God Loves Sinners - Romans 5:1-19 - October 12, 2008

Sunday School Lesson – God Loves Sinners – October 12, 2008

This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled “This I Believe.”

Our scripture is Romans 5:6-19.

Often we, as Christians, overlook the fact that GOD loves sinners but HE hates their sin. Those of us who are parents know the love we have for our children. If they should become addicted to drugs, gambling, alcohol, pornography or anything that is not good for them, we still love them but dislike or hate the thing that controls them.

GOD is no different. HE loves every human who ever has been or will ever be. HIS desire is for every human to escape the bondage of sin and eternal death by accepting HIS SON JESUS as his or her SAVIOR. In his letter to the Christians in Rome, the Apostle Paul spells out the fundamentals of the gospel. Rome was such a mixing pot of religious practices and pagan worship that Paul wanted those he would visit to understand his perspective of the Christian faith. This letter would give those he planned to visit time to read his letter, digest it and be prepared to ask questions or seek clarification. The Christians in Rome and those to whom they would be presenting the gospel would likely be people who have debated the issue of religion. It was important that the Christians in Rome all be in one accord with the fundamentals of the gospel. Since the Christians in Rome trace back to Pentecost, they should be mature in CHRIST. So Paul gives them the meat of Christian fundamentals.

Although our scripture begins with verse 6, let’s begin with:

Romans 5:1-5:

Faith Triumphs

1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace[1] Other mss read faith, let us have peace, which can also be translated faith, let us grasp the fact that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Also through Him, we have obtained access by faith[2] Other mss omit by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Verse 1 begins with the word “therefore” which refers back to Chapter 4 where Paul wrote about faith. Faith is what makes a person righteous. GOD accrued Abraham’s faith to him as righteousness. It is not keeping the law that makes one righteous because Abraham lived before GOD gave the law to Moses.

Death came into the world because of Adam’s sin and death is conquered and defeated by CHRIST giving HIS sinless life to redeem mankind from its grip. CHRIST did what no human could do for themselves. GOD’S love for mankind was HIS motive. The sacrifice CHRIST made by dying on the cross went far beyond just satisfying the original sin debt. CHRIST’S death covers the past, present and future sins of a believer. This all encompassing coverage of sins is achieved because of GOD’S gift of grace to all believers. GOD’S gifts to all believers are:
- Eternal life through the miracle of rebirth.
- The gift of righteousness through the death of CHRIST.
- CHRIST’S shed blood cleanses all believers of all their sins so they can approach GOD directly. They can approach GOD as if they have never sinned.
- The gift of grace. Grace is unmerited favor that GOD gives to all believers. Grace is something that is impossible to earn. It is a gift from GOD.

When sinners accept and acknowledge what CHRIST has done for them upon the cross, all of these gifts are theirs. WOW!!!

Paul made it clear that even though believers have these gifts there will be difficult times. Believers are to look upon these difficult times as opportunities for growth and development in their faith. GOD has given to all believers the HOLY SPIRIT, WHO will be their teacher, guide, assurance and strength all the time and especially during difficult times.

As I write this many of us have likely been impacted by the financial crisis in our nation and the world. We as Christians need wisdom and guidance from the LORD during such times. Many of us likely have a feeling of helplessness. This leads us into verse 6.

Let’s read Romans 5:6-11:

Those Declared Righteous Are Reconciled

6 For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us! 9 Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, [then how]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. much more, having been reconciled, will we 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 reconciliation.

Paul used the word “helpless” to define the spiritual situation of all humans. Every human is helpless to work out his or her salvation. GOD’S standard is perfection for a person to enter HIS heaven. Every human is born with the original sin debt hanging over his or her head because of Adam. We say that is not fair, but, for us to live as a human, we had to be born of the flesh. Most of us or likely all of us like the fact that we were born and can enjoy life. However, because of this life in the flesh we inherited certain things. We inherited our physical characteristics, our health, our mental attributes, our personality, aging, physical death and the list goes on. But we also inherited the sin of Adam, which, in addition to physical death, was also spiritual death or separation from GOD. GOD hates sin but loves the sinner and HIS desire is for every human to be saved. That is why HE allowed JESUS to come to earth and give HIS life for all who will become believers.

Now let me step aside for a moment because some reading this may raise the question about a child dying before he or she made a decision to ask CHRIST into his or her life. There may be a mentally challenged person who one may think did not make a profession of faith before he or she died. There is the unborn child or fetus that has died. I believe that GOD receives these souls into HIS arms the instant they die. I believe there is an “accountable age” which is not a numerical age, but a moment of understanding when a person realizes his or her separation from GOD. Keep in mind that GOD works in the most secret place in a person’s life. It is GOD that brings a person to a point of this understanding. At that moment every person has to make a choice to accept or reject CHRIST as his or her SAVIOR. It is GOD’S desire that no human perish, no not one. This is what I believe, but, just because I believe it, does not make it accurate. There are some scriptures that have led me to this conclusion. But pray and ask GOD to either confirm it or reject it in your heart.

I quickly add, if you read this and think you will take your chances on whether or not you are accountable. DO NOT PUT OFF WHAT YOU KNOW YOU NEED TO DO - NOW!!! Ask CHRIST to forgive you of your sins and for HIM to come into your heart.

Paul continued to lay the foundation of the gospel. When humans were helpless to save themselves, GOD willingly allowed HIS ONLY SON to come to earth to live as a human, to be tempted in all ways like humans and to die to pay, in full, the sin debt incurred by Adam. In order for CHRIST to satisfy the original sin debt, HE had to be sinless. As proof that CHRIST was sinless, GOD resurrected HIM from the dead to receive HIS glorified body. Mission accomplished! The FATHER was pleased with HIS SON and JESUS heard those wonderful words, “Well done good and faithful servant. Come and sit at MY right hand.” As a result of CHRIST’S obedience, GOD placed all things under HIS control and authority.

When GOD gave Moses the law, it gave mankind the standard GOD expected of them. With the law, mankind had a measure of how much they miss the requirements of GOD’S expectations. JESUS put an even finer point on how much we miss the mark when HE included what a person thinks in his or her heart to also be accountable. JESUS said a person must also keep the spirit of the law. When sin or missing the mark includes what we think, it gives us a sense of helplessness. That is exactly where CHRIST wanted every person to be because he or she should ask “What is the solution?” No person can measure up to GOD’S requirements. Exactly!!! That is why CHRIST had to die in his or her place. No human is pure enough to satisfy GOD’S requirements but CHRIST does. When people accept what CHRIST did for them, they are forgiven, cleansed and put in right standing with GOD. GOD gives every believer the HOLY SPIRIT to indwell him or her as confirmation of his or her rebirth in the spirit.

When humans were ignorant of their fallen state, GOD, in HIS love for us, allowed CHRIST to die for all who would believe in HIM. CHRIST was willing to give HIS life for those who would accept HIM as their SAVIOR.

A person needs to realize that if he or she is the only person in all eternity to ever accept CHRIST as his or her SAVIOR, CHRIST would have died just for him or her. That is as personal as you can get. HE loves you that much. If you have not accepted CHRIST as your SAVIOR, please do not reject HIM because HE died just for you.

The shed blood of CHRIST saves a believer. This is ground zero. Then because a believer has been justified and made righteous through the shed blood of CHRIST, he or she can build an intimate, loving relationship with GOD our FATHER. As believers really get to know HIM, they are more likely to obediently serve HIM. Believers always have a choice. When they serve HIM as HE directs they will grow and mature spiritually. Believers will go from one degree of glory to another because of the relationship.

Let’s read Romans 5:12-14:

Death through Adam and Life through Christ

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned.[3] Or have sinned 13 In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to one’s account when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a prototype of the Coming One.

Paul is comparing Adam and CHRIST. GOD intended for Adam to be like CHRIST. Adam was a prototype of JESUS. GOD allowed Adam and CHRIST to choose. Both had a free will. GOD did not make either of them robots. Each was tempted and each had the freedom to choose to obey GOD or the dictates of the flesh. CHRIST chose to obey GOD and remain sinless but Adam was disobedient, yielded to the flesh and sinned.

GOD intended for Adam and his offspring to have the opportunity to live forever. But to do so required the right choice. GOD placed the Tree of Life in the garden and Adam and Eve were free to eat from the Tree of Life. If they had eaten from the Tree of Life, they and their offspring would have eternal life. When Adam sinned, death came into the world and all humans inherited physical and spiritual death. However, GOD had a redemption plan from the beginning. GOD’S foreknowledge allowed HIM to know the outcome. But foreknowledge does not dictate choice.

CHRIST was willing to leave heaven and come to earth to give HIS life to redeem mankind from spiritual death and to give the gift of eternal life to all who believed in HIM. GOD demands perfection and the sacrifice to redeem mankind had to be the perfect sacrifice. CHRIST is the only acceptable perfect sacrifice. That is why CHRIST is the only way to the FATHER. CHRIST justifies all who believe in HIM, through HIS shed blood.

Since, as believers, we are redeemed through CHRIST and born-again in our spirit, each person must come to GOD as an individual. Being the offspring of Christian parents does not make us born-again Christians.

Paul mentions the period of time between Adam and Moses when there was no law. During this period of no law, humans still died. It is interesting that in 1 Peter 3:18-22:

18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all,[23] Other mss read died for sins on our behalf; other mss read died for our sins; other mss read died for sins on your behalf [24] Rm 6:10; Heb 9:28; 10:10; 1 Pt 2:21; 4:1 the righteous[25] Isaiah 53:11 for the unrighteous,[26] Or the Righteous One in the place of the unrighteous many that He might bring you[27] Other mss read us to God,[28] Eph 2:18 after being put to death in the fleshly realm[29] Or in the flesh but made alive in the spiritual realm.[30] Or in the spirit, or in the Spirit 19 In that state[31] Or In whom, or At that time, or In which He also went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison[32] The spirits in prison are most likely fallen supernatural beings or angels; see 2 Pt 2:4; Jd 6. 20 who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah[33] Gn 6:1–8:22 while an ark was being prepared; in it, a few—that is, eight people[34] Lit souls —were saved through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the pledge[35] Or the appeal of a good conscience[36] Heb 10:22 toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 22 Now that He has gone into heaven, He is at God’s right hand, with angels, authorities, and powers subjected to Him.[37] Eph 1:20–22

When JESUS died on the cross, while HE was in the Spirit, HE went to speak to those who had lived and died during the period between Adam and Moses. The spirits of these people apparently were being held in a special place until JESUS came to redeem the world of sin. It seems that JESUS preached or presented the gospel to them and they had an opportunity to choose.

The scripture in First Peter leads some to believe that all a person has to do to be saved is to be baptized. Baptism occurs after salvation as an outward expression of a believer’s inward change. A believer in essence has been buried with CHRIST and raised to walk in newness of life. A believer is dying to self and is being resurrected to be guided by CHRIST through the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT.

In the absence of the law there is nothing to give us a reference as to how far we have missed the requirements of the law. However people are still accountable to GOD.

Let’s read Romans 2:12-16:

12 All those who sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all those who sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For the hearers of the law are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be declared righteous.[5] Or will be justified or acquitted 14 So, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinctively do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law[6] The code of conduct required by the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences testify in support of this, and their competing thoughts either accuse or excuse them[7] Internal debate, either in a person or among the pagan moralists 16 on the day when God judges what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.[8] Ac 17:31

Paul tells us even when there is no written law, GOD writes the law within every human’s heart and each person will be judged according to the light they have received and how he or she responded to that light.

One may say, “That sounds good.” Let me quickly point out the word “judged.” Do you want to be judged? Or do you want a sure thing? At the instant you receive CHRIST you will pass from death to life and will not be judged. JESUS says this in John 5:24:

24 “I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

I like a sure thing. I choose CHRIST now. What about you?

GOD promised the coming of the Messiah through various prophets and prophecies in the Old Testament scriptures. Those who lived during the period of the law were looking forward to the salvation of the cross and their full redemption through the Messiah. Where as we look backwards to that event. All sin was resolved and the path to GOD was made available to all who believe and accept CHRIST at the cross.

Let’s read Romans 5:15-19:

15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift overflowed to the many by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification.[4] Or acquittal 17 Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is life-giving justification[5] Lit is justification of life for everyone. 19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Adam’s sin was disobedience. We may not sin in the exact same way but all humans sin. When Adam sinned, death came to the human race.

We need to pay attention to the fact that once GOD pronounces a judgment, it stands until it is changed according to the terms HE specifies. In the case of Adam’s sin, GOD pronounced the death sentence upon Adam and all of mankind because we are his offspring. Therefore for the judgment or sentence of death, both physical and spiritual, to be satisfied, GOD required that a perfect, sinless life be given in exchange for the disobedient, sinful life. What GOD required, GOD also provided – HIS ONLY SON JESUS. But CHRIST had to come to earth as a human, live as a human, be tempted as a human, have freedom of choice, remain sinless and give HIS life by shedding HIS blood to redeem mankind from the penalty of sin and death. As proof that HE accomplished HIS mission, GOD raised HIM from the dead and HE received HIS glorified eternal body the moment HE was resurrected. All believers will receive their glorified body at HIS second coming.

When CHRIST died for the sins of mankind, HIS death far exceeded just paying the original sin debt by also giving grace to believers. Grace covers the past, present and future sins of all believers. HIS grace allows believers to not only be forgiven but to be cleansed and justified. Believers come before GOD as pure and righteous, as if they had never sinned. WOW!!! Think about that! No matter how bad people have been or what they have done, by accepting CHRIST they are made clean, just as if they had never sinned. Believers are made righteous through the shed blood of CHRIST.

2 Corinthians 5:21:

21 He made the One (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

What a heritage Christians have in CHRIST. Keep in mind that GOD loves sinners but hates sin. Often it is hard for us to separate the sin from the sinner. We are all sinners saved by grace. Just as we have been given grace, we also need to extend grace to others as the HOLY SPIRIT leads.