The result of justification (12): Rejoice in God (Romans 5:11)

The result of justification (12):

Rejoice in God

 

 

“Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:11)

 

 

 

                The Apostle Paul already said in Romans 5:2, “… And we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”  He also said in verse 3, “… we also rejoice in our sufferings ….”  And in verse 11, Paul again said, “… we also rejoice in God.”  When we fell short of the glory of God because of our sins (3:23), we were justified by faith through our Lord Jesus Christ (5:1-2).  Although we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (v. 10), and we have peace with God (v. 1).  Through our Lord Jesus Christ (vv. 1, 2) we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand (v. 2).  We rejoice in hope and in the glory of God (v. 2).  These three glories that have already appeared are not 100% complete.  If God reveals 100% of His full glory now, we cannot fully know His full glory.  The glory of God that will be revealed is the second coming of Jesus.  The glory of God that will be revealed in the future is 100% perfect and eternal glory, and we will see God face to face (1 Cor. 13:12).  This glory of God is also our glory.  In other words, the glory of our Heavenly Father is our glory, the glory of the children of God.  The three glory of God mentioned in Romans 5:1-2 are not worthy to be compared with the glory of God that will be revealed.  In other words, the glory of God that we already enjoy through our Lord Jesus Christ cannot be compared with the glory of God that we will enjoy when our Lord Jesus returns again (5:1-2, cf. 8:8: 18).  The glory of God that will be revealed is that when Jesus appears, we too will become like Him and will see Him just as He is (1 Jn. 3:2), and will also change our humble body to be like His glorious body. (Phil 3:21).  We believe that God will bring with Him even those who died while believing in Jesus.  Neither will we who survive until the second coming of the Lord precede those who are already dead.  For when the Lord Himself come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, those who have died in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and be with the Lord forever (1 Thess. 4:14-17).  Therefore, we also rejoice in God (Rom. 5:11).

 

                Our God is the God of our exceeding joy (Ps. 43:4).  Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 1: “What is the chief end of man?  The answer is: “Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”  What we should strive for the most is to enjoy God for eternity while glorifying Him.  We must enjoy God forever.  Only those who are reconciled to God can enjoy God.  We should rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have been reconciled.  That is, through the death of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ on the cross (v. 10), all our sins are forgiven, and we must rejoice in God as those who have been delivered from our sins.  This is true joy.  This joy is a joy that never changes and no one can take away from us.  This joy transcends all circumstances, and the Apostle Paul rejoiced all the more even in prison (Phil. 1:18).  This is the hymn “Since Christ my soul from sin set free”, verse 3: “What matters where on earth we dwell?  On mountain top or in the dell, In cottage or a mansion fair, Where Jesus is 'tis Heaven there.  O hallelujah, yes, 'tis heaven 'Tis heaven to know my sins forgiven; On land or sea, what matters where?  Where Jesus is, 'tis Heaven there.”

 

                In this world where there are many sorrows, many troubles, and many deaths, many sinful works, pain, suffering, sickness, and hunger, we must rejoice in God.  We can rejoice in any circumstance when we receive God who is our exceeding joy as our joy and enjoy Him while possessing that joy in God.  In the joy that the Lord gives us, we must preach the good news of Jesus Christ.  As people who have been reconciled to God through the death of God's only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, we must share this good news while enjoying joy in Him.

 

                This is the hymn “I Love to Tell the Story”:

 

                (v. 1)       I love to tell the story Of unseen things above, Of Jesus and His glory, Of Jesus and His love:

I love to tell the story Because I know 'tis true.  It satisfies my longings As nothing else can do.

                (v. 2)       I love to tell the story; 'Tis pleasant to repeat What seems, each time I tell it

More wonderfully sweet: I love to tell the story, For some have never heard

The message of salvation From God's own Holy Word.

                (v. 3)       I love to tell the story; For those who know it best Seem hungering and thirsting

To hear it, like rest: And when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song,

'Twill be the old, old story That I have loved so long.

                (Chorus)

                                I love to tell the story!  'Twill be my theme in glory  To tell the old, old story

Of Jesus and His love.