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Red Script = Main Point / Blue Script= Directive / Double underline= Important to remember / Boxed= Biblical Text & SDA Commentary Reference / Green Script: A Possible AnswerLesson 6November 4-10/11Adam and Jesus
Memory Text: “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” (Romans 5:1, 2).
Paul has established the point that justification, or acceptance with God, comes only through faith in Jesus Christ, for His righteousness alone is enough to give us the right standing with our Lord. Building on that great truth, Paul now expounds more on this theme. Showing that salvation has to be by faith and not by works, not even for someone as “righteous” as Abraham, Paul steps back to look at the big picture-at what caused sin and suffering and death, and how the solution is found in Christ and what He’s done for the human race.
Through the fall of one man, Adam, all humanity faced condemnation, alienation, and death; through the victory of one man, Jesus, all the world was placed on a new footing before God. By faith in Jesus, the record of their sins and the punishment due those sins could be remitted, could be forgiven and forever pardoned.
Paul contrasts Adam and Jesus, showing how Christ came to undo what Adam did, and showing that by faith the victims of Adam’s sin could be rescued by Jesus, the Savior. The foundation of it all is the cross of Christ and His substitutionary death there-which opens the way for every human being, Jew or Gentile, to be saved by Jesus, who, with His blood, brought justification to all who accept Him.
Surely this is a theme worth expounding upon, for it’s the foundation of all our hope.
SundayNovember 5Justified By Faith
Read Romans 5:1-5.
Romans 5:1-5 (Faith Triumphs in Trouble) 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
On the lines below summarize Paul’s message. What can you take from that for yourself now? A Possible Answer: A. (Summary) We have something that others do not have in that we are justified by faith in God and in the light of His great love for us, we are at peace with Him. Through Christ we have gained access to God and happily anticipate sharing His glory. Further, we can be joyful when we suffer because we know that it helps us to grow and produces an unshakable hope, which is an assurance of the Father’s love evidenced by giving us the gift of the Holy Spirit. B. The insurance that God loves us so much that he will justify us based on our faith rather than on our behavior. That we must be patient as we experience suffering. We can experience the love of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
“Being justified” is literally “having been justified.” The Greek verb represents the action as being completed. We have been declared righteous, or regarded as righteous, not through any deeds of law but through our having accepted Jesus Christ. The perfect life that Jesus lived on this earth, His perfect law-keeping, has been credited to us.
At the same time, all of our sins have been laid on Jesus. God has reckoned that Jesus committed those sins, not us, and that way we can be spared the punishment that we deserve. That punishment fell on Christ for us, in behalf of us, so that we never have to face it ourselves. What more glorious news could there be for the sinner?
The Greek word translated as “glory” in Romans 5:3 is the one translated as “rejoice” in Romans 5:2. If it is translated “rejoice” in Romans 5:3 also (as in some versions), the connection between Romans 5:2 and Romans 5:3 is more clearly seen. Justified people can rejoice in tribulation because they have fixed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. They have confidence that God will work all things for good. They will consider it an honor to suffer for Christ’s sake. (See 1 Pet. 4:13).
Notice, too, the progression in Romans 5:3-5.
1 Patience. The Greek word thus translated as hupomone means “steadfast endurance.” This is the type of endurance that tribulation develops in the one who maintains faith and who does not lose sight of the hope he or she has in Christ, even amid the trials and suffering that can make life so miserable at times.
2 Experience. The Greek word thus translated as dokime means literally “the quality of being approved”; hence, “character,” or more specifically, “approved character.” The one who patiently endures trials can develop an approved character.
3 Hope. Endurance and approval naturally give rise to hope-the hope found in Jesus and the promise of salvation in Him. As long as we cling to Jesus in faith, repentance, and obedience, we have everything to hope for.
What is the one thing in all your life that you hope for more than anything else? A Possible Answer: 1. To meet His approval. 2. Being saved. 3. Hearing the words... ‘Well done thou good and faithful servant’. 4. That I may be found faithful. How can that hope be fulfilled in Jesus? A Possible Answer: It can be fulfilled by our living by faith, trusting in His word and experiencing the character-developing enabling power of the Holy Spirit. If not, are you sure you want to be putting so much hope in it? A Possible Answer: Yes, most definitely.
MondayNovember 6While Yet Sinners
Read Romans 5:6-8.
Romans 5:6-8 (Christ in Our Place) 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
What does this passage tell us about the character of God, and why is it so full of hope for us? A Possible Answer: It tells us that the character of God evidences farsightedness, balance and maturity. It embraces an measurable love, large heartedness, compassion and the highest altruism. The perfections of His character enables Him to be the prime mover in the relationship between God and humanity. It is full of hope because it let’s us know that there is a solution to the sin problem... That we do not have to be perfect before God would work in our favor to strengthen, transform and redeem us.
When Adam and Eve shamefully and inexcusably transgressed the divine requirement, God took the first steps toward reconciliation. Ever since, God has taken the initiative in providing a way of salvation and in inviting men and women to accept it. “When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son” (Gal. 4:4).
Romans 5:9 says that we can be saved from God’s wrath through Jesus. How do we understand what that means? A Possible Answer: We are to understand it through the process of deductive reasoning. In the light of the fact that Christ died for us when we were sinners, it is certain that He will save us now that we are justified. Plus, surely He will save His friends from wrath since His love was so great that He was willing to give His life for His enemies. Hence we understand that phrase just as it reads... that we will be spared the future wrath of God against sin and sinner by the giving of His perfect life in the atoning sacrifice (see on ch. 3:25). In this verse Paul speaks of justification as being “by his blood” rather than “by faith,” because he is here considering justification from God’s point of view. Our faith adds nothing to God’s gift but only accepts it. The infinite price that was paid for our redemption reveals not only the wonderful love of God but also the high value that God places on the human soul. Paul is reasoning that since God loves us so much He was willing to pay an infinite price for our justification, surely He will keep that which has been so dearly bought.
On the eve of their departure from Egypt, the blood on the doorposts of the Israelites in Egypt protected the firstborn from the wrath that befell Egypt’s firstborn. In the same way, the blood of Jesus Christ guarantees that one who has been justified and retains that status will be protected when God’s wrath finally destroys sin at the end of the age.
Some people struggle with the idea of a loving God having wrath. But it’s precisely because of His love that this wrath exists. How could God, who loves the world, not have wrath against sin? Were He indifferent to us, He would not care about what happens here. Look around at the world and see what sin has done to His creation. How could God not be wrathful against such evil and devastation?
What other reasons are we given to rejoice? Rom. 5:10, 11.
Romans 5:10, 11 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 10. Enemies. Paul repeats and enlarges the argument of v. 9. Reconciled. Gr. katallassō. The word means primarily “to exchange,” and hence to change the relation of hostile parties into a relation of peace. It may be used of both mutual and one-sided enmity, and the context must determine which is intended. Sin had alienated man from God, and his heart was at war with the principles of God’s law (chs. 1:18 to 3:20; 8:7). However, God gave His Son that sinful and rebellious man might be reconciled (John 3:16).
The Bible nowhere speaks of God being reconciled to man. It is true that the death of Christ made it possible for God to do for man what He otherwise could not have done (see on Rom. 3:25, 26). By bearing the penalty of transgression Christ provided a way by which men might be restored to God’s favor and be brought back to their Eden home (see PP 69); and but for the sacrifice of Christ all men would have reaped the inevitable results of sin and rebellion in final destruction under the wrath of God (Rom. 2:5; 3:5; 5:9; 1 Thess. 1:10). But this does not mean that God needed to be reconciled. The alienation was entirely on man’s part (see Col. 1:21), and it is God who, in His great love, initiates the reconciliation: “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself” (2 Cor. 5:19; cf. Eph. 2:16; Col. 1:20). Though God strongly hates sin, His love for sinners is even stronger, and He has spared nothing, however dear, to bring about a reconciliation (see DA 57). Christ did not die to win God’s love for man, but to win man back to God (see on Rom. 5:8). In fact, God’s plan and provision for man’s reconciliation was conceived back in eternity, even before man sinned (Rev. 13:8; cf. PP 63; DA 834). Thus, in anticipation of the atoning sacrifice, it was possible for Abraham’s faith to be reckoned for righteousness (Rom. 4:3) and for the patriarch to be regarded as the friend of God (James 2:23) long before Christ actually died on the cross.
The reference to reconciliation in this verse, as parallel to justification in v. 9, gives further confirmation to the idea that justification is not only pardon but also the renewal of a loving relationship (see on chs. 3:20, 28; 4:25; 5:1). Death. The same as the “blood” of v. 9, by which justification was achieved. By his life. Literally, “in his life.” This may be understood to mean that we are saved by personal union with the living Saviour, who ever liveth to make intercession for us (Heb. 7:25; cf. Rom. 4:25). Jesus said, “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19; cf. Rom. 8:11; Gal. 2:20). If the death of Christ had such saving power in effecting our reconciliation, how much more will His risen life have power to bring our salvation to joyous fulfillment. 11. Not only so. Paul mentions another of the results of justification by faith. He has already said that we rejoice in tribulations and in hope of the glory of God (vs. 2, 3). Now he adds that “we also joy in God.” In God. There is no reason for us to glory in ourselves (chs. 3:27; 4:2), but there is every reason why we should glory in God, especially in view of His saving love (Jer. 9:23, 24; Rom. 5:5–10; 1 Cor. 1:31; 2 Cor. 10:17). The Christian rejoices in the beneficence of God and in the fact that the universe is under God’s administration. The sinner is opposed to God and finds no pleasure in Him. He fears or hates Him. One evidence that we are truly converted and reconciled to God is that we rejoice in Him and find pleasure in the contemplation of His perfection as they are revealed in Scripture. Through our Lord. In all the acts and experiences of the Christian life, the mediation of Christ is continually made prominent by the NT writers. We rejoice in God through Jesus Christ, who has revealed to us the true character of His Father and has reconciled us to Him. Atonement. Gr. katallagē, “reconciliation.” The verb “to reconcile” is katallassō (see on v. 10). When the KJV was first published, “atonement” signified “reconciliation,” “at-one-ment.” This is the only occurrence of the English “atonement” in the NT of the KJV, though the word is common in the OT. In each of the three other occurrences of the Greek word katallagē in the NT it is translated “reconciling,” or “reconciliation” (Rom. 11:15; 2 Cor. 5:18, 19). Paul is referring here, not to the means by which reconciliation was effected (Rom. 3:25), but to the fact of reconciliation (ch. 5:10).[1]
A Possible Answer: Paul’s argument in this first part of Rom. 5 is that, since we have such overwhelming evidence of the boundless love of God even for alienated sinners, what a sure foundation we have on which to base our peace, joy, and hope of final salvation. The added reasons are... that we are save by His life and that we are reconciled to God.
Some commentators have seen in Romans 5:10 a reference to the life that Christ lived on this earth, during which He wrought a perfect character that He now offers to credit to us. Although this is certainly what Christ’s perfect life accomplished, Paul seems to be emphasizing the fact that whereas Christ died, He rose again and is alive forevermore (see Heb. 7:25). Because He lives we are saved. If He had remained in the tomb, our hopes would have perished with Him. Romans 5:11 continues with the reasons that we have to rejoice in the Lord, and that’s because of what Jesus has accomplished for us.
TuesdayNovember 7Death Through Sin
Death is an enemy, the ultimate one. When God created the human family, He designed that its members should live forever. With few exceptions humans do not want to die; and those who do, do so only after the greatest personal anguish and suffering. Death goes against our most basic nature. And that’s because from inception we were created to live forever. Death was to be unknown to us.
Read Romans 5:12 (Death in Adam, Life in Christ) 12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 12. Wherefore. The passage here introduced has been regarded by many as the most difficult in the NT, if not in the whole Bible. However, this difficulty seems to have been due largely to the attempt to use the passage for purposes other than Paul intended. The apostle’s main purpose seems to be to emphasize the far-reaching results of the work of Christ, by comparing and contrasting the consequences of His justifying act with the effect of Adam’s sin.
“Wherefore” probably refers back to the description in vs. 1–11 of the saving work of Christ in reconciling and justifying the sinner and in holding out to him the hope of final salvation. As by one man. With these words Paul begins the comparison between the effects of Adam’s sin and the effects of Christ’s redemption, but he gives only the first part of the comparison. Having set this forth, he stops in his characteristic manner to discuss some problems involved in what he has already said. The digression is marked by parentheses in the KJV for vs. 13–17. However, Paul seems to resume his main argument in v. 15.
If Paul had completed the comparison, it might have read something like this: “As by one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because all men sinned; so also by one man, Jesus Christ, righteousness entered into the world, and life through righteousness, so that all, being justified by faith, might be saved.” ...