Grace Reigns (Romans 5)
The great war between good and evil.
The glory of God.
The faithfulness of God.
The law of God.
The sinful nature.
The grace of God.
1. There is a great war between good and evil. (Rev 12:7-12)
Those who do not follow Jesus are in rebellion against God. (Ge 3:15 compare Gal 3:16, Mt 12:30, Ro 8:7, Php 3:18,19, Jas 4:4, 1Jn 3:5-10)
Those who follow Jesus live in peace with God. (Isa 9:6, Ro 5:10, Eph 2:13-20)
2. The only way to access the grace of God is through faith in Jesus. (Jn 14:6, Ac 4:10-12, 1Ti 2:5, Heb 4:14-16, Heb 7:25, 1Jn 2:1,2, 1Jn 5:12)
Only those who follow Jesus will be able to stand when He returns to establish His eternal kingdom. (Rev 6:15-17 continued in Rev 7:9,10,13,14, Rev 20:15 compare Rev 21:23-27)
At the final judgment, actions will be weighed as the evidence, for or against, genuine faith. (Mt 7:16-21, Mt 25:31-46, Ro 2:5-8, Ro 2:13, 2Co 5:10, 1Th 1:3, 2Th 1:11, Jas 1:22-25, Jas 2:14-17,26, 1Jn 3:10, Rev 20:12)
Note in 1Th 1:3: "work of faith" and "labour of love"
Note in 2Th 1:11: "work of faith"
Works of faith are good. (Eph 2:10)
Good works become bad only when they suppose to stand in place of the grace of God. (Gal 2:16, Gal 5:4, 2Ti 1:9)
3. Glory - "Brightness, luster, splendor" (Webster's Dictionary 1828)
Glory represents the character of God (spiritual light, the opposite of sinful darkness) (Ex 3:1-5, Ex 24:17, Ex 34:29-35, Dt 5:22-24, 2Ch 7:1, Mt 17:1,2 compare 2Pe 1:16-18, Jn 1:4-9, Jn 3:19-21, Heb 1:1-3, 1Jn 1:5-7)
It is God's will that we receive His glory (character) (Nu 14:20,21, Mt 5:14-16, 1Co 15:41-43, Col 3:4, 2Th 2:14, Rev 21:23-26)
Christian tribulation develops the character of God in us. (1Pe 1:7, 1Pe 4:12-14, 2Co 7:4)
During tribulation, patiently wait while God works. (Ps 27:14, Ps 37:7-9,34, Pr 20:22, Hos 12:6, Ro 12:12, 2Th 1:4, Jas 1:2-4)
4. As we wait on God, we experience God's faithfulness. (Ps 92:1-5, Ps 119:90, Isa 25:1, 1Th 5:24, 2Th 3:3, Jude 1:24,25)
God's record of past and present faithfulness anchors our hope for the future. (Ps 89:34, Mal 3:6, Heb 13:8)
Jesus is the focus of our hope. (2Co 1:19,20, Col 1:27, 1Ti 1:1, Tit 2:13)
5. Being ashamed of something is manifested by not wanting anyone to know about it.
Hope in the promises of God should make us want to share them with others.
As we manifest God's love, we should want to see others saved from self-destruction.
Those who have the Holy Spirit will witness for Jesus. (Jn 15:26, Jn 16:13,14, Ac 1:8, 1Th 5:19)
6. "in due time Christ died" - The timing of Christ's death is a prime example of God's perfect plan.
See Daniel chapter 9 for details on the "70 weeks" prophecy that predicted the exact time of Christ's death.
7. Considering human love, it is rare to find anyone who would willfully die in order to save another. (compare Jn 15:13)
A "good" man is portrayed as, perhaps, being of more cause to die for than a "righteous" man.
The "good" man is most likely one who is "righteous", but who also excels in benevolent deeds.
8. The ultimate supremacy of God's love is proclaimed by the sacrifice of His Son for sinners--who are harmful, rebellious, and unthankful.
9. The wrath of God is brought on by continual, habitual sin. (Eph 5:6, Col 3:6)
We are saved from the penalty of sin through His blood (His sacrificial death). (1Jn 1:7)
We are saved from the power of sin through His life (His indwelling Spirit and His intercessory ministry). (Ro 8:9,10, Col 1:27, 1Ti 2:5, Heb 7:25, 1Jn 2:1)
10. Through His death, enemies of God can become reconciled to God. (2Co 5:19-21)
Through His life, sinners can become saints. (2Co 3:18, Col 2:6, 1Jn 2:6)
11. Through Jesus we receive joyful atonement (at-one-ment).
Atone - "At one; together." (Webster's Dictionary 1828)
Jesus came to unite us with God. (Jn 17:20-23)
We become one with God as we are transformed into the character of His Son. (Ro 8:29 compare Col 1:12-15 and Heb 1:3)
12. As descendents of Adam, we all inherit a sinful nature--an inborn predisposition to sin.
Under our own free will, we individually make a choice to sin and bring upon ourself its consequence--death. (Eze 18:20)
13. After their exodus from Egypt, God delivered His law in stone at Sinai, in order for His eternal law to be restored to His people.
God's law existed before Sinai. (Ge 26:5, Ex 16:28-30)
1. Do not have other gods. (Ge 35:2-4)
2. Do not have idols. (Ge 35:2-4)
3. Do not misuse the Lord's name. (Ge 24:1-3)
4. Keep the 7th-day Sabbath (Saturday) holy. (Ex 16:23-30,35)
5. Honor your parents. (Ge 9:20-25)
6. Do not kill. (Ge 4:8-11)
7. Do not commit adultery. (Ge 39:7-9)
8. Do not steal. (Ge 44:8,9)
9. Do not give false testimony. (Ge 27:11,12)
10. Do not covet. (Ge 13:8,9)
When God's law is obscurred, the demarcation lines of sin disappear and trespasses increase.
Since God hates sin, He wants His law to be clear and prominent. (Isa 42:21, Mt 5:19, Mt 28:19,20)
In the last days, God will again magnify His law. (Heb 8:10, Rev 12:17, Rev 14:12)
14. Death reigned from Adam to Moses.
Death is the consequence of sin. (Ro 6:23)
Since sin cannot be imputed apart from the law, the law must have been present before Sinai.
The problem was that the captivity of God's people in pagan Egypt had severely obscurred the law.
Adam's sin was unique, being a violation of a direct, personal communication from God.
Nonetheless, the sins of others also involve willfull violation of God's law, and, therefore, also fall under the curse of death.
As Adam brought sin and death into the world, Jesus brought obedience (Jn 15:10, Heb 4:15) and life (Jn 11:26, 1Co 15:22).
15. The gift is eternal life. (Ro 6:23)
Jesus is synonymous with life. (Jn 11:25, Jn 14:6)
The gift is righteousness. (Ro 5:17 below)
Jesus is synonymous with righteousness. (Jer 23:6, Ro 5:17-19 below, 2Co 5:21, Php 1:11, Php 3:9)
The gift can be received only through Jesus. (Ac 4:12, 1Jn 5:12)
The gift is free, taken not by effort, but received through simple, childlike faith. (Mt 19:14, Mk 10:15)
God's grace abounds to many - To all who will receive it. (Jn 3:16, Jn 6:40, Ro 10:13, 1Jn 2:2, Rev 22:17)
It is not exclusive, nor beyond the reach of any. (1Ti 2:3-6)
16. Adam's trespass involved a single sin. (Ge 2:17)
Without comparison, the gift of God is extended regardless of the number or the degree of sins committed. (1Jn 1:7,9)
17. In your sins, without Jesus in your heart, death will reign.
Respond now, while God's abundant grace is still available. (Ps 95:6-8, 2Co 6:2, Rev 22:12)
Accept Jesus into your heart and you will triumph with Him in righteouness and eternal life. (Rev 3:20)
18. No one is exempt from the curse of sin and death.
No one is excluded from the free gift of eternal life.
19. As descendents of Adam, we all inherit a sinful nature--an inborn predisposition to sin.
Under our own free will, we individually make a choice to sin and bring upon ourself its consequence--death. (Eze 18:20)
As children of God, through faith in Jesus, we receive a spiritual nature--a new born abhorance of sin and a desire for righteousness. (Mt 5:6, Jn 1:12,13, Jn 3:3-5, 2Co 5:17)
20. The law makes sin abound because it defines sin and, therefore, acts as a mirror to reveal sin to the sinner. (Ro 3:20, Ro 7:7,13, 1Jn 3:4)
When the sinner is able to see their sinful state, they can begin to understand their need of the Saviour. (Gal 3:24-27)
Note on Gal 3:24-27: We are no longer under the schoolmaster in the sense that we have now received the goal--Christ. But, having received Christ, we now live by the Spirit, and the law, formerly written in stone, is now written in our heart. (Heb 8:10, Heb 10:15,16)
21. Without Jesus, sins reigns unto death. (Ro 6:23 death, 1Jn 5:12 death)
With Jesus, grace reigns unto eternal life. (Ro 6:23 life,, 1Jn 5:12 life)