Much More. Romans 5:9-11 Love comes from God as its source [v.5] by the Holy Spirit as the One who brings it to us. The proof of God’s love is the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ. The time of His death was a specific time (“due time”) and through the price He paid to redeem us, we have been given the gift of eternal life. God has forgiven our sins, and His love sustains our hope in Christ.
Because we have been justified in the past, we shall be saved from the wrath to come and delivered from the power and consequences of sin in the present. The great cost of declaring us righteous by the shedding of the blood of Christ, the giving of His life, has been accomplished. This work has been done, and nothing can ever be added. Christ has died for us "while we were yet sinners." Now, "much more" will we, as believers, be saved from coming wrath through Christ. The coming judgment holds no fears for us because the blood that has bought our redemption, is the basis of us being counted righteous.
V.9. God's "wrath" against sin is to be differentiated from how He looks upon sinners. God loved us even when we were in our sins. God's "wrath" against sin isn't to be regarded as if God is angry in the way we use the word. It was not personal punishment against the sinner but righteous wrath against sin that Christ endured. "The soul (sinner) that sinneth, it shall die" tells us we cannot come near to God, not because God hates us, but because God is holy. For sin to come near Him would demean Him and diminish His holy standard of righteousness. Christ died that we who were separated and forsaken under the wrath of God would have One who could take the judgment and wrath of God for me.
The pain and suffering, the agonies of Christ, were not for each of our sins, but He laid down His life for us personally, as individuals who were condemned. That is far greater than the suffering of agony. He took the place of the sinner so that we might be reconciled to God through Him. Christ's sufferings were great, but far more important is the One who suffered - the Great Sacrifice, who laid down His life in a deliberate act of God's will so that we could be brought to Him. The coming "wrath" of judgment has no claim on us and should not affect our calmness and assurance, because we have been reconciled to God. That has already taken place.
V.10. God is the One who initiated reconciliation even when we were still in our sins. “His blood” is a reference to the death of the Lord Jesus. Now, “much more,” or added to that great work of reconciling us to God by Christ's death, is the fact that we are saved by His risen life. We will participate with, and share in, His risen life forever. When the judgment of God falls on this wicked world, we shall be saved by His risen life. Christ has met all the demands of God's holiness, His righteousness and His truth when He died. So, we are saved now, and will be forever, because He who satisfied God is risen and lives forevermore. We have been “delivered from the wrath to come.”
V.11. Now, even more than being saved from wrath because of Christ's death, justified by faith, and saved by the risen Lord, we “joy” (exalt) in God. Instead of our mouths being shut and we being found guilty before God, we are rejoicing in Him. He was our Judge before whom we were found condemned. Now, we find our joy in the Lord Jesus Christ because He has accomplished reconciliation with God on our behalf. This is not just a temporary covering over sin (atonement) but a complete reconciliation, “an end of hostility,” because of the value of His death. We exalt and honor our Lord Jesus Christ, who has done this great work.
The Holy God is satisfied, and His righteous wrath against sin has been dealt with completely and forever. We have been saved to endless life because Christ lives and will keep us eternally. The condemned sinner has been justified and reconciled to God. These present realities are reasons for our joy and rejoicing now. This is like a song of praise and glory to God that will be in our hearts throughout the ages to come. "Worthy, worthy is the Lamb." All the blessings of God have come to us through our Lord Jesus Christ.