Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 5:2

"through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." — Romans 5:2 (ASV)

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Not only have we peace, but we get into the favor of God, and we stand in it. This is the grace or favor which comes from being justified.

We feel a freedom now to come into our Father's presence, because he has forgiven us for Christ's sake. We feel at home with him now, though once we were prodigal sons and had wandered far away, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We have something yet in reserve – present peace, but future perfection. We have present rest, but there still remaineth a rest for the people of God. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We are not only at peace with God, but we are permitted to draw near to him; we have access to him, we have access to his favor, to his grace. We may come to God whenever we wish; for he is reconciled to us, and we are reconciled to him, so we may now think of him with joy and gladness.

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Oh, what a comfort this is, to be rejoicing, especially, to be rejoicing in hope. It is better ahead; there may be clouds and darkness here, but we can see the sunlight breaking in the distance; until the day break and the shadows flee away, we will make hope to be our bright candle of the Lord.

We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, and not only so. When we once get into God's house, we rise higher in it, we go up another pair of stairs.

Not only so, though that seems to be enough—to be rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God, to have access into his grace, and to have peace with him because we are justified—but it is not only so, but we glory in tribulations also. We transform our troubles into gladness and glorying; we get spiritually enriched by tribulation.

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

See what we owe to Christ, — not only justification and peace, but we have access into the grace in which we stand; for when a man is at peace with God, then he longs to get to God and to speak with God. Christ is the door, and Christ is the way; we come to God by Jesus Christ. This is no small privilege. Oh, you who have ever felt what it is to be shut out from God, let your heart sing as you know that you now have access by faith into this grace wherein you stand! Well may the apostle add, We rejoice in hope of the glory of God; or, if there is any man who may and must rejoice, it is the man who has peace with God and expects to dwell with God forever, having access to God by Jesus Christ.

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

This is a golden staircase: justification brings peace, and peace brings access into this grace in which we are established. Then comes the joy of hope, and that hope fixes its eye on nothing less than the glory of God. Grace is the stepping-stone to glory; and those who are justified by faith will in due time be glorified by love.

By whom also–

What! is not that first verse all? Oh, no! there is more to follow.

When you get a hold of one golden link of the blessed chain of grace, it pulls up another, and then another, and then another: By whom also–

We have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,

We come into this grace by Jesus Christ, and to this heavenly standing, this justified condition, through Jesus Christ who is the door.

And rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Our joy is in the past and the present in some measure, but it is still more in the future: We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We have three windows – the one out of which we look back with gratitude upon the past, the one out of which we look with joy in the present, and the one out of which we look with expectation upon the future.

By whom also we have access by faith –

That is to say, we come near to God; we have the entry of the King's palace; we have access by faith –

Into this grace wherein we stand,

With firm foot and confident heart, we stand in God's presence.

Happy people!

And rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

What a window hope is! It looks toward heaven; we have only to look out that way, and then we can rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

When a man is at peace with God, then he has the desire to draw near to him. When he is justified, he has the right to draw near; so that, being justified, and having peace, we have access by faith; and this is not a transient privilege, but the grace into which we have access is a grace in which we stand. We abide in it; the Lord has given us, through our justification, a permanent standing near to himself. We have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and this gives us joy—the joy of sweet hope concerning the bright future that lies before us: We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.