Saved by the Death and Life of Jesus

Thinking about Romans 5:10.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:10)

It is by the blood of Jesus that we are justified, which saves us from the wrath of God.

However, His death doesn’t merely justify us.

Reconciled to God through the death of Jesus.

When we were God’s enemies, we opposed Him and deserved the death penalty for our sins (Romans 1:18, 32; 3:23).

To have peace with God (Romans 5:1), a reconciliation is necessary.

What does it mean to “reconcile?”

Merriam-Webster defines “reconcile” as “to restore to friendship or harmony.” This lines up with Strong’s Greek Dictionary, which says “reconcile” means “to change mutually.”

When two parties are reconciled, harmony and peace are restored.

Paul’s point in Romans is that we were reconciled to God - He had never left us; we left Him.

The death of Jesus.

It is the death of Jesus that reconciles sinners to God. In responding to the gospel, our sins are forgiven by the blood of Jesus (Acts 2:38), and we go from being the enemies of God to the people of God (Acts 2:47).

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)

It's important to remember that even while we were God’s enemies, He still loved us.

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Saved by the life of Jesus.

While the death of Jesus reconciles sinners back to God, it is the life of Jesus that allows us to continue to walk with God.

If God was so anxious to save us that he made his move toward us (in Christ) while we were sinners and enemies (verse 10) we ought to feel additionally assured that he wants us saved since we are now friends. - McGuiggan, Romans, 160

Since God desired your salvation so much that He was willing to give His Son for you - how much more does He continue to desire your salvation through the life of His Son?

Jesus continues to live, and He continues to serve as our Great High Priest at the throne of God.

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)

Those who have been reconciled to God and continue to live faithfully for Him don’t need to doubt their salvation.

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It’s always heartbreaking to hear a faithful Christian who lacks confidence in their salvation.

Certainly, we need to hear the warnings of Scripture to not fall away from the grace of God (Galatians 5:4). However, some have become so zealous in proclaiming this particular aspect that even faithful Christians doubt their salvation.

Friends, this ought not to be.

The statement of Paul in Romans 5:10 is full of comfort and peace for the child of God. Those who have been reconciled to God and are walking in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:5-10) have fellowship and peace with God.

We ought to have complete confidence in our salvation because of the death and life of the Son of God.