Access through Grace
Romans 4:16; 5:1-2

Many of you are members of Sam's Club or Costco. For a small annual fee, you can gain membership to these club stores. Now the beauty of the deal lies in the ability to make bulk purchases at great savings. Members have access to special bargains, including everything from insurance to vacation plans. One club store even started bargains for the afterlife. Costco now allows members to buy caskets! Just like the access club members have to certain benefits, there is access to certain benefits from God, which is a result of His grace.

The word, "access" means to have admission to, or to have entrance. Access to the things of God includes a relationship with Him through grace. In 4:16, Paul says, “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all".

When Paul begins with the use of the word, "therefore," after his previous comments at the beginning of the chapter, he is saying that in the course of logical reasoning it would make sense for us to come to the conclusion developed in verse 16. To understand what this means, we have to look at Romans 4:11-15 –

“And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.”

A sign of Israel's relationship to God was circumcision. It was a seal of their relationship. Abraham was far from perfect, just like you and I. However, in accepting the Word of God by faith, he was made righteous before God.  Now Gal 3:28 tells us, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

So we understand the power of Gal. 3:28 in verse 12. This verse indicates access to the same relationship Abraham had with God is extended not only to those who are Jews, who were called the circumcised; but it is extended to all who walk by faith. As a result of his walk by faith, Abraham who initially was not circumcised became circumcised.

And so, verse 13 explains that the promise was not made by the law. The law demanded works. Salvation is not of works, according to Ephesians 2:8-9. It is accessed by Grace. In verse 14, Paul said if the works of the law only gave the promise, faith would be void. It would have no bearing on our salvation and the promise would have no effect.

Thank God for grace. The law works the wrath of God. Romans 6:23 explains, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” When the gift of God, which is given by grace, is received, we become recipients of eternal life. If the law were in effect, our sin would reflect our transgressions against God.

But since the law is not in effect (where there is no law), there is no transgression. Paul says in view of this information, our relationship with God is of faith through His grace (v.16). Therefore, the promise is extended to all the seed of Abraham. This includes, not only those brought by way of the law, but also those who partake of Abraham’s faith.

As we look at Romans 5:1-2, there is still more good news. Paul said: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

We are made righteous by faith. Paul explains by finishing the thought with the words “. . . We have peace with God”. The assumption is that before our justification, we did not have peace with God. 

Rom 8:7 states: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” However, it was God’s grace that provided the plan of salvation. This plan revealed God’s willingness to be reconciled with man. He is ready to pardon, and to be at peace. If the sinner believes in Christ’s death on the cross, His shed blood, His burial and resurrection, God can now consistently forgive him and admit him into favor.

Salvation is therefore a plan by which the mind of God and of the sinner can become reconciled, or united in feeling and purpose. When this occurs, there is peace.

The peace of God is two-fold in nature. It means we have fellowship with God. It also means we have the peace of God, which surpasses understanding—we don’t always understand how it works, we just know it works.

There are situations in our lives that would have turned us upside down before we were saved, but now that we are saved, we have peace during those tumultuous times. This is the peace of God. It came through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, we have access into the grace wherein we stand. We can rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  We have been pardoned from our sins. This means, beloved, we are indebted to the Lord for the free and full pardon we have received. This pardon gives us access.

Our sin was so horrid we could not come before God. It was only through Christ we could at first approach God, and it is only through Him the privilege is reserved for us forever.

Unlike Costco or Sam’s Club, there is no annual membership fee. Over 2,000 years ago, the price was already paid when our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, died on Calvary. When we accepted His payment, we were given the opportunity to come into the God’s presence. We are not brought to God for an interview, but to remain with Him, to be His children. By faith, we can behold His face and walk in the light of His countenance. We don’t have to be shy about it, folks, we can stand firm. Paul said we can rejoice knowing we are accepted by Him!

And here’s what it all means:
When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day's pay for his time, that is a wage. When a person competes with an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance, that is a prize. When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements, that is an award. But when a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize, and deserves no award--yet receives such a gift anyway--that is a good picture of God's unmerited favor. This is what we mean when we talk about how great it is to have access to the Grace of God. - G.W. Knight