Romans 5

Wednesday, 1 May 2013

And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Romans 5:11

Paul, adding on to the previous verse says, “And not only that…” In addition to the amazing fact that we were reconciled to God through Jesus’ death and saved by His life, we have the wondrous prospect of rejoicing in God through Him. In 5:2 we were told that we rejoice in hope of the glory of God, but in Christ we can also actually rejoice in God Himself. The reason why this can happen is because Jesus is the full expression of God. We see this in several verses in the New Testament. Two of them are cited below. The first is from Jesus’ words and the second is from Paul’s letter to the Colossians –

“He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” John 14:9

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” Colossians 1:15

If we rejoice in Christ Jesus, then we are rejoicing in God through Him as well. He is the point of reconciliation between God and man and therefore the focus of our rejoicing. In this particular verse, the older King James Version uses the word “atonement” instead of “reconciliation.” This may lead the modern reader to a misunderstanding of what is meant.

The word atonement as used in the Old Testament is the means of reconciliation – the sacrifice which brings it about. This isn’t what’s intended here. Instead it is speaking about the reconciliation itself. The old English use of the word implied at-one-ment. It is the state in which we find ourselves. We are fully and completely reconciled to God because of Jesus. Great stuff.

Life application: The fact that we are reconciled to God is something that we should attempt to remember at all times. When we fall short and stumble in our walk, we should keep in mind that we are His and that we are united to Him. Therefore, it is good and proper to return our heart to Him with humility and acknowledge His presence. We are reconciled, it is a done deal, therefore let us not act in a manner which is unworthy of that state.

O God, I know that through Jesus I have full and complete restoration to You. Help me to remember this, even when I fall short and stray from Your precepts. If I can just remember this fact, then I will be more strengthened in my ability to turn back to You and press on in Your good graces. What a point of rejoicing! Thank You for Jesus. Amen.

Tuesday, 30 April 2013

For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:10

“For” again begins Paul’s thought. He is reasserting and building on what was just noted. There was a time when we were enemies of God, but Christ came and reconciled us to Him. Reconciliation isn’t something that God needs from us, it is something that we need from God. We were reconciled “to” God through the death of His son. The enmity was ended and the hostility ceased.

Imagine a battle-line where there is an overwhelming attacking power facing a weak and defenseless one. There is only the expectation of complete annihilation of the weak forces; their doom is assured and they will be utterly swept away. But when the crisis was at the moment of completion, the hostilities cease and the commander of the attacking forces steps forward and lays his weapons of destruction down in the presence of the astonished defenders. He calls out, “We are offering you peace.”

This is the state we were in. There was absolutely no hope. We were on a one way avenue to destruction when God stepped in and offered us terms of peace; He offered Jesus. Now think it through… if we were enemies in this situation and He did this because of His own goodness and benevolence by offering His Son, then how “much more, having be reconciled” shall we be saved by His life.

In other words, and without muddying the waters with any other issue or verse – we are eternally saved. Why would God allow Christ to go through all of the torture of the cross, thus offering us peace and reconciliation, just to turn and condemn us after we accepted the terms? It is inconceivable and such a notion diminishes the glory, the majesty, and the reliability of the work of Christ. In Christ, there is the sure hope of eternal salvation, not eternal insecurity.

Life application: Take time today to read the theology of the church or denomination that you attend. If they teach that you can lose your salvation, you need to make new arrangements for your worship. The efficacy of the cross of Christ is complete and eternal. Why would you attend where such a glorious hope is traded for bondage and insecurity?

Heavenly Father, the battle lines were set and I was on the wrong side, ready to be crushed. But You sent terms of peace and reconciliation. Jesus stepped forward and offered Himself to end the hostilities. The greater Force took the initiative. How could I turn from such wonder and goodness? I accept the offer, I receive the peace. Thank You for Jesus. Amen.

Sunday, 28 April 2013

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

The wonderful word “but” is introduced now. But –

1) In contrast to those who are without strength.
2) In contrast those who are ungodly.
3) In contrast to those who would scarcely die for a righteous man.
4) In contrast to those who might dare to die for a good man.

But God… The action is taken by the Creator. He is the One above those low and base souls represented in categories 1 through 4.

1) He is the Source of all strength.
2) He is God and therefore the wellspring of all godliness.
3) He is the Standard of all righteousness.
4) “Goodness” is defined by how closely it reflects His infinite goodness.

He is the great God who spoke the universe into existence and who could speak it out of existence with the same authority – this infinitely wise and splendid God! He “demonstrates His own love toward us…” While we rebel, reject, mock, and curse Him, He imparts an eternal stream of love in our direction. The verb “demonstrates” is written in the present/indicative/active. It is right now, it is a fact, and it is on-going. The explanation of the word is as relative today as it was the moment the ink flowed from the scribe’s pen.

He demonstrates this action “toward us.” What is coming is available to whoever the statement applies. In Paul’s mind, it applies to all human beings descended from Adam. It is the get-well card from a loving Creator to His sick children. And it tells us the remedy which will cure our ills – “In that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Scarcely will one die for a righteous man and for a good man someone might consider dying. O but God sent His own beloved Son to die for a world full of sinners. Christ Jesus – the only human being born without sin and the only person ever to meet the righteous requirements of God’s holy law, this Christ Jesus – died for us while we were still sinners. The remedy is given and the choice is now ours.

Life application: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. The deed is complete when we accept it and its effects are final and eternal. But the memory shouldn’t be final – forgiven yes, but forgotten no. We need to remember that we were lost so that we can empathize with those who still are. Let us not think so highly of ourselves that we forget that One – much, much higher than us – died not just for us, but for those who come after us as well.

Lord God, when I was lost in a sea of sin, You reached out and brought me to the safe and pleasant shore. Help me to remember that I couldn’t save myself, but You alone did the work. I have no right to boast over what You have done and I dare not turn away from others who are in the same spot I was in. Help me to continue to proclaim the good news to them as well. Amen.

Monday, 29 April 2013

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Romans 5:9

“Much more….” This phrase will be given by Paul five times throughout chapter five. It will demonstrate that what was lost is insignificant to what is gained through Christ for those who are redeemed. What Adam had cannot compare to what we have; what Adam lost is regained and added to because of Jesus.

The “much more” of verse nine directly explains the previous statement of verse eight – “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” When this happened, we were “justified by His blood.” We were declared not guilty because of His substitutionary death. In essence, a pardon is offered and by faith the pardon is granted. Because of this wonderful act which occurred while we were still sinners, how much more then shall we “be saved from wrath through Him.”

If God reconciled us to Himself while we were sinners, then what happens after that time must be based on a sinless relationship. In other words, justification isn’t something that happens and then can be lost. It is something that happens once forever. It is simply impossible to consider the writings of Arminius and Wesley who taught that one can “lose” their salvation. What kind of “much more” is that? It demonstrates a flawed theology and a lack of understanding the efficacy of the work of Christ.

As Albert Barnes notes: He “bestows a value on us proportionate to the worth of the price of our redemption; and is a pledge that he will keep what has been so dearly bought.” The price of our redemption is the life of Christ – the God/Man. No higher price could be paid and therefore no higher value could ever be placed upon our redemption. The work of Christ doesn’t just potentially justify us. Rather His work actually justifies us.

Because we are pardoned we are also justified, and so we shall be spared from His wrath. There can be no punishment for crimes which have been pardoned; the payment has been made. The only thing our deeds after salvation will bring is rewards and loss of rewards, not a retrial for condemnation or salvation.

Life application: In Christ, we can truly say – “No fear here!”

When we were still sinners, You sent the Messiah to take the punishment we deserve. Justice has been served and You made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become Your righteousness in Him. How could You love Your rebellious creatures so much? I will spend my days searching out the mysteries of Christ and the glory of His work. Amen.

Saturday, 27 April 2013

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. Romans 5:7

The thought now presented is given to show us a contrast between how we as humans are normally expected to act in comparison to how our Lord in fact did act. We were just presented with the truth that, “…when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” In continuation of that thought, we have a repetition of “for.” It is introduced to offset what we have just seen concerning Christ.

Christ died for the ungodly, but what is the normal and expected action of fallen man? In him we see the truth that it would be an extreme exception (scarcely) “for a righteous man will one die.” A righteous man is someone we see who is upright and obedient to the laws he encounters. A righteous man, if any, is the one who expects that he will “walk on the golden streets.” Everyone looks to him as the model and example of what we should also obtain. What would be the point of dying for such a man? We have no intimacy with him. We merely see his act and conduct and may wish to emulate it, but the giving of our life for his would be self-defeating. If he will somehow miss the mark and not walk on that golden avenue, then how much less of a chance would we have? Rather, he will die and I will do my best to emulate him before I do so as well.

Paul continues – “Yes perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.” We look around us at those we love, those we care for, and those we live our lives with in a close and personal manner. Among these people are what we might term “really good guys.” They are amicable, friendly, loving of others, honest, without pretence, etc. They are the people who lead as the example for others to be the best they can be. Their loss would make the world a less-better place and we would always regret it if we could have interceded for them and didn’t.

Perhaps from time to time someone would dare to die for one such as this. And so we have the contrast set and which will be explained in the coming verse. Christ died for the ungodly when we would fail to die for the righteous and most probably fail to do so even for the good. What manner of beings are we? And more so, what manner of Lord do we serve? How could there be such a contrast between the two?

Life application: If you are a saved believer in Jesus Christ, would you “jump on a grenade” for a group of criminals who were intent on killing you? Each of them bears God’s image and without another chance to hear the good news they will be eternally condemned. You, on the other hand, are on the highway to heaven already. Which death actually makes more sense from God’s perspective?

Lord God, I look around at the immense wickedness of the world in which I live and I loathe what I see. But I cannot hide the fact that I was once Your enemy too. Apart from Your great love and the mercy which You bestowed upon me, I was on the same path to eternal separation from You. Help me to pity those who so desperately need You and to be a light of Your truth to them. Amen.