Romans 5:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

NIV: Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

NASB: And not only this, but we also celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

CSB: And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.

NLT: So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

KJV: And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

NKJV: And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

This verse sums up the passage which began in the first verse of this chapter. Paul adds that, because all he has said leading up to this is true, we can rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. On top of the fact that we have been justified and will not suffer God's wrath for our sin, we can participate in the celebration of God Himself. After all, we have received reconciliation with God through Christ's death in our place on the cross and our faith in Him.

Reconciliation describes what happens between two people formerly separated by a dispute, when that dispute is resolved and they are able to come back together. God is the one who had the dispute with us, because of our sin. Christ's death and resurrection satisfied God's demands to make things right between us, and, through our faith alone, the dispute is ended. "We," in this context meaning those who have accepted Christ through saving faith, are reconciled.

Notice that this statement is in the past tense. The transaction is complete. Those who have trusted in Christ have now and forever received reconciliation with God. Period. We have peace with Him (Romans 5:1). We stand now in His grace (Romans 5:2). He has poured His love in our hearts (Romans 5:5). All is decided. Since God is the one who made it happen, nobody can take it away. We are not waiting to see if God will be okay with us after we die. Because we are in Christ, we know that God is okay with us right now, and always will be.

Romans 5:1–11 describes the amazing benefits that come with being declared righteous before God by faith in Christ's death for our sin. God has made peace with us. We stand in His grace, and we rejoice in the sure hope that we will share in His glory. Our suffering brings growth, which leads to even more potent hope. God has proven His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We are saved from God's wrath and reconciled to God in Christ.

Romans 5 begins by describing some of the benefits that come with being declared righteous by God because of our faith in Christ. We have peace with God, and we stand in His grace. We rejoice both in the hope of God's glory and in our temporary suffering. We have hope that will not disappoint, because God has already proved His love for us. Paul then compares the work of Adam in bringing sin and death into the world with the work of Christ in dying for sin in order to offer God's free gift of grace to all who believe.

After proving that all men are guilty of sin and incapable of earning salvation, Paul explained how faith—not works—is the means by which God declares us righteous. Romans 5 begins with a powerful, joyful revelation of all that comes with being justified in God's eyes by our faith in Christ. We have peace with God. We stand in God's grace. We have hope for eternal glory and meaning in our current suffering. God has proven His love for us in the death of Christ for our sin while we were still sinners. Adam introduced sin and death to the world, and they continue. Christ, though, by dying for our sin brought God's grace to all who believe. The next chapter begins by refuting a common misconception about salvation by grace through faith.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.