Romans 5: “Peace with God through Our Lord Jesus Christ”
1. “Since We Are Justified by Faith”
“Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom 5:1)
“Therefore” gathers together the whole argument thus far:
justification by grace, received through faith, now yields its first fruit — peace.
St Augustine writes:
“Before we believed, there was war between God and us; now, being justified, peace is made — not by our arms but by His Blood.”
(Sermon 23)
Peace here is not mere feeling but reconciliation — friendship restored between Creator and creature.
Faith is the door; Christ’s Cross is the bridge.
2. “Through Whom We Have Obtained Access”
“Through Him we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.” (v. 2)
The justified believer stands not in fear but in grace — like a citizen admitted into the royal court.
“Access” (prosagōgē) evokes the language of temple worship: we now approach the divine presence once barred by sin.
St Bede the Venerable:
“By Christ we enter as priests into the sanctuary of grace; He is both the door and the altar.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.33)
Hope flows naturally from peace.
Grace gives stability; glory gives direction.
3. “We Rejoice in Our Sufferings”
“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance character, and character hope.” (vv. 3–4)
Christian joy is paradoxical: it grows in adversity.
Suffering becomes fruitful when united to Christ’s Passion.
St John Chrysostom observes:
“He shows that affliction is not contrary to peace, but the test of it; for storms reveal the anchor.”
(Homilies on Romans IX.1)
The chain of virtues Paul lists — endurance, character, hope — mirrors the growth of the soul under grace.
St Ambrose adds:
“The fire that consumes straw strengthens gold; so tribulation burns away sin and refines faith.”
(On the Duties of the Clergy II.12)
4. “Hope Does Not Disappoint”
“Hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (v. 5)
This is the first mention of the Holy Spirit in Romans.
He is not an idea but a Person poured into our hearts — God’s own charity dwelling within.
St Augustine:
“The Holy Spirit is God’s gift of Himself; by Him we love God in God.”
(De Trinitate XV.19)
Hope does not deceive, because its foundation is divine love, not human optimism.
5. “While We Were Still Weak”
“While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (v. 6)
Grace meets man not at his best but his worst.
Christ’s death is not a response to human repentance but its cause.
St Bede:
“He loved not the righteous that they might remain righteous, but the sinners that they might become righteous.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.33)
The “right time” means the divinely appointed moment in history — when humanity’s helplessness was complete.
6. “While We Were Yet Sinners, Christ Died for Us”
“God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (v. 8)
The Cross is the visible measure of invisible love.
God’s love is not sentiment but sacrifice.
St John Chrysostom exclaims:
“He did not wait for our repentance; He Himself first ran to embrace us.”
(Homilies on Romans IX.2)
St Augustine:
“He died for the ungodly — that is, for us; He loved not the lovable, but made the unloved lovable.”
(In Joannis Evangelium Tract. 110)
7. “Much More Shall We Be Saved by His Life”
“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved by Him from the wrath of God.” (v. 9)
The Blood justifies, the risen Life saves — a double grace of forgiveness and renewal.
The Cross reconciles; the Resurrection preserves.
St Ambrose:
“We are reconciled by His death, but saved by His life; for the life He now lives in glory He imparts to us in grace.”
(On the Faith IV.8)
The Christian therefore has firm assurance: God who began the work will complete it.
8. “We Rejoice in God through Our Lord Jesus Christ”
“More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (v. 11)
Joy is the natural fruit of reconciliation.
Peace produces hope; hope blossoms into joy.
This joy is not self-satisfaction but delight in God Himself.
St Augustine:
“To rejoice in God is the highest joy; all other joys are tributaries that flow from this fountain.”
(Confessions X.22)
9. “Sin Came into the World through One Man”
“Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” (v. 12)
The scope now widens from the personal to the cosmic.
Adam’s fall is the origin of death and disorder.
Original sin is not imitation but inheritance — the deprivation of grace transmitted to all humanity.
St Ambrose writes:
“In Adam all have sinned, not by imitation but by propagation; we are born mortal because we are born from the mortal.”
(On the Mysteries II.7)
The Fathers stress that this inherited loss is healed only by the new birth in Christ.
10. “Sin Was in the World before the Law”
“Sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.” (v. 13)
The Law reveals guilt; it does not create it.
Even before Moses, men died — proof that sin reigned universally.
St Bede:
“Law makes sin visible; conscience already made it real.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.33)
11. “Death Reigned from Adam to Moses”
“Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam.” (v. 14)
Adam’s sin was unique — a deliberate breach of divine command — yet its consequences encompass all.
The reign of death proves the universality of the fall.
St Augustine:
“The first man’s sin passed to his posterity, not because they imitated his act but because they were in him as root.”
(City of God XIII.14)
But Adam is “a type of the one who was to come” — Christ.
12. “The Free Gift Is Not Like the Trespass”
“But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.” (v. 15)
The “much more” expresses the superabundance of grace.
Sin’s reach is vast; grace’s reach is infinite.
The first Adam ruined many; the Second Adam redeems all who believe.
St John Chrysostom:
“He does not say grace equals the fall, but that it surpasses it — the medicine stronger than the disease.”
(Homilies on Romans X.1)
13. “The Judgment Following One Trespass Brought Condemnation”
“The free gift following many trespasses brings justification.” (v. 16)
Judgment came from one sin; justification comes after countless sins.
Grace triumphs over accumulation — one Cross outweighs all guilt.
St Ambrose:
“One offence closed paradise; one drop of Blood opened heaven.”
(On the Faith III.6)
14. “If Because of One Man’s Trespass Death Reigned”
“Much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” (v. 17)
The reign of death is replaced by the reign of grace.
Christ’s kingship is shared by the justified: they reign in life through union with Him.
St Bede:
“In Adam we were slaves; in Christ we are kings, not by nature but by adoption.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.33)
15. “As One Trespass Led to Condemnation for All Men”
“So one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.” (v. 18)
The Cross is the “one act of righteousness” — perfect obedience cancelling universal disobedience.
Christ recapitulates humanity, offering the obedience Adam refused.
St Irenaeus long before Paul’s interpreters said:
“As by the disobedience of one man the many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man the many are made righteous.”
(Against Heresies III.18)
16. “By One Man’s Disobedience the Many Were Made Sinners”
“So by one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” (v. 19)
Here stands the doctrine of recapitulation: Christ the new Adam restores creation.
His obedience is not merely example but effective cause — the fountain of justification.
St Augustine:
“Adam’s will corrupted us; Christ’s will renewed us. Both were one man, but one was head of death, the other head of life.”
(On the Spirit and the Letter 40)
17. “Law Came In to Increase the Trespass”
“The law came in to increase the trespass; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” (v. 20)
The Law magnifies awareness of sin, yet grace surpasses it.
This verse expresses the inexhaustibility of divine mercy.
St John Chrysostom:
“He does not say grace equalled sin but overflowed it — as the sea swallows the spark.”
(Homilies on Romans XI)
18. “Grace Reigns through Righteousness to Eternal Life”
“So that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (v. 21)
The final contrast is royal: two kingdoms — sin and grace; two monarchs — Adam and Christ; two destinies — death and eternal life.
The reign of grace is not permissive but transformative: righteousness enthroned where sin once ruled.
St Bede concludes:
“Grace reigns when Christ rules the heart; and where He reigns, death is conquered and life begins.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.33)
19. Theological Summary
| Theme | Revelation |
| Justification | Brings peace, access, hope, and love |
| Suffering | Sanctified into endurance and hope |
| The Holy Spirit | God’s love poured into our hearts |
| Christ’s death | Proof of divine love, source of reconciliation |
| Adam and Christ | The two heads of humanity: sin and grace |
| Original sin | Propagated ruin healed by the New Adam |
| Abounding grace | Mercy surpasses judgment |
St Augustine sums it up:
“The first man sold us into slavery; the second bought us back with His Blood. Grace not only frees but crowns.”
(Sermon 151)
20. Moral and Spiritual Application
Rejoice in reconciliation. Live each day as one at peace with God.
Persevere in trial. Suffering produces hope when endured with Christ.
Let the Spirit fill your heart. Love is the sign of justification.
Remember the two Adams. Forsake the old life; live in the new.
Magnify grace. Never despair of God’s mercy — it abounds where sin abounded.
21. Closing Prayer
God of mercy and glory,
through the death and resurrection of Your Son
You have reconciled the world to Yourself.
Pour Your Holy Spirit into our hearts,
that Your love may reign where sin once ruled.
Give us peace through His Blood,
hope in tribulation, and joy in Your glory.
As in Adam we died, so in Christ may we live,
and reign with Him in eternal life.
Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 