Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 7 - Much more then, being now justified)
If you have been following this study, you should be well aware that we have been looking at justification, which is the first step of the broader term called salvation. Romans 5 is a transitional chapter that moves us out of Romans 1 to 4, concerning justification, and into Romans 6 to 8, which leads us into the beginning of sanctification.
Word statistics in the KJV helps to confirm this fact because it is interesting to note that if you search for all spelling variants of justification, there are 29 entries scattered about in Paul's epistles. Out of those 29, 25 of them are in Romans and Galatians, and 4 additional entries in the rest of his epistles. In Romans there are 17 matches where 15 are in Romans chapters 1 to 5 and 2 in Romans 8. There are 8 in Galatians, because Paul's letter to them is to do with correcting their wayward understanding of salvation: see Gal.3:2-3. The point I'm making is that the believer is educated in the foundational understanding of justification in Romans, and then corrected in its practice in Galatians. So, barring these two books, Paul never teaches directly about justification again, because a believer, even by the end of Romans 5, should have settled on the truth of justification and moved past this serving of 'milk', into 'meatier' truths in the curriculum of Paul's doctrine.
As mentioned in the closing statements of part 6, I'd like to expound on something important in Paul's closing statements concerning justification. Let's first read the passage and then I want to provide some interesting insights in these verses,
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth [entrusts, commits] his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (9) MUCH MORE then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be SAVED FROM WRATH through him. (10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, MUCH MORE, being reconciled, we shall be SAVED BY HIS LIFE. (11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
In the above passage, I've highlighted a few patterns to note.
Pattern #1: MUCH MORE
I love the sound of that statement. For me it defines the true meaning of grace, which by the way, is the definition of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (See the postscript in Part 6). Grace goes beyond just saving us but embellishes us with things we do not deserve. I'm sure you have heard this following well-known expression:
God's mercy is not giving us what we deserve, and God's grace is giving us what we don't deserve.
One can think of it as "mercy withholds punishment, while grace bestows blessings". Now if this is the cherry on the cake, then be prepared to have another one because Paul writes again, "much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." Paul is telling us that the deed of justification and reconciliation, although more than we can ask, is not the final blessing. There is more to come. Apologies, let me rephrase that. There is much more to come! God's grace does not end at these milestones. How generous and loving is God; but let me remind you that His generosity and love is because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Without the cross we would also have much more. Much more of what? Well, not His generosity and love, but much more of God's wrath and fierce judgement unto death. God has been utterly appeased by what Jesus has done and because of the value of His Son's sacrifice, we can be the beneficiaries of much more of His love and blessings.
By the way, can I point out that this is only the first two of five "much more's" that Paul states in Romans 5. See the references here: Rom.5:9; Rom.5:10; Rom.5:15; Rom.5:17; Rom.5:20
Pattern #2: SAVED, TWO TIMES
Isn't this an interesting observation? First, we are saved from God's wrath, which is what most believers understand. But then Paul tells us that we are saved a second time, which is salvation through the life of Christ. Is this the same thing? Is being saved from wrath and saved by Jesus' life similar in meaning? On the surface, one might conclude this, but if one digs around in the scriptures and studies out this truth, one will learn that it is not the same thing. Saved from His wrath, as we have studied from Romans 1 to 5, is through justification, but saved by His life has to do with sanctification. Let me show you what I mean.
God made this first step of justification so easy that you don’t need to do anything for it, except believe in Jesus! God saved us FROM hell THROUGH the DEATH of Christ. Sanctification however is different. We cannot just believe and be imputed sanctification. The following scriptures prove that we are also saved UNTO something BY means of the LIFE of Christ. So, the question then needs to be asked, how do we get hold of, or acquire, or gain the life of Christ? Let's turn to the word of God.
The following verse will be clear and fully understood having worked through justification. Read the following,
Rom.3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Easy. Not so? Justified freely by grace through 'the redemption' in Christ. 'The' is a definite article and refers explicitly to the cross that happened 2000-years ago. Now, have a look at this verse which refers to a different redemption,
Tit.2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Paul writes that Christ might redeem us. This redemption is not in the past. This is speaking of something that is current, something that should be working actively within us every day. The Lord desires to redeem us increasingly, and will do this, if we participate in this process of sanctification. It's not going to happen if we are not actively pursuing it in His grace. It is clear that unlike justification, which is freely given in Christ, this form of redemption is obtained, because it relies on effort, through our devotion and faithfulness. Consider the next verse below,
Php.2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Answer this for me. If we are saved from hell by faith in the cross of Christ, then why is Paul telling us to work out our own salvation? This is obviously not the same experience. If justification is free, then there is no need to work for it! This is undeniably a different form of salvation. It is not the salvation of justification, but a salvation unto sanctification. Where justification saves us from hell and guarantees us a heavenly destination, sanctification saves us from loss and dishonour and unto something glorious. It is this salvation that Paul is going to expound on in Romans 6 to 8. This is the salvation, sad to say, that many believers are completely ignorant of. Let's look at one more verse,
2Tim.2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (11) It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: (12) If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
Notice again the word 'obtain' in verse 10. To obtain means to acquire or get something, usually through effort, work, or request. It does not come freely. That which we obtain is eternal glory. Glory? Yes. Paul will get deeper into this subject in other epistles, so this is outside the scope of this study, but that is it. That is what sanctification is saving us unto. We have eternal life through justification, but sanctification is saving us unto eternal glory and honour in Christ, in the ages to come.
So, to end this post, let's revisit the key verse in our opening passage,
Rom.5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, MUCH MORE, being reconciled, we shall be SAVED BY HIS LIFE.
Romans 6 to 8 is written to those who are already justified. It is through justification that we are reconciled to God and have received the atonement according to Rom.5:11. Only then can we start to come into this blessedness of being saved by the LIFE of Christ. It is through the spiritual reconciliation with Christ that we can experience the "much more" that God's grace has to offer. It is this very concept that we are about to get into when we start with lessons taken from Romans 6 to 8 in the upcoming posts.
Be prepared to take the next step in your faith and in your relationship with God through Christ. It is this step up that will start to grow you towards sonship, towards suffering, which Paul calls 'light affliction', towards the high calling of God, and towards eternal glory in the ages to come.
Amen.
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