All We Will Become Flourishes by the Atonement

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.  For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person— though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God.  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.  More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”  —Romans 5:1-11, ESV 

Justification by faith FLOURISHES BY THE CROSS of Jesus Christ.  All that we will become matures by God’s grace because it comes by the truth of the Cross.  Therefore being justified by faith…  Romans 5:3-5, ESV, “we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” 

The word “experience” in the KJV can be translated “tested character.”  The NASB calls it “proven character.”  The joy in our hope of the glory of God increases as we grow in grace.  I have often taught in the past that hope is a certainty that doesn’t know “when;” but it is also a certainty that hasn’t been fully realized or hasn’t been ultimately fulfilled.  Hope’s ultimate fulfillment is in the coming of Christ, as it is written in 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”   Until that day, through the truth of justification by grace through faith, God is working all things together for good… that we may be conformed to the image of Christ by God’s sovereign will and decree (Romans 8:28-29).  Every persevering trial, tribulation and situation that we face builds our character because it is based upon the Cross of Christ and built up in the Cross of Christ.  Again, as Romans 1:17 tells us, “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith…” because saving faith is not still; justification by faith is not stagnant; it grows; it is strengthened with each trial it endures (see Romans 4:20).  Where does it flourish?  In what ways does it grow? 

1.         Because of justification by faith in Christ crucified we have PEACE (Romans 5:1). It is peace that grows beyond our intellects: “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). 

2.         Because of justification by faith in Christ crucified we have ACCESS INTO THIS GRACE (Romans 5:2); yet, we are not merely in God’s presence, for we are reconciled to God (Romans 5:10, 11): “Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). 

3.         Because of justification by faith in Christ crucified we have JOY (Romans 5:2, 11).  It is joy that increases beyond the frailty of our emotions: “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8). 

4.         Because of justification by faith in Christ crucified we have the LOVE OF GOD and THE FULLNESS OF THE INDWELLING SPIRIT (Romans 5:5).  It is a love that matures beyond our learning and it is a relationship with the indwelling God unto overflowing: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:17-21).