Romans Chapter 5
Many of us understand that we need to be saved from sin and from death and from the works of the devil. What we need to also get a firm grasp of is the need for mankind to be saved from the wrath of God. The Bible clearly speaks of the righteous wrath of God. Our God is holy and He does not tolerate sin. Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
Romans 5:9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
That is why we need Jesus. He is the only one who can provide a reconciliation between us and God. This is where that beautiful word propitiation comes in. Jesus was the propitiation, the perfect lamb sacrificed to satisfy the wrath of God for us. But here is the most mind-blowing truth of all – it was the love of God for us that sent Jesus to the cross so that we could be reconciled to Him. The love of God is so great that it is too difficult to explain and yet it is what gives us confidence in our walk with Him.
In this chapter Paul will explain the many benefits of being a redeemed believer in God.
Let's Reflect
1. Notice in verse 1 that Paul tells us that we are justified by faith. We are not justified by good works or any other form of religious practice. The fact that we are justified by faith through our Lord Jesus should give us confidence and we have also been given what benefit? This is the opposite of being at enmity with God.
2. The second benefit is that we have a standing in grace. Grace is God’s unmerited favor toward us. We are saved by His grace, and we get to stand in His continual grace. This means I do not have to do anything to prove I am worthy of God’s love. What is the natural emotion we will have when we receive His grace?
3. We will also have hope. This hope is different than “I hope I get the job.” This is a certain hope or happy certainty. What are we certain of with this hope in Christ?
“Alas, how few believers have the courage of faith! When some saint here or there does begin to believe the facts and walk in shouting liberty, we say (perhaps secretly), ‘He must be an especially holy, consecrated man.’ No, he is just a poor sinner like you, who is believing in the abundance of grace!” [Newell]
4. Another benefit is that we can glory in our tribulations. This seems impossible but when we understand the purpose of God allowing tribulations in our life we will see the benefit. Tribulations build what into our life?
Think of the example of an athlete that has to endure many stressors to build strength and endurance. The same is true of the Christian walk. And I think, it is because we still possess the old sinful nature that God has to mold us, and He allows these stress factors or tribulations to make us more like Christ. Think about it, if we were perfectly holy and never sinned, we would be perfectly aligned with Jesus. One day we will be!
5. Another benefit is that we have hope, something we gain more of as we learn from our tribulations. The basis of our hope is the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Paul talks about how men may find the strength and love to die for others they love or for a cause (like war), but when Christ died, He died for what purpose?
6. We benefit from the sacrificial death of Jesus who reconciled us to God while we were still sinners. We are saved, we have life because He gave His life. Verse 11 tells us -because of what Jesus did for us, we now stand in a place of what with God?
7. The first created man was Adam and from Adam sin entered the world. What is the punishment of sin that also passed to all men?
8. People may think that they are sinners because they have broken the law, but God’s Word teaches us that we became sinners before the law was ever given. Those who did not have the law did not realize they were sinners according to the law, yet all men are sinners. While sin is great (and so prevalent in our world today) what is even greater according to verse 15?
9. Paul is explaining salvation’s greatest benefit of all in verses 15-17. While it is true that just sinning one time will bring condemnation on a person; the number of sins that are forgiven by God through the death of Jesus Christ cannot be counted. This forgiveness is a free gift of righteousness. When we recognize how vast the love of God is, we will live in the abundance of His grace, and it will be the “reigning factor” in our life. This is all because of one man. Who was that man?
10. Who is Paul referring to in verse 19, who was obedient so many could be made righteous?
Devotionals
