“Reconciled and Rescued: Living in the Joy of Salvation”

Romans 5:9–11 CSB

9 How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.

Hook:

Illustration: Tell a vivid story of a soldier during wartime who defects from his own army—betraying his people—and becomes a prisoner of war.

Imagine years in a cell, chained, starved, hated by his captors and forgotten by his own.

One day, a general walks in, not to execute him, but to adopt him.

The traitor is not only freed—he’s welcomed into the general’s family.

Connection: That soldier is us.

We were enemies of God.

Not neutral.

Not victims. Enemies.

And yet, God DID NOT Just pardon us—He reconciled us

adopted us

and now rejoices over us.

“Reconciled and Rescued”—that’s not just past tense; it’s a present joy.

Book: What Romans 5:9–11 Really Says

Context Brief: Paul has just unfolded the doctrine of justification by faith (Romans 5:1). Now he builds on the assurance we have because of it.

Romans 5:9–11 CSB

How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.

Break Down the Verses:

Verse 9: Justified by His Blood

Legal term: “Justified” = declared righteous.

It’s not “barely forgiven,” it’s fully acquitted.

Illustration: Like having a criminal record not only erased but then being awarded “Citizen of the Year”.

“Saved through him from wrath”

We were saved:

from God

By God

For God

To God

We were saved:

from God’s wrath

By God’s Mercy and Grace

For God’s Possession

To the Glory of God alone

Verse 10: Reconciled While We Were Enemies

Romans 5:10 CSB

“For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son…”

We weren’t just “broken”—we were hostile to God.

“We were reconciled...”

What does reconciliation mean?

What’s the difference between Forgiveness and Reconciliation??

Forgiveness is pardoning and/or putting away an offense from you, never to bring it up again.

You can FORGIVE someone and not be RECONCILED to one another…

Reconciliation is not just peace; it’s restored relationship.

Reconciliation (Greek: katallagē) is not just making peace—it’s the restoration of a broken relationship.

It assumes hostility, distance, offense, and division.

It implies that one party has deeply offended the other—and yet, the offended party initiates peace.

Biblical Backdrop:

In The Word of God, reconciliation is Godward:

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ…” (2 Cor. 5:18)

It’s not mutual compromise. It’s God, the offended party, initiating the repair.

It’s more than forgiveness. It’s welcoming someone back into relationship.

Justification changes your legal standing. Reconciliation restores your relational standing.

Key Point: If God loved you then, how much more will He keep you now?

Verse 11: Boasting in God

The response to reconciliation isn’t guilt or shame—it’s joy.

"Boast" here = celebrate, exult.

Illustration: A child rescued from a burning home doesn’t stay silent—he clings to his rescuer and tells everyone.

Look: What This Means for Us Today

Pastoral Application:

You Are Not Your Past

You’ve been justified—legally cleared. Stop living like you're still on trial.

You Are Not Under Wrath

The wrath of God isn’t hovering over you—it was poured out on Jesus.

When storms hit, they’re not punishment—they’re opportunities for faith.

You Are Not Alone

Reconciled people aren’t orphans—they're sons and daughters.

Your relationship with God isn’t a ceasefire—it’s a family bond.

You Can Boast in God, Even in Suffering

The world boasts in success—we boast in a Savior.

Even when life hurts, we rejoice—because the war is over, and love has won.

Took: Living the Joy of Reconciliation

Call to Action:

For the Believer:

Rejoice in the security you have in Christ.

Reconciliation Means: You Carry This Ministry to Others

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 says God has “given us the ministry of reconciliation…and he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”

MINISTRY of Reconciliation:

We don't just preach forgiveness—we embody restored relationships.

Repair Human Relationships If God made peace with His enemies, how can we cling to our grudges?

"As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." (Rom. 12:18)

Proclaim the MESSAGE of Reconciliation

Evangelism is not just “don’t go to hell.” It’s “come home to God.”

Live boldly—your salvation is not fragile, it’s SEALED...by the King.

Ephesians 1:13–14 CSB

In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

“The business of the Gospel is to bring people to God, and to reconcile them to God. Not to fill churches! Not to have good statistics! But to reconcile men to God, to save them from the wrath to come.”

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Welsh Preacher and Writer)

For the Lost:

You don’t have to stay an enemy of God.

He’s not waiting to punish—you’re invited to peace through Jesus.

Come to Christ—not for religion, but for reconciliation.

We ALL need to be reconciled to God!

Romans 5:11 CSB

And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.

We have EVERY REASON to rejoice and brag on Jesus!

We have been reconciled to The One & True Living Most High God, YHWH!!

We are no longer slaves to sin and enemies of God…

We. Are. His. Family.

Summary:

Justified: You are declared righteous, by the King.

Reconciled: You are brought near to the King.

Saved: You are SECURELY SEALED forever, if you are repenting and believing.

Boasting: You are rejoicing in God—not in guilt or fear, but freedom.

When you have been reconciled with one another, so, things have been made right and also restored to a Good and Healthy relationship.

Nothing in the way…

Romans 8:35–39 CSB

Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

"We have now received this reconciliation."

Let’s live like it is real.

Let’s love like it is real.

Let’s invite others into it...because IT IS REAL!