Romans 5

Hello again!

The memory passage for chapter 5 is:

Romans 5:15-16
¹⁵ But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. ¹⁶ And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.

The theme is Righteousness as a Free Gift.

As always, when Paul writes a 'therefore', we should pay attention to what it's there for. Because we have been justified by faith (as he has outlined in previous chapters), we now have peace with God through Jesus Christ and access to the grace of God through our faith in Him.

Then Paul gets very challenging:
Hope in God leads to rejoicing.
We also rejoice in suffering.
Suffering produces endurance.
Endurance produces character.
Character produces hope.

This 'circle' that begins and ends with hope. 'Rejoice' in the GK is the same word; used with hope and suffering. Character in the GK is 'proven character', or a character that is tried and true. Our hope is secure because Holy Spirit has been poured into our hearts as a guarantee ( 2 Corinthians 1:21-22) .

Verse 9 is a very important doctrinal nugget. Our justification through the blood of Christ gives us salvation from the wrath of God. We are not saved from sin, or Satan, or hell; we are saved from the righteous and holy judgment of God.

Verse 11 raises another critical doctrine. Through the work of Christ we are reconciled to God. Reconciliation is the removal of enmity and the restoration of relationship between people and God.

Then in vv 12-21 Paul contrasts the work of 'the one man' (Adam) with the work of Christ. He often refers to the 'free gift' of grace from Christ and the 'trespass' of Adam.

Throughout this section, Paul illustrates 6 contrasts:

1. Physical death--eternal life
2. Condemnation--Justification
3. Death reigns--Life reigns
4. Condemnation for all--Justification available for all
5. Disobedience--Obedience
6. Sin reigns to death--Grace reigns to eternal life

This section is where the memory passage is from. It is the first two contrasts between Adam's trespass and Christ's gift of grace.

Application
1. How does this affect my worship?
The call to rejoice in the glory of God and to rejoice through times of trial and suffering is a challenge to my heart of worship. The first is easy, the second seems unattainable. And yet it reminds me that my worship does not, should not, can not depend on anything other than the worth of God. And that never changes. No matter what my current mood or condition is, He is the always the same; holy, just, loving, faithful, worthy.

2. How does this affect my discipleship?
The grace of God through Jesus Christ is a free gift. There is nothing I or anyone else can do to earn it or deserve it. Contrast #5 rings in my heart; disobedience versus obedience. Because of Adam's disobedience, we all inherit sin. But because of Jesus' obedience, we can inherit eternal life as adopted children of God. My obedience is to make disciples. Not disciples of Ethan, but disciples of Christ. It's what I am commanded to do.

May you embrace the free gift and the true hope that it brings,

Ethan