AM June 29th Rom 5

June 29th Romans, 5

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 the glory of God. 3: And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4: And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto 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 commendeth 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. 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 imputed when there is no law. 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. 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. 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. 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.) 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. 19: For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20: Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul says we are declared righteous before God on the basis of faith and because of this we are in a state of peace with God through what Christ has accomplished. Because of what Christ has done we are brought into a standing before God characterised by the unmerited kindness of God and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only this we glory in the opposition, we face, because we know that this trouble works patience in our lives and patience brings experience and experience hope in God. And our hope will never be embarrassing because Gods love is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which God has given to us. You see, when we were helpless sinners Christ died for us. Most people would not die for a righteous man however perhaps people would die for a good man but God demonstrated his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. But much more than this we are declared righteous by the blood of Christ and therefore we are saved from the wrath of God that is coming. If God has reconciled those that were his enemies by the death of his Son we will most certainly be saved by his life. And even more we are full of the joy of the Lord through Jesus Christ, and in Christ we have received the atonement. Through Adam sin entered into the world and death by sin and so that is why every man dies eventually because all men have sinned. Until the Mosaic Law was given sin existed in the world but sin was not reckoned to men when there was no law. However death dominated the lives of men from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not committed the same sin as Adam had. Through one man’s (Adam) sin all die, but conversely, through one man (Christ) many receive the gift of Gods Grace. Adam committed one sin and through it brought condemnation to all men. But the free gift of God in Christ brings forgiveness of many sins. Death dominated the lives of men through one man but by one other man the abundance of God grace came to all believers who are declared righteous in Jesus Christ. One man brought judgment on all men but the righteousness of God comes on all believers. By Adam’s disobedience many were made sinners, but by the obedience of Christ many are made righteous. The law was given so that men might know how wicked they really are, but where sin abounded the grace of God abounded even more. Just as sin dominated in men’s lives bringing death so the grace of God dominates through righteousness to eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Steve