Rom5 Grace Victorious

# Grace Victorious
## Romans 5
[Langtang National Park, Nepal. Sergey Pesterev](https://unsplash.com/photos/JV78PVf3gGI "caption")

>>>
+ feel as if **evil** is winning?
+ **world** news: angry, selfish, 
  + personal **freedom** vs **mercy** to others
  + and **proud** of it: deem morally courageous
+ amongst **loved ones**, family, friends:
  + so **stubborn** + proud, unwilling to change
  + **nothing** I do/say works
  + afraid it affects **me**, too:
+ long-standing, habitual **sins**:
  + I've **tried** and prayed, and **failed**

---

# Do I feel as though **evil** is winning?

>>>
+ in **world**, in hearts of those **close** to us,
  + even in our **own** lifestyle + hearts?
+ Rom5: reason for **hope** + even **boasting**:
+ The **grace** in which we stand
  + is far greater than **sin** of world
+ **Inquire** deeply into Scriptures
  + behold **Lamb** of God

---
(prayer)

>>>
+ Holy Father, You call us to 
+ worship You not at specified **locations**
  + but in **spirit** + **truth**
+ W/every **fibre** of being: draw **near** to You
  + **rest** deeply in Your love
+ W/all our **mind** + strength
  + **discern** Your truth, **obey** in faith
+ This time is **sanctified** as holy to You

______
+ Rom: well-deserved **reput** as most thorough
  + exposition of **gospel**: how we're saved
+ Concise summary of book in **1:16-17**:

---

For I am not ashamed of the **gospel**, 
for it is the **power** of God 
for **salvation** to everyone who believes, 
to the **Jew** first and also to the **Greek**.

[17](# "ref")
For in it the **righteousness** of God 
is revealed from **faith** for faith, 
as it is written, 
“The righteous shall **live by faith**.”

[Romans 1:16-17 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Aaron Burden](https://unsplash.com/photos/09AhDCedXF8 "caption")

>>>
+ God's **power** not only in righteous **judgment**
  + but also abundant **grace**
+ Our **salvation** not only from own **mistakes**
  + but God's coming **wrath**
+ God's election of **Israel** and **mystery** of 
  + gospel brought to **ends of earth**
+ The **righteousness** not earned by own piety
  + but **granted** by God 
  + and **obtained** by faith
+ Reflected in approx **outline** of the book:

---
## Overview of Romans
1. _Need_: Man's **Sin** + God's **Wrath** [(ch1-3a)](# "ref")
1. _Means_: Saved by **Faith** in **Grace** [(ch3a-5)](# "ref")
1. _Life_: **Dead** in the Body, **Alive** in the Spirit [(ch6-8)](# "ref")
1. _Message_: Partial **Hardening** of Israel [(ch9-11)](# "ref")
1. _Walk_: Rational **Service** to God [(ch12-15)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **Need** for salvation
+ **Means** by which we are saved:
  + **faith** of Abe, **grace** from Christ
+ **Life** of salvation: **standing** in grace 
  + yet still **dwelling** in body of death
+ **Message** of salvation: gospel first to **Jews**
  + then as **rejected** it, to **Gentiles**
  + (appl to modern **church**!)
+ **Walk** as slaves of **righteousness**,
  + in view of God's **mercies** toward us

---

## Romans 5: Grace Victorious
1. **Pride**: in Our Future Hope and Present Suffering [(1-5)](# "ref")
1. **Peace**: in the Father's Love [(6-11)](# "ref")
1. **Power**: in Grace which Surpasses Sin [(12-21)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Bc of how Christ **saved** us, we're not just **surviving**
  + but have cause to **boast**: confidence
+ **Assurance**: God is not **angry** w/us
  + bc how Father demonstrated His **love**
+ No matter how **much** sin around us increases,
  + God's **grace** abounds over and above

---

Therefore, since we have been **justified** by faith, 
we have **peace** with God 
through our Lord Jesus Christ.

[2](# "ref")
Through him we have also obtained **access** 
by faith into this **grace** in which we stand,

and we **rejoice** in hope of the glory of God.

[Romans 5:1-2 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Montreal, CA. Marc-Olivier Jodoin](https://unsplash.com/photos/TStNU7H4UEE "caption")

>>>
+ all 1 **sentence**
+ "justified": made/decreed to be **righteous**
  + promise to **Abe** + all w/same faith
+ "peace": **reconciled** w/God
  + saved from righteous **wrath**
+ "grace": our current **status** before God
  + access: **led** forth/into, not earned
  + have obtained: perfective, already **completed**
+ "rejoice": **boast**, pride, hold head up high
  + not in **liberties** I assert for myself
  + but pride in future **hope** in heaven
+ Not only in **future**, but also **present**:

---

Not only that, but we rejoice in our **sufferings**, 
knowing that suffering produces **endurance**, 
[4](# "ref")
and endurance produces **character**, 
and character produces **hope**, 
[5](# "ref")
and hope does not put us to shame,

because God's **love** has been poured 
into our hearts through the Holy Spirit 
who has been given to us.

[Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Sven Scheuermeier](https://unsplash.com/photos/saGbrA6s8g0 "caption")

>>>
+ suff: not bc **struggle** to achieve own **goals**
  + but bc we desire to be **holy**
  + but inhabit world/body **broken** by sin + death
+ **perseverance** (remain under)
+ **proof** (tested + true)
+ **hope**: when Chr returns He will find in me
  + proven **faith**, more precious than gold
+ 1 Pet 1:

---

In this you **rejoice**, though now 
for a **little while**, if necessary, 
you have been **grieved** by various trials,

[1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")
[Iceland. Davide Cantelli](https://unsplash.com/photos/H3giJcTw__w "caption")

>>>
+ this: being **born again** to living hope

---

so that the **tested genuineness** 
of your faith — more precious than **gold** 
that perishes though it is tested by fire —

may be found to result in **praise** and glory 
and honor at the **revelation** of Jesus Christ.

[1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ tested: **proof** ("character" in Rom 5:4)
  + know whether my faith is **real** or not
+ Not dependent on strength of my **conviction**
  + but power of God's **faithfulness**
+ That **faith** in God's promises is **worth** pursuing!
+ If I **suffer** bc weight of sin
+ Remember it is **faith** in God
  + same faith **Abe** had
  + through God's **grace**
  + which declares me **righteous** in His eyes
+ Bc of this God is at **peace** with me
  + My **status** is standing in grace

---

# What **reasons** do I have to be **proud**?

>>>
+ **Future** hope to see God's glory
  + and **inherit** it, bc
+ **Present** hope amidst suffering bc of sin
  + as I **persevere** in faith
+ what comes out is like **pure** gold
+ Gives us **hope** when all seems lost
  + When the **evil** is too great

---

## Romans 5: Grace Victorious
1. Pride: in Our Future Hope and Present Suffering [(1-5)](# "ref")
1. **Peace: in the Father's Love** [(6-11)](# "ref")
1. Power: in Grace which Surpasses Sin [(12-21)](# "ref")

>>>
+ But I **hope** and hope that God will
  + **reward** me in heaven for my faith
+ I **trust** that persev. under suff. is **worth** it
+ What if God **lets me down**?
+ What **assurance** do I have that 
  + God **hears** my prayers?
  + God really **loves** me?
+ The assurance is **manner** in which God loved us:

---

For while we were still weak, 
at the right time **Christ died** for the ungodly.

[7](# "ref")
For one will scarcely die for a **righteous** person 
-- though perhaps for a good person 
one would dare even to die --

[Romans 5:6-7 (ESV)](# "ref")
["The stoning of St. Stephen", Gabriel-Jules Thomas, 1863. Paris](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stoning_St_Stephen_Saint-Etienne-du-Mont.jpg "caption")

>>>
+ v7: not **contrast** but **appositive**:
+ maybe you might **die** for a person / cause
  + if you felt it was **worthwhile**:
+ if your **death** would call attention to 
  + the **worthiness** of the person / cause
+ emph contrast w/v6/8: for the **ungodly**, sinners

---

but God shows his **love** for us in that 
while we were still **sinners**, Christ died for us.

[Romans 5:8 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Lac d'Anterne, France.  Hugues de Buyer-Mimeure](https://unsplash.com/photos/-wT0iS-TSZM "caption")

>>>
+ God did not **wait** for us to become worthy
  + before sending His **Son** to die for us
+ It's already **done**! Before you **repented**,
  + before you **sinned**, before you were **born**
+ This is the **manner** in which God caused His
  + actions + words to **stand together**
  + to **demonstrate** + substantiate 
  + the depth of His **love** toward us
+ What more **proof** are we looking for?

---

Since, therefore, we have now been 
**justified** by his blood, much more shall we be 
**saved** by him from the **wrath** of God.

[10](# "ref")
For if while we were **enemies** we were 
**reconciled** to God by the death of his Son,

much more, now that we are reconciled, 
shall we be **saved** by his life.

[Romans 5:9-10 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Ales Krivec](https://unsplash.com/photos/ywtbSuCSjhM "caption")

>>>
+ Yes, we **owe** an indescribable **debt** to God
  + Because of our **rebellion** against His auth
  + He is **justified** in His **wrath** (ch1,3)
+ But God **settled** the accounts already
  + **paid** the debt by Jesus' death
+ Jesus' **last words** on the cross?
  + "It is **finished**": not His **life**,
  + but the **work** of salvation
+ Through **faith** in Christ (faith of Abe)
  + we **receive** this reconciliation
+ So **why** would we still fear God's **punish**?
  + why assume God is not **pleased** with us?
+ In fact, it's not just that we not longer
  + **owe** anything to God:

---

More than that, we also **rejoice** in God 
through our Lord Jesus Christ, 
through whom we have now received **reconciliation**.

[Romans 5:11 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Milada Vigerova](https://unsplash.com/photos/iQWvVYMtv1k "caption")

>>>
+ "rejoice": again, **boast**, pride, lift up head
+ pride not in **selves** but **Christ**
  + who **bought** our reconciliation
+ He is our **peace**, who has broken down 
  + the wall of **enmity**
+ between man to man
  + between man and God

---

# How do I **know** that the Father **loves** me?

>>>
+ Bc I'm **lovable**?  Nope!
+ Our **assurance** is in **manner** in which God loved
+ sent His Son while we were yet **weak**,
  + ungodly, sinners, His **enemies**
+ Bc we didn't **deserve** His love, 
  + so we know we can't **lose** it!
+ God will not **reneg** on His love,
+ and nothing in all creation is **strong** enough 
  + to **separate** us from His love

---

## Romans 5: Grace Victorious
1. Pride: in Our Future Hope and Present Suffering [(1-5)](# "ref")
1. Peace: in the Father's Love [(6-11)](# "ref")
1. **Power: in Grace which** **Surpasses Sin** [(12-21)](# "ref")

>>>
+ In light of the **power** of God's love
  + manifest in Christ's death for us
+ We can trust in the boundless **abundance**
  + of His **grace**
+ which **overwhelms** sin and the curse of death

---

Therefore, just as **sin** came into the world 
through one **man**, and **death** through sin,

and so death spread to **all** men 
because all sinned --

[Romans 5:12 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Kota Garut, Indonesia. Dikaseva](https://unsplash.com/photos/zvf7cZ0PC20 "caption")

>>>
+ v12-14 first ack **rule** of death in our world:
+ v12 is **self-contained** clause:
+ **just as** sin came to world,
  + **so also** death came to all people
+ death (spiritual and physical) in the **world**
  + is a **conseq** of sin
  + (problem for theistic evolutionists!)
+ not just **Adam's** fault, **all** have sinned

---

for **sin** indeed was in the world 
**before** the law was given,

but sin is not **counted** where there is no law.

[Romans 5:13 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Aaron Burden](https://unsplash.com/photos/fgmf2Eyrwm4 "caption")

>>>
+ studying Bible helps us **realize** how we've sinned
  + **compass** to guide us straight + true
+ w/o it, don't know what dir is **North**
+ don't **realize** we've wandered astray from God
  + assume **everyone** lives like this
  + so should be **ok**

---

Yet **death reigned** from Adam to Moses,

even over those whose sinning was 
not like the **transgression of Adam**, 
who was a type of the one who was to come.

[Romans 5:14 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Vancouver, BC.  Aditya Chinchure](https://unsplash.com/photos/ghbepAO7BCs "caption")

>>>
+ Adam had direct **command** from God
  + Moses rcvd God's specific **regulations**
+ But still possible to **overstep**
  + God's prescribed **boundaries**
  + even **unknowingly**
+ e.g., didn't know must **park** facing right way
  + but **ignorance** no excuse
+ Do God's **expectations** of holiness
  + only **apply** to Christians?
+ Even if diff **culture** / relig bg
  + **sin** + death still reign in heart (ch2)
+ But there's **hope**!

---
## 3. Grace Greater than Sin
1. God's grace far **exceeds** the consequences of sin [(v15)](# "ref")
1. Jesus' death covers **all** our sins [(v16)](# "ref")
1. God's grace will bring a new **kingdom** [(v17)](# "ref")
1. Christ's obedience changes our **standing** before God [(v18-19)](# "ref")

>>>
+ repeatedly draws **parallel** between
+ Adam's **sin** vs Christ's **sacrifice** for us
+ one resulting in **death** + condemnation
  + other resulting in **life** + being deemed **righteous**
+ But in each comparison, **grace** wins!
+ not equal duality: **yin-yang**, good/evil, God/devil
  + they are not even **close**!

---

But the free **gift** is not like the trespass.

For if many **died** through one man's trespass,

much more have the **grace** of God 
and the free gift by the grace of that 
one man Jesus Christ **abounded** for many.

[Romans 5:15 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Tel Aviv-Yafo. Joseph Barrientos](https://unsplash.com/photos/oQl0eVYd_n8 "caption")

>>>
+ (1) God's grace is **bigger** than death from sin
+ "abounds": surpass, **exceed** normal, overflow
+ Trying to be good by following the **rules**
  + means if you mess up **once**, you're **done**:
+ **One** sin brings condemnation + death
+ But God's grace is **greater** than sin
  + bc it's not like that:

---

And the free gift is not like 
the result of that **one man's sin**.

[Romans 5:16 (ESV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")
[Mario Purisic](https://unsplash.com/photos/jG1z5o7NCq4 "caption")

>>>
+ "For it is not as though bc one man's sin came the gift"
+ Jesus died not just to pay for **one** man's sin
+ (2) Jesus' death covers over **all** our sins
  + one vs **many**

---

For the judgment following **one trespass** 
brought condemnation,

but the free gift following **many trespasses** 
brought justification.

[Romans 5:16 (ESV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ on the **one hand**: the judgment 
  + out of one (sin), into condemnation
+ on the **other**: the gift 
  + out of many sins, into justification
+ It's also a matter of **power** / rule:

---

For if, because of one man's trespass, 
**death reigned** through that one man,

much more will **those who receive** 
the abundance of grace and 
the free gift of righteousness 
**reign in life** through the one man Jesus Christ.

[Romans 5:17 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Claudio Testa](https://unsplash.com/photos/FrlCwXwbwkk "caption")

>>>
+ (3) God's grace will bring a new **kingdom**
+ Now operate under rule of **death**: barely surviving
+ But bc of Christ's gift, **we** will reign!
+ How does this affect how God **sees** us?

---

Therefore, as **one trespass** led to 
condemnation for all men,

so **one act of righteousness** leads to 
justification and life for all men.

[Romans 5:18-19 (ESV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")
[Alex Woods](https://unsplash.com/photos/pZVi92S-ZMs "caption")

---

For as by the one man's disobedience 
the many were **made sinners**,

so by the one man's obedience 
the many will be **made righteous**.

[Romans 5:18-19 (ESV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **disobedience** vs obedience
+ "made": **set down**, put in place, give position/auth
+ (4) Christ's obedience changes our **standing** before Him
  + **deemed** righteous in His sight
+ Then what of the **world**?  Will it get **better**?
  + Downhill trajectory: **V-shaped** recovery? U?
+ No, in fact as in the days of **Noah**
  + God has reserved world for **judgment**
  + this time by **fire**

---

Now the **law** came in to **increase** the trespass,

but where **sin** increased, 
**grace** abounded all the more,

[Romans 5:20-21 (ESV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")
[Warsaw, Poland. FreeStocks](https://unsplash.com/photos/r_oV6smBBYk/info "caption")

---

so that, as sin **reigned** in death, 
grace also might **reign** through righteousness

leading to eternal life 
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

[Romans 5:20-21 (ESV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ being **told** what not to do
  + makes one **want** to do it even more (ch7)
+ so not only does world **increase** in sin/death
  + but preaching **gospel** increases it even more!
+ So all **hopeless**? No! **Grace** abounds even more
+ As in days of **Noah**, God has provided a singular
  + **way** to be rescued: not **ark**, but
+ **faith** in Jesus Christ, God's Son given for our sins
+ The more we **recognize** our own sin
  + the more **precious** God's grace becomes
+ He who is **forgiven** little, **loves** little (Lk 7:47)

---

# Am I looking for something **more** than God's grace?

>>>
+ Cry out to God: so much **pain**, brokenness, evil
  + not just in **world**, but even in **my** heart
+ "**Do** something, God!"  **Fix** problem, intervene
+ Underlying: **frustration**, bitterness at God
  + even sneaking suspicion He doesn't **care**
  + or is too **far away** to be able to do 
+ Rom5 reminds us God's grace is **sufficient**:
  + do I **believe** it?
+ Christ's **one** act of obedience **wins** 
  + over all the **evil** that has broken our world
+ The free **gift** is offered to **all** who would
  + receive it in **faith**
+ Is that grace **enough**?

---

>>>
+ O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
 + and you will not hear?
+ Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save?
+ Destruction and violence are before me;
 + strife and contention arise.
+ So the law is paralyzed,
 + and justice never goes forth.
+ But the righteous shall live by his faith.
+ The Lord is in his holy temple;
 + let all the earth keep silence before him.
+ Though the fig tree should not blossom,
 + nor fruit be on the vines,
+ yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
 + I will take joy in the God of my salvation.