Now That We Have Been Justified

After explaining justification by faith in Romans 4, Paul fittingly begins Romans 5 with the phrase, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith…” He goes on to list the consequences of being justified by faith: peace with God, access by faith into this grace in which we now stand, and hope of the glory of God. But he also lists an unexpected consequence of our new reality in Christ Jesus, “we also glory in our sufferings.” The Bible makes it clear that everyone suffers in this world. The difference for a child of God, one who is justified by faith, is how they endure suffering. The difference for a child of God is that suffering produces perseverance which produces character which produces hope.