Christ – the Author and Finisher of our faith; yes, this same faith by which we have justification, peace, grace and hope!
So back in Romans 1, again, we talked about the wrath of God, where God ‘gave them up’ as a result of their suppressing the Truth, and promoting falsehood (to others, and to themselves).
Here in the first half of Romans 5, we read that by faith, we have peace WITH God.
Back in Romans 2, we read about the judgment of God; He will render to each one (both Jew and Gentile) according to his deeds (2:6) and He judges the secrets of men (2:16).
Here in the first half of Romans 5, we read that we have been JUSTIFIED by faith. For those of us with faith – that is, we who believe in Christ – for all our deeds and all our secrets, Christ took the judgment we deserved, and we were the ones found innocent and rendered righteous, as Christ is righteous.
Later on we’ll read: Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. Romans 5:9
Back in Romans 3, we bore the humbling, breaking (as in humbling) truth of our being. Not only could we hope to be saved by our works, but on top of that, ‘all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’.
Here in the first half of Romans 5, we learn that ‘through (Christ) we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand’; Therefore, even if we suffer, we rejoice in hope of the glory of God!
Now that I’m going through it again, it’s not really a ‘first half’ more than it is a first ‘quarter’… but I don’t think I’ll be reaching four articles for Romans 5.
Don’t get me wrong, it IS, to me, a ‘blockbuster’ of a Chapter… as we’re about to find out. Let’s keep going.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
A lot of us would ask, why didn’t Christ come and die the moment Eve ate of the fruit? I’m not about to go ahead and discuss any of that, and I’d rather point them to here, in verse 6, where it states that Christ died (for the ungodly, or ALL that have been birthed from Eve, I assume) at the right time.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.Galatians 4:4-5
And, really quick – did you notice the subtle difference between a righteous person (for whom one will ‘scarcely die’), and a good person (for whom ‘perhaps… one would dare even to die’)? From this I’m making the assumption that not all righteousness is noticed, at least compared to ‘goodness’.
I could be wrong, but the point is that we sinners were nowhere near good… and much less righteous… But God STILL showed His love for us, through Christ who STILL died for us.
9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Now, it is already a relief for us to be justified by the blood of Christ, in spite of our many mistakes, blunders, errors, and incidences of stumbling, and in spite of sin simply being in our identity and our nature.
But verse 10 clearly states that we have much more than just that, and it was all done for us through Christ – More than justification, we have been reconciled to God by His death, and, since we have been reconciled, so we are assured salvation – that is, we are saved by His resurrection!
First off, as we’ve already established so many times before, Christ’ resurrection is proof of His death (and our reconciliation), but, also, we read here as Dr. Andrew Farley would say – We are saved as long as Jesus lives – saved by His life.
We weren’t merely justified – we were reconciled to God, and saved! Look at it this way – if justification means that we’ve been brought from being enemies of God to acquaintances of God, reconciliation means that we’ve been welcomed into His good graces, from acquaintances to friends of God, and more – by the Holy Spirit, we call Him our Father!
Oh, praise our Lord Jesus Christ! For we have been justified by His blood, reconciled by His death, and saved by His life!
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
Here we read of the far-reaching consequences and impact of the transgression of Adam.
We’ve also already established so many times before, that we don’t have to sin so many times to be sinners. We don’t even have to sin once. The thing is, it’s because of Adam that we’ve been made sinners. It’s not that we sinned to be sinners, Adam sinned, so we became sinners (‘sin came into the world through one man… all sinned’) and that’s why we sin, and that’s why death spread to all of us.
And although sin was ‘not counted where there is no law’ (before the law was given to Moses), the proof that sin was still in the world was that ‘death reigned from Adam to Moses’.
15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.
To append John 1:17, Death came through Adam (‘many died through one man’s trespass’), and the Law (through which came the knowledge of sin) came through Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ… through whom MUCH MORE (than the ‘many’) have the free gift of the grace of God, ‘abounded for many’!
16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.
I’m taking my time through these wonderful verses because there’s so much play of words, and I don’t want to miss out on anything. See, I’m learning just as much as I hope all you who care to read through this are learning!
It took ONE trespass from Adam for judgement to follow – judgement, that is, that brought condemnation… But in spite of MANY trespasses between the time of Adam, down the line of many centuries and generations, to the times of the Gospels – the free gift by the grace of Jesus Christ brought justification!
17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
It took ONE trespass from Adam, not just for judgment and condemnation, but DEATH to reign in this reality.. but through Jesus Christ, we are not just justified, but we receive ‘the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness‘…
…and by this righteousness (which implies that we are in right standing with God no matter what, within time and space and beyond) so we are able to reign in this life, as Christ is alive!
Through Adam sin entered this world, death reigned, and there was nothing but fear and condemnation for all men.
But through Christ’s act of righteousness (He became sin and took our death), we have been not only justified, but reconciled – that is, we have been proclaimed righteous, or in right standing with God, which results in life!
20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Again, death came through Adam, and the Law came through Moses… and because by the Law came the knowledge of sin, so sin (the trespass) increased…
I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.1 Timothy 1:12-14
But Paul reminds us here through no less than his own testimony shared to Timothy, that though sin did increase, the free gift of grace did not wane or falter, but it ABOUNDED all the more!
And it is the same in our lives. Where sin is, grace abounds, overflows for us, just as it did for Paul… Much so that even in this world where sin and death may reign, much more would grace reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now, putting this all together, what can we say? Well, with the help of ClaudeAI, we’ve come up with a sound conclusion and call for all of us:
First, let us embrace God’s love and grace.
Let us always remember how we were when we were sinners – doomed to face the righteous judgment of God, subject to His wrath which had all of us in the downward spiral of sin unto death and oblivion.
Let us always remember how we were sinners, and how we were wretched, hopeless, enemies of God… Yet, even when we were in such a hopeless state, it was precisely then that God, in His immense love for us, and in His perfect wisdom, declared it was the right time – While we were yet sinners, it was then that Christ died for us.
God’s love and grace can be summarized through a line from one of Don Moen’s many wonderful compositions: ‘We were sinners so unworthy, (but) still for us He chose to die’
So let’s live in that grace! In areas where we struggle with sin, let us remember that God’s grace abounds even more!
Second, let us live in peace with God. We have been saved from the wrath of God. His judgment which we once feared was placed upon His Son, in our place. And we have been presented with righteousness apart from the works of the Law – through faith in Jesus Christ, the same Son who took God’s judgment and wrath!
We like to encourage each other to appreciate the presence of God in our lives, made possible through Christ – but let us not stop at His presence, for in His presence, there is fullness of joy, and there is peace!
Let’s live our lives, think our thoughts, speak our words, knowing with have peace with God – He IS our Peace, and we no longer have enmity, but PEACE with Him!
What’s another word for ‘peace with God’? Reconciliation! Let us allow the truth of our reconciliation with God to transform our daily lives and relationships. No longer do we interact with people with a looming spirit of fear and rejection, but we go forth, making and maintaining relationships from the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of Reconciliation!
Third, let us rejoice in hope. If we have trouble feeling hope, let us rejoice in the Lord. If we have trouble rejoicing in the Lord, let us remember the hope we have in Him.
Yes, we can rejoice, and rejoice ever so genuinely, just as the hope that we have is so sure, that we call it an anchor to our souls. Our hope is so secure that even in sufferings we CAN rejoice, sure as God is and will be glorified!
Fourth, let us share the good news. I feel this ought to come out as natural for all of us in the body of Christ.
We wouldn’t be IN the body of Christ unless we allowed the Holy Spirit to work, so we would understand the profound impact of Christ and His finished work.
And, the thing is, when we understand it, I believe we would naturally appreciate it, much so that we are naturally motivate us to share this message with others – beyond man-made systems and approaches, but in ways that we are comfortable to project Christ!
Conclusion
Romans 5 presents a powerful contrast between the consequences of Adam’s sin and the overwhelming grace provided through Jesus Christ. Through Adam, sin and death entered the world, affecting all humanity. But through Christ, we receive justification, reconciliation, and the gift of righteousness that leads to eternal life.
This chapter emphasizes the transformative power of God’s love and grace. Despite our sinful nature inherited from Adam, God demonstrated His love by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. This act not only justifies us but also reconciles us to God, changing our status from enemies to beloved children.
The abundance of God’s grace, as described in this chapter, surpasses the effects of sin. Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more. This truth gives us hope and confidence in our relationship with God, assuring us of our salvation and encouraging us to live in the reality of our new status in Christ.
As we reflect on Romans 5, we’re called to a life of gratitude, hope, and purpose. We’re invited to fully embrace the peace and grace we have access to through faith in Christ, and to allow these truths to shape our identity and guide our actions in the world.
I’m pretty sure that, if I had more time, I could have done so much more with this Chapter. There’s so much to unwrap here, so much to appreciate! But God-willing, we’ll have another time to tackle this wonderful book.
For now, I’m going to be moving on, concentrating on Chapter 6.
Well, actually, I can go back – have I already written about it in the past?
Whether that is the case or not, well, I’ll still be going through it, one way or the other.
Until the next post, God bless us all!
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