Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope: (5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
The Apostle opens this chapter, with shewing some of the immediate blessings arising out of a justified state before God in Christ. Having in the preceding Chapter s most fully and compleatly established the doctrine, and answered every objection, he begins this Chapter with stating the blessedness of it. First, He speaks of peace with God. Secondly, An access to the throne. Thirdly, A rejoicing in the hope and assurance of glory. Fourthly, The sanctified use of all afflictions. And, Fifthly, the enjoyment of the love of God, the influences of the Holy Ghost, and communion in all the blessed effects of Christ's grace.
I beg the Reader to observe the difference between the righteousness of God in Christ, which is the sole cause of justification and faith, which is the effect of that righteousness, and by which it is en - joyed. A sinner is not justified by his faith, for, if so, in that case it would be the work of faith; and what difference would there then be, whether the work of faith, or the deeds of the law, became either in part, or the whole, the cause of his justification? The Apostle, in one of the preceding Chapter s, hath clearly stated the difference between the righteousness of God which justifieth, and the faith of the believer, who by faith enjoys that justification. The righteousness of God (saith he), which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe, Romans 3:22. It is the righteousness of God which justifies. And this is unto all, and upon all; not their act, but the Lord's; not their merit, but the Lord's grace. It is revealed from faith to faith, Romans 1:17, not procured by faith, for faith comes from it, and is not the cause of it. For faith itself, as an act of our's, goes no further towards our justification than any other grace. And faith, as well as every other grace, is received wholly from Christ, and can constitute no part, no, not an atom, in justification; for this is solely in and by Christ,
I have thought it proper to state this doctrine in the clearest manner possible, to guard against any mistake which might arise either here or elsewhere, when the doctrine of justification by faith is the subject. The Apostle did not mean to say, that our justification is by our faith, for he had in the very concluding verse of the former chapter declared, that Christ was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Hence the act had already past. And the therefore with which he begins this Chapter, is the immediate consequence of it. And some indeed read the verse in this way: Therefore being justified through our Lord Jesus Christ, by faith we have, peace with God.
Pause, Reader! and contemplate the boundless mercy! We have peace with God! peace in the blood of the cross. We who were enemies to God by wicked works, hath he now reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present us holy, and unblameable, and unreprovable in his sight, Colossians 1:20-22. Oh! the blessedness of a justified state in Christ! Oh! the comfort, when by faith in Christ the soul enjoys it! And we have access also by Christ's justification to the throne of grace. We are said to stand in this grace before the Lord. For by our adoption character, we have the privilege of children, whereby we cry Abba, Father. An holy boldness, a familiarity at the heavenly court, as those who are well known there, and well beloved there, in Christ. Reader! do you know the blessedness of this state, and are you in the daily habit of using it? Oh! Sir! it is a blessed, yea, a very blessed way of maintaining fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ, when by virtue of a conscious justified state in Christ, we go often to court, and feel ourselves there as children at home, when in their father's house. And ought it not to be so with every child of God? Hath not Jesus opened this new and living way by his blood? And doth he not dwell in the midst of the throne, to keep it open by his intercession? Oh! then! if you know the Lord, if you are in a justified state in Christ, let us make use of our high privilege. Let us (saith the Psalmist) enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth to all generations, Psalms 100:4-19
But we must not stop here. Paul saith also, that we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. This is a third blessed effect springing out of a justified state before God in Christ. And I beg the Reader to consider the vast importance of this high privilege. Paul himself elsewhere calls it blessed. Speaking to Titus, he saith, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Savior Jesus Christ, Titus 2:13. But it could not be blessed if it was not sure. If any guilt remained on the conscience, fear would damp the hope. Hence the justification here described by the Apostle, is considered by him as full, perfect, and complete. We have peace with God. We have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand. And in consequence we rejoice in hope of the glory of God, that glory which shall be revealed. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory. See those scriptures, Leviticus 16:21; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 8:1; Dan 9:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:10
And, Reader, do not overlook that other blessed property arising from a justified state, I mean the sanctified use of all afflictions. A child of God, when by faith he is brought into the knowledge of his adoption, receives all his exercises with a different aspect from men of the world. For afflictions of what kind soever they be, passing through the covenant, come out with an altered property, like waters of the earth, which, by running over certain minerals, take with them qualities of healing. No afflictions, nor chastenings, for the present are joyous, but grievous; yet, sanctified by grace, they afterwards yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby, Hebrews 12:11. But it is a character which belongs to none but God's children justified in Christ, not simply to bear tribulations, but to glory in them. And this forms a blessed fruit of a justified state. God the Holy Ghost, in his gracious office-work, directs the heart into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ, 2 Thessalonians 3:5.