Romans 5:11

Jesus Christ’s death reconciled us to God with the effect that one day in the future we will stand before Him complete (cf. Romans 5:5-10). However we also enter into the benefits of that reconciliation now (cf. Romans 5:1-4). "This" probably refers to our future salvation, the closest antecedent. The seventh benefit of justification by faith is our present relationship with God made possible by Christ’s reconciling work on the cross. We were saved by His death in the past, we will be saved by His life in the future, and we are presently enjoying relationship with God because of His work of reconciliation.

In this section Paul identified the following benefits of justification by faith.

1. Past justification (Romans 5:1)

2. Peace with God (Romans 5:1)

3. Access into God’s grace (having been under God’s wrath, Romans 5:2)

4. Joy in tribulation (Romans 5:3-5 a)

5. The indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5 b)

6. Deliverance from future condemnation (Romans 5:9-10)

7. Present reconciliation with God (Romans 5:11)

This section of the argument of the book should help any reader realize that justification by faith is a safe method. It is the doorway to manifold blessings that obedience to the Law could never guarantee.

"Totally apart from Law, and purely by grace, we have a salvation that takes care of the past, the present, and the future. Christ died for us; Christ lives for us; Christ is coming for us! Hallelujah, what a Savior!" [Note: Wiersbe, 1:528.]