ROMANS FiVE

So how does "justified by faith" [Rom 5.1] relate to "justified by his blood" [Rom 5.9]? Moreover, in broader Pauline thought, how do the above two relate to "justified by his grace" [Titus 3.7]? All three of these are the same in Greek [aorist passive participles from dikaiow]. It is clear that both the blood and the grace are acts of God. The context of Romans 5 shows that faith is an act of man. Another way to view it is that the blood is objective and historical; in slight contrast, genuine faith is ongoing and subjective. At what point do all three of these converge? It has to be the cross. I do not know how intricately it all works together, but God forbid if I boast in anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ [Gal 6.14]. Paul wished to know nothing among the Corinthians except the cross [1 Cor 2.2]. It is here that faith can be grounded on blood that was spilt and both can find their source in the grace that saves.