Romans Lesson 9

Introduction

A very pleasant good day to you, and welcome to Let the Bible Speak. Today we’re going to continue our first by verse study of the book of Romans, and I hope that you have a Bible handy, and you’ll be opening with us to Romans, the fifth chapter. For today we’re going to talk about the benefits of God’s grace, Romans chapter 5, verses 1 through 11. This is a grand book that teaches us about the grace of God and how that we’re saved by grace through faith. We’ve just been studying how that in chapter 4, particularly, how that faith is involved in salvation. Although in that chapter it especially teaches us how that, you know, grace means that works are not really involved. So often the book of Romans is misapplied and misunderstood because there are times where people see the word grace and only think in terms of the fact that man has nothing to do.

But that really is not always the meaning of the word grace in this book. While basically the word means favor, and God’s grace is undeserved favor, man has done nothing to deserve the gift of God, that is the gift of his only begotten Son for our sins. And yet at the same time, through the book of Romans, he’s really discussing most of these passages we’ve just been studying about a system of salvation. And he’s contrasting how that we’re saved by grace and not by works of the law. You see, when man found himself trying to obey law, and that was the only means of justification, he always found himself transgressing that law. For no man can live perfectly, and since God’s law is perfect, he found himself trying to keep the law, constantly transgressing it or sinning, and thus guilty of doing wrong.

And as the Bible teaches, that God’s uh majestic law says that one who disobeys, one who sins is worthy of death. From the very beginning story in the creation. God told Adam and Eve, in the day that you eat of that forbidden fruit, you shall surely die. And so it is that when man found himself trying to keep law, he found himself imperfect. He found himself lost in sin. But in contrast to that system of justification by perfect law, God has devised for us and granted to us salvation by grace. His provision of the means of salvation is solely by grace. Man did nothing to deserve it. Man does not earn it. And yet, when we go through this book, we also see that it is not by grace only, in the sense that man has nothing to do.

1. Justified by Faith, We Have Peace with God

God’s part in providing the system of salvation is only by grace. But the scripture teaches that by grace, through faith, man is saved. In fact, that’s the opening words of chapter 5. If you have your Bible open now with us, let’s read together. Romans chapter 5 and verses 1 and 2. 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. Now you notice in this passage, he says, being justified by faith. He doesn’t say by grace through faith, for that is an essential. He’s already been talking how that through the grace of God we find justification. That is that we can be declared innocent.

We are acquitted of guiltless sin. But he says now in this passage, justified by faith. And he says, We have peace with God. Now the word peace here is really an objective condition. For you see, man without the grace of God finds himself really in a in a state of being in hostility toward God. Probably few would think of themselves as an enemy of God. But later in this same chapter, in fact, in chapter 5 and in verse 10, he says that Christ died for us even when we were in the state of being an enemy of God. You see, those who sin against God are opposed to his ways. Those who fail to keep his word are in rebellion to God. In Isaiah chapter 59, in verses 1 and 2, the prophet of God said, Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy that he cannot hear.

2. Access by Faith into This Grace

But your iniquities have separated from God and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear you. You see, man in sin and in rebellion is separated from God. It is in a state of hostility against God. But through Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ made the provision through the cross that we might have peace, as Ephesians chapter 2, verses 14 through 17 so illustrates. And now in Romans 5, he likewise says, We’re justified by faith and we have peace. How is that how’s that condition of peace? It is through our Lord Jesus Christ. But notice in verse 2, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace. Now that’s a point sometimes overlooked, as we were just saying a moment ago, when there are those who say, Oh, we’re saved by grace only, they fail to understand that the system of salvation is grace, but it isn’t all only at God’s choosing that people are saved or lost is whether or not one believes.

We can have access into God’s grace by faith. And we also stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. We not only enter that system and that condition of saved by the by uh in through the grace of God, we not only enter it by faith, but we stand therein by faith. You see, the Bible teaches in Hebrews 11 and verse 6, without faith it is impossible to please God. We must believe that God is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek after Him. But how do we enter by faith? How do we have access by faith? Interestingly, the Bible really corroborates itself. It nowhere contradicts itself, and when we begin to relate other passages, even our study in Romans, we understand how that we have access into God’s grace by faith.

Passages like Galatians chapter 3 and in verses 26 and 27. The apostle there also talking how that there is a difference between trying to be justified by law versus being justified by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. He says, For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. And then he answers, Well, who? In the very next verse he says, For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. When do we become Christians? Now you’ll hear different preachers say, oh, well, it’s when you just accept in your own heart Jesus as Savior, or when you say the sinner’s prayer. But nowhere do you find those kind of statements in the Bible. But you notice here in Galatians 3, 26 and 27, he says, Now you’re the children of God by faith, but when we’re baptized into Christ.

It is in baptism that we reach the precious blood of Christ that washes away our sins. And therefore it is in itself an act of faith. You see, faith is more than just a mental agreement. It is more than just saying in my heart, Oh, I believe Jesus. The book of Hebrews, in Hebrews chapter 11, in fact, gives us a chapter about faith. And throughout it, it illustrates what faith is like. What is it about? In fact, in Hebrews chapter 11, for example, in verse 4, by faith, Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. Abel did something. He offered unto God a sacrifice. In verse 7, by faith, Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear and prepared an ark to the saving of his house.

How is it that he was saved by faith? Well, he did something. He heard God’s word, he obeyed God’s word. So the book of Romans, while it is the great book on faith and saved by grace through faith, it opens and closes with the fact that there must be obedience to the faith. And so we we had access into God’s grace, and we stand in God’s grace by faith, but it is an obedient faith. So that corroborates really what we’ve been studying earlier in chapter 3 and chapter 4, and as we’ll go right on through this book, we’ll see that that’s really the main point. We are saved by the gospel of Jesus Christ, but it is a faith that saves. Faith saying, I’ll obey what the gospel says.

3. Tribulation Worketh Patience, Experience and Hope

Now look with me at Romans chapter 5, verses 3 through 5. When he says, and not only so, but we glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed. Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Now you notice in these few verses, verses three through five, particularly, how he says that tribulations will come upon Christians, but they strengthen our hope. They give us assurance rather than destroying our faith. Now, when you talk about tribulations, there’s a sense in which all men suffer. Sufferings are common to us all.

In the flesh we find that there is sickness, and ultimately there is death, isn’t there? But when one obeys the gospel, he will find in his life that there will be added persecutions. As in 2 Timothy chapter 3 and in verse 12, the scripture says, All who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Even Jesus, uh in preparing his disciples in what we sometimes call the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew chapter 5 and verses 11 and 12, he said, Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Now you notice Jesus said, Rejoice even when there may be tribulations. And so it is in Romans chapter 5. Are sufferings bad? Do sufferings cause us to lose faith? Do tribulations make us want to quit? The apostle said, No, here’s the chain reaction. Here is what happens when there’s tribulations. First of all, knowing tribulations will come, recognize that tribulations will develop patience. You see, as a person continues to see that by holding on to the hand of God that he will not allow us to suffer temptation above that which we’re able to bear, and knowing that God will help us through the trials and tribulations, even the persecutions that that ungodly may put upon the godly. So it is that there is that sense of perse perseverance or of patience.

Some translations render this perseverance. In the book of James in chapter 1, verses 2 and 3, the writer there says, Count it all joy, my brethren, when you fall into divers or different temptations, knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have a perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. You see, when there are troubles that come in a person’s life, he has to make a choice. Is he going to turn to God or turn away from God? For the person who begins to understand how frail and fragile he is even physically, he begins to know, I need the Lord, and I depend upon the Lord. And so sufferings really can work for us some good. It makes us recognize our need of the Lord and our dependence upon the Lord.

And even with the tribulations, knowing that God is, and knowing that his promises are sure, tribulations can work for us and develop for us a sense of patience. But patience or perseverance, the scripture here says, worketh experience. Or one translation renders it, perseverance proves character, or renders proven character. You see, the more that a person stands loyal to the Lord and stands strong in the face even of troubles and trials and and all the afflictions that that evil men can put upon them, it proves that he really has faith. You may remember when Jesus taught the the parable of the soar, and he talked about how the seed was sown, and there were different types of soil into which the word would fall. There was some ground he called the rocky ground.

And he said, There are times when without taking root, the word may go into a person’s heart, and he looks like he’s strong, at least he rejoices, and he’s so thrilled to say that he believes and he’s a Christian. But when they’re the scorching sun, or when there are temptations and troubles that come out, that plant withers and dies because it has no root. There are some people who really do not have proven character of faith. And there may be troubles, and there may be persecutions that come upon them, and people mock them and ridicule them because they say they believe in the Christ, they may fall away. But you find the other individual who, even when the midst of tribulation, he finds that he continues on and he perseveres, and perseverance develops in him a sense of proving that he has real character.

And that character really only strengthens his hope. Hope serving as an anchor of the soul. We have hope in Christ Jesus, when we understand that no matter what may come, that he will strengthen us and bless us. In first Peter chapter one, verses six through eight, the apostle said of a people who were in the midst of fiery trials, wherein ye greatly rejoice. Though now for a season, if need be ye are in heaven, is through manifold temptations, that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found in the praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Whom having not seen ye love, and whom though now you see him not, yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Isn’t it remarkable that Peter writing to people who were in heaviness? They were burdened with the troubles and temptations, persecutions. And yet it’s a book about hope. It’s a book about rejoicing. He says, You even rejoice with joy unspeakable. You cannot put it in the words. Why? Because this proven character or experience strengthens hope. And what does hope do? Hope gives assurance. As verse 5 says, hope maketh not ashamed. One who really understands the hope we have in Christ doesn’t turn his head and in shame that someone may mock or ridicule him. But he says, Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us. The word shed abroad literally carries the idea of an overflowing like a river that is flooding, it’s out of its banks.

The love of God is just out of its banks in the heart of one who truly understands that in Christ Jesus there is justification. There is forgiveness of sins. You see how the book of Romans really develops a theme? Starts out, we’re all in sin, but then says we can be forgiven through Jesus Christ. And now with Jesus Christ, there is peace with God. That hostility is broken down. And there is hope through the Lord Jesus Christ. Next we’re going to see there’s joy in Christ Jesus. Truly, these are great benefits of God’s grace. We’re going to pause for just a moment, and we’re going to read verses six through eleven, and I think a very stirring section, Romans chapter 5, verses 6 to 11. You stay with us, we’ll be back in just one moment.

4. Joy in God: God Commended His Love

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die. Yet peradventure for a good man, someone even dare to die. But God commended his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more than being now justified by his blood, we should be saved from wrath through him. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. I’ve described this lesson as being the benefits of God’s grace, as he is developed in the book of Romans the theme of how that we’re saved by the system of grace.

We’ve noticed how in the first uh five verses that there is peace with God. That’s one of the benefits, certainly, that that hostility between sinner and God is taken away, and now we are at peace, we are made at one with him. But then also, because of God’s grace, we have hope and hope that has assurance in verse five. But now in this section of verse verses, it speaks about how that there is rejoicing. Indeed, there is joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Well, when we consider the condition that man was in at the time Christ died for him, very few people would think of himself as an enemy of God. I think even the worst of sinners probably would not think that he’s really an enemy, that he’s opposed to God.

He may recognize that he’s not doing God’s will, but but to be an enemy, that’s one who’s fighting against God, actually taking up action to oppose God. But there are three words in this passage or this section of verses in verse six says that when Christ died for us, we were ungodly, that we we were not like God. We were ungodly. And in verse 8, we were sinners. We’d transgressed God’s word. But I think the strongest of all the terms in verse 10, when we were enemies. We were actually opposed to God’s way in rebellion to his will. Enemies. Now who would die for an enemy? Who would make such a gift even of his son to die for an enemy? And what this section of verses, though, really is saying is that God commended his love, or he’s proven his love to us.

God’s love is proven. Most of us are familiar with the verse in John 3 and verse 16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. We know that verse. But how many of us really get the context that, yes, he so loved the world, so loved the world in what condition? When we were ungodly, when we were sinners, when we were even enemies.

And indeed, it gives great cause for rejoicing in the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, he raises the question when he says in verses seven and eight, scarcely or rarely, for a righteous man or a good person will one die. Every now and then you hear stories of that. Or some really dear friend or a good person, one might stand in the place of another. But who would die for an enemy? Some time ago I read a story that occurred during the Civil War. It was it was a story that occurred up in uh in the Missouri area in a city where really the people were very much opposed to the Union Army that had come in and were taking over that city. And in fact, uh the men of the city, several in fact, were involved in ambush and and various atrocities against the Union soldiers until finally the commanding officer made uh the decree that uh there would be the men of the city would be arrested.

And in fact, uh when jailed that they stood convicted uh of uh opposing the the Union army, the order of the city, the law of the city. Therefore, because of the various atrocities, they were really all condemned to die. But the commanding officer really, not wanting to just wholesale slaughter the city and all the men, then said, Well, we’ll select ten people, ten men would die. Cast lots, ten people would be chosen to die. And there were lots that were chosen or fell, and ten men were chosen. One young man by the name of Willie Lear, who was 18 years of age at the time, he was not married, had his life in front of him. He was not one of the ten selected. But a dear friend of his, a man who was a father of a rather large family.

A man who who, if his life were taken, his family would be in very, very great uh straits of trying to even provide for themselves. And Willie Lear knew the condition that it would leave these children in and his wife in. And he stepped forward and asked the the officer in charge if if he could die in the place of that father. And the officer in charge said, Well, it made no difference to him. His orders were that ten should die. It didn’t matter which ten. And if it was agreeable to the father, agreeable to Willie Lear, who was just eighteen, if that’s the way he wanted it, and so be it. And the story, supposedly a true story, as I read, said that Willie Lear fell to his death in a pool of blood as the shots rang out.

He was put to death. He was one of the ten that died. He died in the place of a good man. Rarely do you hear of that. But occasionally we do. There are stories like that. And you think, well, you suppose that father, for whom he died, stood in his place at least, would ever grow tired of telling the story about this young man? You think they would ever get to the point that they they just really wouldn’t ever want to talk about the death of another man in his place to allow him to live? Indeed, it would be a reproach and a shame, wouldn’t it, to his family and his community, if he ever came to that state of mind. But with the death of Jesus Christ, we have to make it personal.

5. Reconciled to God: Made Friends

He died for you and me. He died for those who were sinners, who were ungodly, even who were in a state of enemies. God seeing in advance, who of us can say we’re perfect, we’ve never sinned. No one can. Jesus Christ died for us. God proved his love for us. And if while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. And the scripture then says in verse 10, for if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. The word reconciled literally means made friends. We were an enemies, we were opposed, but now through Jesus Christ, we we are made as friends to God. We are brought back together again.

As we said in in chapter uh earlier in verse 1, we uh are at peace with God. We have access into his grace by faith. In the book of Colossians and chapter 1 and verses 21 and 22, the scripture says, and you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight. In our lives, by wicked works, we were as enemies. And so, as in Romans chapter 5, you might say it also really corroborates, doesn’t it? A passage that we studied in chapter 3, where after describing how all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3, verses 24 to 26 says, being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

We are justified. We are acquitted of all guilt. And it’s by God’s grace, undeserved, that he provided forgiveness of sins, the means of forgiveness. But notice even that passage says, whom God that is of Christ, he set forth Christ to be a propitiation. That is, he stands in the place of an appeasement of sin through faith in his blood. It isn’t saved by grace only, and it isn’t by faith only. Salvation is by the grace of God through faith. A faith that responds to God’s grace and obeys his will. And so it is that through this he says, even his death was to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God. To declare, I said this time his righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Conclusion

You see, God, the integrity of God’s law was upheld by the death of Christ. Death is the just penalty for all sin. Christ died that we might live. He, God is just, therefore, his law has been upheld, but he’s the justifier of believers. And so in our text of Romans 5 and verse 11, he says, Now we have received the atonement, and therefore we rejoice. We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. What a great privilege to say through Christ we have salvation. Can you not rejoice in the benefits of God’s grace? I hope that you’ll continue to study his word and keep his word faithfully. Until our next study, we bid the grace and peace of our Lord be with you.