Romans 5:3-4 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
We’re naturally averse to suffering but Paul rejoiced that God is able to use it for our good. Christians who’ve suffer deeply often have greater wisdom, depth, compassion and character than those who’ve suffered little. Many who’ve suffered deeply are even thankful (after it’s over) for how it shaped their lives.
There are four other reasons Christians can rejoice in their suffering. First, it’s always less than we deserve. If we consider how many times we’ve sinned, we’ll be amazed that our suffering isn’t any worse. Second, our suffering will shortly end. Even if we have to suffer a hundred years or more, what is that compared to eternity with Christ? Third, suffering can deepen our faith. Many Christians have gone from a shallow relationship with Christ, to a deep relationship with Christ, due to their suffering. Fourth, suffering can increase our longing for heaven.
A missionary couple lost three small children in a terrible car accident. They could’ve become resentful, and quit the ministry, but they believe in a God who is good and wise, and does all things well. They also believe in heaven. The thought of seeing their children, along with their Savior, has made heaven more real to them than ever before. It’s not a place in the back of their mind, but the happy home to which they are going soon. Suffering seems pointless apart from God, but God uses suffering to draw us near.
Romans 5:8 God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God didn’t wait for us to repent before he made the way of salvation. He didn’t wait for us to apologize, or to recognize the error of our ways. The world was in revolt when God sent his Son to die for our sins, and Paul saw this as proof of his love.
Think about it this way. If you were a millionaire, and your child was kidnapped, you’d probably give your millions to get him back. And if you were a billionaire, you’d probably give your billions to get him back. But what if your child was evil? What if your child hated you, ran away from you, did everything you forbad, and even cursed your name? And suppose he did this for many years. Would you still be willing to give everything you had to get your wicked child back? Maybe not. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:10 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!
Here we learn that we’re not only saved by the death of Jesus Christ, but also by his resurrection. He’s like a wealthy man who left many in his will, and then came back from the dead to be sure they received their inheritance. Jesus purchased our salvation when he died on the cross, then he rose from the dead to be sure that we receive the gift he provided.
And all this happened while we were God’s enemies. It doesn’t say that he was our enemy but that we were God’s enemies. We were involved in a one-sided war against God. Our hostility was so great, in fact, that when he sent his Son into the world we killed him. I can’t think of a single friend for whom I’d give my son. But while we were God’s enemies he gave his Son for us. This is the kind of God he is.
Romans 5:19 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.
As the head of the human race, Adam’s sin was applied to each of us. As the head of the new human race, Christ’s righteousness is applied to all who believe. We became sinners because of Adam’s sin, and we become righteous because of Christ’s righteousness.
The obedience of Christ took him to the cross, but began at his incarnation. The moment he came into the world Jesus began winning our salvation through his obedient life. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me (John 6:38). And, I always do what pleases him (John 8:29), he said.
This is important for at least two reasons. First, if Jesus ever sinned, he couldn’t have died for sinners. Second, salvation isn’t only being forgiven, but also being accounted righteous. Since none of us is righteous in ourselves, This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22), wrote Paul. Adam’s sin was imputed to everyone, and Christ’s righteousness is imputed to all who believe.
This is why Jesus had to live to adulthood to die for our salvation. He couldn’t have died when he was five years old, because he hadn’t been righteous long enough. Only after thirty-some years of perfect obedience was the Father willing to apply the righteousness of Christ to all who believe. This helps us appreciate the perfect life of Christ for our salvation, not only his death.
As he lay dying, an American theologian sent a telegram to his friend saying, I'm so thankful for the active obedience of Christ. No hope without it (J. Gresham Machen). As he thought about meeting God, he enjoyed the double comfort of knowing that Jesus died for his sins, but also lived for his righteousness. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), wrote Isaiah.
Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
With so much talk about God’s grace, the church in Rome may’ve thought Christianity was a license to sin. If God is glorified by forgiving our sin, the more we sin, the more God is glorified. There’s a certain logic to that, but it comes to the wrong conclusion. Paul used baptism to illustrate why Christians shouldn’t sin.
When a Christian goes under the water in baptism, it’s an image of our union with Christ in his death. As Jesus died for sin, the Christian dies to sin. When a Christian comes up from the water, it’s an image of our union with Christ in his resurrection. Coming to faith in Christ is like dying to sin, so we can live a new life. The wonderful thing about baptism is that it’s more than an illustration. It’s the inward experience of all who believe.
Before I came to Christ, sin was a source of pleasure, and obedience was a burden. But after I came to Christ, sin became a source of grief, and obedience became a joy. This is because the Holy Spirit troubles us whenever we sin, and gives us joy whenever we obey. Something truly happens when we come to faith in Jesus Christ. We die to sin, and come alive to God.
Romans 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
Paul wanted believers in Rome to understand that they had a new master. Before they came to Christ, sin ruled over them. But since they came to Christ, sin was no longer their master, and had no right to tell them what to do.
I’m the second of six children, and my big sister is six years older than me. For many years she bossed me around like a second mom and, because it’d always been that way, I assumed she had the right. But when I was nine years old, I had a moment of clarity. I stood up to her and said, You’re not the boss of me. Mom and Dad are the boss of me and I have to obey them, but you’re not the boss of me and I don’t have to obey you any more. To my delight she backed down, and that was the end of her authority.
Here’s the point: if we belong to Jesus Christ, sin is not the boss of us. Jesus Christ is the boss of us and we must obey him. But sin is not the boss of us and we don’t have to obey sin anymore.
Reflection and Review
How is our relationship to Christ like our relationship to Adam?
Why was Jesus’ perfect life important for our salvation?
How does baptism illustrate conversion?
We’re naturally averse to suffering but Paul rejoiced that God is able to use it for our good. Christians who’ve suffer deeply often have greater wisdom, depth, compassion and character than those who’ve suffered little. Many who’ve suffered deeply are even thankful (after it’s over) for how it shaped their lives.
There are four other reasons Christians can rejoice in their suffering. First, it’s always less than we deserve. If we consider how many times we’ve sinned, we’ll be amazed that our suffering isn’t any worse. Second, our suffering will shortly end. Even if we have to suffer a hundred years or more, what is that compared to eternity with Christ? Third, suffering can deepen our faith. Many Christians have gone from a shallow relationship with Christ, to a deep relationship with Christ, due to their suffering. Fourth, suffering can increase our longing for heaven.
A missionary couple lost three small children in a terrible car accident. They could’ve become resentful, and quit the ministry, but they believe in a God who is good and wise, and does all things well. They also believe in heaven. The thought of seeing their children, along with their Savior, has made heaven more real to them than ever before. It’s not a place in the back of their mind, but the happy home to which they are going soon. Suffering seems pointless apart from God, but God uses suffering to draw us near.
Romans 5:8 God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God didn’t wait for us to repent before he made the way of salvation. He didn’t wait for us to apologize, or to recognize the error of our ways. The world was in revolt when God sent his Son to die for our sins, and Paul saw this as proof of his love.
Think about it this way. If you were a millionaire, and your child was kidnapped, you’d probably give your millions to get him back. And if you were a billionaire, you’d probably give your billions to get him back. But what if your child was evil? What if your child hated you, ran away from you, did everything you forbad, and even cursed your name? And suppose he did this for many years. Would you still be willing to give everything you had to get your wicked child back? Maybe not. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:10 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!
Here we learn that we’re not only saved by the death of Jesus Christ, but also by his resurrection. He’s like a wealthy man who left many in his will, and then came back from the dead to be sure they received their inheritance. Jesus purchased our salvation when he died on the cross, then he rose from the dead to be sure that we receive the gift he provided.
And all this happened while we were God’s enemies. It doesn’t say that he was our enemy but that we were God’s enemies. We were involved in a one-sided war against God. Our hostility was so great, in fact, that when he sent his Son into the world we killed him. I can’t think of a single friend for whom I’d give my son. But while we were God’s enemies he gave his Son for us. This is the kind of God he is.
Romans 5:19 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.
As the head of the human race, Adam’s sin was applied to each of us. As the head of the new human race, Christ’s righteousness is applied to all who believe. We became sinners because of Adam’s sin, and we become righteous because of Christ’s righteousness.
The obedience of Christ took him to the cross, but began at his incarnation. The moment he came into the world Jesus began winning our salvation through his obedient life. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me (John 6:38). And, I always do what pleases him (John 8:29), he said.
This is important for at least two reasons. First, if Jesus ever sinned, he couldn’t have died for sinners. Second, salvation isn’t only being forgiven, but also being accounted righteous. Since none of us is righteous in ourselves, This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22), wrote Paul. Adam’s sin was imputed to everyone, and Christ’s righteousness is imputed to all who believe.
This is why Jesus had to live to adulthood to die for our salvation. He couldn’t have died when he was five years old, because he hadn’t been righteous long enough. Only after thirty-some years of perfect obedience was the Father willing to apply the righteousness of Christ to all who believe. This helps us appreciate the perfect life of Christ for our salvation, not only his death.
As he lay dying, an American theologian sent a telegram to his friend saying, I'm so thankful for the active obedience of Christ. No hope without it (J. Gresham Machen). As he thought about meeting God, he enjoyed the double comfort of knowing that Jesus died for his sins, but also lived for his righteousness. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), wrote Isaiah.
Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
With so much talk about God’s grace, the church in Rome may’ve thought Christianity was a license to sin. If God is glorified by forgiving our sin, the more we sin, the more God is glorified. There’s a certain logic to that, but it comes to the wrong conclusion. Paul used baptism to illustrate why Christians shouldn’t sin.
When a Christian goes under the water in baptism, it’s an image of our union with Christ in his death. As Jesus died for sin, the Christian dies to sin. When a Christian comes up from the water, it’s an image of our union with Christ in his resurrection. Coming to faith in Christ is like dying to sin, so we can live a new life. The wonderful thing about baptism is that it’s more than an illustration. It’s the inward experience of all who believe.
Before I came to Christ, sin was a source of pleasure, and obedience was a burden. But after I came to Christ, sin became a source of grief, and obedience became a joy. This is because the Holy Spirit troubles us whenever we sin, and gives us joy whenever we obey. Something truly happens when we come to faith in Jesus Christ. We die to sin, and come alive to God.
Romans 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
Paul wanted believers in Rome to understand that they had a new master. Before they came to Christ, sin ruled over them. But since they came to Christ, sin was no longer their master, and had no right to tell them what to do.
I’m the second of six children, and my big sister is six years older than me. For many years she bossed me around like a second mom and, because it’d always been that way, I assumed she had the right. But when I was nine years old, I had a moment of clarity. I stood up to her and said, You’re not the boss of me. Mom and Dad are the boss of me and I have to obey them, but you’re not the boss of me and I don’t have to obey you any more. To my delight she backed down, and that was the end of her authority.
Here’s the point: if we belong to Jesus Christ, sin is not the boss of us. Jesus Christ is the boss of us and we must obey him. But sin is not the boss of us and we don’t have to obey sin anymore.
Reflection and Review
How is our relationship to Christ like our relationship to Adam?
Why was Jesus’ perfect life important for our salvation?
How does baptism illustrate conversion?