Romans 5

Friday, 26 April 2013

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6

There will be three categories of man noted in the five verses from 5:6 to 5:10, all summed up in the concept of the “ungodly.” The first is in 5:6, those who are “without strength.” Then “sinners” are noted in 5:8 and this is followed up by “enemies” in 5:10. Paul is showing that all categories, from the top to the bottom, need Christ.

He begins with “for.” This is an affirmation of what was stated in 5:1-5:5. 1) We have been justified by faith; 2) We have peace with God; 3) We have access by faith into the grace in which we stand; 3) We hope in the glory of God. This came from the process of tribulations, perseverance, and character; and 4) We have God’s love poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

The use of “for” today introduces the affirming reasons why these things are so. The first is that something occurred “when we were still without strength.” The word translated as “without strength” indicates one that is feeble. It was, as it were, a disease which afflicted us. It is an apt comparison because sin is a disease which affects our ability to proceed in a right relationship with God. The disease must be treated before we can proceed, and it was. When we were without strength to save ourselves, “Christ died for the ungodly.”

The “ungodly” here is a comparison to those who were “without strength.” The intent then is that Christ died for the very people we were, weak and unable to accomplish the task. The implication is that He is godly and is making an exchange. Paul will explain this as he continues.

Life application: It is easy to forget the state we were in after being saved for a time. We begin to develop in our walk and eventually we look at those around us as ungodly sinners who deserve God’s wrath. While this is true, we need to remember that this was once us. Instead of feeling superior to the sinner, we need to remember that we were in the same boat. We were given the lifeline and now we need to pass it on, not hold it out of reach.

Lord, I once stood as a poor beggar needing bread and You provided it to me. I know there are many around me who need what I needed. Help me to remember that I was in the same place as they were and someone took the time to tell me about You. Now, help me to act in the same charitable manner toward others. Help me to be gracious in offering what I have received. Amen.

Thursday, 25 April 2013

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5

This verse leads is back to verse 2. Paul has explained, in sequence, how we get to our hope and what causes us to rejoice in it. We are justified by our faith which allows us to actually glory in our tribulations. This in turn produces perseverance, character, and hope. It is this hope and the sequence of how it came about that Paul tells us will keep us from disappointment.

A hope which is falsely directed will only lead to shame or disappointment. If we hope to meet the prom queen at the burger stand in the evening and she doesn’t show up, our hope was in vain and we feel the sting of rejection. But Paul says that the hope we have in Christ simply won’t fail. We have the surety of God in that what He has promised will come about. Writing to Timothy, Paul tells of his convictions of this, even as he wrote from prison expecting execution –

“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” 2 Timothy 1:12

The surety of our salvation and eternal blessing in the presence of God isn’t a misdirected fancy or a wasted use of our faith. It is as reliable as the evidence given – “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” The term “poured out” is from a word which is used to describe a liquid which is diffused as it’s poured. It fills a vessel completely. This is the giving of the Holy Spirit by God. It is, according to Paul, a sealing which is a deposit guaranteeing our future redemption (Ephesians 1:13, 14).

When we are sealed with the Spirit, Paul tells us to be “filled” with the Spirit. We have received Him; now we must allow Him to have more of us. This comes through obedience, fellowship, study of His word, etc. These things lead us to our hope which is properly grounded.

Life application: Be filled with the Spirit. The moment you called on Jesus, you were sealed with Him. Now allow Him to fill you. Read and know your Bible, the word He authored for You to know God. Speak to Him through praise and prayer. Live in Him and rejoice in what He has done and what He has promised to do for you.

Lord God, I have a sure and unwavering hope in the promises found in Your word. I know that every good thing which is spoken of there will come to pass. And so I will wait patiently for those things as I walk in this difficult and trouble-filled world. Give me strength to endure each trial I face until that great Day when I stand in Your presence. Amen.

Wednesday, 24 April 2013

… and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:4

The previous verse noted that tribulation produces perseverance. From that point the perseverance produces character. Some translations state here “experience” instead of “character.” It is true that experience is gained, but that is not the sense of what’s being relayed. Experience can result in admitting defeat as much as it can result in obtaining strength. Experience therefore isn’t at all what is intended by this train of thought. Rather, perseverance is the experience and it results in character. When one perseveres, they will be grounded with fortitude and strength.

Once this character is developed, it leads to hope. Hope is that great virtue which says, “What I long for will be realized.” When we have hope we have internal surety. The thought from Hebrews 12:2 carries us through this entire process – “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.” When we look unto Him, we can glory in our tribulations thus producing perseverance; our eyes are fixed and our thoughts are steadfast. When we persevere we develop character and our convictions become evident as we continue to look to Him. Once this character is grounded, our eyes look to Him in hope of all that He has promised. Truly, there is no greater assurance than that which comes through an intent and unwavering gaze upon the Lord.

Life application: Either the Bible is true or it isn’t. There is no middle ground. If it is, then it is all-sufficient to lead you to an understanding of what is necessary to be reconciled to God. No matter what happens in your life, hold fast to the word, fix your eyes on Jesus, and have faith that your hope will be realized by the God of truth.

O Lord my God, thank You for life’s trials which have molded me and strengthened me. As they’ve come, I’ve often felt that they were more than I could bear. But as I look back on them, I realize that they were given to refine me, build me up, and shape me to be a person of faith. I can see the wisdom of every trial I’ve faced and I thank You for being with me through them all. Amen.

Tuesday, 23 April 2013

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;  Romans 5:3

This is a similar thought to what James says in his letter –

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” James 1:2, 3

Not only do we rejoice in hope of the glory of God (v.2), but we further glory in tribulations. The word used here is thlipsis. It carries the idea of pressure, such as being hemmed in a small tight spot. When we face trials which would otherwise cause us to lose control, we can instead glory in them. As the world around us falls apart due to the external crises which arise, we understand that God is in control and that these types of tribulation only serve us in a positive way; they produce perseverance.

If we feel that the world is out of control, then all sense of hope is lost. When this happens, we will look to the government or some other entity to secure us and keep us safe. However, the Christian should understand that the trials and woes of the world around us are a part of God’s plan. Whether He causes them directly or merely allows them, all things are within His providence and therefore we are to look to Him as the Source of our strength.

The difference is wider than the seas. Looking to anything less than God for help in tribulation will not produce patience. Instead, it will only produce greater fear and a loss of freedom. But when we look to God during these trials, we appreciate that He is in complete control and our resolve will only be strengthened.

Life application: In the recent past, more bombers did their evil work. We need to look to the root cause of this and understand that it did not occur apart from God’s sovereign knowledge. The perpetrators are no less guilty, but we need to be strengthened in the perseverance of our faith – that God alone can bring peace to this troubled land.

Heavenly Father, as surely as the sunrise tells us a new day is coming, so does the beginning of a new prayer tell us that comfort is ahead. When we open our hearts to You, it is sure that You are attentive to our prayers. And because of Jesus, we have complete and full access to Your glorious throne. Where is fear when we stand in Your presence? Thank You for Jesus. Amen.

Monday, 22 April 2013

…through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:2

Here is the entire thought as is stated in 5:1, 2. Read it slowly and think about what is occurring here –

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

We were enemies of God and outside of His favor when He did the unimaginable. He sent us Jesus. Now we are justified by mere faith in Him and His finished work. Because of this we are implored to have peace with God through Him. He is our peace and so through Him we enter into a new state and a new relationship with our Creator.

But there is more. Through Jesus we have access by this same justifying faith “into this grace in which we stand.” The Greek word translated as “access” is used only 3 times in the New Testament and all three occurrences indicate a face to face interactive access. JB Lightfoot describes it as “having audience (direct access) with God.” This is an immediate and continuing blessing of having called on Jesus by faith.

Not only is it immediate and continuing, but it is something “in which we stand.” The verb “stand” is perfect, indicative, active – the action is accomplished, it is a fact, and it is on-going. In Christ, we stand; we do not fall. What He has done in us is complete and will not pass away. What occurs here is explained in 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” The position we find ourselves in before God is in Christ’s standing, not our own. We could as much lose this standing as Christ Himself could. God has favored us, not because of our own merits, but because of the work of Jesus.

But there is yet more. Through this same faith we also “rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” This is our future benefit and which we wait on as we stand on the surety of what has occurred. In God’s mind, this action is already complete. Paul says in Romans 8:30 that those ” whom He justified, these He also glorified.” We are merely waiting for this final state and as we do, we can rejoice in this hope.

Life application: If you’re feeling beaten up because you’ve failed Jesus, be reassured in today’s verse. If you have faith in Him, you are saved, you will remain saved, and you will be glorified for all eternity. What you see as a difficult walk of repeated failure and trial, God sees as already accomplished. He has done the work, have faith in that and let your hope be filled with rejoicing.

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Until the day I stand in Your presence, I know that I am secure in Your Son. What I could never have done, He did on my behalf. In Him I stand and in Him I rejoice in the hope of Your glory. Thank You for Jesus. Amen.