Romans 5
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 by whom we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we boast in troubles: knowing that trouble works patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 and hope does not make ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given to us.
- Verse 10 says we were God’s enemies.
- The word patience is ‘hupomone.’ It means to ‘stay under.’
- Humility stays under God’s authority.
- Troubles teach us to humble ourselves and stay under the will of God where God can bless and fill our hearts with His love for us through His Holy Spirit.
- By all this we partake of His glory.
- 2Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
- Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Christ died for the ungodly
His life saves us
6 For when we were still helpless, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will barely die for a righteous man: perhaps for a good man some would dare to die. 8 But God displays his love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, now being justified by his blood, we will 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 will be saved by his life. 11 And not only this, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
- Atonement means to cover, to cancel sins.
- John 14:19 … because I live, you will live also.
- Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
God’s grace abounds to many by Jesus
12 Since by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed on all men, for all have sinned: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not counted when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those that had not sinned like Adam's transgression, who is the pattern of him that was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if through the offence of one many are dead, much more the grace of God and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, has abounded unto many.
- His gift is free and abounds to all who will.
- Romans 10:13 For whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
In Him, we reign in life
16 The gift is not like what came through the one that sinned: for the judgment was through 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 those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
- Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him a thousand years.
18 So through one transgression, one judgment came on all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came on all men to justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one many will be made righteous.
- Adam disobeyed and all became sinners.
- Jesus humbled Himself and obeyed the Father in the hardest task ever undertaken and because of it we are saved.
- Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if you be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done.
20 Moreover the law entered so that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more: 21 so that as sin reigned unto death, even so grace might reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6
Christ brings us with Him into newness of life
1 What are we to say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may abound? 2 Never! How can we, who died to sin, still live in it? 3 Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
- His death was an execution. Ours! For our sins against our infinitely perfect Creator.
- Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we will also be in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed/justified from sin. 8.Now if we are dead with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
- John 14:19… because I live, you will live also.
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no more rule over him. 10 For when he died, he died to sin once for all: but now he lives, he lives to God. 11 In this same way consider yourselves also to be truly dead to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Sin has no power over us unless we choose to let it.
- We need to lean on the power of the Holy Spirit in times of pressure and temptation.
- We need to remember that Christ is One with us and He has overcome these things.
- We need to let Him be all that He is in us.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, to obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin: but yield yourselves to God, as those that are alive from the dead: and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin does not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? Do we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? Never! 16 Don’t you know that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, you are his servants to whom you obey; either sin unto death, or obedience to righteousness? 17 But thanks to God that you were slaves to sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of teaching that was delivered to you. 18 Then being made free from sin, you became servants of righteousness.
- Sin has pleasure, but it is empty and fleeting compared to what God desires for us.
- If we think holiness is no fun we are dead wrong.
- God’s presence is pure joy. It is the fullness of delight, deep fulfillment and wonder that mankind has been searching for since Adam fell.
- Psalm 16:11You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
God gives eternal life to us as a gift
19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh: for just as you have yielded your members slaves to uncleanness and to lawlessness resulting in further lawlessness; even so now yield your members servants of righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when you were the slaves of sin you were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in those things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and becoming servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you are saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
- John 10:28 And I give to them eternal life; they will never perish, neither can any man pluck them out of my hand.
Romans 7
The Lord set us free from the law, married us, and will raise us from death
1 Don’t you know, brothers, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how the law rules over a man as long as he lives? 2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives; but if the husband is dead, she is released from the law of her husband. 3 So then, if while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress: but if her husband is dead, she is free from that law; so that she is not an adulteress though she is married to another man. 4 Therefore, my brothers, you also have become dead to the law by the body of Christ, to be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit to God.
- Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
- Jeremiah 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, says the LORD; for I am married to you
5 For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were by the law, worked in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, being dead to that by which we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
- “We are free by no less an undertaking than God being nailed to a cross.” (someone)
God’s way is holy, just, and good
7 What do we say then? Is the law sin? Never! I would not know what sin is, except by the law: for I did not know lust, but the law had said, Do not covet. 8 And sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, worked in me all manner of forbidden longings. For without the law sin was dead. 9 For at one time I was alive without the law: but when the commandment came, sin came alive, and I died. 10 And the commandment that was to bring life, I found to be death. 11 For sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. 12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, just, and good.
- Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is your servant warned: and in keeping them there is great reward.
13 So then, has that which is good become death for me? Never. But sin, that it might appear to be sin, worked death in me by that which is good so that sin by the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am fleshly, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do, I do not allow: for what I would do, I do not do; but what I hate, that is what I do. 16 If then I do what I would not do, I consent that the law is good. 17 So then it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing: for the desire to do good is present with me; but how to perform what is good I do not find.
- Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would.
19 For the good that I would do, I do not do: but the evil that I would not do, that is what I do. 20 Now if I do what I would not, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me.
- Genesis 4:7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? and if you do not well, sin lies at the door. And his desire is unto you, and you are to rule over him.
- Matthew 5:37 But let your communication be, Yes, yes; No, no: for whatever is more than these comes from evil.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
- “We are deeply fallen but greatly loved.” (Hal Lindsay)
- Romans chapter 7 describes the wretchedness of trying to live the Christian life without God’s power.
- Romans chapter 8 describes the joy and blessedness of letting the Holy Spirit of Christ do it all through us.
- 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- I John 1:7-10 …if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
- Galatians 5:16 … Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Romans 8
God is working all things together for good to those who love Him
In Christ there is no condemnation
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, because it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. 5 For those that are in the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but those that are in the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be fleshly minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the fleshly mind is hostile toward God: it is not subject to the law of God, and cannot be. 8 So then those that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit lives because of righteousness.
- “To be in Christ is to be in the sphere of His own infinite person, power, and glory. He surrounds, He protects, He separates from all else, and He indwells the one in Him. The union that is formed in Christ is deeper than the human mind has ever conceived.” Lewis Sperry Chafer
God has made us His children and heirs
11 And if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead will also give life your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you. 12 Therefore, brothers, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live in the flesh. 13 For if you live in the flesh, you will die: but if you, through the Spirit, put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, by which we cry, Abba/daddy, Father. 16 The Spirit itself witnesses with our spirit that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; since we suffer with him we will also be glorified together.
- The Spirit of God does not lead where His word says not to go.
- Evil forces try to lead into ignorance of the God’s word and lead away from staying in Christ (John 15).
- Revelation 21:7 He that overcomes will inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he will be my son.
God’s Holy Spirit helps our weakness
18 For I conclude that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest longing of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who has subjected the same in hope, 21 because the creation itself will also be freed from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting adoption, that is, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, then we wait with patience for it. 26 In the same way the Spirit joins in to help our weakness for we do not know what we should pray for as we should know: but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with love secrets in an incomparable language. 27 And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those that love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose.
- Think of the genius and power, the absolute control of all things, that it takes to work all things together for good to those who love Him.
He makes us like His Son
He freely gives us all things
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 Moreover whom he did predestine, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What then do we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He that did not spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how will he not with him freely give us all things? 33 Who can bring charges against God's elect? It is God that justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yes rather, that is risen again, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
- God knew before creation all those that would seek Him (1John 1:20).
- That’s foreknowledge.
- The only one who could condemn us paid in full for all our crimes and is at the right hand of the Father praying for us.
- John 5:22 For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son.
Nothing in heaven or earth can separate us from His love
35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, is able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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SUMMARY: Romans 5-8
- Christ died for the ungodly
- His life saves us
- God’s grace abounds to many by Jesus
- In Him we reign in life
- Christ brings us with Him into newness of life
- God gives eternal life to us as a gift
- The Lord set us free from the law, married us, and will raise us from death
- God’s way is holy, just, and good
- God is working all things together for good to those who love Him
- In Christ there is no condemnation
- God has made us His children and heirs
- God’s Holy Spirit helps our weakness
- He makes us like His Son
- He freely gives us all things
- Nothing in heaven or earth can separate us from His love