Romans 5

Romans 5:1-11 – Peace Through Christ

Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through Jesus.  We have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand.  We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  (Rom. 5:1-2)

What does having peace with God mean?  Before we were justified through faith in Jesus, we were God’s enemies.  Being at peace means instead of being at war with Him, we are at peace with Him.  We are truly resting in God while all around us there is war.  We now have a friendship with God.  We have unity with Him and have the presence of the Holy Spirit.  Because of His grace, nothing can separate us from God’s love.

What is the hope of the glory of God?  Christian hope is different than the hope we usually talk about.  It’s not wishful thinking.  Hope in God is that He will do everything He promises.  It’s the hope that one day we will see God Himself – that gives us hope.  Sin has spoiled our glory, but one day God will change us and we will be a part of His glory.  That’s hope.                            

Paul says we also rejoice in our sufferings.  This suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope.  (Rom. 5:3-4)

How can we be glad that we suffer?  I don’t know any suffering that is joyful.  Do you?  Paul says suffering does something and accomplishes something.  It’s productive and has value.  We know it works and that is what makes us rejoice.  It’s like a woman in labor.  She suffers during child birth, but she knows it produced something worthwhile.

I think he might also be talking about the suffering we endure as Christians.  Matt. 5:11-12 Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”  As Christians we are attacked for our faith and belief in Jesus.  When this happens, we are sharing what Christ’s suffered.  He too was attacked and mocked.  When we suffer because of our faith, we become stronger.  It develops our character and strengthens our faith.

Principle:  Being justified through faith brings hope and peace with God.

Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.  We see just at the right time when we were powerless that Christ died for the ungodly.  God demonstrates His love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:5-8)

God will never disappoint us.  He has given us the Holy Spirit who helps us know God loves us.  God has proven His love by giving us His Son, Jesus to die on the cross.  He chose to rescue us just at the right time.  While we were sinners and powerless, He died for us.  There was and is nothing we can do to save ourselves.  He died for all sinners then, now and those in the future.

Have you accepted Jesus as your rescuer?

Since we have been justified by His blood, how much more can we be saved from His wrath.  We were God’s enemies, but were reconciled to him through the death of Jesus.  Then how much more can we be saved.  We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Rom: 5:9-11).

We are considered righteous because of Jesus’ death made us righteous and God has forgiven our sin.  We will not suffer punishment.  Our salvation is complete.  We were His enemies, but are now His friends.

If you have been reconciled to God, do you rejoice, really rejoice?

Romans 5:12-21 – Life Through Christ

Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and this death came to all men because all sinned.  Death reigned from Adam to Moses.  Adam was the pattern of the one to come.  Many died by the sin of one man, then God’s grace and gift came by the grace of the one man, Jesus that overflow to the many.  His gift is not like the sin.  Judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many sins and brought justification.  By the sin of one man, death reigned so those who receive God’s provision of grace and gift of righteousness will reign in life through one man, Jesus.  The result on one man’s sin condemned all men.  The result of one act of righteousness was justification bringing life for all men.   The law was added so that the sin might increase.  Where sin increased, grace increased.  Sin reigns in death and grace reigns through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus.  (Rom. 5:12-21).

Adam sinned because he didn’t obey God’s command to not eat from one special tree in the garden.  If he did, he would die.  Adam didn’t listen and he disobeyed so death was the result of his sin and then sin both physical and spiritual came to all people.  Everyone has the same nature as Adam so everyone has a tendency to sin.  There was sin in the world even before the law was given to Moses.  The law just made people recognize their sin.

Adam chose to do what he wanted.  Christ’s gift came because He loves us.  Many died because of Adam’s sin and many people received the gift of life because of Jesus.  Adam’s sin brought God’s judgment, but the death of Jesus was sufficient to make people righteous.  His death was the perfect sacrifice for sin and He had to die only one time for all people.  Adam’s sin makes everyone guilty, but the righteous act of Jesus can make everyone righteous for those who will invite Him into their lives.  People became sinners because Adam did not obey, but many became friends with God because Christ obeyed.

There is a lot in these verses and Paul seems to be repeating himself and sometime it seems he is going around in circles and sometimes he is hard to understand.  I think it is because he wants us to understand exactly why we must be justified by faith.  He wants us to realize that this gift of grace that Jesus gives us is the most import gift we will ever receive.

The lesson for me is that we should watch our behavior and the choices we make, because they affect our children and others who are watching.  Our choices probably won’t affect the entire human race like Adam, but our conduct will affect others.

Some people believe we are born a good person and just do bad things.  That is not what the Bible teaches.  We are sinners even from the womb - Ps. 51:5; 58:3, Rom. 3:10; 3:23; 5:12, 1 John 1:10 – just to mention a few.  We are born selfish and self-centered.  Just look at a baby and how he cries to get wants he wants.  Because we are born of the flesh, we are united with Adam because of our sin.  We are enemies with God and are separated from Him, because we are sinners.  We must accept and believe in Jesus to forgive our sins, and then we will be united with Him and reconciled to God.

Are you being deceived into thinking you are a good person and have nothing to worry about?

Have you repented of your sins and trusted in Jesus as your Savior?

Principles: 

Through Adam’s sin all were condemned, but through Christ’s righteousness all in Him are justified.

The law is necessary to expose and convict us of our sin.

There is abundant grace for sinners who have trusted in Jesus.

There are 2 kingdoms that reign – the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan.  Those who belong to Satan’s kingdom will suffer permanent death and eternal destruction.  Those who belong to the Kingdom of God will have redemption and forgiveness and eternal life.

To which Kingdom do you belong?

Next time we will study Romans 6.  Have a blessed day and thanks for visiting my site.  Hope to see you here again.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Romans 4

Romans 4:1-12 – Abraham’s Faith Justified

Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.  When a man works, he is given wages.  This is not a gift, but an obligation.  To a man who doesn’t work but trusts God, his faith is credited as righteousness.  David said the same thing in Ps. 32:1-2 when he said a man is blessed apart from works.   Even though Abraham was circumcised, he was credited as righteous before he was circumcised.  He is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised.  He is also the father of the circumcised and those who walk in the footsteps of the faith. (Rom. 4:1-12).

Paul wanted to prove his message about faith so he started by explaining faith in the Old Testament.  He used Abraham and David as examples.  He wanted to show that to become righteousness is not by our works, but by our faith.

Abraham was called a friend of God in Is. 41:8 and in Is. 51:1-2 he was called a righteous man.  He could have bragged about it others, but he couldn’t brag to God.  God accepted him because he believed God not because of his good works.  He believed God’s promise of a son and that he would have many descendants and had faith it would happen.  Paul quotes David in verses 7-8 as saying we are blessed when we know God has forgiven our sins and credits us righteous apart from any works.

Jews believed a man needed circumcision.  In Genesis God commanded that every Jewish male child be circumcised as part of a covenant with God.  This was an outward sign and a permanent reminder to Israel that they needed to obey God’s laws.  Circumcision is practiced today although it is not necessary for any religious reasons.  God is more interested in spiritual circumcision.  Physical circumcision can however prevent disease and so does spiritual circumcision.  Spiritual circumcision prevents sin disease that starts in the heart.  It is putting off immorality, evil desires, anger, lying, etc.  Today God requires obedience just as He did during the Old Testament times.

A person who thinks he qualifies for heaven because of his religion or good works is wrong thinking.  We are justified by faith and not by our works.  This applies to all people.  Abraham was justified before he was circumcised.  So there is no basis or rule that one must be circumcised.  God can justify anyone who believes in Jesus Christ, even the uncircumcised.  This is the truth is the foundation for your Christian life.  Good works does not save you.  Religion does not save you.  Only faith in Jesus Christ can save you.

What are you trying to do to assure your place in heaven?

Does God see you as righteous?

“However, to the man who does not work but trust God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.” – Rom. 4:5.  Does this mean we don’t have to do any works?  No, it means your works don’t save you.  He is talking about the Jews and those who thought good works would save them.   We are under grace and under grace you don’t have to do anything to be justified and righteous.  God recognizes Jesus’ death as payment in full for all our sins.  We are all sinners so God justifies the ungodly – that’s all of us.

If you see yourself as a good person and deserving salvation, you can’t be justified.  If you see yourself as a sinner and deserving of God’s judgment, then you can be justified.  God justifies the ungodly.  We need to recognize ourselves as sinners and in need of Jesus.  We need to acknowledge that the wages of your sin is death and sin eternally separates us from God, trust in God’s promises and that Jesus died for you, and accept Him in faith.  If he justifies the ungodly, there’s hope for you.  The best news ever is we don’t have to work for our salvation.  Salvation comes to those who believe in Jesus Christ.                                                     

Are you depending on your baptism, your church attendance, or how much money you give to the church to save you?

What outside signs are you depending on?

Principle:  God justifies us by our faith alone, not by our works.

If God has forgiven me of my sins and has justified me through the blood of Jesus, why do I sometimes feel guilty of my past?  It is a lack of faith.  We let Satan into our thinking to make us feel guilty.  It seems too easy for God just to say we are forgiven.  That is lack of faith.  God tells us if we confess and repent, He will forgive any sins and remember them no more and God doesn’t lie.  SO – believe it and move on!

What sin are you looking back on that makes you feel guilty?

Have you confess it to God?

Romans 4:13-25 – Abraham’s Faith Rests in God’s Promise

It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promised to be the heir of the world, but through righteousness that comes by faith.  Abraham is the father of many nations.  He is the father of us all.  He is our father in the sight of God in whom he believed – the God who gives life to the dead.  Abraham was about 100 years old and his body was as good as dead.  His wife Sarah’s womb was dead also, but in hope he believed and so became the father of nations.  He didn’t waver in unbelief in God’s promise, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised.  This is why it was credited to him as righteous.  This is written to us also who believe in Him who raised Jesus from the dead.  He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Rom. 4:13-25)

In Genesis 12-23 God promised He would make Abraham into a great nation.  He promised to bless those who blessed him and curse those who cursed him and that all people would be blessed through him.  God promised to give the land of Canaan to him and his descendents.  God promised that Abraham’s wife would have a son and she would be the mother of nations and kings.

God had promised Abraham and Sarah a child, but they were now old and it hadn’t happened.  Abraham didn’t give up.  He had faith and believed God even though it was humanly impossible and very unlikely at this point in his life.  At times our faith cannot be without struggles, just as it was for Abraham.  As we look back on history we see God kept His promise to Abraham and gave him many descendants. 

To believe in God’s promise is the same as believing in God.  If someone promises to do something and you don’t believe him, then it’s the same as calling him a liar.  If you don’t believe God, you are calling Him a liar.  God does not lie and Abraham knew it.

Do you believe God’s promises?

Do you believe in His written Word?   

Abraham grew in his faith and gave glory to God.  This teaches us that our faith should be growing.  Your faith may be weak, but it is still faith.  Faith is a gift from God, but we have the responsibility to grow it.  We can grow it by studying God’s Word and learning His attributes and His ways.  Put your faith into action and as we do that our faith is strengthened to trust Him more and more.

How is your faith like Abraham’s?

What has your faith taught you?

Is your faith growing?

Abraham believed God’s promise in spite of his seemly impossible circumstances.  Maybe you look at your own heart and realize how sinful you are and think it is impossible for God to save you.  Maybe you say God can never forgive all that I’ve done.  God can forgive any sin and He will if you confess and repent.  We must believe God and that Jesus died as the substitute for all sinners – even you.  We are saved by grace alone through faith in Him alone.

Have you personally applied the lesson of Abraham’s faith so righteousness can be credited to you?

Principle:  God separates the sin from the sinner by placing it on Jesus.

Next time we will study Romans 5.  Have a blessed day and thanks for visiting my site.  Hope to see you here again.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Romans 3

Romans 3:1-18 – God’s Faithfulness

Paul says, what is the advantage in being a Jew?  There is much in every way.  They have been entrusted with the very word of God.  What if some did not have faith?  Is God unjust in bringing His wrath on us?  Is God just in bringing His wrath on us?  He judges the world.  If my falsehoods enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?  Some might say let us do evil that good may result.  No one is righteous.  Jews are no better than Gentiles.  They are all under sin. “There is no one righteous, not even one.” – Rom. 3:10.  All have turned away and have together become worthless.  There is no one who does good, not even one.  (Rom. 3:1-18)

Paul raises several questions that his Jewish critics would have probably have asked of him.  He responds that the Jews had many advantages.  After all, they have God’s Word and are His people.   They were honored by God.  They were entrusted with His message.  They are God’s chosen people so they have a big responsibility.  They should be the example for others to live by.  But the Jews didn’t obey God’s covenant and were not loyal to Him.  God’s Words are true even though people lie, but they thought God was unfair.  God is never unfair.  That is not His nature.

Christians today also have advantages and a huge responsibility.  We have God’s Word.  Without it we would be left with no answers.  What can we ever possess greater than the Scriptures?

How are you using the advantage of His Word?

Do you take it for granted?

The Jews didn’t realize that God’s judgment was on them, too.  God’s judgment was for them as well as the Gentiles.  We are all like a slave, because of the power that sin has over us.  Paul is saying that they can raise all the objections against God that they want, but they will lose and God will win.  They will be held more accountable under His righteous condemnation.

If you grew up in a Christian home, that is a privilege.  You were taught about God and His ways.  You went to church every Sunday.  You read your Bible.  But if you have not responded with faith in Jesus or repented of your sins, you will not be saved.  You will be held more accountable to God on judgment day.

Principle:  Spiritual privileges don’t give you any advantages with God, but increase your accountability. 

Like Paul’s message in this chapter, there are things in the Bible that are very hard to understand.  You can be a critic like these Jews demanding answers and argue with God or you can ask Him to give you more understanding and accept it on faith.

When have you argued with God?

Romans 3:19-20 – God's Law

The whole world is accountable to God.  No one will be declared righteous by observing the Law, rather through the law we become conscious of sin.  (Rom. 3:19-20)

What is the Law Paul is talking about?  It is the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17).  They are summed up in, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it; Love your neighbor as yourself.” – Matt. 22:37-40. 

Maybe you think you live by the Ten Commandments, but can you even name them all?  Which one of God’s laws have you broken?  Have you ever fudged on your taxes?  That’s stealing.  Have you ever stretched the truth?  That’s lying.  Have you ever been angry with someone or gossiped?  That’s a form of murder.  No one is made righteous by observing the Law.  God gave the Law to reveal His standard of righteousness to live by.  Its purpose is to show us our sins and proves that everyone is guilty.  The Law makes us accountable to God.  Obeying the Law does not save you.  If you have broken one of God’s laws, you are guilty of breaking them all.

It is very clear.  The human race is guilty before God and the only way to be free from guilt and God’s wrath is to be justified before God by faith in Jesus.  No one can be saved by anything they can do.  God gave us the solution to sin and it was Jesus.  The only way is to have faith and belief in Jesus Christ, who paid the penalty for our sin.

Principle:  Keeping the Law does not save us, but makes us all accountable to God.

Romans 3:21-31 – God's Righteousness 

But now there is a righteousness from God that has been made known, to which the law and the prophets testify.  This righteousness comes through Jesus Christ to all who believe.  “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” – Rom. 3:23-24.  God presented Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in His blood.  He did this to demonstrate justice.   Boasting in observing the law is excluded.  Man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.  God is the God of the Jews and the Gentiles. (Rom. 3:21-31).

“Righteous” means to be free from quilt or sin.  You are morally right or justified.  Now that we are condemned as sinners, how can we be made right?  We all can be made right with God through His free grace by trusting in Jesus, because of His sacrifice on the cross.  His death on the cross justified us to God.  Justify means we are declared righteous.  It’s a free gift given to us by His grace.  Grace is God’s favor shown to those who deserved His wrath.  It’s unmerited favor.  It’s a gift that no one deserves.  If you deserve it, it’s not grace.

“Justification” means you are declared innocent or acquitted.  That is done only through Jesus’ blood.  He was the last sacrificed needed.  He freed us from the guilt and the penalty of our sin.  We are now acceptable to God.

Why do you think God sacrificed His own Son?

How do you express His great love?

“Redemption” means to buy something back or to release someone with a payment of a ransom.  “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45.  Through Jesus’ death He paid our ransom and we were redeemed. 

“Atonement” means to be reconciled with God through the sacrificial death of Jesus.  His death for our sins satisfied and made amends with God.  All our wrongs are paid in full.  Another word for atonement is “propitiation”, which means turning the wrath of God aside.

“Apart from the law” doesn’t mean the law has no value.  The law was given to point to and show us the need for Jesus.  To be saved is not through any human actions, but through belief and faith in Jesus.  The law makes us conscious of sin.

“No one can boast” means no one deserves to be righteous.  We don’t earn peace with God by our own good actions.  That’s pride.  We become righteous only when we accept God’s gift of Jesus.  There is only one God and faith is the same for everyone.  We are justified by our faith in Him alone.

Since I mentioned pride, let’s talk about it.  Pride was the very first sin.  Pride made Satan want to be like God.  Pride was the sin of Eve and Adam.  Pride of religion is the worst kind of pride.  Remember the Pharisee who boasted and thanked God that he was not like other men - robbers, evildoers, adulterers or the tax collector?  He boasted that he fasted twice a week and gave a tenth of his money.  He was seeking human approval and demanded approval from God.  His pride kept him from being justified by God.

People today boast about the good deeds they do, how many committees they’re on, how much money they give to the church and charities, how often they attend church, and their position in the church just to name a few.  When you brag about your righteousness and look down on others, you become proud, arrogant, and self-righteous.  You are just like the Jews in Paul’s time.  To guard yourself against self-righteousness do things for God in secret.  Ask God to help you not be self-righteous.  Be humble and give God the credit not yourself.

Where is there pride in your life?

What areas in your life do you tend to be self-righteous?

Do you give honor and glory to God or do take the credit for yourself?

Principle:  The only way we can become righteous is through faith in Jesus Christ.

“Faith” is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Heb. 11:1).  Faith begins with knowledge of the truth, then belief, and then trust and commitment to God.  Remember even demons have knowledge of God and believe who He is, but they don’t yield themselves or trust in His promises.  He is their enemy not their Savior.

If you have confessed faith in Jesus, know you are saved and will have eternal life with God.  He has given you the gift of grace.  Nothing you have earned or deserved can do this.  God created you and has redeemed you.  As you grow as a follower, you love what He loves and want what He wants and want others to know Him.

Who in your life is God calling you to be a witness?

Next time we will study Romans 4.  Have a blessed day and thanks for visiting my site.  Hope to see you here again.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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