John Chapter Three: The road to salvation – we study Paul's letter to the Romans: Romans Chapter 5

Documentation Published on 24 August 2024

The Road to Salvation – We Study Paul's Letter to the Romans, Chapter 5

Justification

Paul's letters never had chapter divisions, and chapter 5 continues where chapter 4 ends, without interruption. What it does do is to now practically apply the value of the justification written about in the previous chapter. It is that we now have peace with God.

The world is looking for peace and is not going to find it. The reason is because they are trying to find peace outside of God. Take a look at 1 Thessalonians 5:3 - when they say "peace and security" attack destroys them and they will not be able to escape. For the believer in Jesus Christ, however, peace is the first result of his justification (verse 1). Justification is the opposite of condemnation and destruction, which Paul addresses in Romans 8. Those who are declared righteous are free from all condemnation and destruction.

Our justification also paves the way for us to hope (verse 2). What is the hope we have? Simply this: to experience the glory of God. Paul explains this to Titus as our blessed hope (Titus 2:13), which includes the appearing of Jesus Christ.

Our justification also gives us the ability to overcome in tribulation (verse 3). We must understand that just because we have God's protection, it does not mean that we are immune from the attacks of life (see John 16:33). The tribulation and assaults that we have to deal with lead to long-suffering (patience); patience leads to provenance (experience and character); and the latter leads to hope (for the future). This hope does not diminish, because we experience God's love through the action of the Holy Spirit (verse 5).

God's planning and timing was perfect. Jesus Christ died for us at the right time (verse 6) when we were still sinners (verse 8). The miracle of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is that He experienced and allowed it, not because we were already justified, but when we were still sinners. Now that we are justified, we are saved from the coming wrath, about which Paul writes to Titus (Titus 2:13). Think of it this way: if God saved you when you didn't deserve it, how much more are you justified now that you are reconciled to Him (verses 10 and 11).

Paul next explains the sin and how it was overcome. He does this with the help of two people, Adam and Jesus. Adam was a type of Jesus Christ, and the word "example" (verse 14) is the Greek word "tupos" (τύπος), from which we get the word "type", Eng "type". Feel free to do a study of types in the Bible. In every case where someone was a type of Christ, Jesus himself had to be the perfect example, correcting what the first one did wrong, or could not fully reach the standard. What Adam ruined, Jesus fixed.

We must understand that the Adam whom God created was meant to live in paradise forever. It was not God's intention that he should sin. However, God gave man a free will, and Adam and his descendants have always abused this free will. The result was the fall.

The word "man" in the New Testament often refers to Adam, and it means "clay, red" - Adam was formed from the ground. We have the same nature as Adam. Man had to live with Adam's crime and bear its consequences. Jesus Christ reversed that situation for us. Just as in Romans, Paul's letter to the church in Corinth explains this in more detail. The special relationship between Adam as the first man and Jesus Christ as the last One can be represented as follows:

Adam	Jesus Christ
He brought sin into the world (Genesis 3:6).	Takes sin away from the world (Johannes 1:29).
His sin brings death (Romans 5:12).	He brings life (John 14:6).
His crime resulted in the death of many.	His grace saves many.
His sin causes death (1 Corinthians 15:22).	He brings life.
He sowed in dishonour (1 Corinthians 15:43).	He raises in glory.
He sowed in weakness.	He raises in power.
He sows a natural body.	He raises a spiritual body.
He is the first man and becomes a living soul (1 Corinthians 15:45).	He is the last Adam and becomes a life providing Spirit.
He was the first man, from the Earth.	He is the Lord out of heaven.
His sin caused mankind to be cursed.	Is grace reads to the salvation of mankind.
Through one man’s sin, death reigns. (Romans 5:17).	Through one deed of justification, man is given life.
One man’s sin leads to condemnation (verse 18).	One Man’s deed of justification leads to man being declared justified.
One man’s disobedience causes man to be cursed.	One Man’s obedience to death results in the curse being broken.
Through man’s sin the law increases (verse 20).	Through his grace justification increases (verse 21).

Man by nature has a sinful nature. This is why Paul makes it so clear in Romans 3:23. Because we sin, we cannot re-enter the paradise that God has destined for us. Mercifully, this becomes possible through Jesus Christ's work of salvation. He had to come on the scene to heal and save those who are sick and lost. Jesus brings together the sin of Eden and the Cross of healing. The healing puts life back into that which was dead. It is for this reason that it is cardinal that your faith in Jesus Christ is not based on his death, but on his resurrection.

Conclusion

Today we still have the same nature as Adam, and therefore still have the same need for a solution. Just as Adam had a free choice, we have a free choice. It is so tragic that people will do anything to obtain medicine that will make them physically healthy, and yet do not want to do much about their mental state. Think about the monthly cost of your medical cover. You pay a large amount, and often you claim nothing for a given month. How would you feel if someone you may never have met let you know that he is now covering your monthly medical premium for free?

The spiritual cover that God gives you is free to you, but it required that Someone pay the full price for you. That Someone paid it out of his own pocket, by his own choice, so that you do not die spiritually, but can live every day with the blessed hope and expectation of eternal life.

The door of paradise that was closed to us by sin and the choice of one man, is opened for us again by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

You have a choice, a free will. Choose to choose right.

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The Road to Salvation – We study Paul's letter to the Romans

Justification

Conclusion

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