^“Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” Romans 5:2 NLT 

Footsteps # 288 The NKJV says we now have access to this grace. If peace with God is the first consequence of our justification, then access to God (v2) and God’s graciousness is a second. Christ, through His sacrifice has introduced us into the audience chamber of the king of kings (c.f.Heb.4:16). That access is continual 

When we say that Christ provides us with an introduction to God, the idea is that of us being led into the audience chamber of a monarch. We cannot enter His presence on our own merits, but we need an introduction. Thus Christ is the active agent in providing us with our presentation to God. It is His merits, not ours that get us into the audience chamber of the King of kings. 

On the other hand, the idea of “access” also seems to be important in the text. After all, a Christian is not merely introduced to God but has continuing access “to that grace in which we now live”.(NASB).  

Christ has opened the way for His followers into the very throne room of God. As the book of Hebrews puts it, as Christ’s followers we can “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb.4:16, C.f. Eph.2:18-19). 

Christians are privileged because they have direct access to the Father through the Son. It was not so in the OT services connected to the temple. Only the priest could enter the temple proper. And only the high priest once a year had access to God’s throne room – the Holy of Holies. Now through Jesus we not only have a standing introduction to the Father but we have continual access any time we desire or need it. In Revelation Jesus is pictured as the High Priest. 

We are in the midst of a pack of “we haves” (vs1&2). The apostle in Chapter 5 is not talking about impersonal “they haves”. No, he is really being quite specific and personal. We (those who have accepted God’s way of salvation by faith) have peace, access, and joy. We have something to rejoice about. The OT peace offering to which Paul was alluding was a celebration. (Lev.3&7)