Romans 5:11

Not only so. Paul mentions another of the results of justification by faith. He has already said that we rejoice in tribulations and in hope of the glory of God (verses 2, 3). Now he adds that “we also joy in God.”

Joy. Greek kauchaomai (see on verses 2, 3).

In God. There is no reason for us to glory in ourselves (chapters 3:27; 4:2), but there is every reason why we should glory in God, especially in view of His saving love (Jeremiah 9:23, 24; Romans 5:5-10; 1 Corinthians 1:31; 2 Corinthians 10:17).

The Christian rejoices in the beneficence of God and in the fact that the universe is under God’s administration. The sinner is opposed to God and finds no pleasure in Him. He fears or hates Him. One evidence that we are truly converted and reconciled to God is that we rejoice in Him and find pleasure in the contemplation of His perfection as they are revealed in Scripture.

Through our Lord. In all the acts and experiences of the Christian life, the mediation of Christ is continually made prominent by the New Testament writers. We rejoice in God through Jesus Christ, who has revealed to us the true character of His Father and has reconciled us to Him.

Atonement. Greek katallage, “reconciliation.” The verb “to reconcile” is katallasso (see on verse 10). When the KJV was first published, “atonement” signified “reconciliation,” “at-one-ment.” This is the only occurrence of the English “atonement” in the New Testament of the KJV, though the word is common in the Old Testament. In each of the three other occurrences of the Greek word katallage in the New Testament it is translated “reconciling,” or “reconciliation” (Romans 11:15; 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19). Paul is referring here, not to the means by which reconciliation was effected (Romans 3:25), but to the fact of reconciliation (chapter 5:10). The Greek word for the atoning sacrifice is quite different (see on chapter 3:25).