Studies in Romans Presentation 14

Summary of Contents OPENING REMARKS: 1:1-17 BAD NEWS: Universality of sin and its condemnation 1:18 - 3:20 GOOD NEWS : A gospel that changes our relationship to God 3:21- 5:21 HOW TO GROW AS A CHRISTIAN : 6: Sanctification 6:1-23 The Place of the Law 7:1-25 Life in the Spirit 8:1-39 A SHORT DETOUR : Questions concerning Israel 9:1-11:36 HOW A CHRISTIAN OUGHT TO LIVE : 12:1-15:13 In our various relationships 12:1-13:14 Dealing with the ‘weak’ and the ‘strong’ 14:1-15:13 PAUL’S GENTILE MINISTRY, POLICY AND PLANS : 15:14-33 GREETINGS AND CLOSING DOXOLOGY : 16:1-27 Presentation 14

Studies in Romans Old and New Humanities Part 2 Chap. 5v12-21 Presentation 14

a. We are the recipients of grace not justice. Christ's ‘free gift of grace’ is contrasted with Adam's trespass in v15. Because we ‘in Adam’ by nature, and involved in his disobedience, we are guilty and DESERVE the wages of that guilt - death! But those related to Christ by faith receive what is UNDESERVED – God's grace and gift of salvation. Death and separation from God for disobedience is the sentence of justice, but forgiveness and the gift of eternal life are the provision of God’s grace. A Gospel that Changes... Old and New Humanities : 5v The Results of Christ’s Success Presentation 14

b. “how much more.” These words are a key phrase : Why? Because God has done much more for us in Christ, than Adam lost for us at the Fall. This gift is expanded upon here as ‘righteousness’ and ‘justification’. Adam possessed neither perfect righteousness nor eternal life, prior to his disobedience. He was a probationer. All he had in his probationary state was the potential of righteousness and eternal life. But those united to Jesus have more than the potential; they have the reality. A Gospel that Changes... Old and New Humanities : 5v The Results of Christ’s Success Presentation 14

c. Forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. We all get upset when we lose something. We are often particularly upset if our loss is as a result of the action of another. Paul directs our attention away from what we have lost because of our relationship with Adam so that we might marvel at what we have gained through our faith relationship with Christ - Forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. Gain Loss Jesus has gained more than Adam lost in the Fall. A Gospel that Changes... Old and New Humanities : 5v The Results of Christ’s Success Presentation 14

d. We have greater security in Christ than we had in Adam In Eden, Adam was a probationer, in a state of innocence, who then failed. His position was extremely vulnerable. He had the capacity to fall. However, because Jesus lived a perfect life and provided those who trust in him with his righteousness – they are much more secure than Adam ever was. A Gospel that Changes... Old and New Humanities : 5v The Results of Christ’s Success Presentation 14

Illustration: Adam is delicately balanced on a tightrope. As long as he obeys, his footing is secure, but one step of disobedience means catastrophe for the human race. Adam’s disobeyed and fell. Result - catastrophe! What has Jesus done? Has he simply reversed that Fall putting us back up on the tightrope. Are we now as vulnerable as Adam was? No! Because Jesus, who obeyed God perfectly, has carried us safely across to the other side. He has provide us with a perfect righteousness which Adam never had. A Gospel that Changes... Old and New Humanities : 5v The Results of Christ’s Success Presentation 14

e. Jesus has dealt with more than the effect of one sin. If Adam’s one act of disobedience was enough to sever mankind from God, what of the subsequent, countless acts of disobedience performed by man? What about the mountains of sin you and I have committed, and still commit? Verse 16a tells us that Christ has dealt with much more than one trespass. A Gospel that Changes... Old and New Humanities : 5v The Results of Christ’s Success Presentation 14

e. Jesus has dealt with more than the effect of one sin. Jesus has done much more than reverse the consequences of one act of disobedience. He has dealt with every single sin, every secret sin and unwitting sin which we have committed - yes and every sin we might yet commit. 'The gift follows many trespasses'. Paul wants us to see that our sin cannot overwhelm God's provision of grace, which [lit.] ‘superabounds’. A word of Paul’s manufacture. A Gospel that Changes... Old and New Humanities : 5v The Results of Christ’s Success Presentation 14

f. Christ has replaced condemnation with justification. All I inherit from my relationship with Adam is condemnation. If I stand in the dock ‘in Adam’ the judge pronounces a condemning sentence. The condemning voice of conscience has a devastating effect. Note how Adam and Eve responded to it in Eden – they hid! But if the man in the dock is ‘in Christ’, united to him by faith, then he can stand with confidence and assurance. He knows he is pronounced justified v16b. For him there is no condemnation cf. Rom 8:1. A Gospel that Changes... Old and New Humanities : 5v The Results of Christ’s Success Presentation 14

The history of man is a tale of two cities, the city of destruction and the city of Zion; it is a tale of two gardens, the garden of Eden and the garden of Gethsemane; it is a tale of two trees, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of Calvary's hill. Two men, two decisions, two destinies. ‘Now’, says Paul, ‘if you are united to Christ by faith, do you see how secure you are, how privileged you are, how rich you are? For this gospel is a revelation of the superabundant grace of GOD’. A Gospel that Changes... Old and New Humanities : 5v12-21 Presentation 14

Condemnation is replaced with justification. That is something worth getting excited about! A Gospel that Changes... Old and New Humanities : 5v12-21 Presentation 14

g. Perseverance of the saints is guaranteed for all eternity. Do you understand why Paul makes such use of this phrase, 'much more’? Salvation is not a simple restoration to the status quo of the Garden of Eden. It is ‘much more’. The future blessing of the believer is guaranteed for all eternity. Not only will the Lordship of creation be returned to man, but he will share the throne of the Son of God cf. Eph 2:4. A Gospel that Changes... Old and New Humanities : 5v The Results of Christ’s Success Presentation 14

g. Perseverance of the saints is guaranteed for all eternity The security of our salvation is not like an uncertain throw of the dice. We do not go through our Christian lives wondering if we will make it into heaven. We are not walking on a tightrope as Adam was because the seed of our justification anticipates the harvest of our glorification. Rom.8.30 You can be sure of Salvation A Gospel that Changes... Old and New Humanities : 5v The Results of Christ’s Success Presentation 14

Justification begins a process of salvation which will not stop until in delivers justified men and women to glory. This anticipates JustificationSanctificationGlorification Salvation begunThe process of growthSalvation complete A Gospel that Changes... Old and New Humanities : 5v The Results of Christ’s Success Presentation 14