Romans 5:9 (ESV) – Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

The gospel is good news in response to very bad news. The bad news? All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. This spiritual condition leaves us condemned to face the wrath of God for eternity if satisfaction isn’t made. The problem is we are incapable of making that satisfaction. But God shows His love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus’ death saves and redeems us from the wrath of God. How? Because He took that wrath upon Himself, diverting it from those that belong to Him. 

Our passage today captures this bad news/good news reality. We read in Romans 5:9, “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”

Paul describes believers as “justified by his blood.” What does this mean? It means the blood of Jesus justifies us before God. Justification is a legal term that indicates the innocence of the individual. To be justified before God is to be “not guilty” when we stand before Him. Paul says that we have been declared not guilty, or justified, by His blood. Jesus’ blood spilled out on the cross makes payment for sinners. It makes those who receive it by faith innocent.

This justification saves us from the wrath of God. God’s wrath against our sin has already been satisfied by Jesus. He absorbed it at the cross on our behalf. We are saved from God, by God. God’s justice is satisfied because Jesus made the payment that covers us forever. He died, buried our sins, and rose in victory, leaving our sins in the tomb. 

We will never love the good news unless we recognize the bad news. But the bad news pales in comparison to the good news.

The gospel reminds us
that we don’t deserve
God’s love, favor, or forgiveness,
but it also tells us
clearly that He does love us,
favor us, and forgive us,
and gave His Son to show it.

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Rejoice in the God of your salvation today.
And help others understand not only this bad news, but the good news that follows.

Reflection & Journal:
- Why do we often skip the bad news and try to get right to the good news?
- What does it mean to be justified? How is the wrath of God satisfied through Jesus?
- How does a passage like today’s help us to love God more?

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