Romans 5

Romans 5:1-21

Justification Reconciles Man Under God’s Grace: Indoctrinated to Understand our New Life in Christ – In Roman Romans 5:1-21 Paul explains that our new life in Christ provides us access into God’s grace, and assurance of eternal life in His glorious presence. Having proven God’s way of justifying man through the redemption in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:21 to Romans 4:25), Paul then explains how this affects the life of every believer by positioning him under divine grace to receive from God’s benefits (Romans 5:1-21). Man now stands in a position of grace because he has been reconciled back to God. This passage of Scripture reveals that divine grace now reigns in our lives because He has imparted His divine nature within us through the impartation of the Holy Spirit so that we can overcome life’s tribulations (Romans 5:1-5). He explains why God provided His atonement for us (because of His great love for us) (Romans 5:6-11), and how God positions us in His grace (through the obedience of one many were made righteous) (Romans 5:12-21). Outline – Here is a proposed outline:

1. To Whom Righteousness Is Imputed — Romans 5:1-52. Why Righteousness Is Imputed — Romans 5:6-113. How Righteousness Is Imputed — Romans 5:12-21 Key Words in the Passage - Some of the key words in this passage are “love,” “free,” and “grace.” Romans 5:5, “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost” Romans 5:8, “God commendeth his love toward us”

Romans 5:6-11

Why Righteousness Is Imputed - In Romans 5:1-21 Paul applies this principle of God imputing righteousness to the believer. He tells us to whom God imputes righteousness (for all of mankind in his depravity) (Romans 5:1-5), and why God imputes righteousness (because of His great love for us) (Romans 5:6-11), and how God imputes righteousness (through the obedience of one, many were made righteous) (Romans 5:12-21). Romans 5:6 — Comments – When we were unable to redeem ourselves, weakened by sin, Jesus Christ came to redeem us. Romans 5:7 — Comments - The AmpBible says that it is extraordinary for a man to give his life for an upright man, but perhaps someone would be willing to give his life for this cause. AmpBible, “Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble and lovable and generous benefactor someone might even dare to die.” Romans 5:7 gives us the image of a person struggling to have enough courage to give his own life for a person or a noble cause. This event happens quite frequently in societies through the course of history. Romans 5:9 — Comments - The demonstration of God’s love towards us through the blood sacrifice of His Son gives us hope of being saved from His divine wrath. Therefore, we can rejoice in full assurance of this hope about sharing in His eternal glory in Heaven, as stated in Romans 5:2. Romans 5:2, “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:10 — Comments - To be reconciled to God simply means that we become friends with again. Romans 5:11 — Word Study on “the atonement” – Strong says the Greek word “atonement” (καταλλαγή) (G2643) means, “exchange, (fig. adjustment), i.e., restoration to (the divine) favor. Webster says the English word atonement means, “restoration of friendly relations.” Thayer says it refers to “the restoration of the favour of God to sinners that repent and trust in Jesus.”

Romans 5:12-21

How Righteousness Is Imputed – In Romans 5:1-21 Paul applies this principle of God imputing righteousness to the believer. He tells us to whom God imputes righteousness (Romans 5:1-5), and why God imputes righteousness (because of His great love for us) (Romans 5:6-11), and how God imputes righteousness (through the obedience of one, many were made righteous) (Romans 5:12-21). This passage of Scripture contrasts Adam with Jesus in order to explain how God imputes righteousness to us. Paul makes the claim that sin entered the world by one man, bringing death upon all of humanity (Romans 5:12). He then supports his claim with a number of arguments (Romans 5:13-17): (1) Adam was from one offence unto many deaths; Jesus was from grace unto many gift of eternal life, (2) Adam was from judgment to condemnation; Jesus was from righteousness to justification, (3) Adam was from one disobedience unto many sinners; Jesus was from one obedience unto many righteous. Paul concludes with the statement that eternal life through God’s grace is now available to all of mankind through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 5:18-21). Romans 5:12 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: Romans 5:12 — Comments – Sin entered the world through one man, the man Adam. Although the woman took the forbidden fruit first, the man took the responsibility of this sin. Sin is like leaven in that it permeates everything it touches. When Adam sinned, he allowed sin to enter into the world and defile everything under its influence. Sin entered into every human being. We were in the loins of Adam when he sinned we partook of that sin and became sinful in the same way that Levi paid tithes “in Abraham” (Hebrews 7:9-10). Hebrews 7:9-10, “And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.” Romans 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Romans 5:13 — Comments - When there is no law, there is no transgression of the law. For example, a person cannot break the speed limit in his car when there are no speed limits. He may be endangering himself and others by speeding, but he is not breaking the law. Prior to the institution of the Law of Moses, God did not judge individuals for their sins, although He did judge corporately, as with the Flood and Sodom and Gomorrah. For example, God did not judge Cain for murdering Abel. However, under the Law each sin was imputed upon an individual, so that he had to remember each one and prepare the proper sacrifice. This caused those under the Law to become sin-conscience as they always trying to remember their sins so that they did not violate the Law and come under the curses of the Law. The effects of sin were still reigning over mankind from the time of Adam to Moses, and death was the manifestation of man’s sinful nature; but individuals did not have to become conscience of their sins as those under the Law. This means that God will impute different levels of judgment on Judgment Day simply because we are now more accountable to God than those who lived in ignorance (Acts 17:30). We see a reference to various levels of accountability and judgment in Matthew 11:24 : Acts 17:30, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” Matthew 11:24, “But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.” Romans 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. Romans 5:14 — “who is the figure of him that was to come” - Comments - Jesus is called the “last Adam” in 1 Corinthians 15:45. The phrase “the last Adam” means that there will never been the need for an additional redemption for mankind. Christ’s work on Calvary was total and complete for man’s eternal redemption. Otherwise, Jesus would have been called the “second Adam”, and others would have followed in order to complete our redemption. But Jesus’ death and resurrection completed our redemption. There will be no other types of Adam. 1 Corinthians 15:45, “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” Romans 5:14 — Comments - Death was the manifestation of man’s sinful nature, even though man had no law to reveal or define his sin. The moment the Law came, man’s sin nature was magnified. Romans 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. Romans 5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. Romans 5:17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Romans 5:17 — Comments - Just as the sin of Adam brought us into bondage to poverty, disease, lack and fear, so did the obedience of one man, Jesus Christ, bring us into health, prosperity and an abundance of joy. We now reign as kings in this life, having been given authority over the elements of this world. God created this earth to be subject to man and through Christ Jesus this is now so. We are now children of God, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ Jesus, seated with Him at the right hand of the Father far above “all principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12) Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” In fact, everything that Jesus Christ placed under His feet during His earthly ministry is also under our dominion and we can walk in the same authority that Jesus walked through faith in His name. He was teaching His disciples to so do by sending them out to minister in His name by twos. Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. Romans 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: Romans 5:20 — Comments - The Law was given in order to manifest our sins. This should lead us to repentance and faith in God (Galatians 3:19). Galatians 3:19, “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.”