Romans 5:1–11

Romans 5:1-11

• The doctrine of Grace – Chapters 1-8
  • All have sinned – Chapters 1-3
  • Saved by faith alone – Chapters 4-5
  • Victory over sin – Chapters 6-8
  • Examples of Faith…
  • To prove the point we can ONLY be saved by FAITH – we were given TWO examples of FAITH…
  • Abraham – was COUNTED [λογίζομαι] righteous because he BELIEVED – Genesis 15:6
  • Not because of what he had DONE [wages] – but as a GIFT [grace]
  • King David – was BLESSED because God did NOT count [λογίζομαι] his SIN – Psalm 32:1
  • Promise through Faith…
  • When was Abraham COUNTED [λογίζομαι] righteous – before he was CIRCUMCISED…
  • So that he might become the FATHER of ALL [πᾶς] who believe [Jew and Gentile]
  • Because God had PROMISED Abraham he would have children as the STARS – Genesis 17:5
  • An IMPOSSIBLE promise because he was 75 years old and had NO kids…
  • Yet Abraham looked up – and BELIEVED God could give LIFE to his DEAD body…
  • And that God could SEE the children that had NOT been born yet [Isaac]
  • This was NOT written just for Abraham – it was also written for us…
  • That we might believe what God said [the impossible] – He can take away ALL of our SIN!
• 1^st – Results of Faith… vs. 1-5
  • 1^st – Peace with God… vs. 1
    • Justified…
    • Therefore – having been justified by faith!
    • THEREFORE [οὖν] – because we are COUNTED [λογίζομαι] as RIGHTEOUS – Romans 4:24
    • NOT because of any ACTION or GOOD work we have done [Law or Religion]
    • But we BELIEVED in what God SAID – Jesus DIED for our SINS – Romans 4:25
    • We are now JUSTIFIED [passive] by [ἐκ] FAITH – just as if we NEVER sinned – Romans 1:17
    • And the RESULT of our JUSTIFICATION comes with FIVE benefits:
    • Through Jesus…
    • We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ!
    • FIRST – because we are JUSTIFIED – we have PEACE [εἰρήνη] with [πρὸς] God…
    • Before we had FAITH – we were ENEMIES of God – we were destined for WRATH…
    • But because we put our FAITH in Jesus – and God JUSTIFIED us [passive]
    • We now have [present] PEACE with God – we are NO longer fear the JUDGEMENT!
    • People FEAR death – because they KNOW what comes afterwards…
    • We will ALL stand before the JUDGEMENT seat of Christ – II Corinthians 5:10
    • For most it will be a BAD day when the books are opened [second death] – Revelation 20:13
    • But for those who are JUSTIFIED – we have PEACE knowing our SINS are forgiven!
    • Our Lord…
    • That PEACE is not just for the JUDGEMENT day – it is for EVERY day…
    • When [διά] Jesus Christ is our Lord [κύριος] – we have CONTINUAL peace [present]!
    • We would not go to your enemy for help – or look to them for encouragement…
    • We would go to a friend for help in times of trouble – a kind word – helping hand!
    • Because we have peace with God – through the cross of Jesus Christ…
    • We can come to the Lord for HELP and COMFORT – and receive PEACE from God!
    • Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you.” [NLT]
  • 2^nd – Access to Grace… vs. 2
    • By Faith…
    • Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace!
    • SECOND – because we are JUSTIFIED – we have [perfect] ACCESS by FAITH into GRACE…
    • ACCESS – the ability to GO [ἄγω] TOWARDS [πρός] something…
    • The imagery is like that of KEY that opens up a LOCKED door…
    • FAITH is the KEY [instrumental] that opens up the door to the GRACE of God…
    • GRACE [χάρις] 156x in NT – means the GIFT of God…
    • His GIFT is the CROSS of Christ – that takes away all of our SIN [justified]!
    • To Stand…
    • In which we stand!
    • And that GRACE is the ONLY way we can STAND [perfect]
    • STAND before a RIGHTEOUS – HOLY – PERFECT God [through the cross]!
    • Moses wanted to see the FACE of the Lord…
    • God let His GOODNESS [כָּל־טוּבִי] pass before Moses – and He called out His name…
    • But no man can look on His FACE and live – Exodus 33:20
    • If Moses could NOT even look at the LORD…
    • There is NO way SINNERS like us could STAND in His presence…
    • But that is where GRACE comes in – we believe [faith] God has taken away our SIN…
    • So that we do have ACCESS into His PRESENCE – we can come BOLDLY!
    • Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come BOLDLY to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace [χάρις] to help in time of need.”
  • 3^rd – Rejoice in Hope… vs. 2
    • Confident…
    • And rejoice in hope!
    • THIRD – because we are JUSTIFIED – we REJOICE in HOPE…
    • REJOICE [καυχάομαι] – more often translated as GLORY or BOAST…
    • In contrast to BOASTING in our own ABILITIES or GOODNESS…
    • We instead BOAST – put our CONFIDENCE – in our HOPE…
    • HOPE [ἐλπίς] 54x in NT carries the idea of expectation – what we EXPECT to happen!
    • We CANNOT see God – have NEVER been to heaven – have NOT seen Jesus…
    • It is only through HOPE we believe the Gospel is true – it has the power to save us…
    • By HOPE we believe that life is NOT only about living here on earth…
    • By HOPE we believe one day God will take us to be with Him forever in heaven!
    • Hebrews 11:1 – “Faith is the substance of things HOPED for – the evidence of things not seen.”
    • Glory of God…
    • Of the glory of God!
    • We HOPE God will be the one who brings us into His GLORY [τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ]!
    • Our great HOPE – one day we will stand before the father in heaven and hear the words…
    • Well done good and faithful servant – enter into the Joy of your Lord – Matthew 25:21
    • NOT because we are such wonderful people – we are SINNERS…
    • But we have been JUSTIFIED [passive] by faith through grace in Jesus!
  • 4^th – Rejoicing in Tribulation… vs. 3-4
    • Confident… vs. 3
    • Not only that but we also glory in tribulations!
    • FOURTH – because we are JUSTIFIED – we REJOICE in TRIBULATIONS…
    • Not ONLY do we REJOICE [καυχάομαι] in the HOPE we have…
    • BUT [ἀλλὰ] we also BOAST [καυχάομαι] in our TRIBULATIONS…
    • Tribulation [θλῖψις] – the word means to CRUSH [like grape in a press]
    • This is counter intuitive – it seems to make NO sense we would BOAST in being CRUSHED…
    • We understand BOASTING in the hope of our salvation – but NOT in hardships!
    • We have CONFIDENCE in the HOPE that ONE day [future] we will be with God in GLORY…
    • But we also have CONFIDENCE God is using the TRIBULATIONS [present] in our lives TODAY!
    • Abide… vs. 3
    • Knowing that tribulation produces perseverance!
    • The reason why we BOAST in our TRIBULATIONS [crushing]
    • Is because we SEE [εἴδω] what the [ὁ] TRIBULATION produces [present] in us…
    • TRIBULATION produces PERSEVERANCE [ὑπομονή] – from the root word to ABIDE [μένω]
    • Abide is one of those funny Biblical words – we never use it…
    • It is better interpreted to ENDURE – to stubbornly refuse to let go!
    • If the Children of Israel had NOT been caught between Egypt and the Red Sea…
    • They NEVER could have seen their God was able to part an ocean!
    • It is through our TRIBULATIONS that we get to see God WORK…
    • It is where we learn NOT to depend on ourselves – but to instead DEPEND on Jesus…
    • And ONLY when we ABIDE in Jesus – can we produce good FRUIT!
    • John 15:5 – “He who abides [μένω] in Me – and I in him – bears much fruit.”
    • Experience… vs. 4
    • And perseverance character – and character hope!
    • What follows is a PROGRESSION – where one thing LEADS to the NEXT…
    • TRIBULATION [θλῖψις] produces PERSEVERANCE [ὑπομονή]
    • And PERSEVERANCE produces CHARACTER [δοκιμή]
    • CHARACTER [δοκιμή] – someone who has EXPERIENCE – DISCENRMENT [δοκέω]
    • And EXPERIENCE produces HOPE [ἐλπίς] – bringing us around full circle…
    • As we go through TRIBULATION – but see [experience] God taking care of all our needs…
    • We gain CONFIDENCE He will take care of us the NEXT time as well…
    • And that gives us HOPE that NO matter what happens we will be VICTORIOUS!
    • Why do we believe the sun will rise tomorrow morning – maybe it will fail…
    • We are confident the sun will rise – because it always has – it has never failed!
    • It is NOT that we have great faith – we have just seen the great FAITHFULNESS of God…
    • Giving us the HOPE the Lord will take care of us – He will NEVER fail us…
    • We do NOT panic in the trials – we PATIENTLY wait on the Lord…
    • We TRUST in the Lord – DEPEND on Jesus – because we have learned He is trustworthy…
    • We can rejoice in trials and tribulation because we KNOW God will take care of us!
  • 5^th – Not Disappointed… vs. 5
    • Love of God…
    • Now hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts!
    • FIFTH – because we are JUSTIFIED – we are NOT disappointed…
    • DISAPPOINT [καταισχύνω] – meaning to be ASHAMED…
    • Because our CONFIDENCE in God that comes through TRIBULATION – gives us EXPERIENCE…
    • And that EXPERIENCE gives us HOPE – that God answers by pouring out His LOVE…
    • LOVE [ἀγάπη] – the UNCONDITIONAL love of God – I John 4:8
    • Like a CHILD who is competing in a SPORTS event…
    • And things are NOT going well – they are struggling [θλῖψις]
    • But they look over and see the LOVING look of their father that says – I am PROUD of you!
    • When we put our HOPE in our FATHER – even in the HARD time…
    • We look over and see His LOVING look that says He is PROUD of us…
    • And we do NOT need to worry – He is going to get us through!
    • By the Spirit…
    • By the Holy Spirit who was given to us!
    • How does the Father show us His LOVE…
    • By [διὰ] giving [passive] by GRACE – His Holy Spirit [πνεύματος ἁγίου]
    • GRACE is not just for SALVATION [the cross] – it is for EVERY day [the spirit]
    • And when we are FULL of the SPIRIT – we will NOT be disappointed!
    • We CANNOT live the Christian walk – live for Jesus – in our own strength…
    • We STAND for Jesus – live for God – through the POWER of Spirit…
    • It is when we realize we CANNOT do it on our own – that we look to God for His GRACE!
    • II Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient. My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
• 2^nd – Object of our Faith… vs. 6-11
  • 1^st – Our Problem… vs. 6
    • Our Faith…
    • Having given us FIVE results of being JUSTIFIED by FAITH…
    • Paul went on to establish the OBJECT of our FAITH…
    • WHAT or WHO are we putting our FAITH in to JUSTIFY us!
    • No Strength…
    • For when we were still without strength!
    • FOR [γάρ] – the reason why we NEED to have FAITH…
    • Is we did NOT have the STRENGTH [ἀσθενής] to be able to live RIGHTEOUSLY [obey the Law]
    • The LAW is GOOD – it is the STANDARD to get to heaven – Romans 7:12
    • The PROBLEM is that we are NOT able to KEEP the LAW – Romans 7:14
    • We may be able to keep SOME of the Law – SOME of the time…
    • But the STANDARD is we need to keep ALL of the Law – ALL of the time – James 2:10
  • 2^nd – The Solution… vs. 6-7
    • Jesus died… vs. 6
    • In due time Christ died!
    • Since we could NOT keep the LAW – Jesus came to do it for us…
    • He did NOT come to REMOVE the LAW – He came to FULFILL it – Matthew 5:17
    • Jesus lived a PERFECT life [only one] – so He had the RIGHT to enter heaven…
    • But rather than receiving His REWARD – He instead paid our PENALTY…
    • For the WAGES [reward] for SIN is DEATH – Romans 6:23
    • Therefore – at the APPOINTED [κατὰ] time – Christ DIED!
    • II Corinthians 5:21 – “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
    • There was NO way for us to be able to get to HEAVEN…
    • Therefore Jesus came to live a PERFECT life – so He could give us His RIGHTEOUSNESS…
    • So that now when God looks at our LEDGER – it reads PERFECT – without SIN!
    • The Ungodly… vs. 6-7
    • For the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die.
    • Yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die!
    • WHO did Jesus DIE for…
    • FOR [γάρ] a RIGHTEOUS [δίκαιος] one [τις] – a few would be willing to DIE…
    • FOR [γάρ] the GOOD [ἀγαθός] one might be willing to DIE…
    • But Jesus was willing to DIE – for the UNGODLY [ἀσεβής]
    • This is a SHOCKING statement – Jesus did NOT die for those who were WORTHY…
    • He gave His life for those who did NOT [ἀ] WORSHIP God [σέβω]!
    • There are NO righteous men [δίκαιος] – Romans 3:10
    • But there are a few would DIE for a RIGHTEOUS cause [τις]
    • And there are some who would DIE for a GOOD [ἀγαθός] man [secret service]
    • Yet they are exception – and few and far in between…
    • And certainly NO one would NOT be willing to die in place of a murderer…
    • We would want them pay the penalty for their crimes!
    • But Jesus did NOT die for us because we were WORTHY…
    • He did NOT lay down His life for a RIGHTEOUS cause – or GOOD leader…
    • Jesus died for us while we were WEAK [still in bondage to sin]
  • 3^rd – The Reason… vs. 8-11
    • Love… vs. 8
    • God demonstrates His own love toward us in while we were still sinners Christ died for us!
    • Why would Jesus DIE for the UNGODLY – the UNWORTHY…
    • With [σύν] this God ESTABLISHED [ἵστημι] His LOVE [ἀγάπη] for us…
    • That while we were [present] SINNERS – Christ DIED for us!
    • If I say I LOVE my wife – that is nice and puts a smile on her face…
    • But if she is having a BAD day – and is in a BAD mood – and says HURTFUL things…
    • And rather than REACT in kind – I instead go out of my way to BLESS her – that is LOVE…
    • Because it is one thing to SAY we LOVE someone – but the PROOF comes with ACTIONS!
    • If we are looking for PROOF that the Lord loves us…
    • We need to LOOK for further than the CROSS of CHRIST!
    • Saved from Wrath… vs. 9
    • Much more then – having now been justified by His blood.
    • We shall be saved from wrath through Him!
    • If Jesus was willing to DIE for us while we were still SINNERS…
    • How much MORE – now that we are JUSTIFIED [passive] by His BLOOD [death on the cross]
    • Will we [future] be SAVED [passive] through Him from the WRATH of God [τῆς ὀργῆς]!
    • There is a WRATH that is coming upon the earth – I Thessalonians 1:10
    • When ALL men will have to be ACCOUNTABLE for their SINS!
    • Hebrew 10:27 – “The terrible expectation of Gods judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.” [NLT]
    • God poured out His WRATH [cup] on Jesus [Garden of Gethsemane] – Matthew 26:39
    • So that He does NOT have to pour out His WRATH upon us!
    • Reconciled… vs. 10
    • For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.
    • Much more – having been reconciled – we shall be saved by His life!
    • SINCE [indicative] while we were ENEMIES of God were RECONCILED [passive]
    • RECONCILED [καταλλάσσω] 6x in NT – to exchange one thing for another…
    • SINCE God exchanged His WRATH for LOVE through [διά] the DEATH of His SON…
    • How much more now that we have been RECONCILED [we have His love]
    • Shall we be [future] SAVED [passive] in [ἐν] His LIFE!
    • II Corinthians 5:19 – “[Through] Christ reconciling the world to Himself not [counting] their trespasses to them.”
    • Rejoice… vs. 11
    • And not only that but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
    • Through whom we have now received the reconciliation!
    • But [ἀλλά] NOT only are we saved from the WRATH that is to come…
    • Just as we are CONFIDENT [καυχάομαι] in our HOPE and TRIBULATION…
    • We also CONFIDENT [καυχάομαι] in God through our Lord [κύριος] Jesus Christ…
    • Because through Him we have now been RECONCILED [καταλλαγή]!
    • The RESULTS of living by FAITH are incredible…
    • We have CONFIDENCE in the FUTURE – the HOPE we will be with Jesus in Heaven…
    • We have CONFIDENCE today – – knowing our TRIBULATIONS teach us to ABIDE…
    • And the reason why we have CONFIDENCE – is NOT because of our WORKS…
    • But because of the WORK the Lord has done to RECONCILE us to Him through Jesus!