Romans 5
Introduction: (Warren Wiersbe) Romans 5 is Paul's explanation of the last two words in Romans 4 "our justification." He explained two basic truths:
the blessings of our justification (Romans 5:1-11), and
the basis for our justification (Romans 5:12-21).
The Blessings of Our Justification (Romans 5:1-11)
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Observation:
What are all the blessings or benefits of being justified by faith?
1a Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God
Through whom we have peace with God?
1b through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2a through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand,
2b and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3a And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations,
Why we can glory in tribulations?
3b knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
4a and perseverance, character;
4b and character, hope.
5a Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Why does hope not disappoint us?
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Why Jesus didn't come (show up) earlier?
6a For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ diedTo whom Christ died?
6b for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.What God demonstrated us through His death?
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Interpretation:
What are all the blessings or benefits of being justified by faith?
1a Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God
Through whom we have peace with God?
1b through our Lord Jesus Christ,How is Jesus making us to peace with God?
Col 1:20b - and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
NLT: 2 Cor 5:18,21 - 18 All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others. 20 We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, "Be reconciled to God!" 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Romans 5:10 - 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.(Warren Wiersbe) The unsaved person is at "enmity with God" (Rom. 5:10; 8:7) because he cannot obey God's Law or fulfill God's will.
Two verses from Isaiah make the matter clear: "There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked" (Isa. 48:22); "And the work of righteousness shall be peace" (Isa. 32:17).
Condemnation means that God declares us sinners, which is a declaration of war. Justification means that God declares us righteous, which is a declaration of peace, made possible by Christ's death on the cross.
"Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other" (Ps. 85:10).
"Because the Law worketh wrath" (Rom. 4:15), nobody condemned by the Law can enjoy peace with God. But when you are justified by faith, you are declared righteous, and the Law cannot condemn you or declare war!
Why is Jesus making us to peace with God?
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Is "peace with God" and "peace of God" in Phil 4:6 are same?
No. Peace with God happens once we are justified by faith. From this point onwards justified person or believers in Christ continue to experience the peace of God.
Phil 4:6-7 - 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Read How to make peace with God and continue to experience the peace of God in Christian life? for more details.
2a through whom also we have access by faith into this grace
What does "access by faith into this grace" mean?
Once we make peace with God by the blood of Jesus we can go boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Exodus 34:5-7 - 5 Now the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation."
(Poole) The access isn’t just into a standing of grace, but into the very courts of heaven. This is a blessing beyond peace with God. “One may be reconciled to his prince, and yet not to be brought into his presence.”
(Morris) “The idea is that of introduction to the presence-chamber of a monarch. The rendering access is inadequate, as it leaves out of sight the fact that we do not come in our own strength, but need an ‘introducer’ - Christ.”
(Clarke) “And this access to God, or introduction to the Divine presence, is to be considered a lasting privilege. We are not brought to God for the purpose of an interview, but to remain with him; to be his household; and by faith, to behold his face, and walk in the light of his countenance.”
(Warren Wiersbe) The Jew was kept from God's presence by the veil in the temple; and the Gentile was kept out by a wall in the temple with a warning on it that any Gentile who went beyond would be killed. But when Jesus died, He tore the veil (Luke 23:45) and broke down the wall (Eph. 2:14). In Christ, believing Jews and Gentiles have access to God (Eph. 2:18; Heb. 10:19-25); and they can draw on the inexhaustible riches of the grace of God (Eph. 1:7; 2:4; 3:8).
How does the holy God allow us to access Him by faith?
Because Jesus Christ present you holy and blameless without single fault
Col 1:22 - in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight [NLT: without single fault]
Jesus is cleansing believers continuously as a part of sanctification process until we see Him face to face.
Eph 5:26-27 - 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
Did you justify by faith alone or grace alone?
Paul says Justified freely by His grace
Romans 3:24 - 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Titus 3:7- 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Paul says Justified by faith and access by faith into this grace in which we stand
Romans 3:28 - Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
Romans 5:1 - 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Galatians 2:16 - knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Galatians 3:24 - Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Which one is correct?
Both are correct.
Think for a moment ...
What if God didn't approach us by His grace and made a way to heaven?
If God didn't approach us by His grace and provision us then no matter how much faith we have towards Him will make no sense or we never get saved.
What if God didn't expect us to have faith in Him but made a way to heaven?
In this God will be save all people without having faith in Him.
But the truth is
God loved us so much
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
By His grace He made a way to heaven by sending His Son to die on the cross on our behalf:
Romans 3:24b-25 - 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Invited all of us to believe in Him and enter into heaven and live with Him forever and ever:
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Because of God's grace no matter how worst we are Jesus Christ will accept us when we go to Him by faith.
Romans 3:22-23 - 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Hebrew 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Psalm 51:17 - The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise.
So, Paul in Ephesians 2:8 describes that we are Justified/Saved by grace and through faith.
Eph 2:8 - 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Is this access to God's throne of grace by faith is temporary?
2b in which we stand,No, our access to God's throne of grace is permanent because we stand on the basis of grace not of our works. God' grace always available for us so, we can access Him by faith always.
(David Guzik) The perfect verb tense of have access also indicates that this is a standing, permanent possession.
Why is Jesus making us to peace with God and provide access to God's throne of grace?
Because God loved us so much.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
God showers His love continuously. Nothing or no one can separate us from God's love:
Romans 8:31-39 - 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall 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 day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who 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 created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Because of His indefinite love towards us His grace is always sufficient for us:
2 Cor 12:9 - 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
(David Guzik) Because our standing is based on grace, we really can stand and have peace, because we know that our access is a permanent possession. It cannot be taken away at a later time.
What are all the advantages of standing in the grace of God?
(David Guzik) A standing in grace reassures us: God’s present attitude towards the believer in Christ Jesus is one of favor, seeing them in terms of joy, beauty and pleasure.
I don’t have to prove I am worthy of God’s love
God is my friend
The door of access is permanently open to Him
I am free from the “score sheet” - the account is settled in Jesus
(Poole) Our access into this standing of grace is only by faith, and through Jesus; we cannot work ourselves into this standing.
(Warren Wiersbe) We stand "in grace" and not "in Law." Justification has to do with our standing; sanctification has to do with our state. The child of a king can enter his father's presence no matter how the child looks.
How to make peace with God and continue to experience the peace of God in Christian life?
This is a three step process.Where is this peace come from?
This peace is always from God. God extends His peace to all humanity.Romans 1:7 - To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
How to make peace with God?
Putting our faith in Jesus and establish peace with God,Romans 5:1 - Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
What main thing this peace with God does to believers?
Establishing peace with God opens the access to God's throne of grace which means it begins our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
So, we can freely go to God in prayer and supplication anytime in any situation. We can notice this in Romans 5:2 and Hebrews 4:16
Romans 5:2 - 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
(John Courson) Which is positional and unconditional because Jesus Christ took upon Himself all of our shortcomings and sins, problems, weakness, and rebelliousness (Romans 5:1). Most of us believe the Lord is disappointed in us because we haven’t spent time in the Word, because we don’t pray as we should, because we’re not doing very much for Him. But here, Paul the apostle says, “There is grace and peace for all because Jesus did it all!”
How to continue to experience the peace of God in Christian life?
How do you obtain or experience this peace of God?
When we go to God freely in prayer and supplication we receive the peace of God. This is not an one time event like how we establish peace with God (in step 2). We need to keep receiving the peace from God always and continue to live with peace of God till we meet with Jesus face to face.
Phil 4:6-7 - 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Col 3:15 - And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
(John Courson) Which is experiential and comes through prayer (Philippians 4:7). Perhaps this is what happened to you today: The kids didn’t behave. The job didn’t go well. Your husband didn’t come through, or your friends let you down. As you felt the burdens begin to come and the tension begin to build, you thought, I should pray. But no sooner did you think this than the Enemy was there, saying, “Pray? Now that you have a problem you want to pray? What about devotions, Mr. Prayer Person? You didn’t have devotions this morning, did you? And you think you can pray now?”
You see, gang, we know we have problems, and we are all too aware of our failures. But we think the Father won’t hear us if we haven’t talked to Him for a day or three or ten. We think He won’t answer us if we haven’t been doing what we should do, or going where we should go. In reality, nothing is further from the truth. Look at our Lord, our Friend, Jesus Christ. After He had prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane so intensely that He sweat blood, He looked up, and saw a group of soldiers coming toward Him, led by His disciple, Judas. Jesus looked at Judas and said, “Friend, what seekest thou?” And His heart was revealed in that moment—for Jesus looked at Judas at the moment of betrayal and called Judas “Friend.” Judas was at the lowest ebb possible, yet Jesus still said, “Friend, what seekest thou?” (see Matthew 26:50). This One with whom we walk is so incredibly gracious. He’ll respond to you and work with you anytime you call upon Him.
Does this experience based on circumstance?
No.
What does this peace of God do to you?
Removes our anxiousness
Experience peace even in the midst of trouble/trial/tribulation/worst situation
What are all other ways you can experience the peace of God?
We experience the peace of God:When we unload all our burdens/worries to God:
Matt 11:28 - 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
When we produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit because Peace is the by product of the (agape) Love:
Gal 5:22 - 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
When we are filled with the Holy Spirit:
Eph 5:18-21 - 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Romans 5:5 - Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
When we receive wisdom from God:
James 3:17-18 - 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
That means... Do we need to make peace with everyone and in everything?
We have to experience this peace of God through continual relationship with God.
Application: What is our part?
Are you standing in the grace of God?
(David Guzik) Many Christians begin in grace, but then think that they will go on to perfection and maturity by dealing with God on the principle of law - on the ideas of earning and deserving. Paul spoke against this very point in Galatians 3:2-3 and Galatians 5:1-4.
Galatians 3:2-3 - 1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
Galatians 5:1-4 - 1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
Phil 3:3 - For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
Are you gracious to others? or Are you showing grace to others?
Our God is gracious:
Matt 5:45 - that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
So, expect all of us to be gracious:
Matt 5:46 - For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
Matt 5:47 - And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others?
Matt 5:41 - And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
Matt 5:42 - Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Matt 5:44 - But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
Romans 12:14 - Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Are we walking and approaching God in faith?
Start believing in God by faith and continue live in faith or approach God by faith.
NLT: Rom 1:17 - This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life."
Col 1:23 - if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Col 2:5-7 - 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Are you experience this peace of God in your Christian life?
Please share how you are experience the peace of God.
2c and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Read the The Glory of God article that covers following details:
What is glory?
What is the glory of God?
Where does this glory originate from?
Did God share His glory in Heaven?
Did God share His glory at present here on the earth?
How does God share His glory? or How do you experience God's glory at present?
Application:
What we must not do?
What we need to do?
Do you experiencing His glory now?
Justification by faith provides the future glory of God that we can boast/rejoice and hope for:
(Warren Wiersbe)
"Peace with God" takes care of the past: He will no longer hold our sins against us.
"Access to God" takes care of the present: we can come to Him at any time for the help we need.
"Hope of the glory of God" takes care of the future: one day we shall share in His glory!
(Warren Wiersbe) The word "rejoice" can be translated "boast," not only in Romans 5:2, but also in Romans 5:3 and 11 ("joy").
When we were sinners, there was nothing to boast about (Rom. 3:27), because we fell short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).
But in Christ, we boast in His righteousness and glory! Paul will amplify this in Romans 8:18-30.
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
If we understand tribulation with experience then we can glory in tribulation otherwise it is impossible to glory in tribulation.
Please go through the Tribulation article that answers below questions:
What is tribulation?
Is tribulation, persecution, suffering, trial and temptation all the same?
What is persecution?
What is suffering?
What is trial?
What is temptation?
Do Christian escape from tribulation?
What are all the ways believers in Christ may come across tribulation?
Does tribulation comes because of physical attack?
Does tribulation comes because of mental attack, affliction, or distress?
Who causes the tribulation?
Does tribulation come through non-believers?
Does tribulation come through fellow believers, brothers or sisters?
Does tribulation come through God?
Does God allow tribulation in believer's lives?
Is God's wrath anyway related to tribulation?
Does God punish non-believers with His wrath?
When will God punish non-believers with His wrath?
Does God punish believers with His wrath?
Does tribulation comes due to consequence of our sin?
(David Guzik) The promise of glory is also for the present time.
Paul isn’t simply spinning out spiritual platitudes.
Second, Paul lived a life full of tribulation. If this is true Paul knew it better than anyone.
Why can we glory or rejoice in tribulations?
Rom 5:3b knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
James 1:2-4 - 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Rom 5:4a and perseverance, character;
Rom 5:4b and character, hope.
Please go through the What does tribulation produce? topic in Tribulation article that covers this in more detail.
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Does hope disappoint us?
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.No, the hope does not disappoint us, because we experience the love of God. In other words we experience His presence while we living here in the earth.
(David Guzik) Every Christian should know what it is like to have the love of God . . . poured out in our hearts - to have a deep inner awareness of God’s love for us.
Paul’s logical arguments in Romans are devastating but the Book of Romans doesn’t lack emotion or passionate experiences with God. Paul wants us to think the right thoughts about God, but he also wants us to have the right experience with God - the love of God . . . poured out in our hearts.
God’s love isn’t given to us in a trickle, it is poured out in our hearts. Some Christians live as if it was only a trickle but God wants us to know the outpouring of His love.
What is love of God?
To better understand love of God or God's love, we need to take a brief look at the other types of love.
Storge is an affectionate love, the type of love one might have for family or a spouse. It is a naturally occurring, unforced type of love. Some examples of storge love can be found in the stories of Noah, Jacob, and siblings Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.
Eros is passionate, romantic or sexual love (eros is the source of the English word erotic). While eros is important within a marriage relationship and is created by God (see Song of Solomon), it can also be abused or mistaken for storge love. The Bible is clear that sexual immorality (out-of-control eros) is a sin (1 Corinthians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3).
Phileo is brotherly love and is most often exhibited in a close friendship. Best friends will display this generous and affectionate love for each other as each seeks to make the other happy. The Scriptural account of David and Jonathan is an excellent illustration of phileo love: “After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. . . . And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself” (1 Samuel 18:1-3). Phileo love involves feelings of warmth and affection toward another person.
Agape speaks of the most powerful, noblest type of love: sacrificial love. Agape love is more than a feeling—it is an act of the will. This is the love that God has for His people and that prompted the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus, for our sins. Jesus was agape love personified.
This love is described in
1 Cor 13:4-8a - 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8a Love never fails.
Since phileo love involves feelings of warmth and affection toward another person, we do not have phileo love toward our enemies. However, God commands us to have agape love toward everyone. This includes those whose personalities clash with ours, those who hurt us and treat us badly, and even those who are hostile toward our faith (Luke 6:28; Matthew 5:44). In time, as we follow God’s example of agape love for our enemies, we may even begin to experience phileo love for some of them as we start to see them through God’s eyes.
Christians are to love one another with agape love, as seen in Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan:
Luke 10:25-35 - 25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?" 27 So he answered and said, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.' " 28 And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live." 29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" 37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Love of God is Agape love.
Through whom do we experience the love of God?
Believers experience the love of God through the Holy Spirit:
Rom 5:5 - Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Non-believers experience the love of God through believers like good Samaritan.
When do we first experience the love of God through the Holy Spirit?
1a Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have ...,
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.When we born-again or on the day we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior:
Eph 1:13 - In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Is this love of God experience a onetime experience?
No.
Jude 21 - 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Eph 5:18 - And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
Is it possible to keep away from the love of God? or Can we keep away from the love of God?
Yes
Rev 2:4 - Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
How does the Love of God never disappoint us?
Before dig into how the Love of God never disappoint us we wan to know....
What does the Love of God do to us?
The Love of God Compels us to live for Him, obey His commandments, do His will,...:
2 Cor 5:14 - 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
NLT 2 Cor 5:14 - 14 Whatever we do, it is because Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them.
To live for Him we need to establish the love relationship with almighty God. For this reason Jesus gave the greatest commandment that is to Love God first:
Matt 22:37-39 - 37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
Following section How to love God? explains this in detail.
The Love of God guarantees our salvation or gives assurance of our salvation in our heart:
Rom 5:5 - Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Eph 1:14 - 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
NIV Eph 1:13 - 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.
2 Cor 1:22 - 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
2 Cor 5:5 - 1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
How to love God?
To love God, He asked believers to love others. In other words by loving others we are loving God.
1 John 4:20 - 19 We love Him because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
John 14:15 - "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
Matt 22:39 - 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
Love your fellow believers:
Rom 15:30 - Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit.
Extend the love to strangers: (Is loving neighbor is limited to known people?)
Matt 4:46 - 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
Good Samaritan - Luke 10:33-35
Is loving neighbor or enemy is a smooth and easy process?
No. It requires lot of effort and the help of God.
1 Thes 1:3 - 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,
1 John 3:16-17 - 16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
Why then God asked us to love Him first instead of just command us to love others? or Do we need God's love to love others?
Let us first see...
How non-believers love others?
For non-believer God is not living inside. Since they do not have God's agape love within them so they never experience God's agape love like how believers in Christ experience.
So, non-believers love others out of their own efforts through these Philio love.
Why non-believers love others?
They love others...
to gain favor of God (may be to come out of Karma cycle)
to gain good name from the public
out of jealousy (Christians do this so, let us do this)
as part of their religious duty to share, give arms, care others, show compassion, ...
not as per the leading of the God's Holy Spirit but as per the leading of Satan's evil spirit:
NLT: Eph 2:1-3 - 1 Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. 2 You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else.
Satan disguises himself as an angel of light and try to show fake love:
2 Cor 12:14 - And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
because they might have gone through difficult time due to lack of love in their life so they do not want that to happen to others. This is very rare.
Due to fall of Adam's in all are born sinners. So, they love out of selfish motives by their own efforts because they didn't have the sacrificial agape love.
Their love is also not real or true love because nothing good dwells within them:
Rom 7:18 - For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
By any chance if you see any agape love through them then it must be from our almighty God. This is very rare.
Same way believers in Christ can love others with their own strength and efforts. That is through Philio love described above. These type of love are limited to our capacity, emotions, feelings,...
So, with brotherly (philio) love believers can love our neighbors but by doing this believers may please them but may not please God.
How believers love others but not love God? or How believers please others but not please God?
Most believers in Christ as an obedient to God's commandment they try their level best to love all and try to maintain the peace. At the same time to avoid offending them they also support their sinful deeds.
For example some believers love gay and lesbians and also support same sex marriage and violate God's principal of marriage.
Since, their main focus is loving the neighbor as themselves instead of loving God first and so they try to live peaceably with everyone. But...
They do this not with the God's love poured out by the Holy Spirit but they do this ritually or with their own philio brotherly love.
They do this not as per the leading of God because they lack the love relationship with God.
So, they easily compromise the God's word, standard, principal.
Saul pleased people but not please God:
1 Samuel 15:11 - 10 Now the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, 11 "I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments." And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the Lord all night.
Aaron pleased people but not please God:
Exodus 32:1-5 - 1 Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, "Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." 2 And Aaron said to them, "Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me." 3 So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. 4 And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, "This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!" 5 So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, "Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord."
How then believers needs to love others?
This brotherly philio love cannot be compared to the agape love that originate from God, which is sacrificial, unconditional love.
Believers needs to love others with agape love received and experienced from God.
Let us see this in detail:
What do believers in Christ have which non-believer don't have?
For believer God lives within them
Eph 1:13 - In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
John 14:23 - Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
Believers can receive power from the Holy Spirit and continue to be filled with the Holy Spirit:
Acts 1:8 - But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Eph 5:18 - And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
What are some major evidence of Holy Spirit's work within the believers heart but not find evidence in non-believers?
Believers call God abba Father ie Holy Spirit establishes the father child relationship:
Rom 8:15- 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Holy Spirit make true believers to confess that Jesus is Lord:
1 Cor 12:3 - Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
Rom 10:9 - 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Believers experience love of God (agape) that is poured out in their hearts by the Holy Spirit:
Rom 5:5 - Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
The Love of God Compels us to live for Him, obey His commandments, do His will,...:
2 Cor 5:14 - 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
NLT 2 Cor 5:14 - 14 Whatever we do, it is because Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them.
Believers lead by the Holy Spirit and so do the will of the father:
Acts 1:8 - But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
2 Tim 1:7 - For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Galatians 5:16 - I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Eph 2:10 - 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Gifts of the Holy Spirit - 1 Cor 12:4-11
Application: Do you have these evidence of the Holy Spirit that works within you?
So,
Believers needs to put God first by establishing love relationship with Him or Believers needs to love God more than anyone and anything else in this world:
Gal 1:10 - For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Do we face problems or tribulation when we put Jesus Christ first in our life?
We will love Him back and put Him first in our life only if we experience His love - Rom 5:5; Matt 22:37
If we put Jesus first then we will face issues with immediate family members or close friends if they are non-believer or not a matured believer who put God first:
Matt 10:37 - 34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; 36 and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
Application: Are we loving our God first than anyone or anything else in the world?
Believers needs to love others deeply out of God's agape love experienced within their heart
Believers never compromise God's word, principal, standard,...
Do not condemn sinner or hate them because of their deeds but love them whole heartedly.
At the same time never acknowledge, support or encourage their sinful deeds.
Talk to them about their sin as per the leading of the Holy Spirit in the God given opportunity.
Unless believers go to God's thrown of grace and receive the agape love, believers cannot produce this agape love by their efforts.
For this reason God wants all believers to love Him first and then love others.
So, loving God means:
Going to His thrown of grace and pour out our burden to Him (Heb 4:16; Rom 5:2)
Receiving and Experiencing the love of God (agape) by filling in His Holy Spirit as an response of going to the thrown of grace (Rom 5:5; Eph 5:18).
Loving Him back by spending time with Him through prayer and studying His word.
It is natural that once we experience anyone's love then we will love them back. Likewise if we experience His love we will love Him back.
Sharing this love of God or Agape love to others by loving others (Matt 22:39) and doing as per the leading of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:16)
Continually maintaining this love relationship with God by knowing Him more. (2 Peter 1:2-4)
Do we need to love all people?
Yes. God asked believers to love even enemies.
Matt 5:44 - But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
Do we need to make peace with everyone and in everything?
Did Jesus make peace with all people always? or How Jesus handled these while he lived here on the earth?
Matt 21:12-13 - 12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' "
Read Matthew 23 for seven woes of Jesus Christ:
Matt 23:13-15 - 13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
Matt 23:23-28 - 23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! 25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Did apostles make peace with all people always?
NLT: Acts 4:18-20 - 18 So they [rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest] called the apostles back in and told them never again to speak or teach about Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, "Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? 20 We cannot stop telling about the wonderful things we have seen and heard."
Acts 13:7-12 - 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they [Barnabas and Saul] went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant. 6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
Why didn't Jesus and apostles approach in a polite and peaceful way? or How Jesus and apostles pleased God always?
Jesus and apostles aim is not politically/legally correct and they are not looking for false outward peace.
They look for true peace so, their aim is to please God by obeying Him as per His leading who brings true peace to all:
Jesus did these as per the leading of the God the Father.
John 5:19 - Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
Same way apostle did that as per the leading and the power of the Holy Spirit:
For Peter and John to oppose the rulers, elders, and scribes as in Acts 4:18-20 it cost them their life and they need boldness. The did that as per the leading and the power of the Holy Spirit:
Acts 1:8 - But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Acts 13:9 - 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
Because they love them deeply so, they do not want them to perish in hell. Before they die and get condemned they wants them to realize their sin and repent from their sins.
Same way all believers are lead by the Holy Spirit. We need to yield to the Holy Spirit and do as per the leading of the Holy Spirit:
Acts 1:8 - But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
2 Tim 1:7 - For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Galatians 5:16 - I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
By doing so we will do the will of the father
Eph 2:10 - 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
You do not choose a God's law or word to use to solve the problem in your life but God will show you which verse you need to use in that situation and for that problem.
Luke 12:11-12 - 11 Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."
Matt 10:19-20 - 16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Mark 13:11 - But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
Luke 21:14-15 - 14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.
John 16:13 - However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
Application: Are you ready to do whatever Jesus leads?
So,
Try our level best to make peace with all:
Heb 12:14 - 14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
Romans 12:18 - If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Matt 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
At the same time never compromise God's command/principle/standards/leading to make peace with people.
As per 1 Samuel 15 God rejects Saul as king because he pleased people instead of God:
1 Samuel 15:11 - 10 Now the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, 11 "I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments." And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the Lord all night.
Gal 1:10 - For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
John 2:15 - 13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!" 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."
Is it possible to make peace with everyone without compromising God's word?
No, but try your level best to reconcile but if the other person not willing to reconcile then unload your burden or bitterness to God.
If we didn't then it will affect our relationship with the Lord and we will not experience the peace of God in our heart:
Matt 6:14-15 - 14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
If we do then He will give you rest or peace that surpasses all our circumstance. Prayerfully wait for the God's opportunity to reconcile with them. If it is His will God will bring it to pass in His timing.
How to stay or keep ourselves in the love of God?
John 15:9-13 - 9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
This is the reason Jesus said:
John 15:5 - I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
This can be accomplished by continually filling in His Spirit and walk according to leading of Holy Spirit:
(David Guzik) This love is ours by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. A lack of awareness of God’s love can often be credited to a failure to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit and to walk in the Spirit.
Everyone who is a Christian has the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). But not every Christian lives in the fullness of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), and not every Christian walks in the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:4-5).
Eph 5:18 - And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
Gal 5:16-18 - 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
NLT: Romans 8:18-30 - 18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, everything on earth was subjected to God's curse. 21 All creation anticipates the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 24 Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already have something, you don't need to hope for it. 25 But if we look forward to something we don't have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently. 26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.
By doing this we will continually produce fruit and this God's love never disappoint us until we meet Jesus Christ:
Gal 5:22,23 - 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
(David Guzik) The hope that tribulation builds in us is not a hope that will be disappointed. We are assured of this because God has proved His intention to complete His work in us - the proof being the love of God . . . poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Phil 1:6 - being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
(Warren Wiersbe) "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick" (Prov. 13:12). But as we wait for this hope to be fulfilled, the love of God is "poured out into our hearts" (literal translation).
Before we were saved, God proved His love by sending Christ to die for us. Now that we are His children, surely He will love us more. It is the inner experience of this love through the Spirit that sustains us as we go through tribulations. For many months I visited a young man in a hospital who had almost burned to death. I do not know how many operations and skin grafts he had during those months, or how many specialists visited him. But the thing that sustained him during those difficult months was not the explanations of the doctors but the promises they gave him that he would recover. That was his hope. And the thing that sustained his hope was the love of his family and many friends as they stood by him. The love of God was channeled through them to him. He did recover and today gives glory to God.
Application: Are you experiencing the Love of God continuously?
Summary Romans 5:1-5:
(Warren Wiersbe) Faith (Rom. 5:1), hope (Rom. 5:2), and love (Rom. 5:5) all combine to give the believer patience in the trials of life. And patience makes it possible for the believer to grow in character and become a mature child of God (James 1:1-4).
James 1:2-4 - 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
(Warren Wiersbe) Note how the first three of the "fruit of the Spirit" are experienced: love (Rom. 5:5), joy (Rom. 5:2), and peace (Rom. 5:1).
Now Paul is transitioning to demonstrate how great our God's love is:
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
What it means when we were still without strength?
6a For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ diedWhat is the state of humanity before or without Salvation?
All are Sinners by Birth:
Adam and Eve deceived by Satan also they chose to disobey God. (Gen 3)
From that point onwards Adam and Eve's sin affected rest of their generations.
In other words by birth all human beings inherit sin through the blood of their parents.Romans 5:18a - Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation,
So, by birth
all are sinners (Rom 3:23)
Psalm 51:5 - "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me."
Psalm 58:3 - "The wicked are estranged from the womb; These who speak lies go astray from birth."
Romans 3:19 - Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
no one seeks God (Rom 3:11)
all are under the fold/control of Satan (Eph 2:2)
all are followers of Satan (Eph 2:2)
all are dead because of our sinful lifestyle. (Eph 2:2)
NLT: Eph 2:1-3 - 1 Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. 2 You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else.
Eternal Separation:
God is Holy & Righteous:
God's standards are way higher than human standards.
Our God's righteousness is way higher than our righteousness:
James 2:10 - 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
in verse 11 he is explaining this by giving an example
NLT: James 2:11 - For the same God who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." So if you murder someone, you have broken the entire law, even if you do not commit adultery.
If you read further in Matthew chapter 5 and other parts of the Bible we know that God expects us to be holy in our thought process
if we are angry without cause is equivalent to murder,
lusting towards women or men is equivalent to adultery,
likewise coveting, envying, being prideful are make us to be guilty before God.
So, it is impossible to obtain God's Holiness and His righteousness by doing anything.
We can hear the same from Jesus Christ after talking to rich man in
Matthew 19:25 - When His disciples heard it , they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"
Who is asking this question "Who then can be saved?"?
His disciples who left everything and followed Him.
What is Jesus' answer?
Matthew 19:26a - But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible....
With men what is impossible?
Salvation is impossible. or We cannot gain our soul by ourselves.
In the eyes of our God "all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags".
Isaiah 64:6 - But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.
That is why Romans 3:19 says "we all are guilty before God":
There is nothing wrong in living a righteous life but through these we never reach God's perfect righteous standard and enter in to heaven or enter in to God's kingdom.
So, by doing good works we can obtain world's righteous standard but we cannot reach the God's holy, righteous and perfect standard.
So, to establish or restore relationship with God we need to be holy and righteous as per His standards.
We are born sinners and no way to obtain God's Holiness and His Righteousness so, we are destined for eternal separation from God and deserved for the God's severe eternal punishment.
We have BIG GAP between us and GOD. There are no ways to reach God by our efforts. We desperately in need of help from God.
Every human beings first they need to realize this separation. Most of the time we either forget or never realize our desperate and hopeless state.
With whom Salvation is possible?
In Jesus answer the disciples question "Who then can be saved?"
Matthew 19:26 - But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
With men what is impossible?
Salvation is impossible. or We cannot gain our soul by ourself.
With whom salvation is possible?
Only by God salvation is possible. or With the help of God we can gain our soul.
And Turn to God (Repent) seeking help.
So, to enter into heaven we need the supernatural help from God.
Why Jesus didn't come (show up) to the earth earlier?
6a For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died(David Guzik) God sent the Son at the right time, at the due time. It may have seemed late to some but Jesus’ work was done at the perfect time in God’s plan: when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son. (Galatians 4:4)
In due time also has the meaning that Jesus died at the due time for us. He died when we were sinners who needed a Savior. His timing was just right for us.
Galatians 4:4 - But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
(Poole) The world was prepared spiritually, economically, linguistically, politically, philosophically and geographically for the coming of Jesus and the spread of the Gospel. The Scripture everywhere speaks of a certain season or hour assigned for the death of Christ:
Matthew 26:45 - Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
John 8:20 - These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.
John 12:27 - "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
John 17:1 - Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,
In the mean time while we are in need of Savior God also demonstrated by giving His law to Israelites and proved that no one can keep the law to obtain His holiness/righteousness and establish or restore their relationship with God by their own.
Rom 3:20 - Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
NLT: Rom 3:20 - For no one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God's law, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying it.
NLT: Romans 5:20a - God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were...
Rom 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
God's actual plan is not to obtain salvation through law but only through Jesus:
Heb 8:7-9 - 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-- 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.
2 Tim 1:9-10 - 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
1 Peter 1:20 - 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
NLT: 1 Peter 1:20 - God chose him [Jesus] as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days.
What happen to those people who died before Jesus Christ death and resurrection?
Romans 3:25b - 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
For more detail read How God demonstrate His righteousness in the past? in Romans 3:26 notes
What is forbearance?
forbearance means patient endurance; self-control
What is passed over means?
Whose sins are passed over?
All the sins committed by saints before Jesus Christ.
(Warren Wiersbe) God had "passed over" the sins that were past (Rom. 3:25, literal translation), knowing that His Son would come and finish the work. Because of His death and resurrection, there would be "redemption"—a purchasing of the sinner and setting him free.
(David Guzik) God, in His forbearance, had passed over the sins of those Old Testament saints who trusted in the coming Messiah. At the cross, those sins were no longer passed over, they were paid for.
The idea is that through the animal sacrifice of the Old Testament, those who looked in faith to the coming Messiah had their sins “covered” by a sort of an “IOU” or promissory note. That temporary covering was redeemed for full payment at the cross.
The work of Jesus on the cross freed God from the charge that He passed over sin committed before the cross lightly. They were passed over for a time, but they were finally paid for.
Why Jesus went to the deep after His death and before His resurrection?
To whom Christ died?
6b for the ungodly.Who are these people? or Who are the ungodly and wicked people Jesus died for?
(David Guzik) Paul spent the first two-and-a-half chapters of the Book of Romans telling us that we all are those people.
(Spurgeon) “You will say, ‘Oh, I am one of the worst in the world.’ Christ died for the worst in the world. ‘Oh, but I have no power to be better.’ Christ died for those that were without strength. ‘Oh, but my case condemns itself.’ Christ died for those that legally are condemned. ‘Ay, but my case is hopeless.’ Christ died for the hopeless. He is the hope of the hopeless. He is the Savior not of those partly lost, but of the wholly lost.”
(David Guzik) Paul mentioned the idea of a substitutionary sacrifice with the word propitiation in Romans 3:25. Here, he makes the point again by saying that Christ died for the ungodly. The ancient Greek word for is the word huper, which means “for the sake of, in behalf of, instead of.”
Other places where huper is used in the New Testament help us to understand this.
In John 11:50, we read: nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for [huper] the people.
Galatians 3:13 says, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for [huper] us.
Therefore, to genuinely say “Jesus died for me” you must also say “I have no strength to save myself. I am ungodly. I am a sinner.” Jesus died to save and transform these.
Application: Do you realize your hopelessness without Jesus?
Think for a moment What might happen to all of us if God would have not sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins?
We all might have gained the world but definitely not gained our soul. We all might have end up in Hell and suffered forever.
Most of the time we either forget or never realize our desperate and hopeless state.
If you realize then you will be like
Give your precious time, valuable things to God and put God first in your life:
Matt 26:7 - 6 And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. 8 But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste? 9 For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor." 10 But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. 11 For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. 12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. 13 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."
Mark 12:43-44 - 41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."
Pray to God with your unworthiness:
Luke 18:9-14 - 9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Follow God closely wherever He leads:
Mary Magdalene followed wherever Jesus goes because she did realize her hopelessness:
John 8:3-11 - 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. 7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" 11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."Paul followed wherever Jesus led because he did realize his hopelessness without Jesus Christ:
Acts 9:1-9 - 1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Why Paul is introducing someone dying for righteous and good man?
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.Is there a difference between a righteous man and a good man in Paul’s mind?
(David Guzik) The difference in Romans 5:7 seems to be that the righteous man is only that - righteous in his personal life but perhaps lacking in feeling for others. The good man by contrast goes beyond the other man by also being kind and benevolent.
Application: Is there any problem arise if we live focused on righteousness alone but not live as a good person?
Warning: If focused on righteousness alone then you will become legalist like Pharisee or Sadducees
As per the Bible we need to practice righteousness and extend our righteousness to others by loving one another:
1 John 3:10 - 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. 10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,
NIV 2 Peter 2:5 - For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;
God wants us to be a good people that is the one of the reason God saved us:
Eph 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
We need to practice righteousness, extend our righteousness to others by loving one another and be a good person.
Let us see other translations for better understanding:
GNT: Romans 5:7 - It is a difficult thing for someone to die for a righteous person. It may even be that someone might dare to die for a good person.
NLT: Romans 5:7 - Now, no one is likely to die for a good person, though someone might be willing to die for a person who is especially good.
Paul is comparing human love with God's love in next verse:
(David Guzik) God’s love is a love beyond even the best love among humans. A good man might die a noble martyrdom for the “right kind” of person - such as a righteous man or a good man. But Jesus died for those who were neither righteous nor good.
Jesus died of ungodly, sinners, or hopeless.
What did God demonstrate through the death of His Son?
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.(David Guzik) Paul describes the greatness of God’s love. It is love given to the undeserving, to those without strength, to the ungodly, to sinners. This emphasizes the fact that the reasons for God’s love are found in Him, not in us
The work of Jesus on the cross for us is God’s ultimate proof of His love for you.
If the cross is the ultimate demonstration of God’s love, it is also the ultimate demonstration of man’s hatred. It also proves that the height of man’s hatred can’t defeat the height of God’s love.
Why did God demonstrate His love by sending His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross?
As we studied in Romans 5:6 we all are hopeless, desperate, without strength
Romans 5:6 - For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
On seeing our hopeless and desperate situation and because of His tender Mercy God didn't punish or consume us for all the sins that we have committed and through us into the hell.
Lam 3:22 - 22 Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
Instead God punished Jesus Christ by imputing our unrighteousness to Him and substituted Him in our place for our sins. Since, our God is righteous, holy and perfect God so, He cannot simply forgive our sins. If He did then He will become unrighteous God.
1 Peter 2:24 - who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.
Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Because God loved us so much He sent His one and only Son Jesus Christ to us:
John 3:16 - 16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Is this God's offer limited to selective group of people?
No, because of His Grace God offers this not to selective group of people but to all:
1 John 2:2 - And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Application: If anyone here want to escape from the God's punishment and escape from eternal suffering in Hell and go to heaven then you need to
Believe in Jesus as says in
John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Confess your belief whole heartedly if you really believe in Jesus Christ as given in
Romans 10:9-10 - 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
How does the death of the Son demonstrate the love of the Father? or Does the death of the Son demonstrate the love or cruelty of the Father?
God Himself received our punishment by dying on the cross on our behalf in our place and took away all our sins and gave us new life.
2 Cor 5:19 - that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
(David Guzik) Because it was harder for the Father to send His only Son, and because God [the Father] was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself. (2 Corinthians 5:19)
(Morris) “It would be easy to see the cross as demonstrating the indifference of God, a God who let the innocent Jesus be taken by wicked men, tortured, and crucified while he did nothing . . . Unless there is a sense in which the Father and Christ are one, it is not the love of God that the cross shows.”
The demonstration of God’s love isn’t so much in that Jesus died, but in whom Jesus died for - undeserving sinners and rebels against Him.
God is in Jesus they are inseparable. We are worshiping Triune God (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit i.e. God in three person. This is called Trinity)
John 14:7-11 - 7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." 8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
John 10:30 I [Jesus] and My Father are one."
Why did Paul introduce the death of Jesus Christ while he listing the blessings of our justification?
Paul was listing the major blessings of justification in first five verses in Romans 5. In verse 5 he talks about experiencing the love of God so that we will not lose hope of the glory of God
Romans 5:5 - 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Paul continues to say that how great God's love in following three verses. The God's love that you are experiencing from the day you become believer, with that same love God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us while we were still sinners:
Romans 5:8 - 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Is your sin separate you from the love of God?
No. Never. Because God loved us while we are sinners, ungodly:
Romans 5:8 - 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God loves you even your mother, father, family, friends forgets to love you because God inscribed you on the palms of His hand:
Is 49:15 - "Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. 16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.
Nothing or no one can separate us from God's love or God showers His love continuously no mater what you do:
Romans 8:31-39 - 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall 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 day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who 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 created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God's Love never fails:
1 Corinthians 13:8 - Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
Psalm 136
So, do not continue to live a sinful life go to the thrown of grace. God is ready to help you in the time of need.
Application:
Are you continually experiencing the love of God?
Be filled with the Holy Spirit to continually experiencing the love of God:
Jude 21 - 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Eph 5:18 - And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
Romans 5:5 - Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
If you experience His love then...
Eph 5:19-21 - 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Are you walking in God's love?
Eph 5:2 - And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
2 Cor 5:14 - 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
NLT 2 Cor 5:14 - 14 Whatever we do, it is because Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them.
To live for Him we need to establish the love relationship with almighty God. For this reason Jesus gave the greatest commandment that is to Love God first:
Matt 22:37-39 - 37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
Following section How to love God? explains this in detail.
Are you ready to die for Christ as martyr if you really experience God's love?
Peter was ready to die for Jesus while He was living on the earth eventually he died as martyr:
Matt 26:35 - 30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' 32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee." 33 Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble." 34 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." 35 Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And so said all the disciples.
Almost all the Apostles martyred for Jesus.
Moses prays to God to take his name from the book of life for the sake of God's people Israelites:
Ex 32:32 - 30 Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses said to the people, "You have committed a great sin. So now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin." 31 Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! 32 Yet now, if You will forgive their sin--but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written." 33 And the Lord said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. 34 Now therefore, go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, My Angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit for punishment, I will visit punishment upon them for their sin." 35 So the Lord plagued the people because of what they did with the calf which Aaron made.
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
From what we shall be saved once we have been justified by Jesus Blood?
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.Saved from wrath through Jesus Christ.
Whose wrath is this?
It is God's wrath, God's righteous wrath or wrath of God:Romans 1:18 - 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
For more details read The Wrath of God article.
Does God's wrath has already come?
No, God's wrath is yet to come in future.
1 Thes 1:10 - 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
Why God is pouring out His wrath?
Jesus came as Savior to save all the humanity in His first coming:
Luke 4:16-21 - 16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
Jesus will come to Judge the world/pore out God's Wrath in future.
Is 61:1,2 - 1 "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn
Joe 1:15 - Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is at hand; It shall come as destruction from the Almighty.
When does God's wrath come?
God pours out His wrath last seven years before second coming of Jesus Christ. This is well described in Revelation 6 - 19.
It is also called Great Tribulation:
Matt 24:21,22 - 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.
Rev 6:10-11 - 9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
Is 26:20-21 - 20 Come, my people, enter your chambers, And shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, Until the indignation is past. 21 For behold, the Lord comes out of His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; The earth will also disclose her blood, And will no more cover her slain.
Rev 6:15-17 - 12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
Rev 11:18 - The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth."
How Jesus will save us from the wrath of God?
Good News is once we are justified by Jesus blood then Jesus Christ will save us from God's wrath:
(David Guzik) It is true that we must be saved from the world, the flesh and the devil but most of all we must be rescued from the righteous wrath of God.
1 Thes 5:9 - 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
1 Thes 1:10 - 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
John 3:16,18 - 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:36 - He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
Rev 2:22 - 20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
Rev 3:10 - Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
(Warren Wiersbe) Paul argued from the lesser to the greater. If God saved us when we were enemies, surely He will keep on saving us now that we are His children. There is a "wrath to come," but no true believer will experience it (1 Thes. 1:9-10; 5:8-10). Paul further argued that if Christ's death accomplished so much for us, how much more will He do for us in His life as He intercedes for us in heaven!
Jesus will caught up or rapture those who believe in Him just before God pours out His wrath during last seven years before second coming of Jesus Christ.
1 Thes 4:16-17 - 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Matt 24:35-44 - 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.In what state Jesus reconciled us to God?
10a For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son
GNT 10 We were God's enemies, but he made us his friends through the death of his Son. Now that we are God's friends, how much more will we be saved by Christ's life!(Warren Wiersbe) The unsaved person is at "enmity with God" (Rom. 5:10; 8:7) because he cannot obey God's Law or fulfill God's will.
Two verses from Isaiah make the matter clear: "There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked" (Isa. 48:22); "And the work of righteousness shall be peace" (Isa. 32:17).
Condemnation means that God declares us sinners, which is a declaration of war. Justification means that God declares us righteous, which is a declaration of peace, made possible by Christ's death on the cross.
"Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other" (Ps. 85:10).
"Because the Law worketh wrath" (Rom. 4:15), nobody condemned by the Law can enjoy peace with God. But when you are justified by faith, you are declared righteous, and the Law cannot condemn you or declare war!
Jesus reconciled us to God as friends while we were enemies, ungodly, sinners.
Romans 5:6,8,10 - 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
(David Guzik) If God showed such dramatic love to us when we were enemies, think of the blessings we will enjoy once we are reconciled to God! If God does this much for His enemies, how much more will He do for His friends!
How does Jesus reconcile us to God?
10a For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son1 Peter 2:24 - who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.
Col 1:20b - and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
NLT: 2 Cor 5:18,21 - 18 All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others. 20 We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, "Be reconciled to God!" 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
(David Guzik) This reconciliation isn’t only helpful when we die; it also touches our life right now. God is forever done dealing with believers on the basis of wrath. He may chasten them as a loving Father, but not in punishment or payment for their sins. Chastening is always to provide loving correction and guidance.
(Warren Wiersbe) The word atonement means "reconciliation, brought back into fellowship with God." The term is mentioned also in Romans 5:10. In Romans 1:18-32, Paul explained how men declared war on God and, because of this, deserved to be condemned eternally. But God did not declare war on man. Instead, He sent His Son as the Peacemaker (Eph. 2:11-18) that men might be reconciled to God.
How does Jesus save those who reconciled with God?
10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.Jesus resurrection from the death demonstrates the mighty power of our Almighty God:
Jesus is the first resurrected from the dead to live forever:
Col 1:18 - And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Rev 1:5 - and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
Believers will follow Jesus Christ. This is called first resurrection:
1 Cor 15:20-25 - 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.
Rev 20:5 - 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection
That is why
There is no fear of death when we believe in Jesus Christ. Once we die we live with him forever and ever.
1 Cor 15:54-55 - 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"
2 Cor 5:8 - We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
We need to believe in God almighty who raise Jesus from the dead and confess your believe with your mouth:
Rom 4:24-25 - 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
Rom 10:9-10 - 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(Warren Wiersbe) Paul further argued that if Christ's death accomplished so much for us, how much more will He do for us in His life as He intercedes for us in heaven! "Saved by His life" refers to Romans 4:25 "raised again for [on account of] our justification." Because He lives, we are eternally saved (Heb. 7:23-25).
A will is of no effect until the death of the one who wrote it. Then an executor takes over and sees to it that the will is obeyed and the inheritance distributed. But suppose the executor is unscrupulous and wants to get the inheritance for himself? He may figure out many devious ways to circumvent the law and steal the inheritance.
Jesus Christ wrote us into His will, and He wrote the will with His blood. "This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you" (Luke 22:20). He died so that the will would be in force; but then He arose from the dead and returned to heaven that He might enforce the will Himself and distribute the inheritance. Thus, we are "saved by His life."
What then we need to do?
11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.Why we need to rejoice?
11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.We rejoice only through Jesus Christ. Without Jesus we are nothing and we do nothing.
John 15:5 - I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
(David Guzik) Saved from wrath through Him . . . we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son . . . rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus . . . through whom we have now received the reconciliation: The point is clearly emphasized. What matters is what we have through Jesus. What we have through our own works doesn’t matter and can’t help us. It’s all through Jesus.
Romans 5:6,8,10 - 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Col 1:13-23 - 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach (NIV: free from accusation) in His sight-- 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Application:
What ministry God has requested all the believers to do?
NLT: 2 Cor 5:19-20 - 18 All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others. 20 We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, "Be reconciled to God!" 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Matt 28:19-20 - 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
1 Peter 3:15 - 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
What is your response?
Summary/Application:
What did you gain from this section Romans 5:1-11?
(Warren Wiersbe) The Blessings of Our Justification (Rom. 5:1-11) In listing these blessings, Paul accomplished two purposes.
First, he told how wonderful it is to be a Christian. Our justification is not simply a guarantee of heaven, as thrilling as that is, but it is also the source of tremendous blessings that we enjoy here and now.
His second purpose was to assure his readers that justification is a lasting thing. His Jewish readers in particular would ask, "Can this spiritual experience last if it does not require obedience to the Law? What about the trials and sufferings of life? What about the coming judgment?" When God declared us righteous in Jesus Christ, He gave to us seven spiritual blessings that assure us that we cannot be lost.
Peace with God (Rom 5:1)
Access to God (Rom 5:2a)
Glorious hope (Rom 5:2b)
Christian character (Rom 5:3-4)
God's love within (Rom 5:5-8)
Salvation from future wrath (Rom 5:9)
Reconciliation with God (Rom 5:10-11)
(Warren Wiersbe) A review of these seven blessings of justification shows how certain our salvation is in Christ. Totally apart from Law, and purely by grace, we have a salvation that takes care of the past, the present, and the future.
Christ died for us;
Christ lives for us;
Christ is coming for us!
Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
The basis for our justification (Rom. 5:12-21)
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all 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 those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Observation:
How sin entered the world?
12a Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world,What does this sin do?
12b and death through sin,
12c and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned--
19a For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners,
21a so that as sin reigned in death,
16b For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation,
Does sin exist before the law was given?
13a (For until the law sin was in the world,Does their sin imputed to them when there is no law?
13b but sin is not imputed when there is no law.Does death reigned when there is no law?
14a Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam,Adam was type of whom?
14b who is a type of Him who was to come.Is free gift is same as offense or sin?
15a But the free gift is not like the offense.
16a And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned.What does the free gift do to us?
16c but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.
17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)Does the grace and the gift available to all?
15b For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.What does disobedience to God bring to humanity?
19a For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners,What does obedience to God bring to humanity?
19b so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.What does the law of Moses do?
20a Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound.
Interpretation:
How sin entered the world?
12a Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world,Through whom sin entered? or Who is that one man?
Sin entered through one man Adam.
Romans 5:14a Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam,
What is the sin Adam committed?
What is the commandment God gave to Adam?
Gen 2:17 - 15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
Adam disobey God by eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge and committed sin (Gen 3).
What does this sin do?
12b and death through sin,
12c and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned--
19a For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners,
21a so that as sin reigned in death,
16b For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation,
Why did the sin bring death?
Because God commanded so ...
Gen 2:17 - 15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Is this death only to Adam or to all of us?
Romans 5:12 - Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned--
Romans 5:14a - Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam,
Romans 5:21a - so that as sin reigned in death,
What it means death reigned all, sin reigned in death or death spread to all men?
It means no one escape from death.
Every one will die.
Heb 9:27 - And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
Does this include children too?
Yes, even children die while they are in young age before they become adult. No one will escape the death.
(David Guzik) This truth may make us uncomfortable, but it is still the truth. The smallest baby is a sinner, subject to death.
Does anyone escaped from death?
No one except Enoch and Elijah.
Gen 5:24 - And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
Heb 11:5 - By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
2 Kings 2:11 - 9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?" Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." 10 So he said, You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so." 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Elijah will come back as prophesized as a part of Two Witnesses during the time of Great Tribulation. Enoch may be the other witness. For more details read Who are these two witnesses?:
Rev 11:3-4,7-12 - 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth......7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.
Malachi 4:5 - (The Day of the LORD) 1 "For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up," Says the Lord of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves. 3 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this," Says the Lord of hosts. 4 "Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. 6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."
In future before Great Tribulation or just seven year before Jesus 2nd coming believers in Christ will be caught up (rapture) to heaven on trumpet of God.
1 Thes 4:17 - 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
How one man's sin affected the entire world? or Why is death reigning all? or Why sin reign death?
Romans 5:12 - Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned--
Romans 5:14a - Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam,
Romans 5:21a - so that as sin reigned in death,
Is God's commandment to Adam is still valid?
Do we have the tree of the knowledge of good and evil exist now?
No. There is no tree of the knowledge of Good and evil to eat from it or do that sin again. Because no one allowed to garden of Eden.
Gen 3:23-24 - 22 Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"-- 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
World wide flood during Noah's time completely wipes this place. So, we do not have the garden of Eden.
Does that mean that this law is no more valid?
No. It is already fulfilled by Adam and we also inherit Adam's sin. That is the reason ...
We all have the knowledge of good and evil which Adam gained.
We all die as a proof to the inheritance.
Because of God's love, grace and mercy God didn't punish Adam immediately.
Since God didn't punish Adam immediately, in the mean while ie before he dies or before God punished him, Adam bore children and they inherit Adam's sin. Even though God punished Adam (through his death) little later but Adam's sin started to spread to his descendants and eventually to all of us.
Because we inherit that sin through our parents, we all receive the death punishment for that sin even though we may not explicitly do that sin again
NLT: Romans 5:14 - they all died anyway -- even though they did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. What a contrast between Adam and Christ, who was yet to come!
Children's sins are proof for this inheritance of sin from parents:
(David Guzik) We can also know that we are born sinners for other reasons.
First, think of how selfish and angry the smallest baby can be.
Second, think of how we never have to teach our children to be bad - they learn that quite on their own, with old Adam teaching the lessons.
David understood this when he wrote,
Psalm 51:5 - Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.
That is why Adam is federal head or representative for the entire humanity:
(Warren Wiersbe) All men die because they are united racially to Adam, and "in Adam all men die" (1 Cor. 15:22)
1 Cor 15:22 - For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive
Application:
For example if president of USA make a wrong decision then entire citizens in USA will suffer the consequences.
Same way if the head of the family make a wrong decision then entire family will suffer the consequences.
What does death mean in the Bible?
Is death means just depart from this world or sleep permanently?
No.
What was the ultimate thing sin brought to all humanity?
Sin brought condemnation to all humanity.
Romans 5:16b - For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation,
What is condemnation?
Condemnation means act of condemning.
Condemn means:
to express an unfavorable or adverse judgment on; indicate strong disapproval of.
to pronounce to be guilty; sentence to punishment: to condemn a murderer to life imprisonment.
to give grounds or reason for convicting or censuring: His acts condemn him.
What is condemnation in the Bible?
Condemnation in the Bible means penalty of sin, severe punishment for our sins or severe torment forever in the lake of fire (hell) or eternal torment in hell.
God keeps track of all the sins that we have committed ever since we have born.
Rev 20:12,13b,15 - 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Does this condemnation resulted based on our sins or Adam's sin? or Are we condemned based on our sins or Adam's sin?
All humans will be condemned (tormented in hell) for the Adam's sin that we inherited through our parents.
Romans 5:16b - For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation,
Romans 5:18a Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation,
(Morris) "He is not saying that death reigned over us all because we all sinned; he is saying that death reigned over us all because Adam sinned."
That is the reason Jesus said in John 3:18 that we all are condemned already:
John 3:18 - 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God
and in addition to this we all receive more punishment for our sins that we have committed while we live on this world. The intensity of punishment varies from person to person based on their sinful deeds.
Matt 11:20-24 - 20 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."
Why God created hell? or Did God created hell for us?
God created hell for Satan (devil) and his angels (demons):
Matt 25:41 - Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
Adam's sin brought death which actually means Adam's sin brought condemnation (eternal torment in hell) to all humanity.
Therefore....
In short death means condemnation (tormented severely in the lake of fire or hell forever and ever)
Death means
Absent from the body (soul and spirit departs from the body) from the world or earth
Torment in Hades until the judgment day - Luke 16:19-31.
These dead people who were tormented in Hades will come back to life for the final white throne judgment - Rev 20:12.
God condemn them by throwing them into the lake of fire (hell) for the Adam's sin that they have inherited from their parents - Rev 20:15.
In hell not all suffer/tormented equally but each one of them receive additional punishment based on their sinful deeds they have committed while they have lived in the earth - Rev 20:12,13b.
They will be tormented severely in the lake of fire (hell) forever and ever.
Does sin exist before the law was given?
13a (For until the law sin was in the world,What law Paul is talking about here?
Now Paul is talking about the law given to Israelites through Moses. It is also called the Law of Moses.
Romans 5:13-14 - 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 those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
When was the law given to Israelites through Moses?
The law was given to Moses approximately 2000 years from the beginning of creation.
Did people sin who lived during Adam to Moses period? or Did people sin who lived before the law was given to Moses?
Yes, people were sinning before this law of Moses was given.
We can see list people sins in Book of Genesis and early portion of Exodus.
Cain's sin, people's sin during Noah time, Lot's sin, Abraham's sin, Joseph brother's sin, Moses sin before he encounter with God.
Does their sin imputed to them when there is no law?
13b but sin is not imputed when there is no law.What it means sin was not imputed to them when there is no law?
It means sin was not recorded in the books which God uses to judge people on the The Final White Throne judgment.
After the law was given God records each sin people committed in the books. On the final judgment day God will judge people by declaring punishment based on their sins or sinful deeds that is recorded in the books.
Rev 20:12,13 - 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
But for those people who lived before the law was given their sins were not recorded in the books.
In other words since there was no law given to them so they were not legally breaking the law so their sins were not recorded in the books.
For example if you drive 150mph in a freeway that doesn't have speed limit then you are not charged or issued ticket for speeding by the Police officer because there is no speed limit law exist in that section of freeway.
Does death reigned when there is no law?
14a Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam,
NLT: Romans 5:14 - they all died anyway -- even though they did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. What a contrast between Adam and Christ, who was yet to come!Yes, every one subject to death as we all inherit the sin by birth.
How will God judge people who do not have the law (Gentiles or non Israelites and people who lived before law was given)?
As we all discussed all humanity are condemned (destined to Hell) due to Adam's sin that we inherit through our parents God uses their conscience to punish their sinful deeds they have done. God uses their conscience to assign the degree of punishment for their sins in addition to torment in Hell (condemnation they received due to Adam's sin):
Romans 2:14-15 - 11 For there is no partiality with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
Application:
Does death reigned on those who believe in Him?
John 5:24 - 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
Does God imputes/records their sins to those who believe in Him?
Romans 4:6,7 - 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works
7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin."2 Cor 5:19 - that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
God forgets believers sins:
Jeremiah 31:34 - No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
Hebrews 8:12 - For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."
Hebrews 10:17 - then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."
Psalm 103:12 - As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Is 1:18 - "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.
Is :43:25 - "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.
God never forget believers good works/services to our God
Hebrew 6:10 - For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
NLT: Hebrew 6:10 - For God is not unfair. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other Christians, as you still do.1 Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
NLT: 1 Corinthians 15:58 - So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.Galatians 6:9-10 - 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
What does the law of Moses do?
20a Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound.Law exposes our sin:
Romans 3:20 - Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Since law exposes all our sins so we desperately seek help. That is why law is tutor that leads to real source of help Jesus Christ:
Gal 3:24-25 - 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Adam was type of whom?
14b who is a type of Him who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.NLT: Romans 5:14 - they all died anyway -- even though they did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. What a contrast between Adam and Christ, who was yet to come!
Is free gift is same as death or condemnation?
15a But the free gift is not like the offense.
16a And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned.No, even though Adam is a type of Jesus but the outcome of their deeds is not same.
What does the free gift do to us?
16c but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.
17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)Jesus offers free gift that Justifies us to enter into heaven by providing Righteousness of God:
Eph 2:8-9 - 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Romans 1:17 - For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
What is this free gift?
The free gift from Jesus Christ is the eternal life:
Romans5:21 - so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans5:18b - even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What is eternal life?
In short eternal life means live with God forever and ever.
Eternal life means...
Absent from the body and present with the Lord due to physical death. Or Jesus rapture or caught up His followers or believers before God pour out His wrath on the earth 7 years before the second coming of Jesus Christ.
2 Cor 5:8 - We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
Live with God forever and ever.
God will reward believers for the good works that they have done while they live in the earth
Rev 11:18 - The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth."
1 Cor 3:11-15 - 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Come back to the earth with Jesus Christ during His second coming to rule and reign this earth with Jesus Christ for 1000 years.
Continue to live with God forever and ever in new heaven and earth.
How the free gift came from many offenses?
16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.Jesus Christ didn't sin but He bore all our sins or offenses and died in our place:
1 Peter 2:24 - who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.
Does the fee gift available to all?
15b For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.
18b even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.Yes, like how Adam's in affected entire humanity same way God's free gift is available all:
1 Jon 2:2 - And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world
Do all men or humanity receives this free gift?
18b even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.This free gift came to all men, it is available to all men or God offered this free gift to all men through Jesus Christ. But it is up to each individual to receive it by believing in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Paul clearly nailed this point in Romans 3:22.
Romans 3:22 - 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
(Harrison) The idea that all men are saved by the work of Jesus whether they know it or not is known as universalism. "If the doctrine of universalism is being taught here, Paul would be contradicting himself, for he has already pictured men as perishing because of sin."
Why didn't we inherit this gift from our birth like how we inherit Adam's sin by birth?
We cannot inherit Jesus' gift because Jesus does not have any descendants like how we are descendants of Adam so God offer this as free gift to those who believe in Him.
We become children of God just by believing in Jesus Christ.
Application: If anyone here want to escape from the God's punishment and escape from eternal suffering in Hell and go to heaven then you need to
Believe in Jesus as says in
John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Confess your belief whole heartedly if you really believe in Jesus Christ as given in
Romans 10:9-10 - 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Application:
What would have happened if Jesus would have not come to the earth to save us?
We all are doomed or condemned and destined to Hell.
Do you want to choose Jesus or stay with Adam sin?
(David Guzik) The outcome of this election - choosing Adam or Jesus - means everything.
If we choose Adam, we receive judgment and condemnation.
If we choose Jesus, we receive a free gift of God's grace and justification.
In what way Adam is type of Jesus Christ? or What are the similarities Adam and Jesus has?
Adam was a type, or picture, of Jesus Christ so there are many similarities we can list:Adam and Jesus were completely sinless men from the beginning,
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned--
Adam committed sin by disobeying God Jesus never committed even a single sin but He bore all our sins as an obedient act of God.
Jesus bore all our sins
1 Peter 2:24 - who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.
Jesus is the only person died sinless personally.
Heb 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest [Jesus Christ] who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Adam and Jesus did one act that had consequences for all mankind.
Romans 5:15 - But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.
Romans 5:18 - Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
Adam's act made all humanity sinners by birth and Jesus' act offers God's righteousness to all humanity.
Romans 5:19 - For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.
(David Guzik) We could say that both Adam and Jesus are kings, each instituting a reign. Under Adam, death reigned. Under Jesus, we can reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:17 - For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
(Warren Wiersbe) Adam came from the earth, but Jesus is the Lord from heaven
1 Cor 15:47 - The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.
(Warren Wiersbe) Adam was tested in a Garden, surrounded by beauty and love; Jesus was tempted in a wilderness, and He died on a cruel cross surrounded by hatred and ugliness.
(Warren Wiersbe) Adam was a thief, and was cast out of Paradise; but Jesus Christ turned to a thief and said, "Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).
(Warren Wiersbe) The Old Testament is "the book of the generations of Adam" (Gen. 5:1) and it ends with "a curse" (Mai. 4:6). The New Testament is "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ" (Matt. 1:1) and it ends with "no more curse" (Rev. 22:3).
(Warren Wiersbe) You cannot help being "in Adam," for this came by your first birth over which you had no control. But you can help staying "in Adam," for you can experience a second birth—a new birth from above—that will put you "in Christ." This is why Jesus said, 'Ye must be born again" (John 3:7).
What does disobedience and obedience to God bring to humanity?
19a For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.Application:
What does disobedience to God bring to our life?
19a For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners,Adam's disobedience made all of us sinners.
Disobedience always brings death.
Once we disobey God then immediately we experience the spiritual death. Which means our relationship with God is destroyed or severed.
God is gracious and he is ready to forgive but we will not repent and go to God instead we keep distance from God.
1 Sam 15:22 - 22 But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."
What does obedience to God bring to our life?
Obedience to God brings
righteousness,
life here and eternal life.
keeps us in light
eliminates sacrifice
eliminated God's wrath or anger
What Paul is contrasting in Romans 5:18,19?
Paul is contrasting "the two one acts"
What Paul is contrasting in Romans 5:20,21?
Paul is contrasting "Sin and grace".
Compare Adam and Jesus deeds and outcome in Romans 5:18-21:
Adam
Jesus
The two "one acts" are contrasted
18a Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation,
18b even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
19a For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners,
19b so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.
Sin and grace are contrasted
20a Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded,
20b grace abounded much more,
21a so that as sin reigned in death,
21b even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
What will increase/abound when the sin increase/abound?
20b But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,Grace increased/abounds much more when sin increased/abounds.
What is Grace?
Grace means
Unmerited favor
Getting something which we don’t deserve
God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.
Read Grace article for more details.
Think for a moment...
Why didn't Paul contrast sin/disobedience with eternal life/obedience/righteousness? or Why didn't eternal life or obedience increased when sin increased?
Jesus work on the cross never increase our obedience to God or increase righteousness or eternal life. At the same time since we have inherited Adam's sin so the sin nature within us will make us sin more.
God offers His righteousness to us through Jesus Christ because no one is deserved to receive His righteousness. God offers this to all only because of His grace.
What does the grace abounds means?
Grace abounds means
God's unmerited favor abounds, increased, or available more.
God's free gift eternal life or salvation is freely available to all people not based on any qualification.
God graciously keep on forgiving our sins that we are committing.
Matt 18:21-22 - 21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Is the grace is new addition to God's plan?
(Warren Wiersbe) Grace was not an addition to God's plan; grace was a part of God's plan from the very beginning.
God dealt with Adam and Eve in grace;
He dealt with the patriarchs in grace; and
He dealt with the nation of Israel in grace.
He gave the Law through Mosses, not to replace His grace, but to reveal man's need for grace.
Law was temporary, but grace is eternal.
How does the grace of God reigns our life?
21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.Does grace allows believers to license to sin?
(David Guzik) The legalist's fear is that the reign of grace will provide wicked hearts with a license to sin, but Scripture doesn't share that fear.
Wherever grace rules, God's righteous standard will be respected.
Grace does not accommodate sin, it faces it squarely and goes above sin in order to conquer it.
Grace does not wink at unrighteousness, it confronts sin with the atonement at the cross and the victory won at the open tomb.
(Thomas Benton Brooks) Grace is no friend to sin; it is its sworn enemy. "As heat is opposed to cold, and light to darkness, so grace is opposed to sin. Fire and water may as well agree in the same vessel as grace and sin in the same heart."
Grace does not accommodate sin but it confronts sin.
(Warren Wiersbe) God's grace was more than adequate to deal with man's sins. Even though sin and death still reign in this world, God's grace is also reigning through the righteousness of Christ.
(Warren Wiersbe) The Christian's body is subject to death and his old nature tempts him to sin; but in Jesus Christ, he can "reign in life" because he is a part of the gracious kingdom of Christ.
Phil 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
God graciously keep on forgiving our sins that we are committing.
Matt 18:21-22 - 21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
So, we can go to His throne of grace freely just as whatever sinful state you are.
Romans 5:2 - 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Grace also builds us up or make us grow spiritually:
Acts 20:32 - So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Titus 2:11-12 - 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that,
denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
13 looking for
the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us,
that He might
redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people,
zealous for good works.
Application: Who is reigning your life either sin or grace?