Romans 5

Read Romans 5.

            Romans 5 is an amazing chapter. It seems like every verse has something important to say: we are justified through faith (v. 1), we have access to God (v. 2), suffering (v. 3), hope (v. 4). You get the idea. Let’s highlight just a couple.

            First, verses 6-10. Here Paul gets to the nature of the Gospel. When we were powerless, sinners, enemies of God, Christ died for us. The Gospel does not depend on anything in us. It doesn’t depend on our choosing it; it doesn’t depend on our cleaning ourselves up a bit first; frankly the Gospel was accomplished when our whole race was arrayed against the will of God. (We saw that in our look at Matthew a few weeks ago: the Jewish leaders—God’s own people—opposed Jesus; Romans acquiesced in His crucifixion; even His disciples abandoned Him.) Without ever saying it, at least in these five verses, Paul has just demonstrated grace. God’s love and mercy, freely given, apart from any action on our part.

            The next section, verses 12-19 are also pretty amazing and they advance the story Paul has been telling. In chapters 1-4, he has been telling the story of Israel’s relationship with their God. Sinai has been lurking all over the place in the repeated references to Moses’ law; he just talked about Abraham. Now he stretches the story exactly as he been planning since the beginning of the letter to include Adam. His statement, “Just as sin entered the world through one man,” expands the story. We’re not just talking about Israel but about all humanity. And the salvation God has in the works is not just for Israel (no matter what they might think); it’s for everyone: “How much more did God’s grace overflow to the many!” (‘The many’ is  a figure of speech; Paul makes himself clear in verse 18, where the Gospel brings justification and life for all people.)

            Thus, the Gospel is God’s free gift in Jesus and it is given for every human being. Like I said, an amazing chapter.