is important and worth saving then reconciliation is possible since a bridge still exists between the two. But someone had to take the first step to initiate the process.
Paul says that through Adam a gift was given that has been passed down from generation to generation: sin resulting in death (Romans 5:12, NLT). And this death was the result of people’s sin even though they did not have the law to tell them what God expected of them. Adam did not have the law yet sinned (Romans 5:13-14, NLT) due to his disobedience. So what was the purpose of the law? Verse 20 says, “God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were” (NLT). But it also goes on to say, “But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful kindness became more abundant.”
So there is hope for us after all! What happened? Verse 8 tells us, “God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” God took the first step towards reconciliation. What did this death do for those of us who put our faith in the Lord? “And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God’s judgment. For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by His life” (verses 9-10, NLT).
“So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful kindness rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (5:21, NLT). We are made right before God (righteous). This is wonderful news indeed. “So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God – all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God” (verse 11, NLT).
Romans chapter 4 is one of those chapters that I find joy in reading because more than one argument is made to prove a central point: Abraham’s justification through faith. Of course, this chapter is not without controversy so I will make a short point concerning justification through the work of Matthew George Easton…
Salvation through faith alone is one of those topics that seem to cause more rifts in the Body than anything else. Many have broken away from mainstream Christianity to form their own groups because they believe that it takes works alone or work in addition to faith to save the soul. That’s not to say that good works is not necessary. James and our Lord Jesus make it clear that good works will follow those who are truly saved (Matthew 7:15-20, Luke 3:1-14, James 2:14-26).
Matthew George Easton (1823-1894) explains justification better than I ever could in his dictionary, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition (1897, Thomas Nelson):
a forensic term, opposed to condemnation. As regards its nature, it is the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, i.e., as conformed to all its demands. In addition to the pardon (q.v.) of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. It is the act of a judge and not of a sovereign. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; and so the person justified is declared to be entitled to all the advantages and rewards arising from perfect obedience to the law (Romans 5:1-10).
It proceeds on the imputing or crediting to the believer by God himself of the perfect righteousness, active and passive, of his Representative and Surety, Jesus Christ (Romans 10:3-9). Justification is not the forgiveness of a man without righteousness, but a declaration that he possesses a righteousness which perfectly and for ever satisfies the law, namely, Christ’s righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 4:6-8).
The sole condition on which this righteousness is imputed or credited to the believer is faith in or on the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is called a “condition,” not because it possesses any merit, but only because it is the instrument, the only instrument by which the soul appropriates or apprehends Christ and his righteousness (Romans 1:17; 3:25,26; 4:20,22; Philippians 3:8-11; Galatians 2:16).
The act of faith which thus secures our justification secures also at the same time our sanctification (q.v.); and thus the doctrine of justification by faith does not lead to licentiousness (Romans 6:2-7). Good works, while not the ground, are the certain consequence of justification (6:14; 7:6).
