One of the most glorious, foundational, life-transforming teachings in the Bible is that we are justified by faith in Christ. This means we are declared righteous through the death of Christ on the cross. Interestingly, the Apostle Paul put this idea side by side with the reality of suffering. In Romans 5:1-5 Paul says,
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. … we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
In these verses Paul parallels these two profound themes. Why is that? According to Paul, our ability to face suffering with “rejoicing” is directly dependent upon our grasp of the fact that we are declared righteous and made at peace with God.
So how does our being declared righteous and at peace with God give us the ability to rejoice in the midst of suffering? Simple: We can now rejoice in suffering because we know that God is now fighting for our good. Paul says it this way:
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. …What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies. (Romans 8:28, 31-34)
So Paul tells us that because we have now been declared righteous, are at peace with God, and are even adopted as His sons and daughters, we can rejoice in any circumstance—even if it means terrible suffering. As our Father, God is working all things together for our good. He is fighting for our good as our loving, heavenly Father, who -- by the way -- is truly good.
So if you are facing difficult, uncertain, painful times, rest and rejoice in the beautiful truth that you are justified—declared righteous, approved, and precious in God’s sight.
