Lesson  61

         Romans Chapter 5  -   Results of Justification by faith.

Review:

 

In 5:6-8 we see the nature of God's love; but more specifically the nature of God's love applied to us;  its God's love in action; i.e. Grace!

 

Description of our pre-salvation status is given in context;

- vs:6 helpless & ungodly;

- vs:8 sinners;

- vs:10 enemies;

 

That what was done for us at the cross, when we were totally unworthy, when there was absolutely no merit in any of us to commend us to God and He loved us and sent His Son to die for us!  That is the supreme exhibition of Grace!

 

Three things we need to know as we consider these 3 verses;  vs:6,7,8

1. Human love, at its best, may motivate a person to give his life for a truly "good" person. (v.7)

2. Christ, was sent by the God/F, He died, not for "the righteous" or even for good people, but for rebellious and undeserving people. (v.6)

3. Therefore, God's love is far greater in its magnitude and dependability than even the greatest example of human love. (v.8)

 

5:6 For while we were still helpless,  at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly

 

Huper  expresses the substitutionary aspect of Christ's death but it also indicates the action on behalf of another that is consistent with the love of God as seen in Christ.

 

Point of Truth:

We were utterly unworthy of any consideration by God and yet He died for us any way!

 

5:7 Illustrates for us the height of human love; the best man can do!

It helps us understand the magnitude of what God did for us in and through Christ; The extent and degree of His love!

- righteous = one who is honest, dependable but not especially warm hearted towards others; [but one not liked]

- good = one who exhibits kindness and benevolence toward others, along with the honesty, and dependability; would be well liked.

 

- What this is saying is that it is not the normal thing to expect one to die for someone else, but in rare cases of the good man one might!

 

5:8  But  [intro. contrast; the incredible grace of God's love] God demonstrates (proves) His own  (emphatic pronoun) love toward us,  in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

 

 

- the last phrase is a purpose clause introduced in the translation by "in that"  (o[ti) in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

 

Quote from Rene Lopez  Romans Unlocked, Power to Deliver pg. 108

This clause explains the extent of God's love in two ways:

First, God's unconditional love expresses itself by reaching out to sinners while they were still going the opposite direction.

Second, God's love also expresses itself in the historical act of Christ's death. For Paul, Christ's death is the ultimate tangible manifestation of God's love. Incredibly, no other verse, except John 3:16, shouts more clearly than this one of God's amazing grace!

No amount of human justice or goodness can begin to compare.  God's love is overwhelming!

 

 

How could we ever imagine that He would ever forsake us;  or not provide what is needed for living?  

Therefore our hope is secure as we already noted;   "and hope does not disappoint" v.5

 

 

5:9 Provision for the life that flows from salvation

 

- Notice that each of these next 2 verses have "much more";  these deal with the aspect of our salvation that is future.

 

 

 

 

Overview:

                  5:9                                                     5:10

 


    having now been justified                           we were reconciled

        point of faith - (past)                                              same      

           by His blood                                       through the death of His Son

            sacrificial death                                                   same

              much more                                               much more

      shall be saved from wrath                    having been reconciled we shall be saved

             future aspect                                                  same future aspect

            through  Him                                               by His life              

 

 

 

 


** Logic, Premise here is this in these 2 verses:

If God has already accomplished the difficult thing; that is to justify the ungodly, and to reconcile the sinner to Himself.

How much more can He be depended on to accomplish the "easier" or the lesser things;

 

That is He died for you when you were His enemy, a sinner and ungodly; totally alienated from Him [v.6,8]

Now that your justified, declared righteous, and therefore acquitted from all charges against you how much more will He do for you now?  Your in Christ, your children of God, Your His heirs;  

 

 

Question is just what is the wrath refer to here? 

 

- His judgment to come on those who reject Him;  Who fail to believe God!

- or is this wrath related to the present experience of the believers, a concept Paul strengthens by his graphic description of God's love (v.3-8) to motivate believers? 

 

 

This aspect of God's wrath was common in the OT in His dealing with believers. Psa 6:1 (see the discipline in the following verses;) Jer 44:5-6

 

- One of the keys to grasping this is that in both verses we have the future tense of "saved" which is not talking about salvation as we understand it at all.  It's another passage where our deliverance from something is in view.