Term 2 – Week 06
Big Idea – Faith in Jesus gives sinners peace with God and the hope of glory in eternity.
Romans 5:1-11
Outcomes
- To know that peace with God is one of the blessings given to sinners because we have been justified by faith in Jesus
- To understand that the hope of glory (hope in eternity) is another blessing given to us because we have been justified by faith in Jesus
- To appreciate that justification by faith should change what we take pride in now and boast about
Implications
- Belief (Head / Heart) – If we have been justified by faith in Jesus, we should see the world, and even our own suffering, differently. Our eternity is secure – praise God!
- Where is our confidence, boast & hope? Or do our put my trust in our own achievements?
- Behaviour (Hands) – What am I bragging about to my friends? Are we proud to be followers of Jesus? Do we speak up about the hope of glory we have through Jesus? How might our “bragging rights” might change this week? Pray for opportunities to speak up for Jesus. Genuine faith is seen in our action and behaviour.
Introduction
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith (v.1), not only sums up the central teaching Romans 1-4, but presents this justification by faith as a blessing to all believers.[1] What follows in the Romans 5:1-11 is an outline of the consequences and blessings that are given to the believer. Paul gives six outcomes/blessings:
1. The Objective Outcomes/blessings (vv.1-2a, 11b)
These objective outcomes describe the believer’s new standing with God. They are realities that are outside of the self. They describe the new reality of our relationship with God that comes through our justification by faith in Jesus.
- v1b We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
There is now no hostility between us and God. Sinners are no longer God’s enemies but have become his friend. The relationship between God and the sinner is restored.
- v2 Through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand
The believer is no longer ‘under the law’ but ‘under grace’. We have a new status before God.
- v11b Through whom we have now received reconciliation
This is a repeat of verse 1b. The relationship between God and sinners has been restored, through Jesus Christ sinners have been reconciled back to God and can boldly approach him. What a blessing!!
2. The Subjective Outcomes/blessings (vv.2b-11a)
These subjective outcomes describe the experience that happens in the life of the believer through justification by faith. They are realities that happen within the self. The way we think changes. The way we act changes. The things we take pride in and boast about change. We no longer boast in ourselves but we put our confidence in God and the hope that he brings.
- v2b And we boast (glory) in the hope of the glory of God [2]
Human sinfulness made it impossible for us to share in the glory of God.[3] But to those who have been justified by faith, we have confidence that our God-like-ness will be restored on the last day and we will be with him in glory.
- v3a Not only so, but we also glory (boast) in our sufferings
The reason why believers can boast in their sufferings, is because we can see what this suffering produces in us (perseverance-character-hope) (vv.3b-4). Our suffering as Christians is not in vain because ultimately it strengthens our hope in Him, which will not disappoint us or put us to shame on the last day. Why? Because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts (now) through the Holy Spirit (v.5), and because God has already demonstrated his love to sinful people when he sent Jesus to die on the cross (vv.6-8).
And just to make sure we don’t miss the certainty of this Christian hope, Paul argues, that God has already done the harder thing for us in the past. He justified the sinner and brought us back into a relationship with him, therefore he will do the easier thing in the future and vindicate us on the last day.[4]
v.9 justified by his blood….. how much more shall we saved from God’s wrath.
v.10 reconciled to him through the death of his son ….. how much more shall we be saved through his life.
- v11a We also boast (glory) in God through our Lord Jesus Christ
Ultimately, our confidence and hope for the future is in God himself through our Jesus Christ. Though we once despised God, now we delight and boast in Him the one to whom we have been reconciled.
[1] Douglas J. Moo, ‘The Epistle to the Romans’, The New Testament Commentary on the NT, (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1996), 298.
[2] The Greek word ‘Kauchaomai’ translated as boast/glory or rejoice in the ESV, means to take pride in something.
[3] See Romans 1:23; 3:23.
[4] Moo, ‘The Epistle to the Romans’, 311-312.
Memory Verse
Romans 1:16-17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’
Leaders PDF
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