Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5 is a pivotal chapter, transitioning from the process of justification by faith, which Paul meticulously laid out in the preceding chapters, to the results and profound blessings that flow from it. Having established that humanity is universally guilty and incapable of earning salvation, Paul now unveils the glorious realities available through faith in Jesus Christ. This chapter is a powerful declaration of peace, grace, hope, and the overwhelming love of God poured out for us. It also draws a compelling comparison between Adam's legacy of sin and death and Christ's gift of grace and life.
Peace with God Through Faith (Romans 5:1-2)
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). This verse serves as a triumphant declaration. Justification, being declared righteous in God's sight, is not merely a legal transaction; it's the foundation for a transformed relationship. Before Christ, we were enemies of God, alienated from Him. But through faith in Jesus, this hostility is replaced with peace. This isn't simply the absence of conflict, but a positive, reconciled relationship with our Creator.
Moreover, we "have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand" (Romans 5:2). We are not only at peace, but we also stand firmly within God's unmerited favor. Grace is not a one-time event but a continuous reality. We are constantly receiving good from God, despite deserving judgment. This access to grace extends beyond salvation itself, permeating every aspect of our lives.
Rejoicing in Hope and Suffering (Romans 5:2-5)
The blessings don't stop there. We "rejoice in the hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2). This hope is not a wishful thinking, but a confident expectation of sharing in God's glorious presence for eternity. It's a hope grounded in the certainty of God's promises.
Paul then introduces a seemingly paradoxical concept: rejoicing in our sufferings (Romans 5:3). This doesn't mean we find pleasure in pain, but that we recognize the transformative power of suffering in the life of a believer. Suffering, when viewed through the lens of faith, produces endurance, the ability to persevere and trust God even in the midst of trials. Endurance, in turn, cultivates character, a deepening of our Christ-like nature and a greater tendency to honor God. Finally, proven character leads to hope, a confident assurance that God is working all things together for our good (Romans 5:4-5). This hope is not a flimsy emotion, but a solid anchor for the soul.
This hope is not in vain, because "God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). The Holy Spirit is the tangible evidence of God's love residing within us, assuring us of His unwavering commitment.
God's Love Demonstrated in Christ's Death (Romans 5:6-8)
Paul emphasizes the depth of God's love by highlighting the timing of Christ's sacrifice: "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6). Christ didn't wait for us to become worthy of His love; He demonstrated His love for us while we were still sinners, helpless and alienated from God.
He contrasts this with human nature: "Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die" (Romans 5:7). It is exceptional for someone to sacrifice their life for another, even for a virtuous person. Yet, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). This is a love that transcends human understanding, a love that reaches down to the unlovable and offers redemption. God's love is even bigger and more worthy of recognition than someone laying down his life for others. Jesus died, but not for friends; God proved his own love for us by dying for us while we were his enemies.
Saved from Wrath Through Christ's Life (Romans 5:9-11)
Having been justified by Christ's blood, we "shall be saved from God’s wrath through him" (Romans 5:9). Justification not only brings peace but also secures us from the judgment we deserve. Paul broadens the idea of salvation by drawing on the resurrection: "For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" (Romans 5:10). The death of Jesus reconciled us to God, but Jesus didn’t stay dead. He’s alive right now. And he’s interceding for us in order to give us victory over the power of sin and its consequences.
The result is that "we also glory in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation" (Romans 5:11). We are not only reconciled but also empowered to rejoice in God's presence.
Adam and Christ: Two Representatives, Two Destinies (Romans 5:12-21)
Paul draws a powerful analogy between Adam and Christ, highlighting their roles as representatives of humanity. "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12). Adam's disobedience brought sin and death into the world, affecting all of humanity. We got our physical life from Adam, and we get our spiritual life from the second Adam, Christ.
"Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come" (Romans 5:14). Adam is a type of the Coming One, a foreshadow of Jesus.
However, Christ's act of obedience brings a far greater blessing: "But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the one man’s trespass, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!" (Romans 5:15). While Adam's sin brought condemnation, Christ's righteousness offers justification and abundant life. Adam may have given us life, but his main legacy is that by the one man’s trespass the many died. He left the legacy of death for us, but we don’t have any grounds to complain, because we prove every time we sin that we wouldn’t have chosen any better than he did. God’s gift of grace is not like the trespass. Unlike Adam, who gave us life and death, Jesus gives us only life.
"Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people" (Romans 5:18). The sin we inherited from Adam—called original sin—is overridden by the death of Christ because through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone.
"For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous" (Romans 5:19). We are saved by works—just not our own works. We are saved by the works of Christ. Through Christ’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Because he lived the perfect life we should have, we can share in his perfect record.
The law came along to multiply the trespass (Romans 5:20), which would be a tragedy without God’s intervention. But the beauty of the gospel is that where sin increased, grace increased all the more (Romans 5:20). The purpose of the law was to reveal the extent of human sinfulness, highlighting our need for God's grace. However, "where sin increased, grace abounded all the more" (Romans 5:20). God's grace is always more powerful than our sin. Indeed, anyone who has a deep understanding of his own sin knows this from experience: the more we see our sin as a violation of God’s perfect law, the more we stand in awe of God’s grace toward us.
"so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:21). Sin may have reigned in death, but through Christ grace will reign through righteousness. Sin is simply not strong enough to overpower grace. Between sin and grace, in fact, grace wins every time. This is why it is essential for all believers to grow in their understanding and appreciation of the magnificent grace of God.
Romans 5 is a testament to the transformative power of God's grace, offering peace, hope, and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. It reminds us that we are no longer defined by our sin but by the righteousness of Christ, empowering us to live lives of victory and purpose.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5 is a pivotal chapter, transitioning from the process of justification by faith, which Paul meticulously laid out in the preceding chapters, to the results and profound blessings that flow from it. Having established that humanity is universally guilty and incapable of earning salvation, Paul now unveils the glorious realities available through faith in Jesus Christ. This chapter is a powerful declaration of peace, grace, hope, and the overwhelming love of God poured out for us. It also draws a compelling comparison between Adam's legacy of sin and death and Christ's gift of grace and life.
Peace with God Through Faith (Romans 5:1-2)
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). This verse serves as a triumphant declaration. Justification, being declared righteous in God's sight, is not merely a legal transaction; it's the foundation for a transformed relationship. Before Christ, we were enemies of God, alienated from Him. But through faith in Jesus, this hostility is replaced with peace. This isn't simply the absence of conflict, but a positive, reconciled relationship with our Creator.
Moreover, we "have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand" (Romans 5:2). We are not only at peace, but we also stand firmly within God's unmerited favor. Grace is not a one-time event but a continuous reality. We are constantly receiving good from God, despite deserving judgment. This access to grace extends beyond salvation itself, permeating every aspect of our lives.
Rejoicing in Hope and Suffering (Romans 5:2-5)
The blessings don't stop there. We "rejoice in the hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2). This hope is not a wishful thinking, but a confident expectation of sharing in God's glorious presence for eternity. It's a hope grounded in the certainty of God's promises.
Paul then introduces a seemingly paradoxical concept: rejoicing in our sufferings (Romans 5:3). This doesn't mean we find pleasure in pain, but that we recognize the transformative power of suffering in the life of a believer. Suffering, when viewed through the lens of faith, produces endurance, the ability to persevere and trust God even in the midst of trials. Endurance, in turn, cultivates character, a deepening of our Christ-like nature and a greater tendency to honor God. Finally, proven character leads to hope, a confident assurance that God is working all things together for our good (Romans 5:4-5). This hope is not a flimsy emotion, but a solid anchor for the soul.
This hope is not in vain, because "God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). The Holy Spirit is the tangible evidence of God's love residing within us, assuring us of His unwavering commitment.
God's Love Demonstrated in Christ's Death (Romans 5:6-8)
Paul emphasizes the depth of God's love by highlighting the timing of Christ's sacrifice: "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6). Christ didn't wait for us to become worthy of His love; He demonstrated His love for us while we were still sinners, helpless and alienated from God.
He contrasts this with human nature: "Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die" (Romans 5:7). It is exceptional for someone to sacrifice their life for another, even for a virtuous person. Yet, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). This is a love that transcends human understanding, a love that reaches down to the unlovable and offers redemption. God's love is even bigger and more worthy of recognition than someone laying down his life for others. Jesus died, but not for friends; God proved his own love for us by dying for us while we were his enemies.
Saved from Wrath Through Christ's Life (Romans 5:9-11)
Having been justified by Christ's blood, we "shall be saved from God’s wrath through him" (Romans 5:9). Justification not only brings peace but also secures us from the judgment we deserve. Paul broadens the idea of salvation by drawing on the resurrection: "For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" (Romans 5:10). The death of Jesus reconciled us to God, but Jesus didn’t stay dead. He’s alive right now. And he’s interceding for us in order to give us victory over the power of sin and its consequences.
The result is that "we also glory in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation" (Romans 5:11). We are not only reconciled but also empowered to rejoice in God's presence.
Adam and Christ: Two Representatives, Two Destinies (Romans 5:12-21)
Paul draws a powerful analogy between Adam and Christ, highlighting their roles as representatives of humanity. "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12). Adam's disobedience brought sin and death into the world, affecting all of humanity. We got our physical life from Adam, and we get our spiritual life from the second Adam, Christ.
"Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come" (Romans 5:14). Adam is a type of the Coming One, a foreshadow of Jesus.
However, Christ's act of obedience brings a far greater blessing: "But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the one man’s trespass, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!" (Romans 5:15). While Adam's sin brought condemnation, Christ's righteousness offers justification and abundant life. Adam may have given us life, but his main legacy is that by the one man’s trespass the many died. He left the legacy of death for us, but we don’t have any grounds to complain, because we prove every time we sin that we wouldn’t have chosen any better than he did. God’s gift of grace is not like the trespass. Unlike Adam, who gave us life and death, Jesus gives us only life.
"Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people" (Romans 5:18). The sin we inherited from Adam—called original sin—is overridden by the death of Christ because through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone.
"For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous" (Romans 5:19). We are saved by works—just not our own works. We are saved by the works of Christ. Through Christ’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Because he lived the perfect life we should have, we can share in his perfect record.
The law came along to multiply the trespass (Romans 5:20), which would be a tragedy without God’s intervention. But the beauty of the gospel is that where sin increased, grace increased all the more (Romans 5:20). The purpose of the law was to reveal the extent of human sinfulness, highlighting our need for God's grace. However, "where sin increased, grace abounded all the more" (Romans 5:20). God's grace is always more powerful than our sin. Indeed, anyone who has a deep understanding of his own sin knows this from experience: the more we see our sin as a violation of God’s perfect law, the more we stand in awe of God’s grace toward us.
"so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:21). Sin may have reigned in death, but through Christ grace will reign through righteousness. Sin is simply not strong enough to overpower grace. Between sin and grace, in fact, grace wins every time. This is why it is essential for all believers to grow in their understanding and appreciation of the magnificent grace of God.
Romans 5 is a testament to the transformative power of God's grace, offering peace, hope, and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. It reminds us that we are no longer defined by our sin but by the righteousness of Christ, empowering us to live lives of victory and purpose.