Romans: Chapter 5

The Way to Maturity

We are continuing to learn the complete meaning of Salvation; which includes Justification then Sanctification.

5:1-2

THEREFORE, (this shows a definite link to the previous chapters, 1-4). Since we are justified, declared righteous and given a right standing with God through Faith, let us grasp the fact that we have the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy the peace which passes all understanding; an intimacy with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Our Messiah, the Anointed One. (2.) Through Jesus alone we have our access by Faith, through Grace, in which we firmly and safely continually stand. Let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the Glory of God. Any attempt to ‘earn’ this Gift from God is actually a rejection of both the Gift and the Giver! “Even Faith is a Gift of God, let anyone should boast.” Eph 2:8-9. Why would God even bother to go to all the work and sacrifice for us? The answer is in Eph. 2:7 “In ages yet to come He shall show the richness of His Grace in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.”

5:3-5

Do you pray for Patience? Do you even want Patience? Here’s the ONLY way we can mature to the state of being patient and persevering. We are to Glory in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. Who in their right mind would rejoice during times of trials and suffering? Only the mature Believer, who understands and firmly knows that only through suffering can one mature into a Christ-like child of the King. Patience demands tribulations! None of us want to hear this Truth, yet we must accept it IF we truly want to develop patience Notice that we cannot LEARN patience, it must be PRODUCED in us. (4.) Endurance develops maturity of character. This is the proof of your Faith and integrity. Character produces the joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. We see a progression from one attribute after another into a stronger and more mature Faith which is godly Hope. True Christian maturity is measured by the presence of Hope in our lives. Mature Christians do not fear, we only Hope. If you experience fear, assess your Hope attitude; are you Trusting in God, believing He is in control of your life?? If so, then you WILL have Hope, not fear! (5.) This Hope never disappoints or deludes us, for God’s love has been poured out continuously in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. The Holy Spirit is God’s Seal upon us; we are his, He has sealed us in a permanent relationship.

5:6

When we were totally helpless, completely incompatible with God, and powerless to help ourselves, Christ died for the ungodly (that was us). So, in truth, Jesus died for EVERYBODY! His death on the cross was to pay the sin debt of every single living soul.

5:7-8

It is an extraordinary thing that anyone would give his own life for an upright, or righteous, person; maybe for a noble and loving and generous benefactor, someone might dare to die. 8. But, (This indicates a drastic contrast) despite the fact that when we were still sinners, that means haters of God, God died for us! Would you give your life for someone who despised and hated you? Hardly! Yet God demonstrated His love toward us by the fact that while we were still vile hateful sinners, Our Messiah and Savior died for us.

5:9

Therefore, since we are now justified, acquitted and counted as righteous before God by Christ’s blood, how much more certain is it that we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God. Remember, all sin demands a penalty: God’s wrath!

5:10

When we were yet enemies of God, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more certain that we shall be saved daily, delivered from sin’s dominion through His resurrection life. We are saved by His Faithfulness, not by our faithfulness. Our salvation does not depend upon us; if it did, we would all certainly be lost. Our salvation depends solely on Jesus Christ. Can we lose our Salvation? If we are “Born Again” can we become “unborn”? Of course not! God would not be God if we could lose what He has promised! We are guaranteed to be saved forever! This gives us the ONLY motivation for living for God. We have received His free Gift of Eternal Salvation. Justification does not make a person righteous, it only declares us righteous before God. The process of being made righteous is called SANCTIFICATION. That process is the day-by-day choices we make to obey God in every aspect of our lives. See Philippians 2: 12-15, This gives us a clear guideline on how we must grow in our Faith to become Sanctified. Remember our Eternal Rewards are linked to our Fruit of the Spirit; this Fruit only comes from a Sanctified Believer. It is a lifelong process! It is a false concept to think that all you have to do is ‘believe’ and you are guaranteed Heaven. Well, yes and no. You are guaranteed to enter God’s Kingdom IF you are truly a believer. However, only those who take up their cross and follow Christ, are Sanctified, and produce Fruit, These Faithful servants will INHERIT His Kingdom.

5:11-12

We rejoice in God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received and enjoy our reconciliation. Jesus completed and finished our justification, He did it all. We can’t do ANYTHING to earn our salvation. 12. THEREFORE; (Again note that there is a link to the previous verses) Sin came into the world through one man, Adam, and death as a result of sin; so death and sin spread to all men, because all men sinned. We all have a sin nature, we are born with it.

5:13-14

Sin came into the world before the Law was given. Death came to all from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not transgress a specific command. Adam was a ‘type’ of Christ, Who was to come in the future. Adam’s act was destructive, Jesus’ act is saving. Jesus actually re-creates us; that is why Jesus said we must be born again, or re-created.

5:15-16

But, (again notice the contrast) Yet God’s free gift cannot be compared to Adam’s sin. This One Man, Jesus, gives His saving Grace; and it is far more powerful than the sin which brought the fall of man. All humans are born with a sin nature. God’s Grace abounds and gives undeserved favor to all those who believe. (16.) We cannot truly compare the Free Gift of God to Adam’s sin. Adam’s sin brought condemnation to all humans, Yet the Free Gift of Jesus brings Justification. The Free Gift must be accepted, it is not forced.

5:17

So since we see how the sin of that one man, Adam, has brought death to all; how much more will those who receive God’s Grace, putting them in right standing with God, be brought into positions of rulership with Jesus Christ.

5:18-19

Therefore, (this word again ties all these Truths together) One offense brought judgment and condemnation to all; and One Man’s righteous act (a reference to Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross) brought the Free Gift to all. It is our choice to accept or reject His Free Gift. (19.) Disobedience of one man brought sin and death into our world. The Obedience of Christ brought Grace and righteousness to all who believe.

5:20-21

When the Law came, it only served to make sin more obvious and apparent and actually increased sinfulness. Grace has surpassed the Law, and abounds much more; we are not only saved from our sinfulness and the consequences of our sin; but in addition, we are saved for something much more wonderful: Eternal Life with God! (21.) Sin brings eternal death. Yet Grace brings righteousness and Eternal Life, through Jesus Christ our Messiah and Lord. This gift of Grace brings us Eternal Life! Remember that Grace cost Jesus dearly, it is NOT CHEAP! We are given GOD’S RICHES AT CHRIST’S EXPENSE!

Paul carefully and clearly articulates man’s lost condition and utter hopelessness to encourage EVERYONE to carefully think through their hopeless condition of being trapped by sin. Man, apart from Jesus, is GUARANTEED to go to Hell. No one will ever truly seek salvation UNLESS they clearly understand and firmly believe that they are sinners, haters of God, deserving eternal death and punishment in Hell. Until a person clearly understands that they deserve and will suffer endlessly in the horrors, pain and agony of Hell, separated eternally from their Creator God, with absolutely no hope; isolated forever from any kind of love or relationships; only then can they begin to truly seek God.