Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
In the first verse of Romans 5 we saw the first fruits of our standing with God. We see faith. Faith stems from our standing with God. Faith in the Old Testament came in connection with the promise of a coming justification. Today faith comes from our already being justified.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
All the blessings any of God’s sheep experience are in connection with Jesus Christ. Faith has come to us. Faith that is given as an avenue, a revelation of this righteousness of God that Jesus Christ has earned as our substitute. All that Christ earned is now ours, but it had to be earned to be ours. Faith is given to see what He has done and as we have seen peace comes by what has been revealed. Peace toward our God is one of the fruits of our standing in Christ.
We have peace as we are recipients of the grace of God. It is by faith that we have access to grace. What has Paul said is that faith? It is the law of faith. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ. By that propitiation, the satisfaction of God, we now have access to grace. This is not an access that you must do something to acquire. This is our standing in Christ. We have been placed in a place of access. It is ours by the finished work of Christ Jesus our Lord. From our justification stems faith and peace and now hope. A hope of the glory to come that we know will come to us. The merit of the work of Christ being our proof. This is not a hope that we hope something may happen. This is a persuasion that we know glory will come because of our standing in Christ. It is a hope built upon a solid foundation. A hope built upon Christ Himself.
1 Peter 4:4 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
Just as Christ has suffered, we whom He suffered for should also expect tribulation. This tribulation works in us patience. The tribulations of life drive us to Christ.
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Christ has suffered tribulation that we cannot imagine. The full wrath of God was put upon Him. He was tempted in all points just as we are. Christ learned obedience just as we learn. From our tribulation comes patience, and from this patience experience and then hope. Finally from all these we experience the love of God by our experiences. All these come as fruit of our standing in Christ. Fruit from the imputed righteousness whereby the enmity God had toward our sin has been sent away. Now by faith our enmity, our natural man has been overcome where we no longer try to impress God by the law of works but rest in the law of faith whereby Christ has made us whole.