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The first eleven verses of Rom. 5: teach us much with regard to the first item, "Who
hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ," for there we read such a close parallel as,
"When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son." Both in
II Corinthains and in Romans 5: the word "boasting" (glorying) comes forward
prominently (see e.g., II Cor. 5: 12; 11: 16, 18; 12: 1, 5, 9, 11). The reconciliation gives
a death blow to boasting in the flesh, for it emphasizes the failure of all of Adam's line.
We shall observe this to be a structural point in Rom. 5: 1-11.
Rom. 5: 1-11.
A1 | 1, 2. | a1 | Peace, access, i.e., reconciliation realized (cf. Eph. 2: 14-18).
b1 | Boasting upon hope of the glory of God.
B1 | 3-. But not only so.
A2 | -3-11. |
b2 | -3-5. Boasting in tribulation also; experimental proof.
a2 | 6-11. Reconciliation accomplished.
/
A | 6. | a | We being yet without strength.
/
b | Christ died for ungodly.
The basis, /
B | 7. Man's love--"scarcely," "peradventure."
6 8.
\
B | 8-. God's love--"commended."
\ A | -8. | a | We being yet sinners.
\
b | Christ died for us.
/ A | 9-. Much more being justified by His blood.
/
B | -9. We shall be saved from wrath.
The much more {
C | 10-. Enemies reconciled by death of His Son.
\ A | -10-. Much more being reconciled.
9, 10.
\
B | -10. We shall be saved by His life.
B2 | 11-. But not only so.
A3 | -11. |
b3 | Boasting in God (cf. Eph. 2: 9 "lest any man should boast").
a3 | Reconciliation received.
Rom. 5: 1-11 is the last passage in one of the great sections of the epistle, which
section embraces the teaching of 1: 18 - 5: 11. In 1: 18 - 3: 20 we have put before us
the absolute estrangement of all men, both Jew and Gentile, their complete failure, and
the demonstration that all stand in need of righteousness. It is connected that
circumcision brings an advantage dispensationally, but not in connection with
justification. Chapter 3: 21-30 shows us how this righteousness has been provided
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, speaks of the passing over of past sins,
reveals the fact that all come short of the glory of God, ruling out all boasting in the flesh
for ever. In 3: 31 - 4: 25 Jew and Gentile are again before us, and the case of Abraham
is cited to show that circumcision gives no advantage in the question of justification.
Chapter 5: 1-11 shows us the true ground of boasting (cf. 3: 27 in the first section),
reveals the reconciliation of Jew and Gentile through the death of Christ, gives ground for
rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God, and shows that justification is based upon this
reconciliation.
Peter, who had no share in the ministry of the reconciliation, had no room nor place in
his message for justification. If the reader will turn up the passages in Peter's epistles
where dikaiõs (I Pet. 3: 12, 18; 4: 18; II Pet. 1: 13; 2: 7, 8); dikaiosune (I Pet. 2: 24;