Peace with God Through Faith
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Rom 5:11
joy in God... Boasting is forbidden Jews trusting in the law, because it is a false confidence (Rom. 3:27). The Christian is encouraged to boast of his reconciliation to God for it is a true confidence (Rom. 5:11; 1Cor. 1:31; 2Cor. 10:17).
received the atonement... Greek: katallage, reconciliation (Rom. 5:11; 11:15; 2Cor. 5:18-19). It should not have been translated "atonement" here, as it refers to the removal of enmity and a change to friendship, which is the effect of atonement.
2 Cor. 5:18 tells us: “And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”. All the aspects related to someone’s conversion and newly transformed life in Christ are accomplished by a sovereign God. Sinners on their own cannot decide to participate in these new realities.
Atonement here, means restoration to divine favor. Notice, this atonement is by Jesus Christ. Even our joy is in Him.
Because Christians, God’s reconciled ones, share in Christ’s life, they will be saved. Not only is future salvation assured, but we also rejoice in God (“but also boasting [kauchōmenoi] in God”) here and now. This is what Paul already exhorted believers to do (Rom. 5:1-3). The assurance and guarantee of it all is the fact that through… Christ… we have now received reconciliation (lit., “the reconciliation”). Since God has reconciled godless enemies to Himself, they should enjoy that peace with Him.
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