STUDY THEME: ENTERING INTO A COVENANT OF GRACE WITH GOD. 11-17-02

"SALVATION MEANS A NEW LIFE." ROMANS 5: 1-11, 18-23.

ROMANS 5: 1-2, 3-4, 5-8, 9-11, 18-19, 20-23.

PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO ROMANS 5.

People who are not Christians often ask what difference does it make to be a Christians. A college boy said one time that if he could see that being a Christian really made any difference in the lives of other people, then he, the student, would become a Christian. But he said he could see very little difference between his life as a non-Christian and the lives of Christians.

Some conclude that if any difference exists at all, it is defined in avoiding certain activities, abiding by rigid rules, doing good deeds, possessing certain subjective feelings, or assuming you’ll go to heaven when you die.

Paul in the passage in this Sunday’s lesson is going to point out some essential differences that are made in our lies when we are saved by the grace of Jesus Christ. Others cannot always see all of these things in our lives, but those of us who have been saved by His grace know that our lives have become different. Paul affirms that Jesus makes all the difference in people’s lives. In fact, if there has been no difference at all to come to our lives, very likely we have not been saved. Paul is going to argue that there are significant changes in our lives when we come to know Christ as our Lord and Savior. The new life in Christ satisfies the deepest human needs for life, love, hope, joy, and peace. Christians know these are things all people seek in their own ways, but, that they are found only in Christ.

Paul declares in Rom. 5: 1 that one of the very significant things that happens to us when we trust Christ as Lord and Savior is that we are "justified" and thus we have peace with God. The word "justify" means to declare righteous as if one is standing before a judge. Paul knew that we gain access into God’s presence by faith in Jesus Christ. And thus we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which comes into our lives when we believe in Christ as Savior.

Because of being justified through faith, believers have peace with God. This is not the same as inner peace of mind and spirit called in Phil. 4: 7 "the peace of God". Nor is it the same as the peace among believers that Jesus brings in Eph. 2:14. However these other expressions of faith grow out of peace with God. Peace with God in Rom. 5:1 refers to a fruit of justification. It is the state of being reconciled to God.

Believers also live by grace and hope for the glory of God. Christians can rejoice in sufferings because God works for good to produce transformed lives. God’s love is the source of the life in Christ. The Spirit pours out love in our hearts. God’s love was revealed in the death of Christ for the ungodly. If God died for us and reconciled us while we were sinners, we can be confident of His final salvation. Christ brought salvation and eternal life.

The Focal Passage Outline answers the Life Question, "How am I different now that I am saved?" In Romans Ch.1-4 Paul declared the sinfulness of all human beings. All have sinned, both Gentiles and Jews. Paul also set forth salvation and faith in Jesus Christ as God’s remedy for sin—not keeping the law. In Rom. 4:25 Paul affirmed that Jesus was "put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification." Thus Paul climaxed his discussion of justification by faith as God’s way of making men right with Himself. Paul pointed out that faith has always been the way through which God has enabled men to have a right relationship to Him.

In Ch. 5 the apostle discussed five characteristics of new life in Christ, which are the result of justification. In Vs. 1-2, Paul lists two results believers have who have been justified through faith. Peace is one of these. It is true, however, that while the blessings are available, we must appropriate them to ourselves. The greatest blessings for us are not material but spiritual. God gives us His Word, redemption, soul security, love, truth, purity, to name only a few. It is no wonder Jesus closed the Sermon on the Mount with the Parable of the two builders. I trust that you are building on the Rock.

Skeptics refer to the Christian faith as "Pie in the sky by and by." Sensible advice to them is the saying, "If you haven’t tried it, don’t knock it." Those who have tried it know that faith in Christ pays dividends, here and now as well as then and there. "Eternal life" is not something the Christian receives in eternity. It is a quality of life received the moment we believe in Jesus. It is life that abides in eternity.

It would be difficult, if not impossible, to make a comprehensive list of the blessings of the Christian’s life. Because even while the list is being compiled, new blessings would appear. These new blessings each day are sweeter than the ones of the day before The most wonderful experience in all the world can come after having seen yourself as a condemned sinner. Having seen that which leads almost to ultimate despair, suddenly you see yourself before God as righteous and just, just as if you had never sinned. God declares the unjust to be just, the ungodly to be righteous and the sinner to be a Child of God. "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with god through Our Lord Jesus Christ."

We not only have a peace with God for the past, but we also have a present standing in grace. We have access into this grace wherein we stand. The veil of the Temple has been rent in twain from top to bottom. No longer can only the High Priest, on only one day of the year, go into the presence of God. Any believer and every believer, anytime, any place, young people, older people, new Christians, Christians for many years, unsaved and unregenerate persons who will come in faith and repentance, anybody, anywhere, anytime has access into this grace wherein we stand. We can come boldly into the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We not only have peace with God for the past, a present standing in grace for the present, but we can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God for the future. Observe that hope is the final level in these three steps toward spiritual maturity. Hope is not the tuition we pay to enroll in the school of adversity. Rather it is the diploma awarded to those who by the grace of God, do well on the tests.

The Christian can live a stable, mature life in the midst of a world going crazy. He has peace with God as far as his past is concerned, he has a present standing in grace and he can come boldly to God’s throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Despite come what may, he can look at the world and the universe "going to pot," as it were, and still be able to rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. The Christian life is anchored to the solid Rock. It is secure for the past, secure for the present, and shall be secure for the future

Now in the midst of all written in Vs. 1-2, Paul says one other thing in this chapter about the benefits of salvation. He says we not only have a standing with God, peace with God for the past, and a standing in grace for the present and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God for the future. But he says in Vs. 3 we are able to glory, to shout, to rejoice in tribulation right here and now in earthly life.

Not only do we glory or rejoice in the future hope but in the present stern reality; Because, with God’s peace believers can grow through adversity. This doesn’t mean, of course, that we have only hope of future joys—we can be full of joy here and now even in our trials and troubles.

Paul used the word "tribulations." This word means to be in a tight place with seemingly no way out. It was used of grapes being crushed in a wine press. What appears to be destroying the grapes is actually enabling them to achieve a purpose—to produce juice. God does not cause our troubles. But if we trust Him, He works in them to produce Christian character. If we react to them properly, we glorify God in them.

3. PLEASE READ ROMANS 5: 5-8.

Another benefit of justification is the assurance it makes possible with regard to the final judgment. Here we learn that Christian hope is neither wishful thinking nor guesswork. Rather it is based upon the solid foundation of God’s love for us.

Everyone needs to know that he/she is loved. In the l940’s a noted child psychologist told mothers not to rock their babies. The youth of the l960"s who rioted and burned cities and campuses were called the "unrocked generation." Following that, he told mothers to rock their babies. His reason? Simply holding the baby to the mothers’ bosom gave it a sense of security. It knew it was loved. Fortunately many mothers did not heed the eminent doctor’s earlier advice. Their children, including some others, grew into well-rounded persons.

The Christian knows that he/she is loved by God. This is seen in the atoning death of His son. In Vs. 6 "Without strength" means that within ourselves we had no power to do right or to save ourselves. While we were helpless in "due time" or at the right time, which was right in God’s mind, man came to realize that he was unable to save himself. God had known from the beginning that such was impossible. But man had to realize it through trial and failure.

When that time came, God revealed His redeeming love in that "Christ died for the ungodly" or "godless men." In a sense Christ threw His body over us to receive the punishment of death meant for us. He did so on our behalf or as our Substitute. He died in our place, suffering the penalty for our sins.

Beginning with Vs. 7 Paul argued from the lesser to the greater; from what men might do to what God has done. At the human level he drew a contrast between a person’s attitude toward a "righteous" and a "good" man. A "righteous person" is one who lives strictly by the law, expects others to do so, and has no sympathy for anyone who does not do it. A "good man" is one who is righteous but also benevolent, generous, and kind. Between the two is all the difference in the world. It is mainly a matter of sympathy.

Paul said that it is unlikely that a person would die for the former. But it is perhaps possible that one would dare or have courage to die for the latter. The Amplified Bible reads, "Though perhaps for a noble and lovable and generous benefactor someone might even dare to die."

Vs. 8 is one of the greatest verses Paul ever wrote. The word "but" in Vs. 8 sets God’s attitude over against that of men. Men might die for a friend. But Christ died for "sinners" or "God’s enemies"—those in rebellion against Him, those who hate Him. This does not mean that God was our enemy but that we were His. One can speak of such love only in superlatives. A verse like this shows that to view the death of Christ as appeasement to the wrath of an angry Father is wrong. Indeed all that Jesus Christ did, God the Father was doing through Him.

The argument that Paul advances in Vs. 9 is this: If God so loved us while we were yet sinners, "Much more then, being now justified by His blood, shall we be saved from the wrath of God through Him." If God has done so much for his enemies, what will He not do for friends? "For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God though the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by His life." It is evident that our eternal salvation is secure, and certain. We have the assurance that we are safe in our relationship with God. The God who made possible for us justification through the death of His Son, will undoubtedly grant us eternal blessedness as we share now in the life of the risen Christ.

No wonder, then, that Paul closes the paragraph with the assurance that we who are justified have triumphant joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Such peace with God, such access to a loving Father; such unclouded hope of glory, are the sure and inevitable blessings of all who are justified by faith. But what did Paul mean by our being saved by or in His life? Life refers to His resurrected life. Not the life He lived in the flesh. That life would have made Him only an example to follow. His example saves no one. His blood does and His blood was made effective through his resurrection.

He made the once-for-all sacrifice and then conquered sin and death through His resurrection. We do not trust in a dead body in a Palestinian tomb, but in a living Lord who died for us and now lives forevermore. So we trust in a risen, living Savior.

By Christ’s death we are changed form God’s enemies to His friends, even His servants. And through Him as our living, reigning Lord, who ever holds intercession for us, we have life forevermore. "We shall be saved" in Vs. 9-10 refers to total salvation: regeneration, sanctification, and glorification. As we have often noted, regeneration refers to the saving of the soul; sanctification denotes the saving of the Christian life; glorification points to the sum total of glory and reward we will have in heaven—including the resurrection of our bodies.

Vs. 11 crowns Paul’s discussion in Romans 5:1-11. It speaks of the abiding joy Christians have in their relationship to God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Peace with God is both a present blessing and a future assurance. It enables us to live life at its best on earth. And it points to the unfolding eternity of blessedness when there will be no sin or sorrow, tribulation or trials. This study would not be complete without a brief look at 2 Cor. 5: 17-21. Through Christ God has provided the means whereby we may be reconciled to Him. But He has made us responsible for proclaiming this glorious news to a lost world. Peace with God is not merely something to be enjoyed. It is a responsibility to be borne. This brings us back to Paul’s sense of debtorship expressed in Rom. 1: 14-15. Because of what God in Christ has done for us, we are under obligation to "share the good news" with others.

PLEASE MOVE DOWN TO VS. 18.

Vs. 12-21 of Romans 5 contain Paul’s contrast between the influence Adam had on the human race and the influence Christ can have for those who believe on Him. Sin entered the world through Adam, and sin brought eternal death upon all because all sinned. God’s salvation came to mankind through Jesus Christ and His salvation brings eternal life to all who believe in Him.

In Vs. 18 Paul discussed what one trespass committed by Adam did and what one act of righteousness through Christ did. Trespass or transgression means "to sin" or "to fall to one side." Adam fell when he acted in disobedience to God’s command not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The result of Adam’s trespass was condemnation that spread to all who sin.

In contrast, Jesus Christ’s act of righteousness on the cross, brought justification, which issues in life. The word life refers to Christ’s life and the life Christ gives to those who trust Him. Sin brings eternal death or separation from God, but Jesus gives eternal (life with Him forever). Jesus can give life to those who are dead in trespasses and sins. In Eph. 2:1 Paul says "He is God’s remedy for the condemnation of sin. In Him, God offers justification and life to all people everywhere."

In Vs. 19 Paul further contrasted the outcome of Adam’s disobedience and Christ’s obedience. Through Adam’s disobedience, the entire human race were made sinners. Adam’s transgression was the cause of our sinful nature and sinful environment, resulting in the fact that all people sin. However, through Christ’s obedience, many will be made righteous or right with God. The many in vs. 19b are those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

What of the law? God gave the law so that people might be aware of their sinfulness. The law shows us what God calls right and what He calls wrong. Therefore the law increases our awareness of our sin and God’s condemnation of it. But with that increase in the awareness of Sin, God’s grace increased all the more. Never has God shown us more sin than His grace can forgive or defeat. God’s grace in Christ is adequate for every sin and greater than all sin. Thank God, His grace is greater than our sin.

Clifton J. Allen in his book "The Gospel According to Paul," said, "In Vs. 21 sin and grace are described as "the warring queens." How true to the history of the human race is Paul’s statement: "Sin hath reigned unto death." It slays and kills. It’s tyranny has filled the world with sorrow and suffering, corruption and violence, lust and blasphemy, shame and death. But sin’s reign is being overthrown. The grace of God has come in to reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." Not sin, but grace, is the final word, not death but life, is God’s purpose for mankind. Not hopeless condemnation, but a way of salvation, is the glorious message of the Gospel.

That is the message that the world needs so desperately to hear. It gripped the mind and heart of Paul with such conviction that he longed to preach it everywhere. He knew it to be the power of God unto salvation. Modern Christians ought to share the same burden of conviction. The stewardship of the gospel is the staggering responsibility of all who have received the grace of God. It is the supreme means by which we can help to accomplish God’s plan of the ages. It is our supreme force for changing the world order for good.

The reign of sin is spreading more chaos and spiritual doom around the earth. But grace is arrayed against sin. Grace is mighty to save. It brings hope to the despairing and eternal life to the spiritually dead. Paul wrote in Titus 2: 11-12, "The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." This is the answer to the plight of mankind.

NEXT WEEK FROM ROMANS 6 "WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW THAT I’M SAVED?"

A.V. DAUGHERTY 11-17-02