Comprehensive Doctrine of Justification (27)
[Romans 5:8-10]
We are currently reflecting on the sub-theme "The Results of Justification" within the broader theme of "Comprehensive Doctrine of Justification." The nine sub-themes under consideration are (1) The Necessity of Justification, (2) The Originator of Justification, (3) The Foundation of Justification, (4) The Method of Justification, (5) The Universality of Justification, (6) The Purpose of Justification, (7) The Exemplification of Justification, (8) The Results of Justification, and (9) The Confirmation of Justification. Currently, we are focusing on the eighth sub-theme, "The Results of Justification." There are twelve results of justification: (1) Peace with God, (2) Access into grace by faith, (3) Hopeful expectation and joy in the glory of God, (4) Rejoicing in tribulation, (5) Possession of a confident hope, (6) Attainment of a perfected hope through enduring tribulation and patience, (7) Receiving a hope that does not disappoint, (8) God's love poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, (9) God's love for us confirmed, (10) Salvation from wrath, (11) Receiving future salvation, and (12) Rejoicing in God. Among these twelve results of justification, the ninth, "God's love for us confirmed (Rom. 5:8)," and the tenth, "Salvation from wrath (v. 9)," are referenced in Rev. Chang Seh Kim's "The Gospel of Jesus Christ [Romans 5-8]."
Today, I would like to meditate on the eleventh result of justification, "Receiving future salvation." Romans 5:10 states, "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." The phrase "For if while we were enemies" refers to the time when we were enemies of God. God, being righteous and holy, cannot tolerate sin. However, Adam and Eve, created in the image of God, succumbed to the temptation of Satan, God's enemy, and ate the forbidden fruit, making them enemies of the righteous and holy God. This enmity continued through generations, as seen in the story of Cain, who, seeing that God did not accept his offering but accepted Abel's, committed the sin of killing his brother. Moreover, during Noah's time, the condition of humanity was described in Genesis 6:5-7: "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, 'I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.'" The world was filled with wickedness, prompting God to judge it with a flood, wiping out all living creatures except for Noah and his family. Throughout history, humanity's sinfulness led God to view them as enemies. However, amidst this, Noah found favor in God's eyes, as mentioned in Genesis 6:8. God, in His mercy, saved Noah and his family from the flood, fulfilling the covenant mentioned in Genesis 3:15. Despite humanity's continuous rebellion, God's Son, Jesus Christ, through His death, reconciled us to God. Those who were once enemies of God are now reconciled through the death of His Son. The verse continues to say, "much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life" (Rom. 5:10b). This emphasizes the assurance that, having been reconciled to God through Christ's death, we can have confidence in our future salvation through His life.
The righteous and holy God is also a God of love. This is expressed in 1 John 4:8-10: "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this, the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." God, in His love, sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, as a propitiation for our sins, reconciling us to Himself and turning us from enemies into those at peace with Him. Furthermore, God has given us the ministry of reconciliation. As stated in 2 Corinthians 5:18, "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." Jesus Christ, the Son of God, not only died as a propitiation on the cross but also rose again, demonstrating God's power over sin and death. Therefore, we, having been reconciled through Christ's sacrifice, will receive salvation, as stated in Romans 5:10, "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." This is a future salvation, indicating that those who have received justification will, in the future, obtain eternal life. Already, those who have received righteousness, i.e., those who have been justified, have experienced regeneration (being born again) and received salvation (past salvation). The mention of future salvation implies that they will obtain eternal life in the future. When Christ returns to this world (the Second Coming of Jesus Christ), those who have received justification, whether transformed (those still alive at that time) or resurrected (those who have died), will experience eternal blessings in heaven. This is indeed the remarkable and surpassing peace that has been given to us, as expressed in the hymn "I have found a deep peace,” verse 1: “I have found a deep peace that I never had known And a joy this world could not afford, Since I yielded control of my body and soul To my wonderful, wonderful Lord. My wonderful Lord, my wonderful Lord, By angels and seraphs in heaven adored; I bow at Thy shrine, my Savior divine, My wonderful, wonderful Lord.”
Do we, as Christians, truly have confidence in the future salvation promised in Romans 5:10? Do we indeed possess the immense and surpassing peace not found in this world? If, through our assurance of future salvation, we truly have this remarkable peace, then no one can take it away from us, regardless of the difficulties we may face in this world. This peace is attainable when we accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. Even though the world may become increasingly challenging, all of us, through the gospel of Jesus Christ, can become possessors of this great and astounding peace, rendering us impervious to its theft by anyone. As we all, through the gospel of Jesus Christ, become possessors of this remarkable peace, we can sing with praise, “My wonderful Lord, my wonderful Lord, By angels and seraphs in heaven adored; I bow at Thy shrine, my Savior divine, My wonderful, wonderful Lord” (Hymn “I have found a deep peace” Chorus). While facing the challenges of an increasingly difficult world, let us all, through the gospel of Jesus Christ, become individuals who own this great and astounding peace. May we continue to offer praises to God, meeting Him to experience this peace in heaven for all eternity.