Romans 5:2
through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
through whom
This phrase refers to Jesus Christ, the mediator between God and humanity. The Greek word "δι’ οὗ" (di' hou) emphasizes the means by which believers are brought into a relationship with God. Historically, this highlights the role of Christ as the High Priest, a concept deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, where the high priest was the intermediary between God and the people. In the New Testament, Jesus fulfills this role perfectly, providing a new and living way to God.

we have gained access
The Greek word "προσαγωγή" (prosagōgē) signifies an introduction or approach. In ancient times, gaining access to a king or a person of high status was a privilege reserved for a select few. Spiritually, this access is not earned by human effort but is a gift through Christ, symbolizing the breaking down of barriers between God and humanity. This access is a present reality for believers, allowing them to enter into God's presence with confidence.

by faith
Faith, or "πίστις" (pistis) in Greek, is the means by which believers receive God's grace. It is not merely intellectual assent but a deep trust and reliance on God. Historically, faith has been the cornerstone of the Christian life, as seen in the lives of the patriarchs and prophets. This faith is a response to God's revelation in Christ and is essential for salvation, as emphasized throughout the New Testament.

into this grace
The term "χάρις" (charis) refers to God's unmerited favor. Grace is a central theme in Paul's writings, highlighting the generosity and love of God towards sinners. In the historical context of the Roman church, grace was a radical concept, contrasting with the works-based righteousness prevalent in both Jewish and pagan religions. This grace is not only the means of salvation but also the sphere in which believers live and grow.

in which we stand
The Greek word "ἑστήκαμεν" (hestēkamen) implies a firm, established position. This standing is not precarious but secure, reflecting the believer's stable relationship with God. In a historical sense, standing in grace contrasts with the instability of life under the law, where one could never be sure of their standing before God. This assurance is a source of strength and confidence for Christians.

and we rejoice
The word "καυχώμεθα" (kauchōmetha) can be translated as "boast" or "exult." This rejoicing is not in human achievement but in what God has done. It reflects a deep-seated joy and confidence in God's promises. Historically, this joy is a hallmark of the Christian experience, even in the face of trials and persecution, as seen in the early church.

in the hope
Hope, or "ἐλπίς" (elpis), is a confident expectation of future good. It is not wishful thinking but a certainty based on God's promises. In the biblical context, hope is often linked with the return of Christ and the fulfillment of God's kingdom. This hope sustains believers, providing motivation and endurance in their spiritual journey.

of the glory of God
The "δόξα" (doxa) of God refers to His majesty, splendor, and divine presence. In the Old Testament, God's glory was often associated with His presence in the tabernacle or temple. In the New Testament, believers are promised a share in this glory, a future transformation into the likeness of Christ. This promise of glory is the ultimate goal of salvation, providing a future-oriented perspective that shapes the believer's life and priorities.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the Book of Romans, Paul is writing to the believers in Rome, explaining the theological foundation of the Christian faith.

2. Jesus Christ
The "whom" in the verse refers to Jesus Christ, through whom believers have access to grace.

3. The Roman Church
The recipients of the letter, consisting of both Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome.

4. Grace
The unmerited favor of God, which believers access through faith in Jesus Christ.

5. The Glory of God
The ultimate hope and future reality for believers, reflecting God's majesty and divine presence.
Teaching Points
Access by Faith
Faith is the key that opens the door to God's grace. It is not by works or human effort but through trusting in Jesus Christ.

Standing in Grace
Believers are not just visitors in God's grace; they stand firmly in it. This standing is secure and unshakeable because it is based on God's promise and power.

Rejoicing in Hope
The Christian life is marked by joy, not because of present circumstances, but because of the assured hope of sharing in God's glory.

The Certainty of God's Promises
The hope of the glory of God is not wishful thinking but a certain expectation based on God's faithful character.

Living with Eternal Perspective
Understanding our access to grace and the hope of glory should transform how we live daily, focusing on eternal values rather than temporary concerns.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding our access to grace through faith in Jesus Christ impact your daily walk with God?

2. In what ways can you stand more firmly in the grace of God amidst life's challenges?

3. How does the hope of the glory of God influence your perspective on current trials or difficulties?

4. What are some practical ways you can rejoice in the hope of God's glory in your everyday life?

5. How can the assurance of God's promises encourage you to share your faith with others?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Ephesians 2:18
This verse also speaks about having access to the Father through Jesus Christ, emphasizing the unity and peace brought by faith.

Hebrews 4:16
Encourages believers to approach the throne of grace with confidence, highlighting the access we have through Jesus.

1 Peter 1:8-9
Discusses the joy and hope believers have in their salvation, even though they have not seen Jesus.

Colossians 1:27
Speaks of the hope of glory, which is Christ in us, reinforcing the future hope mentioned in Romans 5:2.
A State of PrivilegeS.R. Aldridge Romans 5:2
Access into GraceAlexander MaclarenRomans 5:2
Access to GodC. H. Spurgeon.Romans 5:2
Further Fruits of JustificationT. G. Horton.Romans 5:2
Hope of GloryJ. W. Adams, D. D.Romans 5:2
Hope of the Glory of God a Source of Joy to His PeopleJames Davies.Romans 5:2
The Future Vision of GodRomans 5:2
The Glory of GodArchdn. Gifford.Romans 5:2
The Glory of the CreatorRomans 5:2
The Hope of HeavenJames Buchanan.Romans 5:2
The Sources of HopeAlexander MaclarenRomans 5:2
The State of GraceR. M. Macbriar, M. A.Romans 5:2
Justification and its ConsequencesC.H. Irwin Romans 5:1, 2
The Christian PrivilegeT.F. Lockyer Romans 5:1, 2
The State of the JustifiedR.M. Edgar Romans 5:1-11
People
Adam, Paul, Romans
Places
Rome
Topics
Able, Access, Boast, Exult, Faith, Favour, Glory, God's, Grace, Hope, Introduction, Joy, Obtained, Rejoice, Result, Sharing, Stand, State, Stood, Wherein
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Romans 5:2

     1045   God, glory of
     5184   standing
     6671   grace, and Christian life
     9612   hope, in God

Romans 5:1-2

     2424   gospel, promises
     5110   Paul, teaching of
     6175   guilt, removal of
     6679   justification, results
     6710   privileges
     8022   faith, basis of salvation
     8157   righteousness, as faith
     8822   self-justification

Romans 5:1-5

     6705   peace, experience
     9615   hope, results of

Romans 5:2-3

     8283   joy

Romans 5:2-4

     9613   hope, as confidence

Library
March 20. "They which Receive Abundance of Grace and the Gift of Righteousness Shall Reign in Life" (Rom. v. 17).
"They which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life" (Rom. v. 17). Precious souls sometimes fight tremendous battles in order to attain to righteousness in trying places. Perhaps the heart has become wrong in some matter where temptation has been allowed to overcome, or at least to turn it aside from its singleness unto God; and the conflict is a terrible one as it seeks to adjust itself and be right with God, and finds itself baffled by its own spiritual foes,
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Death by Adam, Life by Christ
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. F rom Mr. Handel's acknowledged abilities as a composer, and particularly from what I have heard of his great taste and success in adapting the style of his music to the subject, I judge, that this passage afforded him a fair occasion of displaying his genius and powers. Two ideas, vastly important in themselves, are here represented in the strongest light,
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Let us have Peace
'Let us have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.'--ROMANS v. 1. (R.V.). In the rendering of the Revised Version, 'Let us have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,' the alteration is very slight, being that of one letter in one word, the substitution of a long 'o' for a short one. The majority of manuscripts of authority read 'let us have,' making the clause an exhortation and not a statement. I suppose the reason why, in some inferior MSS., the statement takes the place of the
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

Access into Grace
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand.'--ROMANS v. 2. I may be allowed to begin with a word or two of explanation of the terms of this passage. Note then, especially, that also which sends us back to the previous clause, and tells us that our text adds something to what was spoken of there. What was spoken of there? 'The peace of God' which comes to a man by Jesus Christ through faith, the removal of enmity, and the declaration of righteousness. But that peace
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

The Warring Queens
'As sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.'--ROMANS v. 21. I am afraid this text will sound to some of you rather unpromising. It is full of well-worn terms, 'sin,' 'death,' 'grace,' 'righteousness,' 'eternal life,' which suggest dry theology, if they suggest anything. When they welled up from the Apostle's glowing heart they were like a fiery lava-stream. But the stream has cooled, and, to a good many of us, they
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

A Threefold Cord
'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.'--ROMANS v. 5. We have seen in former sermons that, in the previous context, the Apostle traces Christian hope to two sources: one, the series of experiences which follow 'being justified by faith' and the other, those which follow on trouble rightly borne. Those two golden chains together hold up the precious jewel of hope. But a chain that is to bear a weight must have a
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

What Proves God's Love
'God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'--ROMANS v. 8. We have seen in previous sermons on the preceding context that the Apostle has been tracing various lines of sequence, all of which converge upon Christian hope. The last of these pointed to the fact that the love of God, poured into a heart like oil into a lamp, brightened that flame; and having thus mentioned the great Christian revelation of God as love, Paul at once passes to emphasise
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

The Sources of Hope
'We 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.'--ROMANS v. 2-4. We have seen in a previous sermon that the Apostle in the foregoing context is sketching a grand outline of the ideal Christian life, as all rooted in 'being justified by faith,' and flowering into 'peace with God,' 'access into grace,' and a firm stand against all antagonists and would-be masters.
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

God's Love Magnified in Christ's Death.
(Good Friday, 1832.) TEXT: ROM. v. 7, 8. IN the whole passage from which these words are taken the apostle is trying to convince his readers that it is only through Christ that we come into right relations with God. He begins by saying, Let us have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ; and so let us rejoice in the glory that God is to give; nay, more, let us rejoice in tribulation also. He goes on to say that the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit; and then he continues
Friedrich Schleiermacher—Selected Sermons of Schleiermacher

Law and Grace
I shall consider this text in two senses this morning. First, as it respects the world at large and the entrance of the law into it; and then afterwards, as respecting the heart of the convinced sinner, and the entrance of the law into the conscience. I. First, we shall speak of the text as CONCERNING THE WORLD. The object of God in sending the law into the world was "that the offence might abound." But then comes the gospel, for "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." First, then, in reference
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

Love's Commendation
"No big words of ready talkers, No fine boastings will suffice; Broken hearts and humble walkers, These are dear in Jesus' eyes." Let us imitate God, then, in this. If we would commend our religion to mankind, we cannot do it by mere formalities, but by gracious acts of integrity, charity and forgiveness, which are the proper discoveries of grace within. "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." "Let your conversation be such
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

For whom did Christ Die?
While man is in this condition Jesus interposes for his salvation. "When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly"; "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us," according to "his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins." The pith of my sermon will be an endeavour to declare that the reason of Christ's dying for us did not lie in our excellence; but where sin abounded grace did much more abound, for the persons for whom Jesus
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 20: 1874

Sin and Grace
"Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound."--Romans 5:20. THERE are two very powerful forces in the world, which have been here ever since the time when Eve partook of the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. Those two forces are sin and grace. A very great power is sin, a power dark, mysterious, baleful, but full of force. The sorrows of mankind, whence came they but from sin? We should have known no war, nor pestilence, nor famine, nor would aught of sickness or sorrow ever have smitten
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 54: 1908

Justification by Faith
"Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ."--Romans 5:1. WE DESIRE this evening not to preach upon this text as a mere matter of doctrine. You all believe and understand the gospel of justification by faith, but we want to preach upon it tonight as a matter of experience, as a thing realized, felt, enjoyed, and understood in the soul. I trust there are many here who not only know that men may be saved and justified by faith, but who can say in their
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 60: 1914

The Old, Old Story
It is somewhat singular, but just as they say fish go bad at the head first, so modern divines generally go bad first upon the head and main doctrine of the substitutionary work of Christ. Nearly all our modern errors, I might say all of them, begin with mistakes about Christ. Men do not like to be always preaching the same thing., There are Athenians in the pulpit as well as in the pew who spend their time in nothing but hearing some new thing. They are not content to tell over and over again the
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 8: 1863

Good Friday.
God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. We all remember the story in the Gospel, of the different treatment which our Lord met with in the same house, from the Pharisee, who had invited him into it, and from the woman who came in and knelt at his feet, and kissed them, and bathed them with her tears. Our Lord accounted for the difference in these words, "To whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little;" which means to speak of the sense or
Thomas Arnold—The Christian Life

"Now the End of the Commandment," &C.
1 Tim. i. 5.--"Now the end of the commandment," &c. Fifthly, Faith purging the conscience, and purifying the heart, works by love. Love is the fruit of faith. Love is the stream that flows out of a pure heart and a good conscience. By love, we mean principally love to God, or Jesus Christ, and then love to the saints next to our Saviour. This is often mentioned in scripture, "Hope maketh not ashamed, (Rom. v. 5) because the love of God is shed abroad in your hearts by the Holy Ghost." This love
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Wesley -- God's Love to Fallen Man
John Wesley was born at Epworth rectory in Lincolnshire, England, in 1703. He was educated at Charterhouse school and in 1720 entered Christ Church College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1724. He was noted for his classical taste as well as for his religious fervor, and on being ordained deacon by Bishop Potter, of Oxford, he became his father's curate in 1727. Being recalled to Oxford to fulfil his duties as fellow of Lincoln he became the head of the Oxford "Methodists," as they were called. He
Grenville Kleiser—The world's great sermons, Volume 3

Evans -- the Fall and Recovery of Man
Christmas Evans, a Welsh Baptist preacher, was born at Isgaerwen, Cardiganshire, South Wales, in 1766. Brought up as a Presbyterian, he turned Baptist in 1788, and was ordained the following year and ministered among the Baptists in Carmaerthenshire. In 1792 he became a sort of bishop to those of his denomination in Anglesey, where he took up his residence. After a somewhat stormy experience with those he undertook to rule, he removed to Carmaerthen in 1832. He distinguished himself by his debt-raising
Grenville Kleiser—The world's great sermons, Volume 3

Whyte -- Experience
Alexander Whyte, senior minister of St. George's Free Church, Edinburgh, was born at Kirriemuir (Thrums), Scotland, in 1837. He was educated at Aberdeen University (M.A., 1862), and at New College, Edinburgh (1862-66), and after being assistant minister of Free St. John's, Glasgow, from 1866 to 1870, became at first assistant minister, and later (1873) minister, of Free St. George's, Edinburgh, a position which be still retains, having had there an uninterrupted success. He is the author of a number
Grenville Kleiser—The world's great sermons, Volume 8

"And the Life. " How Christ is the Life.
This, as the former, being spoken indefinitely, may be universally taken, as relating both to such as are yet in the state of nature, and to such as are in the state of grace, and so may be considered in reference to both, and ground three points of truth, both in reference to the one, and in reference to the other; to wit, 1. That our case is such as we stand in need of his help, as being the Life. 2. That no other way but by him, can we get that supply of life, which we stand in need of, for he
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Prayer and Trouble (Continued)
"My first message for heavenly relief went singing over millions of miles of space in 1869, and brought relief to my troubled heart. But, thanks be to Him, I have received many delightful and helpful answers during the last fifty years. I would think the commerce of the skies had gone into bankruptcy if I did not hear frequently, since I have learned how to ask and how to receive."--H. W. Hodge In the New Testament there are three words used which embrace trouble. These are tribulation, suffering
Edward M. Bounds—The Essentials of Prayer

Our Guilt.
"Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."--Rom. v. 12. Sin and guilt belong together, but may not be confounded or considered synonymous, any more than sanctification and righteousness. It is true guilt rests upon every sin, and in every sin there is guilt, yet the two must be kept distinct. There is a difference between the blaze and the blackened spot upon the wall caused by it; long after the blaze is out
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Work of Grace a Unit.
"Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us."-- Rom. v. 5. The final end of all God's ways is that He may be all in all. He can not cease from working until He has entered the souls of individual men. He thirsts after the creature's love. In man's love for God He desires to see the virtues of His own love glorified. And love must spring from man's personal being, which has its seat in the heart. The work of grace exhibited in the eternal counsel
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

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