Sunday Sermons
Justified by Faith
Justified by Faith
Faith brings us to a place of justification, being accounted innocent and righteous in the sight of God (Romans 5:1). This is because we are justified at the point of forgiveness (Romans 4:5-8). Thus faith brings us into contact with God's grace (5:2). In reading the book of Romans we already understand that the faith that leads to justification is not a "faith-only", but rather it is a faith that obeys (Romans 1:5) the gospel (Romans 1:16) and continues to obey (Romans 2:6-7). This faith includes confessing Christ (Romans 10:9-10) and being baptized (Romans 6:4), as well as remaining faithful to God (Romans 12:1ff).
As a result, we exult in the hope of experiencing our reward in heaven with God (5:2). Such faith and grace also helps us to rejoice even in our trials (5:3-5), knowing that if we continue to trust God, such trials will only result in our own spiritual strengthening.
As we continue to study the Scriptures we are constantly reminded by the Divine author just how much God truly loves us (5:5). For the gospel that we have believed and obeyed teaches us that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (5:6). Without doubt, God has repeatedly and dramatically demonstrated the fact that He loves us, and even loved us while we were at our very worst (5:8). While God demonstrated His love, the world, by contrast, tended to either excuse us, ignore us, reject us or encourage us to either remain in our current sins or go even further, proceeding from bad to worse (Romans 1:32).
Once again we are reminded that our justification or forgiveness is due directly to the fact that Jesus died our us and that only His blood can redeem us (5:9). We are also reminded of the two sides of God (Romans 11:22): God desires to express mercy, but since He cannot in His justice, ignore sin, His wrath must be expressed against all unrepentant sinners (5:9). Thus God remains to be both merciful and just. We are also reminded that our salvation is not all future, but rather as Christians we are presently enjoying our reconciliation with God (5:11).
How it All Started
This chapter, as well as other chapters in the New Testament completely agrees with and endorses what is taught in the Old Testament. Through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world. It is true that as a consequence physical death, disease and illness also entered, but the "death" in this section is spiritual death or separation from God due to our sins (Isaiah 59:1-2).
How it is passed on
Some use these verses to teach that after Adam sinned that all generations that have followed inherit a sin nature – that everyone after Adam is born a sinner. Yet consider what God says on these points:
- Romans 5:12 is very specific. Death spread to all men, not because men inherit a sin nature, but because all men eventually sin.
- The people that sinned after Adam, did not sin in the same manner (5:14). This would not be true if everyone inherits a sinful nature from Adam.
- Adam's direct descendants were not born depraved. Even Cain is treated as having freewill and the capability to obey God (Genesis 4:7).
- If one argues that the transmission of sin in Romans 5:12 is automatic, then if Adam sinned and as a result everyone after that is automatically born a sinner, then we have a major problem in this chapter. For if sin is transferred automatically, then so is salvation (Romans 5:15; 18-19). So if "by the one man's disobedience the many were automatically made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be automatically made righteous" (Romans 5:19). The Bible clearly does not teach that everyone automatically was saved when Jesus died on the cross, but rather that salvation is conditional (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16). If salvation results when people obey God, then it is clear that sin happens, not because of inborn sin, but sin happens when people choose to disobey God (Romans 5:13).
Romans 5:13
This verse reminds us what sin really is. Sin is not inherited (Ezekiel 18:20). Rather, sin only happens when one violates God's law. Sin is not just something that falls upon a person, rather it is a choice. Paul reminds us in Romans 7:9 that he was born sinless, but when he grew up and understood God's law, and then violated it, at that point he became a sinner. We are also reminded here that even before the Law of Moses was given, men and women were accountable to God's law.
Death Reigning from Adam to Moses
Note how the Holy Spirit breaks up the time recorded in the Old Testament "from Adam to Moses". This is because during the time of Moses the Law (The Ten Commandments, etc.) would arrive and be given at Sinai. The Law itself makes it clear that it was not given to those before Moses (Deuteronomy 5:2; Nehemiah 9:13-14). The New Testament makes it clear that this Law or Covenant ended when Jesus died on the cross for our sins (Colossians 2:14-17; Hebrews 9:15-17). As one reads Genesis it is obvious that not only are people suffering the physical consequences of the fall (Genesis 5:5 "and he died"), but more to the point of Romans 5, many are in full rebellion to God (Genesis 4:17-24; 6:5; 11:4).
Adam and Jesus
Adam's sin opened the door for sin, yet Jesus' death opened the door for salvation (5:15; 18-19). Clearly Jesus did not die just for a few, but rather His blood and resulting salvation is available for any who desire it (John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9). We are also reminded that we did not deserve Jesus' death, rather it is called a "free gift" (5:16). This means that we cannot earn our own salvation, yet the phrase "free gift" of course never meant that there are absolutely no conditions to receiving this gift. Clearly in this chapter faith is one just condition (5:1).
What Will Reign in My Life?
In the Bible and certainly in observing the lives around us, we often see spiritual death completely reigning in the lives of people (Romans 5:14; 17). This does not have to be our future. If we come to Jesus, instead of sin and rebellion reigning in us, righteousness will reign. We do not have to be a slave to our lusts anymore (Romans 6:13-16). As a result, while sin used to reign in our lives, now righteousness can reign through us (5:21).
The Purpose of the Law
In this chapter the Holy Spirit notes that the arrival of the Law through Moses at Sinai resulted in increased sin, because the more laws that exist the more laws people can violate. Yet, this was not the only result of the Law. Paul notes that the Law also taught people what sin was so they could avoid it (Romans 7:7), and most importantly it revealed many prophecies about the Messiah so that the Jewish people would be prepared to recognize and then obey Him when He arrived (Galatians 3:24). As a result, Paul calls the Law holy, righteous and good (Romans 7:12).
Rules, Not Relationships
As we end this section I hear many religious people and churches saying something like, "We are into relationships and not the rules". Yet the Bible never says that. For example, if a man was cheating on his wife and was confronted, what would you think if he said to her, "You are into the rules, while am I into the relationship"? That would be ridiculous, because keeping the rules is the way that we both honor and value the relationship. Thus Jesus said, "If you love Me (value the relationship) you will keep My commandments (you will keep the rules" John 14:15).
Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net
