Results of Justification. Romans 5:1-11

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1 Results of Justification Read Romans 5:1-11 Romans 5: What significance does the word therefore have? 2. From verse 1, what is a result of justification? 3. Some wrongly think that the peace that Christians have at justification is an emotional experience similar to a tranquility of mind or a positive feeling about life. This, however, is not the intention of the passage. This peace is not a subjective feeling but an objective reality. There is peace between two parties who were formerly at war. Who was the sinner at war with before justification? Read Colossians 1: How was this peace obtained? 4. Many people do not consider the fact that God is very angry with man. Look up the following verses. Deuteronomy 32:21-22; Isaiah 13:9, 13; Nahum 1:2, Ephesians 5:6; Revelation 19:15; Psalm 7:11. How does your understanding of these verses help you better appreciate the peace that justification brings?

2 5. Verse 2 says that justification through faith in Christ allows us an introduction or access into God s grace. This is a second result of justification. Read Ephesians 2:18; 3:12; Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:12-22; 1 John 3: How should we approach God? How is it possible for us to do this? How does this affect your life? 6. Another benefit of justification is that we now can exult in hope of the glory of God (v. 2). (Also see 1 Timothy 1:1; John 17:22). Justification guarantees that we have no reason to fear the future and every reason to hope that we will share in the glory of God. Does our hope (confident expectation) that we will be glorified rest in our own ability to persevere in faith and obedience? Upon what is our eternal security based? What part does continued faith and obedience play in our guarantee of future glorification? 7. Not only do we rejoice because of the hope that we have, but we rejoice in our tribulations. What causes the believer to have this perspective on trials?

3 8. This rejoicing is not in spite of our sufferings, but because of our sufferings. This is not because we like suffering, but because we know what suffering produces. We know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Justification gives us the perspective that we look beyond suffering to its divinely intended end. Is this how you view tribulations? Is there any specific test that you are going through right now? Give an example of a time when a trial turned into an opportunity for your spiritual growth. Ask God to help you view hard circumstances with this perspective. 9. How does the believer s hope differ from the hope that other people have that things will work out in the end or the hope that it will be okay? 10. What role does the Holy Spirit play in this passage? 11. The love of God that the Holy Spirit has poured into our hearts is not referring to our love for God, but His love for us. At salvation, God lavishly pours out His love on us. What was the ultimate demonstration of that love?

4 12. Replace the words us and we in verse 8 with your name. Take time to meditate on this truth and thank God for His sacrificial love for you. 13. Verses 6-8 show that it is very rare that a person would die for an unrighteous person. However, only slightly more people would die for a righteous person. But yet Christ died for us. Were we righteous? What good did Christ see in us? How do you explain why He would die for such helpless sinners? What should your response to this truth be? 14. If God loved us so much while we were helpless and in bondage to our sins that he was willing to die for us, how can we expect Him to treat us now that we have been reconciled to Him? 15. Explain how you can keep the assurance of the love of God from producing self-complacency and pride in your life. With all of the benefits that we have received through justification, how can we always be humble, self-abasing and filled with wonder, gratitude, and praise?

5 16. From verse 11, what is the basis of Christian joy? What would you tell a Christian who never seems to be happy? Suggested Memory Verses: Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6). But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (Romans 5:10).