I was given the opportunity to preach at church on Romans 5:1-11 a couple of weeks ago. I thought I’d share it with you.
ROMANS 5:1–11 — JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD
INTRODUCTION
This passage in Romans starts off with the word ”therefore”. The word therefore means “for that reason” or consequently. Here, it means that what was said before leads to this thing I am about to say. So let’s quickly look at what Paul said before that led to him using this word.
It wouldn’t be hard to link the whole chapter but here are a couple of verses that stood out to me that talk to that. Romans 4 is titled “Abraham is justified by faith”
Verse 13 – It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
Verse 16 – Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham.
So, Abraham was justified by faith when he believed God’s promise, and that faith was counted to him as righteousness. We’ve seen that Paul uses this in Romans 4 to show that justification has always been by believing and by faith, not by works. Romans 5:1–2 continues this truth that because we are also justified by faith, just as Abraham was, we now have peace with God and access into grace. Abraham believed God’s word and received righteousness; we believe in Christ and we receive the same gift, purchased by Christ’s blood. Therefore, (there’s that word again) the faith that justified Abraham becomes the pattern for the faith that brings us peace and hope today.
Romans 5:1–11 is one of those passages that invite us to slow down and meditate on the core message of the bible, our salvation and redemption through Christ’s blood on the cross. In these eleven verses, Paul unfolds the entire landscape of Christian salvation—past, present, and future. He takes us from the courtroom of justification to the sanctuary of peace, from the furnace of suffering to the fountain of divine love, and finally to the joyful throne room of reconciliation with God. And throughout the passage runs a single, central theme: all of this is possible because of the blood of Jesus Christ.
Justification is a legal word. In the biblical context, it means to be declared righteous in the courtroom of heaven. But that verdict is not a result of moral achievement, inner improvement, personal growth and discovery, or personal virtue. Nothing we can earthly do can earn us that justification. (reference YouTube video). It rests entirely on the blood of Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb whose death fulfils the promises and signs of the Old Testament and establishes the new covenant in the New Testament. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible points to one overall truth: sinners are justified by His blood.
Let’s look through this passage and see how scripture from Law, the Prophets, the Writings, and the Gospels all resonate around the same theme: salvation is by the blood of Jesus Christ.
THE FOUNDATION OF JUSTIFICATION
Romans 5:1 begins with the words, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We’ve already established that the word “therefore” is a hinge. I’ve already pointed out a couple of verses in chapter 4 (v13, 16) but it really all of Romans 1-4 that he is referencing. Paul has just demonstrated that the entire human race, Jew and Gentile, religious and non-religious, moral and immoral, stands guilty before God. Romans 3:10 says, “None is righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3:23 declares, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Pretty damning stuff.
But after that pretty unhappy revelation, Paul announces God’s universal solution: justification by faith. Not by works, not by law-keeping, but by faith alone in Christ. Romans 3:24–25 says that believers are “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.”
Atonement is a two-part act that involves appeasing the wrath of an offended person and being reconciled to them. Remember 3:10 and 3:23 “None is righteous” and “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. These show just how much we could be said to have offended God. Christ’s blood is our reconciliation.
So notice the logic here:
Faith justifies—but only because the blood satisfies.
I like this quote on faith I found while working on this:
Faith is the empty hand receiving a gift already paid for by Someone else. Faith is not the cause of justification; the blood of Christ is.
Faith is trusting in the blood of Christ.
THE OLD TESTAMENT FORESHADOWING
This idea is not new. Genesis to Malachi tells the same story: blood is necessary for forgiveness.
Leviticus 16:7-10 “Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat. Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering. But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.”
We see here that one goat is justified through the sacrifice of the other.
Leviticus 17:11 goes on to say, “the life of the flesh is in the blood…for it is the blood that makes atonement.” The sacrifices of Israel taught generation after generation that forgiveness comes through a life given, their blood shed, and a substitute offered.
But these sacrifices never fully take away sin. Hebrews 10:4 emphasizes this “because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin.” Instead, those sacrifices pointed forward to a perfect and final sacrifice—Jesus Christ.
John the Baptist understood this when he cried, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” The Lamb’s blood accomplishes what no other blood could: eternal justification.
THE PEACE THAT FLOWS FROM JUSTIFICATION
Verse 5:1 continues: “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” To modern ears peace may sound like a feeling, but Paul is describing something far deeper: objective peace, the end of hostility.
THE REALITY OF HUMAN HOSTILITY
Romans 5:10 later clarifies that before justification, “we were God’s enemies.” We had not merely drifted from God—we were in rebellion against Him. Colossians 1:21 describes us as “alienated and hostile in mind.”
So how is peace possible? Only through the blood.
Isaiah 53:5 foretold that peace would come at a cost: “the chastisement that brought us peace was upon Him.” Peace is not cheap. Peace is not soft. Peace is the result of God’s divine wrath falling on Christ so that divine mercy can fall on us.
Ephesians 2:13–14 rejoices, “You who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace.” The blood creates peace where there was once enmity.
ACCESS INTO GRACE AND THE HOPE OF GLORY
Verse 5:2 says, “Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand.” Here, “access” is a temple word, a priestly word. It evokes the image of entering the holy place, approaching the presence of God. But under the old covenant, access was restricted. Only the high priest could enter and then only once a year.
Now, because of Jesus’ blood, every believer has unhindered, continual access to God. From Hebrews 10:19, “We have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus.” Not fear, not hesitance, not trembling exclusion—confidence.
WE STAND IN GRACE
We are not visitors to the holy place; we’re residents. Not temporary guests, but permanent citizens. Grace is no longer a place we occasionally encounter; it is the ground beneath our feet. We stand in it every moment because the blood of Christ has made the standing secure.
REJOICING IN THE HOPE OF GOD’S GLORY
Verse 5:2 ends with, “We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Our future is not uncertain. It is shining with promise. The same God who justified us will one day glorify us. Romans 8:30 links these: “Those whom he justified he also glorified.”
Us sinners justified by Christ’s blood today will shine with God’s glory tomorrow.
THE MEANING OF SUFFERING FOR THE JUSTIFIED
Paul changes tack a little with his next statement in verse 3: “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings”. This seems a little counterintuitive, doesn’t it?. Why would the justified rejoice in suffering? Here Paul is talking about suffering for our faith. The New Testament is littered with references to the suffering and persecution of the faithful. Before his salvation, Paul himself was the instrument for much persecution and suffering.
Side note: if Paul, who was responsible for many Christian deaths could be redeemed, then absolutely so can we.
Because justification changes our relationship, not only with God but with everything we endure in life. Suffering is no longer punishment. It is refinement. No longer evidence of wrath. It is evidence of love. Hebrews 12:5-6 explains that God disciplines His children because He loves them.
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
Paul explains the purpose of suffering:
• suffering produces endurance
• endurance produces character
• character produces hope
A HOPE THAT DOES NOT DISAPPOINT
Romans 5:5 says, “hope does not put us to shame,” because God pours His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. The cross proves God’s love and the Spirit confirms it.
This echoes the Old Testament. Psalm 25:3 says, “None who wait for you shall be put to shame.” Isaiah 49:23 “Then you will know that I am Lord; those that hope in Me will not be disappointed”. Jesus’ blood and the Spirit’s work fulfil these promises.
CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY
Verses 5:6–8 reaches one of Scripture’s most core declarations:
“While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly…while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
THE OBJECT OF CHRIST’S DEATH
Christ did not die for the righteous. He died for sinners. He died for enemies. He died for the unworthy. In Deuteronomy 7:7–8 we are reminded Israel that God did not set His love on them because they were great.
“The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery.”
God’s love flows from God’s heart, not human merit.
Romans 5:8 declares that the cross is the demonstration of divine love. Not a feeling. Not a word. Blood. The blood of Christ proves beyond question that God loves sinners.
Verse 5:9 brings us back to the central theme:
“Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”
A holy God cannot simply overlook sin. Sin demands judgment. Isaiah 53:10 says it pleased the Lord to crush His Servant. Why? Because that crushing would bring justification to many (Isaiah 53:11).
“After He has suffered,
He will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by His knowledge my righteous Servant will justify many,
and He will bear their iniquities.
Jesus Himself declared at the Last Supper, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins”. His blood inaugurated the new covenant in which forgiveness is complete and eternal.
Justification is not the end of salvation; it is the beginning. The blood that justifies us now also guarantees we will be saved from God’s final judgment. Nahum 1:6 asks, “Who can stand before His indignation?” Who? Only those covered by blood.
The Passover pattern reappears. In Exodus 12, the destroying angel passed over every door covered by the blood of the lamb. Judgment passed over because blood stood in its place. Christ is our Passover Lamb.
Romans 5:10 says, “While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more…we shall be saved by His life.”
This justification gives us a new legal standing. Reconciliation gives us a new relationship. Colossians 1:21–22 announces that we were once “alienated from God and were enemies in our minds because of our evil behaviour,” but now God has reconciled us through Christ’s death to present us “holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” Hebrews 7:25 says Jesus “always lives to make intercession.” His ongoing life ensures our ongoing salvation.
So, God not only forgives His enemies; He justifies them and welcomes them as friends.
Paul concludes in Romans 5:11:
“Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The blessings of Romans 5—peace, grace, hope, endurance, love, salvation—lead to the highest blessing of all: God Himself. Psalm 16:11 declares, “You will fill me with joy in Your presence.” The justified not only escape wrath; they gain God.
CONCLUSION
When we step back and read Romans 5:1–11 alongside the whole Bible, a single truth shines brighter and brighter: we are justified by His blood.
Because of His blood:
• We are justified
• We have peace with God
• We stand in grace
• We rejoice in hope
• We endure suffering with confidence knowing what it leads to
• We know and experience God’s love
• We are saved from wrath
• We are reconciled to God
• We rejoice in God Himself
The Old Testament longed for this blood.
The Gospels reveal this blood.
The Epistles explain this blood.
Revelation celebrates this blood.
This is our hope.
This is our peace.
This is our joy.
This is our gospel.
Justified by His blood—forever, fully, and freely.
Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father,
We come before You with grateful hearts, thanking You for the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Because of His sacrifice, we are justified, forgiven, and declared righteous in Your sight. Through His blood we have peace with You, no longer enemies but beloved children. We stand firmly in Your grace—sustained, strengthened, and welcomed into Your presence. Fill us with joy as we rejoice in the hope of Your glory. Teach us to endure suffering with confidence, knowing it produces endurance, character, and a hope that never disappoints. Pour Your love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reminding us daily that we are saved from wrath and fully reconciled to You. Let our deepest joy be found in You – our God, our Savior, our everlasting delight. Keep us near the cross and help us walk in gratitude, faith, and obedience.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.