Bible Study - Do Over - A Love You Can Experience - Romans 5:1-21 - December 15, 2013

Bible Study – Do Over – A Love You Can Experience – December 15, 2013

This is lesson three in our series entitled “Do Over: Experience New Life in Christ.”

Our scripture is Romans 5:6-11, 18-21.

Even at our worst, GOD loves us. That is beyond our human comprehension. John 3:16-17 establishes GOD’S love for mankind:

16 “For God loved the world •in this way: He gave His •One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.

The Apostle Paul has given us much to ponder along with some important words. He will give us some additional words in this lesson. Let’s explore.

Let’s read Romans 5:6-11, 18-21:

Let’s read Romans 5:1-5 (Introductory)

Faith Triumphs

1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through Him 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 will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Just because the Apostle Paul was a Pharisee by training and had a special, personal encounter with CHRIST on the road to Damascus, he had to place his faith in CHRIST – “We have been declared righteous by faith in CHRIST.” The result of being declared righteous by the shed blood of CHRIST, Christians been reconciled with GOD and are no longer at odds with HIM. They are at peace with HIM. Since we are at peace with HIM, we can come into HIS very presence and get to know HIM intimately and personally. When we get to know HIM we behold HIS Glory and we rejoice in HIS Glory. Because Christians are at peace with GOD, HE has imputed to them HIS eternal gifts of mercy and grace.

When we have built an intimate, personal relationship with HIM, when afflictions come our way, we can rejoice because we know that that HE is perfecting us so we can serve HIM. Notice the progression:

-         we also rejoice in our afflictions,

-         because we know that affliction produces endurance,

-         endurance produces proven character,

-         proven character produces hope.

-         This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

-         GOD confirms HIS presence in our lives through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

This introductory scripture prepares us for Paul’s next statements.

Let’s read Romans 5:6-8:

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.

Again, Paul included himself in the helpless state humans were in before CHRIST. Until CHRIST came to earth, humans were in a helpless state. The Jews had a sacrificial system that gave them hope. The shed blood of animals was a place holder until CHRIST could shed HIS blood to pay for the sin debt in full. GOD is no respecter of persons and neither was CHRIST because HE gave HIS life and shed HIS blood for all who will place their faith in HIM. As we studied earlier, there were the ungodly and those who thought they were Godly, the Jews or Jewish proselytes. All were in need of salvation.

“Christ died for the ungodly.” The word “for” means “in place of.” CHRIST died in place of the un-Godly and all were and are un- Godly.

GOD went to the full limit for a people that HE gave the right to choose. At the exact moment in time, HE allowed CHRIST to come to earth, live, give HIS life for their sins, be resurrected as proof that CHRIST conquered both sin and its consequence of eternal death. CHRIST revealed Himself to over 500 people on earth after HIS resurrection and then ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of GOD, HIS Father and the Father of all who place their faith in CHRIST.

Why did GOD do this for the people of earth? Because HE loved them. HE had created mankind to have fellowship with HIM but Adam and Eve sinned and as GOD told them, if they ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would die. They did and as a result all offspring of humanity inherited both physical death which we witness every day and eternal death, which we have been told about but will not witness until we breathe our last breath.

Ephesians 1:4:

4 For He (GOD) chose us in Him (JESUS), before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love

This goes back to the question I raised some time ago, “Where were you before you were conceived?” Based upon this scripture, I believe we were and are in the mind of GOD. I believe HIS foreknowledge allowed HIM to see every person who would ever be conceived as a human coming from the offspring of Adam and Eve. Consider that if a critical ancestor in our lineage had died, we would not exist.

Therefore, those who HE foreknew needed an opportunity to be conceived and have the opportunity to make their own decision regarding CHRIST. I look at earth as GOD giving humans a second opportunity to choose HIM and eternal life over death which Adam and eve chose by eating the fruit from the knowledge of good and evil. So how do you choose?

Paul states well the love that GOD has for all humans in verses 8 and 9:

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.

CHRIST giving HIS life is one thing but there is so much more. Since Christians have been declared righteous by placing their faith in CHRIST, 
they are “saved” from GOD’S wrath. GOD hates sin because sin robs people of their eternal life and fellowship with HIM. What HE has waiting those who place their faith in CHRIST is beyond anything the human mind can think or dream about! HE does not want anyone to miss out but the choice is theirs to make.

When we could care less about HIM, CHRIST gave HIS life for just you and just for me. Let’s continue in verses 10 and 11:

10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how 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.

We have now received this reconciliation through Him (JESUS). Let’s explore a little further about original sin.

Death through Adam and Life through Christ. (My insert)

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, in this way death (Physical and Eternal) spread to all men, because all sinned. 13 In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law. (Ignorance of the law or knowledge of the law, does not determine physical death.) 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 (JESUS). 15 But the gift is not like the trespass. (Whereas when Adam sinned, death came to all humans but when CHRIST gave HIS life to pay the debt for sin, salvation did not automatically come to all humans.) 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. 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.

Let’s read Romans 5:18-21: (My Insert)

18 So then, as through one trespass (Adam) there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act (JESUS) there is life-giving justification for everyone. 19 For just as through one man’s disobedience (Adam) the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience (JESUS) the many will be made righteous. 20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. (The law reveals how far short humans fail to meet GOD’S standard of perfection) But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

JESUS gave HIS sinless life by the shedding of HIS blood just for you and for all who place their faith in HIM. When a person places his or her faith in HIM, it triggers a multitude of Spiritual happenings:

Salvation, rebirth of the spirit, become GOD’S child, eternal life, citizenship in Heaven, made righteous, justified, sanctified, mercy, grace, redemption, expiation, forgiveness, the indwelling Holy Spirit and so much MORE!

But if you have never accepted CHRIST as your Savior, you cannot comprehend these gifts from GOD to you through CHRIST. Accept HIM as your Savior and begin the joy of your salvation through CHRIST. You will have difficult times, as well as, times of great joy. 

CHRIST will NEVER FORSAKE YOU OR LEAVE YOU. After all HE bought you with HIS life and shed blood. The world hates Christians but this is not our home. Keep in mind that humans were not made for time but for eternity! Blessings!!!