The Process and Benefits of Justification

Romans 5

Introduction

The Book of Romans is both a physical and spiritual map, detailing the journey of every man living on the face of the earth. Everyone will surely find themselves somewhere in the book of Romans, depending on your current spiritual state. For example: people who aren’t born again are in Romans 1, Jews who don’t know Jesus are in Romans 2, and many who are born again find themselves somewhere between chapters 3 to 8,12. Many scholars have called it the Roman Road.

The end of this journey in the book of romans connects everyone, both saint, sinner, aethist etc. And details where the end of each path taken will end up. Whether life in Christ leading to eternal life or Sin leading to death. Romans 6:23.

The Impact of Sin

Romans 5:12

Romans 5 gives us some information which every Christian knows, it explains the impact of sin on mankind, tracing it back to Adam’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden; despite Eve being deceived. Notice, verse 12, tells us that sin entered the world through Adam, emphasizing the importance of his role in the story of original sin.

We also learn that, everyone born into this world, inherits the sin nature from Adam.

As a result of sin coming into the world through one man, Death also was the end result of this sin. So sin didn’t just come alone, death accompanied it.

Every Man Has the Sin Nature

Everyone is considered a sinner before giving their life to Christ, not just because of specific actions of sins but first because of the inherited sin nature from Adam. Sinful actions like stealing, killing, lust, adultery etc. are a result of this inherent sin nature, making sins a result of Sin (the nature of sin).

For example, people have tried to train dogs, to communicate, to make certain sounds to look and sound like humans, to obey commands, but the thing is, that a dog’s nature, even with all the good tricks it learns to do is still a dog.

In other words, we can say, man’s deeds, no matter how good, cannot change his sinful nature. He is still a sinner.

The Time before the Law

Romans 5:13-14

You see, when man sinned, man didn’t even know the sin nature was inhabiting his being. Man didn’t even know how sinful he was.

Because there was no law per se of God to follow that do not do this or do not do that. And the bible says, sin is not charged against anyone where there is no law. Romans 4:15

So for over 2,000 years after Adam’s fall, God showed mercy and grace to mankind for over 2,000 years after Adam’s fall, even overlooking sins such as murder and incest.

1. Cain. Gen. 4:15
2. Abraham married his half-sister
3. Jacob married two sisters.

People during this time of no law began to compare themselves with themselves and formulate their own standards of being Good. A good example of this is a man called Lamech. Genesis 4:18,19,23-24.

The Impact of Christ’s Sacrifice

Romans 5:15-18 - NIV

We then begin to learn, that just as every man inherited the sin nature and became a sinner regardless of any good or bad thing they did. Much more than this, in the same way, Gods grace provided us the gift of righteousness through one man’s obedience.

Romans 5:19

So in God’s sight you are innocent, there is no charge against you. Regardless of what you have done. Now you might make a mistake at times, but that doesn’t make you a sinner, your nature has changed and God’s expectation is that you are righteous and it begins to show forth on the outside.

This God’s righteousness comes by faith in Christ Jesus. When you put your faith in Christ, God counts you as righteous.

Gods unimaginable Love for Us

Romans 5:1

How can we know this for sure and that we can boast in this realization? Because of how much Gods loves us. Romans 5:5.

Romans 5:7-10

Romans 5:8 MSG

We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.

Conclusion

Understanding the risk which God the Father and the Lord Jesus took to secure our salvation will help us understand and this righteousness which we have received.

When we closely examine the scriptures, we will see that God took a huge risk to save humanity.

Sin came through one man, so righteousness had to come through a man.

Hebrews 2:9

Acts 2:25-31

Life Group Questions

1. Can you relate to the idea of God’s mercy and grace being present even before the Law was given? Romans 5:13-14
2. Do you believe that God’s wrath has been emptied on Jesus, and how does this impact your view of salvation?
3. What does it mean to you to have peace with God through Christ’s sacrifice? Romans 5:1-2
4. How does the concept of Jesus going to hell impact your appreciation for his sacrifice?
5. Why do you think it’s important to share the message of God’s love and sacrifice with others?