Romans 5:1-21 Lesson 293

Romans 5:1-21
Lesson 293

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

Salvation explained.
The blessings of justification.

Atonement for sin.
Jesus' death on the cross guarantees us hope, peace, and salvation (5:1-9).

Jesus, the new Adam (5:14).
The fall of mankind through Adam, the redemption of mankind through Jesus.

Jesus, the new Adam.

By British artist Simon Dewey (1962 - ).

Verses 5:1-5

"These verses introduce a section that contains some difficult concepts. To understand the next four chapters, it helps to keep in mind the two-sided reality of the Christian life. On the one hand, we are complete in Christ (our acceptance with him is secure); on the other hand, we are growing in Christ (we are becoming more and more like him). At one and the same time we have the status of kings and the duties of slaves. We feel both the presence of Christ and the pressure of sin. We enjoy the peace that comes from being made right with God, but we still face daily problems that often help us grow. If we remember these two sides of the Christian life, we will not grow discouraged as we face temptations and problems. Instead, we will learn to depend on the power available to us from Christ, who lives in us by the Holy Spirit."

From the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; page 2234-2235.

Study Tip:

Take notes.
Notes keep us focused and help us learn and retain longer.
Plus, we can carry notes to review and meditate on as we go about our day.

The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Romans

The King James Bible

Romans 5:1-21
The rewards of justification

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.

Margin notes:

"Therefore." (5:1) - A bridge word that carries us from the "promise of faith" discussed in chapter four to the "rewards of justification" in chapter five.

"Justified." (5:1) - To be justified is to be made right, forgiven, redeemed, pardoned, and to be set free from the bondage of sin. We are justified, not by our deeds or by obeying the Mosaic Law (Philippians 3:9), but by faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 1:17; 3:23-29; Galatians 2:16).  Being justified means, we are spared our punishment and "have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ"
(Romans 5:1), who was crucified and suffered the penalty for our sins (Isaiah 53:11; Ephesians 1:7).  Once justified, we are entitled to all the heavenly rewards as if we were in total obedience to the Mosaic Law (Romans 5:1-10). Our good deeds do not justify us but are the results of our justification.

"Peace with God." (5:1) - While unbelievers are at war with God (Psalm 7:11; Ephesians 5:6), believers are reconciled with Him (Colossians 1:21-22).

"By whom also we have access by faith." (5:2) - We have access to God through Jesus (John 10:9).

"We glory in tribulations." (5:3) - Christian's glory in their trials. Adversity is God's way of building character and preparing believers for greater things (Matthew 5:12). Besides, how can we appreciate our blessings if we have not faced a few tribulations?
"And patience, experience; and experience, hope." (5:4) - Means, "Patience produces character; and character produces, hope."

"The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts." (5:5) - The word "love" has several meanings in Greek. The Greeks had a word to describe the love felt for a sibling. They had a separate word to convey the love a parent feels for their children. Another word to describe the passionate love felt for a spouse. The "love" in this verse is agape love, the highest form of love. It is the love God feels for us. It is an unconditional, unselfish love that never ends regardless of what we do. It is a love that gives without asking anything in return.  See also 2 Corinthians 1:22.

"We were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." (5:6) - We are too weak and helpless to save ourselves, so in "due time," Christ saved us. God's timing in sending His Son to save us was not accidental (Galatians 4:4).

"For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die." (5:7) - Jesus died for everyone, even the worse sinner.

"While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (5:8) - Jesus died for us even though we are sinners. It is easier to sacrifice your life to save a good person who loves you. But it takes unprecedented love to die on the cross for sinners who don't love you. Christ died for us, not because we are worthy of salvation or have earned it.  He gave His life because He loves us unconditionally and we are unable to save ourselves.  An amazing testimony of devotion.  See also John 3:16 and 1 John 4:9.

"Reconciled." (5:10) - The reconciled are those who have been reunited, merged, or rejoined. People who were estranged but once again enjoy fellowship are said to be reconciled. In the case of our estrangement with God, our fellowship has been reestablished by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:34; 2 Corinthians 5:18), not by our repentance or anything we have done.

"As by one man sin entered into the world." (5:12) - Adam brought sin into the world (Genesis 3:1-6). We are all infused with Adam's nature and prone to sin. But what Adam did, Jesus undid.

"So death passed upon all men." (5:12) - Before Adam's sin, there was no death.

"For that all have sinned." (5:12) - Our sinful nature makes us allies with Adam, not God.

"Until the law." (5:13) - This refers to the Mosaic Law of the Old Testament.

"After the similitude of Adam's transgression." (5:14) - "After the pattern of Adam's sin."

"The figure of him that was to come." (5:14) - Adam was a symbol of Jesus.

"Not as the offence." (5:15) - Means, "Not as the sin of Adam."

"The free gift." (5:15) - The gift of salvation, free to all.

"Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many." (5:15) - "Many received the gift through Jesus Christ." Thanks to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, we are offered the gift of salvation (Isaiah 53:11).

"For if by one man's offence death reigned." (5:17) - "Because of the sin of one man (Adam) death ruled."

"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound." (5:20) - Thanks to the Mosaic Law, we can see how sinful we are. The Law showed us our sinful nature and how far short we come to God's standards (Romans 7:7; Galatians 3:24).

New Living Translation

Romans 5:1-21
Faith Brings Joy

1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

9 And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation.

10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.

11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Adam and Christ Contrasted

12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break.

14 Still, everyone died-from the time of Adam to the time of Moses-even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come.

15 But there is a great difference between Adam's sin and God's gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.

16 And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but God's free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.

17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

18 Yes, Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.

19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

20 God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant.

21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's Question:

1. What are the blessings of justification?

"It takes the whole Bible to make a whole Christian to reach the whole world."

Unknown author

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. The blessings of justification are;

1) Peace with God (5:1).

2) Grace, the state of God's favor (5:2).

3) Hope of the glory of God and having our sins forgiven (5:2).

4) Patience through tribulations (5:3).

5) Character (5:4).

6) The assurance that we are saved (5:9-10).

7) Reconciliation (5:10).

8) Joy and atonement (5:11).

9) Eternal life (5:21).

Application thought for the day:

Verses 5:1-5 are inspirational words to meditate on whenever we are in need of peace or reassurance.

Whenever you feel doubt, despair, or are tempted to sin, ponder God's assurances outlined in verses 5:6-11.
Mediate upon their meaning and let go of everything that prevents you from reconciling with God.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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