(1) Therefore being justified by faith, tue have peace with God, that is, we are reconciled to God. We are no longer the objects of the divine displeasure, his favour having been propitiated by the death of his Son, V. 10. As a consequence of this reconciliation, we have conscious peace with God, that is, we have neither any longer the present upbraidings of an unappeased conscience, nor the dread of divine vengeance. Both of these ideas are included in the peace here spoken of. It is peculiarly an evangelical doctrine, that pious affections are the fruit of this reconcilia- tion to God, and not the cause of it. Paul says this peace is the result of justification by faith. He who relies on his works for justification can have no peace. He can neither remove the displeasure of God, nor quiet the apprehension of punishment. Peace is not the result of mere gratu- itous forgiveness, but of justification, of a reconciliation founded upon atonement. The enlightened conscience is never satisfied until it sees that God can be just in justifying the ungodly ; that sin has been punish- ed, the justice of God satisfied, his law honoured and vindicated. It is when he thus sees justice and mercy embracing each other, that the believer has that peace which passes all understanding; that sweet quiet of the soul in which deep humility, in view of personal unworthiness, is mingled with the warmest gratitude to that Saviour by whose blood God's justice has been satisfied and conscience appeased. Hence, Paul says we have this peace through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is not through ourselves in any way, neither by our own merit nor our own efforts. It is all of grace. It is all through Jesus Christ. And this the justified soul is ever anxious to acknowledge.
(2) Bi/ whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, &c. It would seem obvious, from the use of the word also, that this verse expresses a distinct idea from the preceding. The most com- mon and natural construction of this passage is to connect the word grace with access, i. e. " access into this grace." Grace, then, or favour expresses the same idea as peace with God, in the preceding verse ; and the difference between the two verses is to be found in the word access or introduction. The meaning then is, ' We are not only indebted to Jesus Christ for peace with God, but also for our introduction into this state