Romans 5:2

King James Version (KJV)

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

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

By whom also - We are not only indebted to our Lord Jesus Christ for the free and full pardon which we have received, but our continuance in a justified state depends upon his gracious influence in our hearts, and his intercession before the throne of God.

We have access - προσαγωγην εσχηκαμεν, We have received this access. It was only through Christ that we could at first approach God; and it is only through him that the privilege is continued to us. And this access to God, or introduction to the Divine presence, is to be considered as a lasting privilege. We are not brought to God for the purpose of an interview, but to remain with him; to be his household; and, by faith, to behold his face, and walk in the light of his countenance.

Into this grace - This state of favor and acceptance.

Wherein we stand - Having firm footing, and a just title through the blood of the Lamb to the full salvation of God.

And rejoice - Have solid happiness, from the evidence we have of our acceptance with Him.

In hope of the glory of God - Having our sins remitted, and our souls adopted into the heavenly family, we are become heirs; for if children, then heirs, Galatians 4:7; and that glory of God is now become our endless inheritance. While the Jews boast of their external privileges - that they have the temple of God among them; that their priests have an entrance to God as their representatives, carrying before the mercy-seat the blood of their offered victims; we exult in being introduced by Jesus Christ to the Divine presence; his blood having been shed and sprinkled for this purpose; and thus we have, spiritually and essentially, all that these Jewish rites, etc., signified. We are in the peace of God, and we are happy in the enjoyment of that peace, and have a blessed foretaste of eternal glory. Thus we have heaven upon earth, and the ineffable glories of God in prospect.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

We have access - See the note at John 14:6, “I am the way,” etc. Doddridge renders it, “by whom we have been introduced,” etc. It means, “by whom we have the privilege of obtaining the favor of God which we enjoy when we are justified.” The word rendered “access” occurs but in two other places in the New Testament, Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 3:12. By Jesus Christ the way is opened for us to obtain the favor of God.

By faith - By means of faith, Romans 1:17.

Into this grace - Into this favor of reconciliation with God.

Wherein we stand - In which we now are in consequence of being justified.

And rejoice - Religion is often represented as producing joy, Isaiah 12:3; Isaiah 35:10; Isaiah 52:9; Isaiah 61:3, Isaiah 61:7; Isaiah 65:14, Isaiah 65:18; John 16:22, John 16:24; Acts 13:52; Romans 14:17; Galatians 5:22; 1 Peter 1:8. The sources or steps of this joy are these:

(1) We are justified, or regarded by God as righteous.

(2) we are admitted into his favor, and abide there.

(3) we have the prospect of still higher and richer blessings in the fulness of his glory when we are admitted to heaven.

In hope - In the earnest desire and expectation of obtaining that glory. Hope is a complex emotion made up of a desire for an object; and an expectation of obtaining it. Where either of these is lacking, there is not hope. Where they are mingled in improper proportions, there is not peace. But where the desire of obtaining an object is attended with an expectation of obtaining it, in proportion to that desire, there exists that peaceful, happy state of mind which we denominate hope And the apostle here implies that the Christian has an earnest desire for that glory; and that he has a confident expectation of obtaining it. The result of that he immediately states to be, that we are by it sustained in our afflictions.

The glory of God - The glory that God will bestow on us. The word “glory” usually means splendor, magnificence, honor; and the apostle here refers to that honor and dignity which will be conferred on the redeemed when they are raised up to the full honors of redemption; when they shall triumph in the completion of the work: and be freed from sin, and pain, and tears, and permitted to participate in the full splendors that shall encompass the throne of God in the heavens; see the note at Luke 2:9; compare Revelation 21:22-24; Revelation 22:5; Isaiah 60:19-20.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

A blessed change takes place in the sinner's state, when he becomes a true believer, whatever he has been. Being justified by faith he has peace with God. The holy, righteous God, cannot be at peace with a sinner, while under the guilt of sin. Justification takes away the guilt, and so makes way for peace. This is through our Lord Jesus Christ; through him as the great Peace-maker, the Mediator between God and man. The saints' happy state is a state of grace. Into this grace we are brought, which teaches that we were not born in this state. We could not have got into it of ourselves, but we are led into it, as pardoned offenders. Therein we stand, a posture that denotes perseverance; we stand firm and safe, upheld by the power of the enemy. And those who have hope for the glory of God hereafter, have enough to rejoice in now. Tribulation worketh patience, not in and of itself, but the powerful grace of God working in and with the tribulation. Patient sufferers have most of the Divine consolations, which abound as afflictions abound. It works needful experience of ourselves. This hope will not disappoint, because it is sealed with the Holy Spirit as a Spirit of love. It is the gracious work of the blessed Spirit to shed abroad the love of God in the hearts of all the saints. A right sense of God's love to us, will make us not ashamed, either of our hope, or of our sufferings for him.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

2. By whom. Or, “through whom.”

Have. Literally, “have had.” The Greek indicates not only the obtaining of access but a continued possession of the privilege. We have had this access since we first became Christians, and we still have it, as long as we remain Christians.

Access. Gr. prosagÅÂgÃ„â€œ. This word is used only by Paul in the NT and occurs only here and in Eph. 2:18; 3:12. It may here be understood in the sense of an introduction, not our act in coming to God, but Christ’s act in bringing us to Him. The same thought is similarly expressed in 1 Peter 3:18, “Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring [prosagÅÂ] us to God.” The idea suggested is that of a king’s audience chamber, into which the subjects may not enter alone but must be introduced by someone in authority. In this case, Jesus is the One who introduces us. We cannot enter, by ourselves, the audience chamber of God, for our sins have come between us and God and separated us from Him (Isa. 59:2). But Christ, by virtue of His sacrifice, is able to bring us back to God and to introduce us to the glorious state of grace and favor in which we now stand (see Heb. 10:19).

It is through Christ that we make our first approach to God, and it is through Christ that the privilege is continued to us. And this access to God, this introduction to His divine presence, is to be considered a lasting privilege. We are not brought to God for the purpose of an interview, but to remain with Him.

By faith. Textual evidence is divided (cf. p. 10) as to omission or retention of this phrase. However, whether Paul mentioned faith in this verse or not, it is obvious that we can have access into grace only by faith in the One through whom grace is made available.

This grace. That is, this condition of reconciliation and acceptance with God (see on ch. 3:24).

We stand. Compare 1 Peter 5:12. The state of justification is one of security and confidence.

Rejoice. Gr. kauchaomai, translated also “boast” (ch. 2:17), “glory” (ch. 5:3). In contrast with all false boasting, the believer boasts in hope of the glory of God. The Jews boasted of their own accomplishments (ch. 2:17). The Christian exults in what God is doing. True religion is often described in the Bible as producing such joy and satisfaction (Isa. 12:3; 52:9; 61:3, 7; 65:14, 18; John 16:22, 24; Acts 13:52; Rom. 14:17; Gal. 5:22; 1 Peter 1:8).

The Greek may be translated either “we exult” or “let us exult.” Compare “we have,” or “let us have” (see on Rom. 5:1). Here as in v. 1, “let us have” means “let us go on having,” so here “let us rejoice” would mean “let us go on rejoicing.” According to these readings Paul was exhorting justified believers to keep on enjoying peace with God and to keep on exulting in hope of the glory of God.

The joyful and triumphant confidence of Paul’s faith stands in contrast to the doctrine of those who believe that “faith” necessarily implies that one must constantly be in a state of hopeful anxiety and uncertainty regarding justification. God wishes us to know whether we have been accepted, so that we may actually have the peace that comes from such an experience (v. 1; ch. 8:1). John also says that we may know that we have passed from death unto life (1 John 3:14). Faith does not mean merely believing that God can pardon and restore us. Christian faith means believing that God through Christ has pardoned us and that He has created a new heart within us.

This, of course, does not mean that once we have been justified, our future salvation is thereby guaranteed and there is no need for a continuing experience in faith and obedience. An important distinction must be made between assurance of a present state of grace and assurance of future redemption (see COL 155). The former is implied in the meaning of real faith, the personal acceptance of Christ and all His benefits. The latter is a matter of hope and must be accompanied by constant watchfulness. Even though we have the joy and peace of justification, it is necessary that we give diligence to make our calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10). The possibility of failure was a powerful stimulus to faithfulness and holiness even in the life of the apostle Paul himself. He exercised strict self-discipline, lest, having preached to others, he himself should be rejected (1 Cor. 9:27). Thus every Christian who may now be standing in grace and exulting in hope of the glory of God should also take heed lest he fall (1 Cor. 10:12).

In hope. Or, “on the ground of hope.”

The glory of God. See on ch. 3:23.

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Ellen G. White
Reflecting Christ, 298.1

We have peace with God through our Lord 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. Romans 5:1, 2. RC 298.1

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Ellen G. White
Selected Messages Book 1, 394

Abundant grace has been provided that the believing soul may be kept free from sin; for all heaven, with its limitless resources, has been placed at our command. We are to draw from the well of salvation. Christ is the end of law for righteousness to everyone who believeth. In ourselves we are sinners; but in Christ we are righteous. Having made us righteous through the imputed righteousness of Christ, God pronounces us just, and treats us as just. He looks upon us as His dear children. Christ works against the power of sin, and where sin abounded, grace much more abounds. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord 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” (Romans 5:1, 2). 1SM 394.1

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:24-26). “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). [John 1:14-16 quoted.] 1SM 394.2

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Ellen G. White
That I May Know Him, 98.2

The grace of Christ is not confined to a few. The message of mercy and forgiveness brought from heaven by Christ was to be heard by all. Our Saviour says, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12). His blessings are universal, reaching to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples. Christ came to break down every wall of partition ... that every soul, whether Jew or Gentile, might be a free worshiper and have access to God.... TMK 98.2

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Ellen G. White
That I May Know Him, 110.1

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord 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. Romans 5:1, 2. TMK 110.1

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