The study of the Book of Romans chapter 5
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my sincere Prayer that you are being Blessed even as you read this email.
Today, we study the Book of Romans chapter 5.
5:1-4. Justified by faith (lit., because we have been justified by faith”): It was God’s doing, not man’s. Peace with God: This is not a feeling but a standing. God and the believer are no longer at enmity but have been reconciled (cf. 5:10, 11; 2 Cor. 5:18). This is a primary result of our justification. Access: We can come directly into the presence of God. Jesus Christ is not only our Redeemer, but He is also our Advocate. By Him we gain entrance and acceptance before the Father (cf. 1 John 2:1,2). Wherein we stand: This is the answer to be psalmist’s question: “If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” (Ps. 130:3). Rejoice (lit, “we boast”) in hope denotes the absolute certainty the believer has of God’s deliverance.
5:5 Holy Ghost…given: The believer has the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. This is not a “second blessing,” but is just as much a certitude as the believer’s justification (cf. 1 Cor. 12:13).
5:8 Christ died for us: His death was vicarious. That is, He did not die merely for our benefit but in our place. His was a substitutionary sacrifice.
5:9, 10 By his blood...by his life: The death of Christ and His shed blood effect salvation (Eph. 1:7; 2:13; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:12-15), but the life of Christ sustains it. The reference is to the abiding results of Jesus’ death and resurrection (cf. 4:25).
5:12-21. In this passage Paul compares the imputation of Christ’s righteousness with the imputation of Adam’s sin. Just as Adam’s sin resulted in a sinful race, the gift of grace through the righteous act of Christ results in a spiritual race. The principle of imputation that reduces all men to the same ultimate condition also provides for all men the same ultimate answer-the righteousness of Jesus Christ. By one man sin entered
The entry of sin into the world is traced to its human source from which all mankind came. All have sinned refers to a point in time when all sinned. It points to the moment when all were in one man, Adam. When he fell the entire human race was “constituted sinners” (lit sense of 5:19).
5:13, 14 Sin was in the world: This gives evidence to the universal presence of sin. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses: The point of verses 13 and 14 is that since there was no specific law between Adam and Moses by which men could be held accountable, the very fact that they all died indicates that God was holding them responsible for the transgression of Adam. This is not unjust, because the principle also works in reverse, Sinners can be constituted righteous, and hence live, through Jesus Christ.
5:15-17. Paul sets forth three contrasts. The first contrast shows that if Adam’s sin caused many to die, Christ’s gift by grace also abounds to the many (i.e., it is equally extensive in its outreach). The second contrast indicates that Adam brings about judgment and condemnation, while Christ brings justification. The third contrast is that Adam’s transgression issues in a reign of death, while Christ’s righteous obedience results in a reign of Life. Note however that the two groups are not coextensive. Paul is not teaching that everyone will be saved. Adam’s sin affects all who are part of the human race. Christ’s righteousness is for all who are a part of His spiritual race. The former includes everyone. The latter includes only believers.
5:18,19 Paul’s reference to Adam shows that he understood Adam to have been a real person Adam was not a mythological figure any more than Jesus was.
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bishop William B. Caractor
