ROMANS 5

 Because believers have been justified by faith, they have peace with God through Jesus, having access to God in grace, and can rejoice in hope. And also they can rejoice in trials because trials produce perseverance, character, and hope because the love of God has been poured out in their hearts by the Holy Spirit...

Even while sinners were still weak, Christ died for the ungodly. Most people would not die for a righteous man or good man, but Jesus died while man was still sinning. Because of His blood, believers are justified and rescued from God's wrath. 

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.

Because of Adam (the one man), sin (the offense) entered the world along with death, which spread to all men, and that offense resulted in condemnation. But through the One Man's righteous act and His obedience, this resulted in justification of life for many.

The Law entered that offense might abound, but where sin abounded, grace abounded much more; sin reigned in death, but grace reigns through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

COMMENTARY

In this chapter, Paul is telling believers that what Christ did on the cross "...delivers us from the guilt of sin...we will not come before God for judgment...an eternal home is waiting for those who have trusted Christ." 

But what about the present?

When a believer comes to Christ, these are his benefits:

1. Peace with God! No more alienation from God. No more guilt from sin!

2. Access to God in prayer. Go directly to Him!

3. Hope in God's promises and future!

4. Triumph in trials! Trials bring us into a closer and deeper relationship with God, and that brings joy and peace and patience and character and more hope!

5. Love of God brought to believers by the Holy Spirit who was given to them.

6. The Holy Spirit...our Helper! Again, He makes the love of God very concrete in a believer's heart. 

SIDEBAR: Imagine this: Jesus died for the ungodly -- His enemies, those who hated Him! Also, God did not save you with His love. He is holy and righteous, which means He must judge unrighteousness. Instead, God saves people by His grace, through faith. He loved you enough to send His Son to die for you, and that is how God demonstrates His love. When the guilt of sin was removed (through Christ's sacrifice on the cross), then He accepts repentant sinners. 

7. Deliverance from God's wrath. Believers are free from the penalty of sin. 

8. JOY in the Lord! Right now!! 

These are the benefits Paul described for those who enjoy salvation. 

SANCTIFICATION OF SAINTS

Justification is when a person is declared righteous at the moment of salvation. However, there is a process to make a person righteous by causing him or her to grow in grace and become sanctified (set apart) for God. 

Adam disobeyed God and sin entered the world, and with it death. This is how we all became sinners: 

1. We commit sin.

2. We are sinners by nature.

3. We are in a state of sin.

4. We are sinners by imputation because Adam was the federal headship of the human race.

Adam's sin was imputed to us. All mankind is lost, even little babies and civilizations of people on remote islands who never heard the gospel. All people are alienated from God. People don't want to be saved. 

But Christ is the federal head of "the new race of redeemed man, and the church is His body, a new creation."

DEATH

There are three terms of death: 

1. Physical means the body, a separation of spirit and body. 

2. Spiritual means separation from and rebellion against God, alienated from God, and dead in trespasses and sins.

3. Eternal death is eternal separation from God unless man is redeemed. 

Finally, the way sin is imputed from Adam through mankind is the same way righteousness is imputed from Christ to believers. Adam's disobedience made us all sinners with a sin nature, guilty of sin; but Christ's obedience (death and resurrection) made a way for God to declare believers righteous before Him. 

The Kingdom has been established on the cross of Christ. All other ways are sinking sand. 

DON'T BE THIS GUY