STANDING IN THE COVENANT OF GRACE

“Through whom also we have access by faith into this GRACE IN WHICH WE STAND…” – Romans 5:2a

Believers are not just brought into salvation, we are STANDING IN THE COVENANT of GRACE: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this GRACE IN WHICH WE STAND, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom.5:1b-2). To be justified means “to be declared right before God,” just as if we never sinned; not because of sufficient good works but only by faith in what Jesus Christ has done. Then the peace of God rests on our lives, and we receive unlimited access to God. Grace is God’s favour to those who actually deserve the opposite. Grace is what lies behind God’s plan of salvation! The penalty for our sins, which God’s justice demands is eternally satisfied, but only as we turn our life over to Him, thus becoming justified.

Paul’s reference to “grace” in this text is unique; he referred to “this grace” – he had a specific grace in mind, one “in which we stand.” In the context of Romans, it is clear that the grace in which we now stand is our state of justification. That is, while before we were “under wrath,” now we are “under grace” – standing before God as justified men and women. This we do, by faith in Jesus Christ through which we are justified. The Greek term for “access” means “right to enter,” “freedom to enter,” or “introduction.” The same word is used to describe the work of the Holy Spirit in prayer: “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father” (Eph. 2:18). In other words, by faith, the Holy Spirit “introduces” us to God.

By the Mercy of God we have access – we have been brought – into the grace of justification, wherein we have the privilege to stand. In the past, we were standing outside the sphere of God's blessing, as children of wrath. Now we are standing within the sphere of His Grace and Glory, as sons and daughters of God. We have been made secure in Christ – forever. We now stand in grace with an entirely different status than we had before – in liberty: “STAND fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Gal.5:1).

Standing in Grace, we have Peace with God and union with Christ (v. 1). We were all born sinful mortals, with innumerable needs; but our greatest need is not physical but spiritual! It has been said that: if our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; if our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; if our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; and if our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us the Saviour. By this, we found Peace with God, because the price has been paid in full by Christ’s redemptive work on the cross.

We have a confident Hope of Glory – manifesting God’s present Glory, and dwelling in His future Glory (v. 2b). Those who stand in grace are never put to shame or disgraced.

We have a Transformed Response to Trials. We are stable and secure in the midst of trials, and tribulations (vv. 3-5). We can stand firm despite the tribulations, knowing that tribulations produce patience, which proves character, and leads to hope that does not disappoint. We not only stand in grace, but we stand firm: “My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace” (1Pet.5:12b NLT).

According to the evergreen refrain: “Hold the fort, for I am coming,” Jesus signals still; Wave the answer back to Heaven, “BY THY GRACE WE WILL.” Beloved, will you hold the Fort of Faith, standing in the Covenant of Grace until Victory is attained?