This is a good question because Romans 5:10 states, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” We have the thought here of reconciliation through the death of the Son of God and salvation by His life.  Let’s examine this verse carefully to see what the Lord is telling us here.

In truth, before we were saved, we were enemies of the Lord.  Before we were saved, we were “without strength” and “ungodly” (verse 6).  We were “sinners” (verse 8).  “Enemies” from the Greek word “ech-thros’” means we were hateful towards God.  We were adversaries.  We were foes.  Romans 8:7 says, “Because the mind set on the flesh is HOSTILE TOWARD GOD; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so.”  The Lord tells us to “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44).  How precious to know that when we were the enemies of God, He loved us even then. 

So, the loving work of God began when we were yet His enemies.  It was through the sacrificial death of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary that we were reconciled to God.  To reconcile means to be brought back together.  2 Corinthians 5:19 tells us, “…that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”  All sin is contrary to God’s holiness, righteousness, truth, and His glory, but our sins were put by God on Christ, and God “spared Him not.” (Romans 8:32).  God worked through His Son to bring about this reconciliation…a reconciliation that reached out to the whole world.  It is the substitutionary death of Christ that has, through faith, removed our sins and made us to be the “righteousness of God” in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

“…much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”  How then, are we saved by the Lord’s life?  Notice the wording of this verse…we HAVE BEEN reconciled; we SHALL BE saved.  Such a wonderful truth…we are reconciled by Christ humbled; we are saved by Christ exalted!  It was said of the believers in Thessalonica, “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which DELIVERED US FROM THE WRATH TO COME.” (1 Thessalonians 1:10). So, it is the living Jesus that perfects His work of salvation: as our High Priest, He ever lives to make intercession as we read in Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he EVER LIVETH TO MAKE INTERCESSION for them.” It is Christ exalted, that by His Word and by His Spirit effectually calls us and reconciles us to God.  He is our Advocate with the Father and so completes our salvation.  “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1).

Oh, dear reader, may we realize that if the Lord could reconcile us through His humiliation and death, how much more so will He keep us now that he is our living, exalted, and victorious redeemer!  (CC)  (689.2)