Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (Romans 5:9)
This passage is gloriously placed in the midst of an unparalleled salvation symphony. It underscores our rebellion (we are called weak, ungodly, sinners & enemies here). But it also shows the powerful and unfathomable riches of God’s love.
Indeed we were wayward and alienated and through the reconciling work of Christ God has brought us near to him. We have been justified by his powerfully effective blood.
But did you note the reality of what we are saved from here? It is the wrath of God. That is, God’s unrelenting and uncompromising settled displeasure against all that opposes him. It is to be uncorked upon all that belittle his glory, disregard his will, and presume upon his mercy. This is all of us who are weak, ungodly, sinners and enemies.
But what happens?
God puts forth Jesus. His beloved Son. And rebels like us are saved by and through him.
But saved from what and from whom?
Look again at the text. It is from God himself.
Let this transcendent reality stir your heart today. God has not compromised his righteous anger or his beloved holiness, rather he has the potion of his wrath fully mixed and it was uncorked and all spent. But it was not spent on you Christian, though it was due you. It was spent on Jesus. The one through who’s blood we are saved.
This is why Paul goes on to say that we (those who were formerly enemies) now rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5.11).
The beautiful Savior has made the angry God propitious (favorable) and he has made the enemies who hated God to rejoice in him.
Therefore, we find ourselves again at that refreshing and instructive hill outside of the gates where Jesus displayed the unfathomable reservoir of divine truth. Upon the cross God is holy, loving, wrathful, merciful, forgiving, judging, gracious and just. And to those of us who behold the Son, we humbly rejoice. We rejoice because we have been saved from God by God.
