Romans 5:2

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

The observant student will already have noted that Paul's writings in this letter lay great stress upon being "in Christ." Already, in this chapter, justification was said to have been through Christ; peace with God is through Christ; and here it was declared to be Christ "through whom" there is access by faith into this grace. The state of grace, or favor, into which Christians have access through faith, is that of the kingdom of God (Philippians 3:20). As Lard noted:

That this state of favor is identical with the church or the kingdom of God, hardly admits of doubt.[12]

Through Christ ... as used by Paul has exactly the same sense of "in Christ," and refers to the state of being united with Christ in his spiritual body. This appears from a comparison of Paul's statement here that peace is through Christ with the statement of Christ himself that peace is "in" him. He said:

These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace (John 16:23).

Access ... means entry into; and, as to just how the access of believers into the state of grace is accomplished, no less a scholar than Alford said:

This access would normally take place in baptism. (Commenting on Alford's remark, Lard continued) This remark he (Alford) doubtless made in view of the following: "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). To be in the kingdom is certainly to be in "this favor"; hence, the means of access into that is the means of access into this. In view of these facts, Alford's remark would seem to fall little, if any, short of the truth.[13]

"Access," as used here, is a big word with reference to Christian privilege, referring to the ability of Christians to come boldly into the very presence of God for such purposes as offering worship, prayer, thanksgiving, or praise. Thomas noted that:

The thought includes the possibility of entrance, and also the privilege of introduction, as in a presentation at court.[14]

In such a concept, Christ actually appears as a sponsor and advocate of sinful people who have been justified "in him," and are thus members of his spiritual body.

Grace wherein we stand ... Macknight noted that the mention of "grace" here shows that it is a different blessing from "peace" mentioned in Romans 5:1:

It is the gracious new covenant which Christ procured for mankind, and which is the source of their peace.[15]

Wherein we stand ... is a reference to the firm and sure establishment of the Christian hope in Christ, the same being not a precarious and uncertain position at all, but one of the uttermost security and confidence.

We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God ... is a reference to the hope of eternal life, this great hope being a consequence of the security in Christ and a fountain of that peace which blesses the heart of the Christian. All of the judgments that Paul had revealed in earlier chapters against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people, and all the stern judgments that await sinners, and all of the death, suffering, and sorrow that all people must pass through, because of Adam's transgression - all such things might form the basis of an antagonistic arraignment of God in human thoughts. How can a righteous God allow such suffering, injustice, and inhumanity of men against men, etc.? But the inherent, intrinsic righteousness of God, as opposed to all such thoughts, appears in this, that people, despite all sufferings, sorrows, and death, may yet attain unto eternal life, even unto the glory of God himself! Paradise lost can yet be Paradise regained! It is indeed a just and benevolent God who, although allowing the snake in Eden (in service of his own wise designs), stepped into the breach with the Remedy when man sinned, and that not upon any emergency or makeshift basis, but in perfect harmony with the plans God had made before times eternal.

We exult in the hope of the glory of God ... is the translation of this place favored by Murray, who declared that it means,

Rejoicing and boasting on the highest level. It is exultant rejoicing and confident glowing ... the object of this glowing is stated to be "the hope of the glory of God.[16]

Earlier references to "boasting and glorying" in Romans (Romans 2:7; 3:27; 4:2) describe it as an undesirable action, even reprehensible; but in this place Paul was speaking of another kind of boasting, not merely permissible but commendable, and even commanded, as in Hebrews 3:6. The atmosphere that maintains a genuine Christian life is never the consequence of external conditions alone; but the climate for Christians living their life of faith is improved and made more favorable by Christians themselves who honor the divinely imposed obligation to glory in the grace wherein they stand.

The basis of the glowing mentioned in this verse is the existence of something far down the corridors of the future, being the hope of the glory of God, which is but another way of saying the second coming of Christ, when he shall appear in his glory to judge the living and the dead. There are many teachings in the New Testament relative to the glory of God; and perhaps all of the overtones of this vast subject are gathered up and echoed here. God's intrinsic glory will at last be discovered and demonstrated to all people at the time when "the books" are opened, and when all people appear before the judgment of the throne of God. The majestic glory of the Father on high must ever be a subject of the greatest interest to Christians; and the hope of seeing God at last, and of seeing our Pilot "face to face" - such things must be included in the meaning of "hope of the glory of God." The implication of Paul's words here are profound. He most certainly meant to include eternal life, ultimate union with God, and the eternal felicity of the redeemed in Christ, as composing the ground of the "rejoicing" of the faithful in Christ.

Regarding the kind of boasting which Christians should employ as a helpful device of their own encouragement, Sanday observed that,

The Christian has his boasting, but it is not based upon his own merits. It is a joyful and triumphant confidence in the future, not only felt, but expressed.[17]

[12] Moses E. Lard, Commentary on Paul's Letter to Romans (Des Moines, Iowa: Eugene S. Smith), p. 155.

[13] Ibid.

[14] Griffith Thomas, op. cit., p. 148.

[15] James Macknight, op. cit., p. 81.

[16] John Murray, The Epistle to the Romans (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1968), p. 160.

[17] W. Sanday, Ellicott's Commentary on the Whole Bible (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1970), p. 223.