The result of justification is that if we are right with God, then we have peace with him. We are no longer under his wrath and judgement. We are no longer enemies of God. Peace is possible through Jesus Christ, the mediator (v1). Paul here emphasises Christ’s priestly role. He gives us access. Specifically, the access is to grace, it’s this grace which enables us to stand before God Again, this is something made possible by faith not works. Grace also gives us cause to rejoice, to praise and give thanks to God for his free gift (v2).
Paul wants to go further. We don’t only rejoice, we boast. Central to Paul’s argument is that justification by faith takes away our reason for boasting if it’s about our own abilities. However, there is something that he will boast about: suffering (v3a). This is of course shockingly counter cultural. How can we boast about suffering, about experiencing opposition and pain? The answer is that Paul sees the result of suffering, what it leads to, endurance and character. If we walk through suffering with God, then we learn to keep going and keep trusting him. The result is that through these things, our suffering produces hope. We learn that we can trust and rely on Jesus in the midst of suffering because he has a purpose. We learn to look forward and see the end, that one day we will be raised to new life in the new creation.
Faithroots 