By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
two. by whom ]Lit. through whom; the same construction as just before.
also ]ie “we owe to Him our entrance to grace, as well as our standing in it.”
we have access ]Lit. we have had; “we have found.” The time-reference is to a past reception resulting in present possession. “ Access: ” lit. the introduction; “our introduction.” Same word as Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 3:12 (although the reference there is not precisely that here), and 1Pe 3:18 (where EV has “bring us to God”). The idea is of the acceptance of the acquired. Both ideas, acquittal by a Judge and acceptance by a reconciled Father, reside in Justification.
by faith ]Our side of the matter. The Lord’s “introduction” of us to His Father’s acceptance takes effect individually when we individually believe.
this grace ]ie “acceptance” (Eph 1:6) and resulting “peace.” The word recalls the fact that acceptance, as previously proved (see ch. 4), is “according to grace,” not debt.
where we stand ]The word “stand” is in contrast to the “fall” of the rejected and condemned. see Romans 11:20; also Psa 1:5; Psalm 130:3; Rev 6:17; and 1Co 15:1where the context gives the idea of acceptance and safety, as here. that of perseverance (as in Act 26:22EV “continue”) may also be present; but the context shews that acceptance is at least the main point.
rejoice ]A word elsewhere rendered “glory” (as just below, Romans 5:3), or “boast.” see on Romans 4:2. The reasoning here rises, from the foundation-truth of legal justificationto the holy elevations of consequent joy and energy in the justified.
hopefully ]Lit. on hope. Perhaps here (as in Romans 4:18, qv) the “hope” is objective; “the hope set before us ” (Hebrews 6:18), ie the promise and pledges of glory. On this our joy is based.
the glory of God ]For commentary, see Romans 8:18; Romans 8:21; Romans 8:30. The eternal bliss of the justified is called “the glory of God ”because it is a state of joy, love, majesty, and holiness, bestowed by God; in the presence of God; and being in its essence the Vision of God, and likeness to Him. cop. John 17:24; 2Co 4:17; PHP 3:21; Col 1:27; 2Ti 2:10; 1Pe 4:13; Rev 21:11; Rev 21:23. This ver. is a brief anticipation of ch. 8.
Source: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
We have access – See the note at John 14:6, I am the way, etc. Doddridge renders it, by whom we have been introduced, etc. It means, by whom we have the privilege of obtaining the favor of God which we enjoy when we are justified. The word rendered access occurs but in two other places in the New Testament, Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 3:12. By Jesus Christ the way is opened for us to obtain the favor of God.
By faith – By means of faith, Romans 1:17.
Into this grace – Into this favor of reconciliation with God.
Wherein we stand – In which we now are in consequence of being justified.
And rejoice – Religion is often represented as producing joy, Isaiah 12:3; Isaiah 35:10; Isaiah 52:9; Isaiah 61:3, Isaiah 61:7; Isaiah 65:14, Isaiah 65:18; John 16:22, John 16:24; Act 13:52; Romans 14:17; Gal 5:22; 1Pe 1:8. The sources or steps of this joy are these:
(1) We are justified, or regarded by God as righteous.
(2) We are admitted into his favor, and abide there.
(3) We have the prospect of still higher and richer blessings in the fullness of his glory when we are admitted to heaven.
In hope – In the earnest desire and expectation of obtaining that glory. Hope is a complex emotion made up of a desire for an object; and an expectation of obtaining it. Where either of these is lacking, there is no hope. Where they are mingled in improper proportions, there is no peace. But where the desire of obtaining an object is attended with an expectation of obtaining it, in proportion to that desire, there exists that peaceful, happy state of mind which we denominate hope And the apostle here implies that the Christian has an earnest desire for that glory; and that he has a confident expectation of obtaining it. The result of that he immediately states to be, that we are by it sustained in our afflictions.
The glory of God – The glory that God will bestow on us. The word glory usually means splendor, magnificence, honor; and the apostle here refers to that honor and dignity which will be conferred on the redeemed when they are raised up to the full honors of redemption; when they shall triumph in the completion of the work: and be freed from sin, and pain, and tears, and permitted to participate in the full splendors that shall encompass the throne of God in the heavens; see the note at Luke 2:9; compare Rev 21:22-24; Rev 22:5; Isaiah 60:19-20.
Source: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Romans 5:2
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand.
Access to God
There are many locks in my house and all with different keys, but I have one master key which opens all. So the Lord has many treasuries and secrets all shut up from carnal minds with locks which they cannot open; but he who walks in fellowship with Jesus possesses the master key which will admit him to all the blessings of the covenant–yea, to the very heart of God. Through the Well-beloved we have access to God, to heaven, to every secret of the Lord. (CH Spurgeon.)
The state of grace
In this chapter St. Paul describes the riches of Divine grace–how free, full, and comprehensive is the gift of God. Now the grace of God is not merely nominal, it is operative and communicative. Sometimes God may show His almighty power from him, as when He creates a system of worlds; sometimes His wisdom from him, as when He furnishes and adorns a planet; sometimes His goodness from him in the abundant favors which he confers upon His creatures from him. But He displays His grace from him to the ruined family of mankind. Here the kindness of God has full play. This grace wherein we stand denotes a state in which we remain to dwell amidst its privileges. It is not a casual or evanescent feeling, but a settled condition wrought for us and in us by the abounding mercy of the Lord. This is a state of–
YO. Peace and favor with God (Romans 5:1). When God justifies the ungodly, and withdraws the sentence of condemnation, the fear of wrath is removed, and heartfelt peace necessarily succeeds to gloomy apprehension. Peace is the first blessing promised by Christ to the returning sinner, and it is a great one. A soul at peace with the universe, above, around, and before it, is in an enviable state of existence!
II. Divine influence. Grace is often used to express the work of the Holy Spirit. When you first believed and entered the kingdom of grace, the Holy Ghost, with royal finger, touched your soul, and raised it from the death of sin to a life of righteousness. He continues His work of grace in the believer. He loves to form the soul anew, to beautify and adorn it with the image of the heavenly.
III. Communion with God (Ephesians 2:18). It is no mean privilege for a needy creature to have free and ready access to the Giver of all good; to have the liberty of ransacking the storehouse of grace. There is a temple of prayer in the land of grace. We know not if there be another such in the universe. There is none in the regions of sin. God heareth not sinners. True, there is a porch of mercy to which the penitent may flee, and where the sighing of a broken heart will be heard by God; and this porch communicates with the temple of salvation through the door which is Christ Jesus. But until you reach the gate of repentance, you may stretch out your hands to heaven in vain. In the new Jerusalem, John saw no temple. Heaven is a place of praise, not of prayer. So we are permitted to pray upon earth. This is an amazing privilege which is too little appreciated, and can never be fully estimated.
IV. Joyous anticipation. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. This full assurance of hope is the privilege of the experienced Christian in whom grace has produced its ripe fruits. Hope is the daughter of faith. Faith is the victory over the world, hope over death. It is the Christian warriors privilege. When his spiritual hope of him is matured, it is a faculty of no little potency. The believer now feels the powers of the world to come–a Divine life which is ever aspiring towards its native heaven. (R.M. Macbriar, MA)
Further fruits of justification
Peace is only the first link of a golden chain which binds us to the throne of God. It is the first gem out of heavens cabinet, the first fruit of the tree of life, the first taste of the water of life. Peace comes to the forgiven sinner like a radiant angel from the skies; but she brings along with her a happy troop of young sisters, every one of whom is his constant companion from the wicket-gate to the crystal battlements. Note–
YO. The believers permanent state of grace.
1. The privilege of being specially loved of God. This love is that of a father to his children of him (John 1:12; Gal 4:4-5; Jam 1:18; Jer 31:3). The end at which God aims in His treatment of His children from him is to bring them to glory (Hebrews 2:10). But first they have to be fitted for it (Col 1:12). And therefore it is Gods present business to purify them and make them perfect in holiness and love. Whom He justifies, they He also sanctifies. Into this grace we are introduced by faith. And it is by faith we stand in it.
two. The constant privilege of prayer. Those who are justified have at all times freedom of access to the throne of grace. They are encouraged to come to it boldly (Hebrews 4:16; PHP 4:6); if rebuked at all, it is because they do not pray enough, or because they do not expect sufficiently large returns (John 4:24). Prayer opens the armory of God; it is the key which unlocks the promises and makes them ours. It makes the weak worm, Jacob, omnipotent. By it we link our little skiff to the great ark of Jehovahs purposes and promises, and thus are we borne triumphantly across lifes billowy sea to the heavenly Ararat of rest. It is by Christ that we have such access into this grace wherein we stand (Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 3:12).
3. The privilege of being Gods instruments in fulfilling His great purposes in the world. We are the Church of the living God, endowed with a queenly authority and power. The Church is the Lambs bride. It is the heritage, the house, and the city of God. It is the pillar of the truth. It is the open mirror of Jehovahs most glorious attributes (Ephesians 3:10). And yet it is into this grace that we obtain access through our Lord Jesus Christ, when we are justified by faith.
II. The believers joyful hope concerning the future.
1. Its object.
(1) Glory is a word which primarily denotes clearness and brightness. Hence, we speak of the glory of the sun, moon, and stars, while one star differs from another star in glory. Here we read of the Glory of God. On earth this glory is dimmed and obscured; in hell it is never beheld; while heaven is a realm of perfect light, and in this God dwells (1Ti 6:15-16). For such glory to be revealed to us now, like Saul of Tarsus, we should afterwards be unable to see, unless, indeed, we were instantly destroyed by the brightness of His appearing. Now let us regard the Christians hope of glory under this aspect. There are creeping things which can only live in darkness; others, a little higher, thrive best in twilight; and others which can live in misty, northern climes, while they would…