Romans 5 (NIV)
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10For if, when 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! 11Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ
12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, 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 was a pattern of the one to come.15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, 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! 16Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
18Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19For 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.
20The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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December 29th, 2007 at 8:23 am
The Message paraphrases verse 2 like this….”We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.” That’s the position we have in Christ….out it wide open spaces, standing tall, shouting God’s wonders. As Mary said, “He who is mighty has done great things, and holy is His name!”
And, in comment about the next verse as well….I read a comment by someone yesterday about a man’s previous company. He had left it so he could “do his own thing” and not be expected to follow the more strict expectations of the earlier employer. I can almost guarantee how that scenario wll work out….I know a little about his previous company and know that they have proven methods that produce results….if they are followed. It’s that “suffering” through the learning curve and the “perseverance” in the mundane that will produce “proven character” in results that will give the “hope” of guaranteed future success.
I know Paul is way more spiritual here in his statements, but the principles are true…..sticking with what is true can seem like it is too hard. But, the successful people around us, whether successful in their walk with Christ or successful in their relationships or successful in their work, are people who suffer through the “hard” part to get to the endurance part to get to the respect of having proven character. And then, they have hope.
Of course, the “hope” that Paul had was the hope of eternity spent in God’s presence, in complete acceptance and welcome, standing tall and shouting God’s praises. That is certainly worth suffering a bit in our temporal existence and learning to endure.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:57 am
“But God…” in verse 8 says all that we need, All the wrath of God, all the sin, all the pointlessness and absurdity, all is taken care of by the initiative of God.
Too many of us (and me included) get busy and distracted and forget this simple positional truth- its all ok because Christ died for my sin.