The privilege of Grace
Romans 5:1 — “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul begins with “Therefore.” He is drawing a conclusion from everything he has said about justification by faith. We are not made right with God because we have become good enough. We are made right because Christ has done for us what we could never do for ourselves. 1. JUSTIFIED — I have been made right with God “Having been justified by faith…” To be justified means that God declares us righteous because of what Christ has done. We sometimes explain it as “just as if I had never sinned.” That helps us understand the wonder of forgiveness, although justification is even greater than that: God doesn't merely pretend our sin never happened; Christ has paid for it, and God declares us righteous because of Christ. What a privilege! Psalm 103:12 says: As far as the east is fro...