Romans 5: Peace And Life Through Christ

Text: Romans 5

Theme: The gospel reveals the righteousness of God

2. In Justification (3:21-5:21)
C) Unto Peace with God (5:1-11)
D) Unto life (5:12-21)

Having shown that a person is justified by faith in Christ,
apart from works (1-4), chapter five explains the benefits of
this justification: namely, peace with God (5:1-11), and life
(5:12-21).

Justification through faith in Christ results in peace with
God (1-11). This includes a standing in grace (2), hope of
glory (3-5), assurance of God's love (5-11), and
reconciliation (5-11). Peace with God is not something one
has to make, but a benefit which he may enjoy when God
declares him righteous through faith in Christ.

Justification changes a person's standing before God, so that
he is in a position of grace, rather than under God's wrath.
Even pressures and trials (3-5) only serve to foster hope, as
the believer first abides under them, then sees God develop
character in his life through them, then comes to know God
will deliver him from them (cf. Col. 1:27; Rom. 8:17-30; 2
Cor. 4:17; Col. 3:4; 2 Thes. 2:14; Heb. 2:10; 1 Peter 5:1,
10). This process assures believers of God's love through the
Holy Spirit which indwells them (cf. Ephesians 1:13ff.).

God also assures the believer of his love, in that he provided
reconciliation through the death of Christ. Reconciliation is
a change which harmonizes two opposing parties. The death of
Christ for "all men" satisfied God's righteous demands against
sin, and thus changed the world to a position where it may
be saved. Since God provided this reconciliation when the
believer was still an "ungodly", "enemy", how much more will
He continue to save the believer from wrath, through the
living ministry of Christ, since the believer has become
harmonized with God through Christ? Justification through
faith in Christ results in peace with God.

Justification also results in life (12-21). The excellence of
this benefit in Christ is seen by contrasting it with the
sinners lot in Adam. Since all believers were present in the
loins of Adam when he sinned (cf. Hebrews 7:9-10, where the
tribe of Levi was credited with paying tithes to Melchizedek
since they were in Abraham's loins when he tithed), God puts
this transgression to each individuals account.

This is confirmed by the fact that men died between the time
of Adam and the OT law, even though men did not break any
commandments (12-14). As a result of Adam's one trespass,
many died, while by Christ's grace, the gift of righteousness
abounds to many(v15-16).

Through Adam's one sin, death has reigned, but because of
Christ's one work of righteousness, all who believe can have
eternal life (18), become righteous (19), and reign in life
(20-21). The law only revealed and provoked more sin in men
(20). Therefore, God's gift is seen to abound all the more
when He provided justification through faith in Christ, to
those who transgressed the law. Justification results in the
believer's reign in eternal life with Christ.

Justification through faith results in peace with God, and
eternal life in Christ.

--
Have you heard Christ died for our sins, and God raised Him
from the dead? Did you know God saves you from hell and
gives you eternal life through faith in this finished work alone,
not your merits (Jn. 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; Eph. 2:8-10; 2 Thess.
1:8-9)? This is so man cannot boast, and God alone gets the
glory (Eph. 2:8-9).
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