Romans 5:1-8
by:
Dan Hill, PhD
Pastor, Southwood Bible Church
7655 South Sheridan Avenue
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74113
E-Mail: hill918@aol.com
INTRODUCTION:
Up to this point Paul has dealt with the God's case against the ujnbeliever
and the resulting need the unbeliever has for what God has done in providing
justification by faith. Now he turns to the believer, and while God does
not have a case against the believer, the believer has needs that only God
can fulfill.
Through the first six verses of chapter 5, Paul lists ten results of justification.
These are the possession, profession, and potential of a Christian.
1. Peace, v 1
2. Access to God, v 2
3. Grace, v 2
4. Rejoice in Hope, v 2
5. Rejoice in Adversity, v 3
6. Perseverance, v 3-4
7. Proven Character, v 4
8. Hope or Confidence, v 5
9. The love of God, v 5
10. Production of the Spirit, v 6
Romans 5:1
Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through means
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
----------
Using our volition we make a decision of faith in Lord Jesus Christ; result,
justification, our eternal salvation, reconciliation, peace with God, face
to face with God.
Topic: PEACE
This is FAITH #1, salvation, in the next verse moves on to FAITH #2, the
Christ Centered Life.
Romans 5:2
Through whom (The LJC) also we have obtained our introduction by faith
into this grace in which we stand, and we exult in the hope of the glory
of God.
----------
"Stand" is a perfect tense ver;, we stand in grace. It is grace
that keeps us alive. Grace that allows us to grow in Christ, and even when
in reversionism, grace that allows us to continue and recover.
GRACE is the greatest motivation the believer has available to him.
GRACE here is something that we stand in; at the same time it is an introduction
to the greater grace we can have.
Topic: MUCH MORE CARE OF GOD
That may seem contradictory until we realize that God has poured out His
grace to us and that our problem is that while we are saved by grace and
recognize that, so often we fail to see the grace of the CCL.
GRACE IS OURS, we have been introduced to it, will we access it now even
more?
Romans 5:3a
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations,
----------
UNDERSTAND that if you have a goal you need to keep your eyes on the goal
and not be distracted. Our attention, our concentration must be on the Lord
Jesus Christ himself.
But we have all kinds of things that afflict us, and these attempt to distract
us.
Paul is going to show how the problems of life, rather than being distractions,
can work to bring our attention, concentration, focus, onto the Glory of
God.
FIRST FOCUS: "And we exult in hope of the glory of God".
EXULT, BOAST or GLORY is a transitive concept. It demands an object. The
problem is that many boast not in God but in self. In their adherence to
the law or to works. See Romans 3:27.
We exult or boast on the HOPE: ELPIS , a confident assurance of that which
is now not seen. Our hope is backed by the character-essence of God.
Topic: HOPE
THEREFORE: We anticipate with confident boasting the hope (assurance) that
we are in His plan and that plan will bring glory to him and advantage to
us in time and eternity.
This FIRST FOCUS begins at salvation as we boast in Him in that we are saved.
That boasting moves through life, and ends up in eternity when we bow before
the Lord Jesus Christ.
BUT WE HAVE THE PROBLEMS OF LIFE that continually try to distract us from
our focus on God's Glory:
SECOND FOCUS: "And not only so, but we also boast in affliction".
When affliction comes along, you as a believer have two choices.
1. Distraction avoidance by avoidance: Run away or just avoid those things
and people that could distract.
David did this with Shiemi in II Sam. 16
2. But many potentially distracting situations and people cannot be avoided,
so you have to deal with them and this is what Paul takes up in Romans 5:3b-4.
FIRST FOCUS establishes spiritual identity, SECOND FOCUS establishes personal
spiritual destiny.
Romans 5:3b-4
Knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven
character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint.
----------
"Knowing": A perfect participle, knowing in the past and continuing
to know even in the midst of problem.
PRINCIPLE: Do not let problems take you away from doctrinal thinking.
Tribulation brings about perseverance, OR Affliction works endurance . .
.
TRIBULATION - any pressure or problem with a potential for distraction
"BRINGS ABOUT" or "WORKS": Very emphatic word which
means an effective and efficient working; and with the preposition KATA
means according to a standard.
The standard is doctrine in your soul. This phrase specifically deals with
the promises that you claim in the midst of problems and pressures that
could otherwise distract you.
So when affliction comes, you apply doctrine, claim a promise, use a principle
of truth, this brings about perseverance OR endurance.
Perseverance (works) proven character . . .
Endurance under pressure proves that whatever is allowing you to endure,
works! Your endurance is the experiential proof of doctrine.
Both to self and as a testimony to others. Claim a promise rather than go
into panic . . . doctrine works. Endure by taking a stand upon the greater
reality of the word of God.
That is the key to endurance: Faith in the Word.
Others also see you under pressure and in the midst of problems and see
you use the doctrine that has prepared you prior to the problem. You become
a living testimony to them.
"Proven character (works) hope"
And we are right back to our FIRST FOCUS, "hope", or the assured
reality of that which God has for us in his plan.
As doctrine is proved in the midst of problems, that works towards our Hope
in the Glory of God.
So then, can you boast in problems . . . sure, because they can bring you
right around to knowing that God has a perfect plan and that plan is going
to glorify Him and give you the advantage.
So the Practical Process is:
AFFLICTION --> ENDURANCE --> PROOF --> CONFIDENCE
Romans 5:5
And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured
out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
----------
Romans 10:11 "For the scripture saith (Isaiah 28:16), Whosoever believeth
on him shall not be ashamed."
The idea of shame is one of disappointment. No disappointment at salvation,
and no disappointment in hope, assurance of what God has for you.
REASON: Because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts, within
the soul of the inner man, the real you.
HOW? "Through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
In Ephesians 1 we see that the Holy Spirit resides in the believer as a
seal, a down payment, on all the great things that are to come to the child
of God.
Romans 5:6
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the
ungodly.
----------
Christ died for us when we were helpless sinners, when we were ungodly.
This verse looks back to Romans 4:5, "But to the one who does not work,
but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as
righteousness,"
We were not friends of God, or godly, before we were saved. There was nothing
in us that would cause God to send His Son to die for us, yet He did.
This is said to be at the right time . . .
Galatians 4:4, "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth
His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law."
The preposition FOR is HUPER which is the preposition of substitution, "to
put in place of"
Repeated in vv 7 and 8, emphasis is that Jesus Christ took our place when
He went to the Cross.
Romans 5:7,8
For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good
man someone would dare even to die.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.
----------
In Romans 3:5 our unrighteousness demonstrated God's righteousness, and
here, our unworthiness demonstrates God's love towards us.
His love is a sacrificial love. True love on any level, sacrifices so that
the one loved can receive benefit.
No the other way around. Love never demands, love never takes, love never
expects sacrifice on the part of the one who is loved.
End of Lesson 19
Grace Notes
Warren Doud
1705 Aggie Lane, Austin, Texas 78757
Phone: 512-458-8923
E-Mail: