Grace and Peace — Sermon Library

Introduction

Romans 5:1-2 stands at the summit of Paul's argument in the first four chapters. He has established that all have sinned (3:23), that the wages of sin is death (6:23), and that justification comes by faith in Christ (4:5). Now he turns the corner and asks: what follows? What does the person who has been justified actually have? The answer comes in two great words: peace and grace.

Illustration

A prisoner who has been released from death row receives two things on the day of his release: the termination of the verdict against him (peace — the sentence is cancelled) and freedom itself (access to a new life, undeserved). The justified sinner receives something analogous from God: peace — the hostility between God and the sinner is ended — and access to the inexhaustible storehouse of God's grace for living.

Sermon Outline

I. The Fact of Justification — "Therefore being justified by faith"

Paul grounds everything that follows on the bedrock of justification. 'Being justified' — this is a completed legal act, not an ongoing process. The Greek perfect tense indicates a past action with present and ongoing results. The believer was justified at the moment of faith and remains justified.

Justification is a judicial declaration: God pronounces the guilty sinner righteous — not because the sinner has become righteous, but because the righteousness of Christ has been credited to their account. The sinner's debt was charged to Christ on the cross; Christ's righteousness is charged to the sinner's account by faith.

This is the foundation. Everything else — peace, access, hope — flows from this declared righteousness.

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Romans 4:5

II. The Peace That Follows — "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ"

Before justification, every human being is under the righteous wrath of God. Romans 1:18 declares that 'the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.' This is not metaphor. God's righteous character requires that sin be judged, and until it is judged, there is hostility between the holy God and the sinful creature.

But through justification, that hostility ends. 'We have peace with God' — not peace of mind (though that follows), but objective, positional peace: the war is over. The sin that created the separation has been dealt with at the cross. God is no longer the enemy of the justified sinner — He is their Father.

Note: this peace is 'through our Lord Jesus Christ.' He is the peacemaker — not by splitting the difference between God's holiness and man's sin, but by bearing the full wrath of God in our place, satisfying the justice that stood against us.

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself.
Colossians 1:20

III. The Access That Follows — "we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand"

The justified believer not only has peace — they have access. The word 'access' (Greek: prosagoge) was used for the introduction of a person into the presence of royalty — through a mediator, the petitioner could approach the throne. Through Christ, the believer has permanent, unhindered access to the throne of grace.

'This grace wherein we stand' — the believer does not merely visit grace and return to their own resources. They stand in grace. It is the permanent atmosphere of their existence. Every morning, every trial, every failure, every prayer — all of it takes place within the sphere of God's grace. The believer never exhausts it, never runs out of it, and can never be ejected from it.

This is the difference between law and grace: under law, the question is always 'have I done enough?' Under grace, the question is settled: Christ has done enough, and I stand in what He has done.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

Conclusion

The believer who grasps Romans 5:1-2 has a foundation that cannot be shaken. Justified — the verdict is in, the case is closed. Peace with God — the war is over, you are His. Standing in grace — the resources of heaven are permanently open to you. This is the inheritance of every person who has trusted Christ. Preach it with confidence. Live it with joy.

Scripture References

Romans 5:1-2Romans 4:5Colossians 1:20Hebrews 4:16Romans 1:18Romans 8:1