⁹ Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

The seventh benefit of our justification is that God saves the believer from hell (v.9). Verses 9 and 10 return to the subject of hope.

Beginning with this verse Paul argued from the greater to the lesser. He used the terms “much more” two times in verses 9 and 10, and “more than that” in verse 11. Again, in verse 15 Paul used “much more,” referring to the surpassing grace God gave us in Christ. Still, in verse 17 he used “much more” for the abundance of grace God gives. Finally, in a climax, grace abounds “all the more” over sin and its trespass (v.20). Thus, the Holy Spirit speaks in surpassing terms six times in verses 9 through 20. All these “much mores” are the much mores of justification.

The Holy Spirit bases each argument from the greater to the lesser on what God has already done. If God did something great in Christ, He surely will see His commitments through to the end.

⁹ Since, therefore,

The “therefore” indicates a conclusion from verses six through eight. Since God showed His love by sending His Son to die for our sins, then He will preserve what He purchased. We can be sure that we will realize our hope because of this.

we have now [as opposed to our past unsaved life] been justified by [in] his blood [sacrifice—shed blood],

It is the blood of Christ whereby God declares the believer as right as He is right. This happens at one point and lasts forever (aorist). It is an accomplished fact. No further sacrifice for sin is necessary. We no longer need a temple to bring our blood sacrifice. Trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross for our sin puts those who trust it right with God forever.

The sacrifice of the blood of Christ is the procuring cause of our salvation.

much more

The “much more” here expresses a greater advance on justification—the logical progression is that we will forever be free from God’s wrath. This is an argument from the greater to the lesser. If Christ performed the greater work of dying for our sins, He will surely do the lesser work of saving us from hell. It is much easier to save us than to justify us.

It follows an inevitable sequence that those whom God justifies He will save from hell. The substitutionary death of Christ guarantees our salvation. The certainty of the former guarantees the latter. This is the first of six of these statements of certainty. God does not justify us because He delivers us from hell; He delivers us from hell because He justified us.

Transcendence of justification:

The “much more” of salvation from God’s wrath, 5:9

The “much more “ of salvation by Jesus’ life, 5:10

The “much more” of the free gift by grace, 5:15

The “much more” of the abundance of grace reigning in Christ, 5:17

The “much more” of grace abounding all the more, 5:20

shall we be saved by him from the [a particular wrath—hell] wrath of God.

God will condemn no believer to hell. No Christian will face “the wrath” of God, that is, hell itself. Since Jesus did the greater thing by paying for the sins of sinners, He will do the lesser thing in terms of difficulty by saving saints from hell.

Jn 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Ro 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

PRINCIPLE:

Since God already removed the obstacle of sin, there is no doubt that He will spare believers of the coming wrath.

APPLICATION:

Christians have confidence that they will go to heaven because of the cross of Christ. It is all because of Christ. Since God provided our salvation by the death of Jesus on the cross, all the more has He the power to keep us saved. There is no doubt that He delivers us because of what Christ did. God did the greater work in saving sinners by grace than in bringing saints to glory. Sin is farther from grace than grace from glory.