Romans05

The Benefits of Justification Romans 5:1-11 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of God’s glory. 3 And not only that, but we glory in trials also, knowing that trials work patience, 4 patience, experience, and experience, hope. 5 And hope makes not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom is given to us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 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. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Paul has shown that the gospel has not really changed from the Old Testament to the New. Jews and Gentiles are still saved in the same way – by grace, apart from Law-keeping.
The Law condemns b/c it only shows how far short of God’s righteousness men fall.
Faith results in righteousness b/c it believes God and receives forgiveness of sins.
The gospel which Paul preached, offers the same righteousness (of Christ) through the same means (faith), apart from works, that was imputed to Abraham.
Saving faith and its resulting righteousness is not a “fair weather faith.” The salvation which God provides is permanent, lasting. It proves even more certain in the trials and adversities of life (5:2-5). The more we see God’s grace preserving us through trials, the more confident we become of the certainty of our ultimate victory.
More than this, We are assured that our salvation is permanent because of the way in which God provided our righteousness.
God sent His Son to die for our sins, and make us righteous, while we were still sinners.
If God did that for us while we were still His enemies, then surely He will preserve us from His wrath now that we are His children (5:8-10), who have been forgiven and reconciled.
If we are saved by sharing in the death of Christ, think what will result from sharing in His life!
Now, in the final verses of chapter 5, man’s unrighteousness is taken back to its original source—the sin of Adam.

God’s Redemption in Christ

Paul concludes this section with a second “greater than” argument. The work of Jesus Christ is “greater than” the work of Adam. Adam’s sin had great and terrible repercussions. Adam’s sin made all men sinners, and resulted in Man’s separation from God. Man’s universal unrighteousness was described in chapters 1 and 2 as the result of man’s rejection of the truth.

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not recognized when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of the transgression of Adam, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But the free gift is not as the offence. For if, through the offence of one, many be dead, (then) much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, has abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like the judgment of sin: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned because of one; much more life shall reign in those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness because of one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore just as judgment came upon all men, by the offence of one, leading to condemnation; even so the free gift came upon all men, by the righteousness of one, resulting in justification and life. 19 For as many as were made sinners by one man’s disobedience, even as many shall be made righteous by the obedience of one. 20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might become more obvious. However, as sin became obvious, grace became much more obvious. 21 And just as sin has reigned unto death, even so righteousness, through grace, is able to reign unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. ………. (Romans 5:12-21)

Paul concludes this section with a second “greater than” argument. The work of Jesus Christ is “greater than” the work of Adam.
Adam’s sin had great and terrible repercussions – It made all men sinners, and resulted in man’s separation from God and the universal unrighteousness, described in chapters 1 and 2 as the result of man’s rejection of the truth.
Now, in the final verses of chapter 5, man’s unrighteousness is taken back to its original source—the sin of Adam.
Who is the greater of the two, Adam or Christ? Christ is the greater of the two, far greater. If this is so, then we can be assured that the results of Christ’s righteousness overcome and overshadow the results of Adam’s unrighteousness.
IF Adam’s act resulted in sin and death for all his descendants, for the human race, THEN Christ’s work will result in life and peace for all those who are in Him, all who are, by faith, His children.
IF tragedy was the result of Adam’s act, THEN triumph will surely be the result of Christ’s work.
Thus, the salvation which God has provided for men is not only good, but permanent and sure.
If Adam’s sin was multiplied, as it were, through the human race, so righteousness was multiplied even more, through Jesus Christ. Paul derives from this a universal principle of God’s economy: The grace of God always exceeds man’s sin. There are some serious potential abuses of this truth, however, and Paul will take this up in the next section.