Gospel Light Christian Church Thru-The-Bible Series (8.3)

The Epistle to the Romans

Romans 5:6-21 - Read this Bible passage once through before referring to the notes below.

Results of Justification (Part 2)

v.6 When we were helpless and hopeless in our sins, at the right time (ie, in due time) Christ came to die for us. God allowed 1400 years to elapse between the Law and the Gospel to prove to men that though they had a perfect Law yet they could not obey it.

v.7 One would be unlikely to die for a righteous man (ie, one who performs the law). One may sometimes be willing to die for a good man (ie, one who besides being righteous, has gone out of his way to help us).

v.8 Whilst we were covered with sin from head to toe, Christ, the Holy Eternal Son of God, loved us. If we realise this truth, then we will not be afraid of losing our salvation each time we commit a sin. The devil often accuses us “You’ve sinned such a horrible sin – surely God does not want you anymore!” When we know the truth taught in this verse, we can reply “When I was a filthy wretched sinner who did not even know who God was, He loved me and sent His Son to die for me! Surely now, even after committing this horrible sin, though He hates my sin, He loves me still!”

v.9 If Jesus was willing to justify us by his blood while we were sinners, surely now that we are already justified by his blood, he will save us from wrath of eternal damnation through Him, ie. what He did for us on the cross.

v.10 If Christ was willing to die for an enemy, would He not save a friend from punishment?

v.11 The greatest joy is not the gift of salvation but the joy in God Himself. The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever more. Let us rejoice more in the Giver, rather than the gift of salvation.

The Doctrine of Original Sin

If we can understand the doctrine of original sin (which is the result of the imputation of Adam's sin upon us), it will help us to understand the doctrine of imputation of Christ’s righteousness upon us.

v.12 God deals with mankind through its head or representative. Adam was our head, therefore, when he sinned, his sin was legally and effectively our sin. Therefore we all came into judgment. “For that all have sinned” is better translated “all have become sinful” (by imputation of Adam’s sin). In other words, Adam’s sin is imputed upon us – as if we had sinned.

Death is not an inevitable part of the life-cycle, as many people believe. It is the direct consequence of sin (ie, sin entered…so death passed upon all men).

v.l3 From Adam until the time the Law was given through Moses, sin was already in the world – though the Law was not given yet. However, since the Law was not yet given, no law was broken – therefore, they were strictly speaking not law-breakers.

v.14 Nevertheless they were punished because they sinned against the law written in their conscience (ROM 2:15).

Few sins are as wicked as Adam's sin. He had no tendency to sin as we do, he had seen God's perfect creation, he was given such a simple and clear command - and yet he chose to blatantly rebel against God.

Adam as the head of the human race, was a “figure” of the other head of the human race (ie, Christ) who was to come. Every man on earth will have to choose his head, ie, either Adam or Christ. Christ who was not descended from Adam was free from the imputation of Adam's guilt. Therefore, in this new Man, a new race begins. In other words, there are basically two categories of men – Adam’s race and Christ’s race.

v.15 Though the offence of Adam was similar to the free gift of Christ in that they were both representative acts that affected their people, yet they were different in their effects.

What Christ gained for us on the Cross is much more than what Adam lost for us when he fell. Heaven is much more wonderful than Eden, and the relationship we have with God through Christ is much more wonderful than what Adam enjoyed in Eden.

v.16 Adam's sin led to condemnation of his race, but Christ's free gift led to our justification in spite of our many offences.

v.17 Because of Adam's offence, death reigned, ie, everyone of his children was under the death sentence. But all who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness through Christ shall reign in life (ie, shall never perish but have everlasting life).

v.18 Adam’s one transgression is contrasted with Christ’s one righteous act.  One brought death, the other brought life.  All men are condemned because of Adam’s trespass but all men have the potential to be justified, because of Christ’s offer of life to all who received Him.

v.19  Because of Adam's sin many were made sinners (ie, placed in the category of sinners - this speaks of their legal standing rather than their nature). This is different from being made "sinful" (which speaks of nature, rather than legal standing).

Because of Christ's obedience to die on Calvary, we are made righteous, ie, placed in a legally righteous position (though our conscience convicts us that we are still sinful by nature).

v.20 When the Law was given man realised how sinful he was – and was led to turn to the Saviour (GAL 3:2). Unless we have a standard to measure ourselves against, we tend to think that we are not that bad. The Law was never intended to save us (GAL 3:21).

Though man is exceedingly sinful, the grace that we obtained from Christ's sacrifice was more than sufficient to offset our sinfulness.

v.21  Adam's disobedience has been imputed on his people (ie, hath reigned unto death).           Similarly, Christ's obedience unto death has been imputed to his children, ie, His grace hath reigned through righteousness unto eternal life.

Summary

1. The doctrine of original sin explains why the Bible says that “there is none righteous, no, not one” (ROM 3:10). Even babies who died before they had a chance to commit a sin are condemned as sinners (PSA 51:5).

2.  The idea of original sin, inherited from our forefather Adam, sounds unfair to our minds. However, the truth is that in everyday life, what our fathers do affect us greatly. When fathers sin (eg. gamble, commit adultery) the children suffer greatly though they are innocent. In fact, they often suffer far more than the offending father does!