PUT RIGHT WITH GOD THROUGH FAITH. Christ's sacrifice changes us, not God. The merit of Christ's _sin-offering_ for us, makes it possible for us to be _put right with God through faith._ In our union with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), we are changed from enemies into friends. The _faith_ which puts us... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO THIS EXPERIENCE. Christ brought us, by faith, into this experience of being "put right with God" and "peace." We reach out through faith to make ourselves part of the _experience_ of Christ [which is extrinsic to ourselves] as we see from Romans 6:5-6.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WE ALSO REJOICE. The Jews boasted about their happiness in the Law. They saw the Christian's _trouble_ as a sign of God's disapproval. Not so, says Paul. TROUBLE produces _endurance, approval, hope,_ as a chain of events. Compare 1 Thessalonians 3:3; Acts 5:41.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS HOPE. The Jews hoped to be saved _because_ they were Abraham's descendants. They would be disappointed (_Romans 9)._ GOD HAS POURED OUT HIS LOVE. _MacKnight_ says that EKKECHUTAI points to the gifts from the Spirit given to the Gentiles to _prove_ to the Jews that God does love them. It also me... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHEN WE WERE STILL HELPLESS. Paul has already shown us that _both_ Jew and Gentile were helpless under sin's power. It was at this point that God acted in history through Christ to set us free! Compare Galatians 4:4-5; Romans 4:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS A DIFFICULT THING. While we may see a rare example of love in which someone gives up their life to save a good person's life, it is most unusual. This fact categorizes [defines] the amazing love of Christ!... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT GOD HAS SHOWN AS. This act in history stands for all time as a _monument_ to the _infinite love_ of God! IT WAS WHILE. The false religions of the world show an angry god who must be appeased to escape his wrath. Christ shows us a God who acts in love to make it possible for his children to escap... [ Continue Reading ]
BY HIS DEATH. Blood = death. _See_ Hebrews 2:9; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; 1 Peter 2:24_. Death_ symbolizes the _totality_ of Christ's sacrifice (of which blood is a part). _How much more, then._ If Christ died for us while we were still sinners, how much more will Christ save us from the wrath to come,... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE MADE US HIS FRIENDS. Christ's sacrifice does not change God, it changes us (2 Corinthians 5:17). We had become God's enemy through our sins. We now become God's friends through the death of his Son. _MacKnight_ sees in this a removing of the curse from all mankind - past, present, future - so... [ Continue Reading ]
BAT THAT IS NOT ALL. Paul shows us that now the Gentiles can also boast and rejoice that the true God is their God and King and Father, because Christ has abolished the Jewish Law (Ephesians 2:15).... [ Continue Reading ]
SIN CAME INTO THE WORLD THROUGH ONE MAN. The remaining verses of this chapter induce profound theological questions. "Original sin," and "reprobation," _as they are taught today_ are distortions of Bible teaching. A distinction must be made between _physical death_ and _spiritual death_ (God knew be... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS SIN. Paul shows us that all mankind must have sinned in Adam (by proxy). Until law is given, no account is kept of sin. Yet death shows that sin was in the world from the time of Adam to Moses.... [ Continue Reading ]
DEATH RULED OVER ALL MEN. None could escape death. Death ruled: (1) even though no law of commands had been given; (2) and no account of sins was kept; (3) even over infants and mental defectives who could not have sinned against natural law (_compare_ Romans 1:18-23). This shows that all did sin in... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE GOD'S FREE GIFT IS NOT LIKE ADAM'S SIN. The sin of Adam is not contrasted here to the obedience of Christ; but the _penalty_ of Adam's sin is contrasted with the _free gift_ of grace through Christ's obedience. _Many men died._ The penalty of physical death came to all because of Adam's sin.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. Adam's _one_ sin brought the judgment of "Guilty" to all mankind. But the undeserved gift of "Not guilty!" after so many sins, comes through Christ's obedience.... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH THE SIN OF ONE MAN. If this is compatible with justice (as Romans 5:12 shows), then the results of Christ's ACT are also compatible with justice. ALL WHO RECEIVE. This implies that the results of Christ's act are limited somewhat by the response of each individual. This would agree with Roma... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEN. This is the second part of the comparison begun in Romans 5:12. AS THE ONE SIN CONDEMNED. Adam's sin brought physical death to all mankind. THE ONE RIGHTEOUS ACT. _Shepherd_ says: "What they [we] lost unconditionally in Adam, they [we] gained unconditionally in Christ." This means any "orig... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE MADE SINNERS. By Adam's sin, all were counted sinners even though many of them never heard of Adam or his sin. WILL BE PUT RIGHT. All inherited penalty for Adam's sin is canceled for the whole human race (the dead will all be raised). All without personal sin are "Not guilty!" before God. God's... [ Continue Reading ]
LAW WAS INTRODUCED. Not only the Law of Moses, but all divine law. The effect of its introduction was to increase wrongdoing. (See Romans 7:7-11). This is speaking about each person's _personal sin._ GOD'S GRACE INCREASED. God offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who will reach out in faith to... [ Continue Reading ]
JUST AS SIN RULED. Death oppresses ALL! LEADING US TO ETERNAL LIFE. This is like a hymn of praise to God! Sin rules by death, God's grace rules by righteousness, and leads us to eternal life!!! (1) The number saved will be larger than the number lost. Since half of mankind dies in infancy, and, havi... [ Continue Reading ]