Romans 5 1

Romans 5:1 kjv

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Romans 5:1 nkjv

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 5:1 niv

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 5:1 esv

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1 nlt

Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

Romans 5 verses

Romans 5 1 Meaning

Romans 5:1 declares that, as a result of being declared righteous by God through faith in Jesus Christ, believers now possess a settled state of peace with God. This peace is a reconciled relationship, the cessation of hostilities between a holy God and sinful humanity, made possible exclusively through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. It is a present reality for those who have trusted in Him.

Romans 5 1 Context

Romans 5:1 stands as a pivotal transition point in Paul's letter. Chapters 1-3 established the universal guilt of humanity—both Gentiles and Jews—under sin and the law. Chapter 3:21-31 then introduced God's righteous remedy: justification (being declared righteous) freely by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, apart from works of the law. Chapter 4 expounded on this doctrine using Abraham as the prime Old Testament example, demonstrating that he was justified by faith, not by circumcision or works. Romans 5:1, beginning with "Therefore," logically flows from these preceding arguments, presenting the glorious immediate result of such justification: "peace with God." It shifts from the basis of salvation to its blessings and security, initiating a discussion of the practical implications and future hopes stemming from justification. Culturally, the idea of "peace" (εἰρήνην, eirēnēn) in the Roman world often referred to Pax Romana, an absence of civil conflict imposed by force. Paul's use of "peace with God" signifies a profound, relational peace, a spiritual reconciliation that contrasts sharply with the pre-justification state of hostility or estrangement from God due to sin. This also implicitly confronts the Jewish perspective that righteousness and thus peace with God came through adherence to the Law, contrasting it with God's provision through Christ.

Romans 5 1 Word analysis

• Therefore (οὖν - oun): This strong conjunction signifies a logical conclusion or a summary deduction from the preceding argument, particularly from chapters 3 and 4 concerning justification by faith. It asserts that what follows is the natural and inevitable consequence of the theological truths previously laid out.

• having been justified (δικαιωθέντες - dikaiōthentes): This is an aorist passive participle.

  • Aorist tense: Indicates a past, completed action. Justification is not an ongoing process but a definitive, once-for-all declaration by God. It refers to a point in time when one was declared righteous.
  • Passive voice: Shows that the believer is the recipient of the action; God is the one who justifies. It's God who performs the act of declaring us righteous.
  • Meaning: It refers to a forensic or legal declaration by God. It does not mean "made righteous" experientially (sanctification), but "declared righteous" in God's heavenly court, free from the penalty of sin and imputed with Christ's righteousness.

• by faith (ἐκ πίστεως - ek pisteōs):

  • ἐκ (ek): Means "out of" or "from," indicating the source, basis, or instrument by which justification is received.
  • πίστεως (pisteōs): Refers to trust, reliance, conviction. It's not the act of faith itself that justifies, but the object of faith (Jesus Christ and His finished work). Faith is the empty hand that receives God's grace. It excludes human effort, merit, or works.

• we have (ἔχομεν - echomen): This is a present active indicative verb.

  • Present tense: Emphasizes that peace with God is a continuous, existing reality. It's a present possession and ongoing state, not merely a future hope or a fleeting emotion.
  • Active voice: Believers possess this peace actively, not as something fleeting but as a settled, constant relationship.
  • Some textual variants read ἔχωμεν (echōmen), a present subjunctive, which would imply "let us have" or "we might have," an exhortation. However, the stronger manuscript evidence supports ἔχομεν, "we have," making it a declarative statement of fact. This declares a state of peace resulting from the prior justification.

• peace (εἰρήνην - eirēnēn): The Greek word eirēnē, translating the Hebrew concept of shalom (שָׁלוֹם).

  • More than merely the absence of conflict.
  • Encompasses holistic well-being, wholeness, prosperity, security, tranquility, and, crucially, a restored right relationship.
  • In this context, it signifies the cessation of God's judicial hostility toward us because of sin, and the establishment of friendship and favor.

• with God (πρὸς τὸν Θεόν - pros ton Theon):

  • πρὸς (pros): Indicates direction toward, or a relationship with.
  • Specifies the object of this peace. It's not merely peace of mind or internal tranquility, but fundamentally a reconciled relationship with God Himself. The Creator and the created, previously alienated by sin, are now brought into a state of favor and communion.

• through (διὰ - dia): A preposition indicating the intermediate cause, the instrument, or the channel.

  • It specifies the essential and exclusive means by which both justification and this resultant peace are secured.

• our Lord Jesus Christ: The specific mediator and agent.

  • Our Lord: Emphasizes His divine authority and personal relationship with believers.
  • Jesus Christ: His incarnate person and redemptive work (life, death, resurrection) are the sole basis for this peace and reconciliation. No other mediator or means exists.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Therefore, having been justified by faith": This foundational clause grounds the subsequent blessings in a past, definitive divine act received through a simple, non-meritorious trust. It underscores that justification precedes and enables the peace.
  • "we have peace with God": This is the glorious, present reality and immediate benefit of justification. It's a relational peace, marking the end of enmity and the beginning of favor and access.
  • "through our Lord Jesus Christ": This vital phrase highlights the absolute necessity and sole efficacy of Christ's mediatorial work. He is the exclusive channel and foundation for this transformed status and relationship.

Romans 5 1 Bonus section

• Shift from Justification to its Benefits: Romans 5:1 marks a thematic shift from the forensic act of justification to its blessings and experiential reality. Chapters 1-4 establish how salvation is obtained (justification by faith), and chapters 5-8 delve into what this salvation brings (peace, hope, Holy Spirit, freedom from sin, security).
• "The Pax Dei" (The Peace of God): Just as the Roman Empire boasted its Pax Romana (peace imposed by force), Paul presents a far greater and deeper "Peace of God" or Pax Dei (or Pax Christi), a spiritual tranquility and reconciliation established by God through Christ's sacrifice, freely given and permanently held by faith.
• Confidence to Draw Near: The establishment of "peace with God" means that believers no longer need to fear His wrath. Instead, they can approach God with confidence, knowing they are in a favorable standing due to Christ's work (cf. Heb 10:19-22).
• Future Ramifications: While Rom 5:1 focuses on the present reality of peace, this foundational peace also paves the way for future hope (Rom 5:2) and resilience in tribulation (Rom 5:3-5), as the ultimate consequence of being declared righteous is guaranteed eternal life.

Romans 5 1 Commentary

Romans 5:1 articulates the immediate and glorious consequence of the doctrine of justification by faith, as previously expounded by Paul. Having demonstrated humanity's universal need for righteousness and God's gracious provision through Christ (Rom 3-4), Paul here declares the experiential reality for believers: a present and permanent state of "peace with God." This is not merely a subjective feeling but an objective change in relationship status. Whereas sin created a state of enmity and condemnation, Christ's atoning work, received through faith, completely removes that hostility. God's wrath, due to sin, has been propitiated, and believers are now welcomed into favor. The "peace" here transcends mental tranquility; it is shalom, a restoration of holistic well-being and a reconciled standing with the Creator. It is secured entirely through "our Lord Jesus Christ," emphasizing His exclusive role as Mediator and the foundation of this newfound favor. This verse thus solidifies the believer's secure standing before God, setting the stage for the unfolding of other blessings like access, hope, and joy, which are explored in the subsequent verses of Romans 5.