One of the blessings of being a Youth Pastor is being able to see the Lord working in the life of a middle school or high school students. Sometimes, that work happens instantly; they hear the Gospel, repent of their sin, and follow the Lord. Sometimes, it takes years for them to truly understand their need for a Savior, and it requires many meetings and answering some really difficult and important questions. I remember a few years ago at camp, there was a student who had been coming to camp and youth group with us for a while. During that week of camp, I had the privilege of answering some of his hard questions. I got to see the Lord slowly soften his heart to the Gospel. Toward the end of the week, he saw his need for a Savior, and surrendered his life to the Lord. What I will not forget is what he asked me after I was able to lead him to salvation, “What now?”  

This is the question Paul is tackling as he begins chapter 5. Through the first four chapters of this incredible book, Paul has laid out one of the, if not the best, cases for why justification with the Lord is only through faith. He details how fallen we are and how we are unable to save ourselves through our own works. The only way we can have any hope is through the Good News of Jesus Christ. He is now about to begin a great section of this book discussing the blessings or benefits that come to us through this justification.  

1. What are some blessings that you can think of that we receive through the work of Christ?  

As we continue our study through the books of Romans, we read in Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I think it is important to notice one word in verse 1. He writes that we have peace “with” God, not the peace of God. This is the first blessing we see as a result of our justification.  

2. What is the difference between peace with God and peace of God? 

3. How does understanding we have peace with God affect our relationship with God? Do you struggle with knowing you have peace with God?  

I think this first blessing is so important for us and is a reason why Paul puts it first. Oftentimes, and I am sure I am not alone in this, I can feel that I do not deserve God’s love because of the sins I have committed. However, Paul reminds us that this blessing is “through our Lord Jesus Christ” and not through ourselves.  

Continuing on to the next verse, we read in Romans 5:2, “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” The second blessing we see is that we now have a standing in grace. This means God’s unmerited favor towards us is now ours, and it is not just a one-time thing. It is a truth that is ours continually; we do not need to worry about it being taken away because it is perfected in Christ. Not only does it begin our walk with the Lord, but it is what sustains us. That is why Paul continues writing in Romans 5:3-5, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”  

4. What is the connection between verse 2 and what Paul speaks of in verses 3-5?  

5. How does our continual standing in grace impact how we react to suffering?     6. What are some practical ways we can draw on the grace of God through the various trials and sufferings we go through?  

I heard a Pastor say, “Everything we go through is an opportunity to conform us more to the image of Christ.” I believe that this is what this passage is speaking about. Paul goes straight into suffering because he knows that it is a guarantee that we will go through suffering. In 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul says, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” John 15:20 adds, “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” What will get us through the suffering of our lives is knowing that we have peace with God and that His grace is continually there to help us through our suffering.  

Romans 5:8-10 adds, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 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 last blessing we see here is that we are saved from the wrath of God.  

7. How do you feel when you read that we are “saved by him from the wrath of God”? Does this contradict the idea that God is all-loving if He has wrath?  

8. What truth about your relationship with God do you see when you read, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”? 

These are some great blessings. We have gone from having peace with God, to having a continual standing in grace, to being saved from the wrath of God. What a blessing it is to have such a great and glorious Savior who died for us even when we were rebelling against Him and who offered that gift to us freely. 

9. What are some practical ways to apply these blessings to your everyday walk with Christ?  

10. Which of these blessings do you struggle to believe that you have truly received? How can you combat that disbelief?