Romans - Chapter 5

Romans 5

Ed McCaffrey continued our study in Romans this week.  Paul has spent 4 chapters trying to explain and present the truth - that we cannot be saved through works and we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  But there is peace, joy and hope in Christ.

In verse 1 - Paul says "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."  Paul will continue making the argument that Christ died for us.  It is through his death that we are saved through grace.  We touched on this last chapter as well.  Both Ed and Craig continue to point out that even though we are going through this book chapter by chapter.  Paul's letter to the Romans would have been read in it's entirety all at once.

In verse 3-5 we see the hope we have through our sufferings.  Paul writes this letter while he is imprisoned.  "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."  If anybody understands sufferings - it is Paul.  And for him to be rejoicing despite his sufferings is amazing and only done through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul brings up one more argument regarding how sin entered the world.  This is how chapter 5 will end.  Through Adam sin entered this world, but life through Christ.  And Paul is still talking about the law - how sin does not exist without the law, so works cannot save you.  Verse 13 - for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law.

So God's gift is that much greater than the sin that entered through Adam.  For 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 - vs. 17.

Grace is the message that Paul is trying to communicate.  Nothing we do, nothing we have done can earse the grace - the justification, the righteousness through Jesus Christ, which we can experience if we believe and have faith in Him who died for us.

Romans - Chapter 4

Romans 4

This week Craig continued our study in Romans, Chapter 4.  Paul is not done talking about sin and how we all have sinned.  He is not done fully explaining that the law does not give us hope as many Christians and Romans during his time believed.  No amount of works, nor the law will save us. 

So Paul starts with the Father of the Jews - Abraham.  Paul asks the question "What about Abraham?" Wasn't he saved by works?  Verse 3: What does scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him to him as righteousness."  Paul is quoting from Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Paul continues his argument by also quoting David in Psalms. Blessed are those whose trangressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them -vs 7-8.

Craig wrote that "Transgression is a form of rebellion against God. Sin means to not live up to God's standards."  David is saying that good works, obeying the law cannot make us righteous.  But is God who can wash away our sin and forgive us.  It is God's Grace that saves us.  Or better put - "God's Riches At Christ's Expense."

Paul has more arguments throughout chapter 4.  Here are Paul's irrefutable reasons why justification is by faith:

1) Since justification is a gift, it cannot be earned by works (vv. 1-8)
2) Since Abraham was justified before he was circumcised, circumcision has no relationship to justification (vv. 9-12)
3) Since Abraham was justified centuries before the Law, justification is not based on the Law (vv. 13-17)
4) Abraham was justified because of his faith in God, not because of his works (vv. 18-25)

Paul is not done yet talking about how we are sinners and need a savior, but he concludes his argument using Abraham - the Father of the Jews as irrefutable evidedence of justification by faith.

Craig left us with 3 simple questions:

1 - Do you struggle with being justified?
2 - How long did you struggle before you accepted the free gift?
3 - Why?