The core of our discussion revolves around the profound concept of grace, particularly as articulated by Paul in his epistle to the Romans. He emphasizes the immeasurable love of God, which was extended to us even when we were adversaries of His will, and he contrasts this with the transformative grace that we receive through reconciliation with Christ. The phrases "how much more" and "all the more" serve to highlight the superabundance of God's love compared to our shortcomings, prompting us to reflect on the implications of such grace. However, this leads to a pivotal question: if grace indeed abounds in the face of sin, does that permit a license to indulge in wrongdoing? This inquiry sets the stage for our exploration of chapter six, where we will delve into the contrasting attitudes toward grace—those who embrace it as a security blanket against sin versus those who recognize it as a call to a higher standard of living. Join us as we unpack these intricate ideas and consider what it truly means to live in the light of such an incredible grace.

The whole tenor of this chapter stresses the abundant hope and confidence in Christ. In the first section, he compares the love shown to us while we were enemies to the love shown to us, having been reconciled. In the last section, he contrasts the first Adam with Christ and what each brought into the world. He uses phrases like, "how much more" (5:9-10, 15, 17), and "all the more" (5:20) to show the extent or degree of God's love for us.

Paul intends to emphasize this point to elevate the grace of God and makes no excuses for it. However, such emphasize would cause some to reason that if grace abounds much more than sin, the more we sin, the more grace receive. So, why not just sin and let God's grace cover it. That is the discussion taken up in chapter six.

Takeaways:

• The love of God is profoundly demonstrated by Christ's sacrifice for us while we were enemies, illustrating a transformative grace that transcends human understanding.
• Paul’s contrasting of Adam and Christ highlights the vast disparity between death through sin and life through righteousness, emphasizing the depth of God's grace.
• We should embrace a spirit of confidence in our reconciliation with God, which allows us to face the future with hope and assurance in Christ's promises.
• The idea that grace abounds more than sin does not give us a license to sin; rather, it calls us to a higher standard of living in faith and obedience.
• Understanding God’s grace requires acknowledging our responsibility in our relationship with Him, rather than presuming on His mercy without repentance.
• In our daily lives, we must cultivate a triumphal spirit, recognizing that through Christ, we are more than conquerors, empowered to live righteously.

Christianity is very diverse, but all denominations share a common source that by its nature has created problems for which there is no biblical antidote.

Tim Glover provides an alternative.

Join him each Wednesday at 10am to share his studies with you.

All right, well, good morning and welcome to our study.

We've been in the book of Romans now for some time and we're in chapter five of this fabulous book.

We've talked about the hope and glorying in hope of the glory of God.

An expression we spent a little time discussing.

We've also mentioned the idea of the thought that God's love has flooded our hearts through the Holy Spirit that he's given to us.

And we might ask just how that happens.

And of course, Paul's answer is that the Holy Spirit was given unto us.

Now were writing to first century believers.

And I believe that that can be done either indirectly through the product of the Holy Spirit's work, that is the scriptures.

We know the mind of God through the work of the Holy Spirit.

First Corinthians chapter two tells us no one can know the mind of God except they be revealed and the Holy.

Spirit reveals that mind.

Or it could could be that through the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit that was given first century saints, the Holy Spirit was given to confirm that they were in fact God's people, because they had these spiritual gifts to confirm that they are the children of God.

Not only did it confirm the word.

That was spoken, but it gave them also some assurances that was needed in their day.

So which way you take that?

I, of course I've already studied with you about a little bit about the Holy Spirit and his workings, how he's.

Worked in different ages in the past.

And how it's how God speaks to us today.

I don't want to chase that rabbit quite yet.

We've already done that in the past.

But certainly for these brethren, for these.

Christians, they had the Holy Spirit through the Holy Spirit's direct guidance.

There wasn't anything indirect about it.

The Holy Spirit gifted certain men to.

Teach, as we find in Ephesians chapter four.

Or he gave spiritual gifts, maybe one or two, perhaps at least one to the body, so that they might be built up and edified and they their needs might be met.

Paul tells the Corinthians that they were not behind in any gift.

Of course they had some problems with maturity and growth.

But as far as what they had at their disposal for perfecting their faith and growing, they had all of that.

But that was direct measures of the Holy Spirit in that Day.

And I believe that's probably what is.

Being talked about here.

They had that assurance because of that as well.

So we start by looking at God's.

Love and what God's love did for us.

He gave us such assurances when we were enemies, when we were separated from God.

Paul writes in verse 6, 8.

And while we were yet weak, in.

Due season Christ died for the ungodly.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die.

Yet peradventure for a good man, some would even dare to die.

But God commendeth his own love toward.

Us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

That is what God's love did for.

Us when we were yet weak.

Paul says, when we were sinners or.

When we were God's enemies.

So now that we're no longer in that condition, now that we have been.

Reconciled, we're no longer enemies, the situation has changed.

And now that we've been reconciled to God.

In verses 9 through 11, Paul is.

Telling us that what God's love did for us while we were enemies is in fact the guarantee, the assurance of.

What his love will do for us.

Now that we're not enemies, that we.

Are his friends, that we have been.

Reconciled and no longer enemies of God.

That's his argument.

Listen to him and how he words it.

Much more then being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath of God through him.

For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

And not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

All right, so.

So here's the point.

Paul is saying that we're not.

We're not sinners alienated from God anymore.

We're no longer the enemies.

We've been reconciled, and therefore we are at peace with God.

Which is how Paul starts the fifth chapter.

You see, Paul is explaining the ground on which we can live triumphantly, the.

Ground upon which we can have hope and have this exalted, glorifying or glorying spirit.

When you consider what God's love did.

For us when we were enemies, when we were separated from God, then you.

Ought to have a great deal of.

More confidence of what he will do for us now that we're no longer enemies, you see?

And you can face the future with.

A firm assurance and glorying in hope.

Of the glory of God.

That's his argument.

If that's what God's love did for us when we were his enemies.

Can you imagine what we have now in Christ?

It's a triumphant spirit of assurance and hope.

That's the point that Paul is driving home.

What we're going to see in this section and into chapter six is sort of a contrast.

It's the attitudes that one might take toward the grace of God.

On the one hand, there are people who are so defeated, uncertain, worrying and anxious about tomorrow.

And there's a lot of teaching that.

Has gone out in the world today.

In churches and in families where people have been taught that, well, you need to make sure if you've sinned, that.

You ask God's forgiveness of every sin.

You'Ve committed, because if you don't, you're not going to get forgiveness for it.

And they based it, of course, on First Corinthians 1:7 through 9.

And it doesn't say it quite that way, but the idea is taken that we need to confess our sins, every sin we commit and, and repent of it if we're going to get forgiveness for it.

So, I mean, I suppose there were.

Times in my life that I've done.

Things that I was really unaware of and the moment went on and continued.

Today and forgot what manner of man.

That I was without someone pointing it out to me.

Why, there had been many times perhaps.

That I would have never sought God's forgiveness and didn't I've asked God's mercy and forgiveness every time I pray to him nearly.

But as far as the specific mention.

Of every sin committed, I doubt that's been done.

So if you have that idea and you've been taught that all of your life, then there is a little bit of a I don't know if I'm going to be saved.

I sure hope so, but I may.

Not have remembered to ask God to forgive me.

That kind of teaching has precipitated a.

Lot of doubt in the minds of.

People that maybe, just maybe, they're not saved, just maybe they have sins for.

Which they've not asked God's forgiveness.

So there's that attitude or that response to God's grace.

And then there is the other attitude.

That rather than being questioning and doubtful about their hope, they take advantage of.

God's grace as an excuse for sin.

Or as a license to sin.

For example, someone might say, well, you know, I pray to God every day and we have a close relationship, and.

There is no doubt in my mind that heaven is my home.

And yet they're living in open rebellion.

To the will of God.

They're living in clear violation of what God's will is regarding maybe their marriage relationship.

They're living with someone that is not their spouse.

They're living a life of fornication or adultery or something of that kind.

And not only would they might say, well, we're all sinners, but they use that as if God's just going to wink at that.

That's what chapter six seems to be dealing with.

So you have a real contrast between.

On the one hand, those who would.

Question and doubt God's promises and his.

Forgiveness, his reconciliation and not have that.

Triumphant spirit of a conqueror, but versus one who has that spirit but has no reason for it because of their.

Sinful way of life.

They've just.

They're using God's grace as a license to do whatever they want to do.

And think God will cover that, that.

God's okay with that?

Well, that's the other extreme, you see.

And so we're going to deal with both of these.

I don't know.

I think I will have time to look at them both this morning.

So we need not deceive ourselves.

We want to be sure that we are the ones who are given these assurances.

And the Scriptures provide that here in.

This text, it's only that those believers.

Who put their confidence and trust in.

God and the lover of God who lives with confidence and assurance, and that's.

The kind of confidence that Paul is speaking of here, but one who has given their lives to the Lord.

And when they sin as they are aware of it, they immediately, they're as.

Repulsed by it as God is, and they're sorrowful and they ask God to forgive them immediately.

Now, this doesn't mean they have to go to church and come forward or.

Go to a priest.

It means that they can go to God as priests.

The Bible teaches that.

And they can ask God's forgiveness and.

Know and have full assurance that he's.

Going to forgive them.

The blood of Christ has made that possible.

They are now cleansed and washed and sanctified.

They are God's people called out.

We've talked about, we've written a whole.

Book on that theme.

And now that they are, they have.

Such assurances that if they walk in the light as he is in the.

Light, and if they confess their sins.

He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

There can be fellowship ongoing as we live that kind of lifestyle.

Anyone else, though, who thinks that we.

Can live with such Confidence and yet treat God's word lightly, ignore clear truths and teachings of His Word and just.

Flat reject his will.

Well, they're deluded into thinking that God's the.

They're in favor with God.

And so I insist that faithful children of God we ought to quit running around half scared that maybe we're not living good enough.

Fearful and anxious about always in doubt.

About whether we're saved or not, always.

Wondering where we stand in our relationship to God.

And so we have to trust in God.

Now, I'm not saying trust in our own goodness and to rest on our own righteousness as if we've somehow deserved.

Special attention and recognition before God.

I'm not suggesting that at all.

And Paul, no word teaches that.

But we need to rest our hope on the love of God in Christ Jesus.

This is what Paul is getting at.

And if God's love was shown to us while we were yet enemies, how much more, now that we've been reconciled.

Shall we be saved by his life?

I believe we ought to follow the.

Literal translation, which is given in the.

Margin of verse 11.

Verse 10 ends by saying much more.

Being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

And then if we follow the literal translation given in the margin, verse 11 says, and not only so, but also.

Glorying in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we've now received the reconciliation.

Paul is saying that we shall be saved, but we shall not just be saved, but we shall be saved.

Glorying in hope or glorying in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

So we're, we're not just.

We've not just escaped the wrath of God.

You see, we shall be saved, glorying.

We shall be saved with the great.

Triumph at the end of the way.

And so we.

We show a man, we manifest a conqueror, conquering spirit.

So as he ends, we are more than conquerors.

And in fact, I'd like to read that text with you here in just a moment.

But at the end, we'll still be.

Singing a song of triumph.

We'll still be singing a victory song as we enter into glory again.

We're not glorying in ourselves.

The glorying is in God.

And it is all through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sometimes we, we overthink that.

We doubt some disciples of Christ live as if they thought God were against us.

We wonder, well, what if this happens?

Or what if that happens?

What if I'm struck dead unexpectedly and I've forgotten or failed to ask God to forgive me of a sin that I committed just prior to that?

I don't have all the answers to all these questions.

Of course I'm not God.

But I can tell you this friendship.

In Romans, chapter 8 and 31, Paul.

Says, God is for us.

He's not against us.

Remember, James makes this argument in his.

Letter that God is the giver of every good and perfect gift.

He does not tempt us to sin.

He's not looking and trying to put.

Some stumbling block in our way to.

Cause us to fail.

That's not the God that we serve.

He's not trying to trap us.

But some people have that idea that he's, you know, at any unguarded moment of weakness, God is testing us.

That's not God's business.

That's not what God does.

That's Satan's role.

If you want to blame something on.

Your failures and your misfortunes and even.

Death, blame it on him, not God.

And that is the point that James.

Is making in his letter.

And so God gave his son to die for us.

He extended his love in that while.

We were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

He wants us to be saved.

He's not willing that any should perish.

Peter says, but that all should come.

To repentance, the best heaven could give his only perfect Son.

He's made that provision so that we certainly shall be saved if we'll continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and.

Be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel.

Paul would tell the colossians in Romans.

8, Paul expands then upon this point that we have been introduced here in chapter five.

And the reason I've skipped six and seven is because I want us to really lather on this point that's made in the fifth chapter by looking at.

Chapter eight where he expands on this.

Idea that we've introduced here in chapter five, he's talked about God's love for us, the provisions that he's made for our salvation, which is through Christ.

And it seems to me that Paul almost is saying, take your best shot.

To the enemy, to the Satan himself.

Give it your best.

Because I'm in Christ Jesus and I'm the victor, I'm the conqueror, but it's through him.

And so there's great assurances.

It's just the opposite of this defeatist attitude.

And so as we close this chapter.

And the emphasis in chapter eight, I want to pay attention to these beautiful.

Words at the end of Romans chapter 8.

I hope that you will claim as yours everything that God has given to you and promised you believe that that's what faith is.

Stand on those promises and live the.

Life of a conqueror.

We need to breathe this beautiful spirit of confidence and trust.

Listen to him now.

He said, what shall we say to these things?

If God is for us, who is against us?

He that spared not his own Son.

But delivered him up for us all.

How shall he not freely give us all things?

If he would go to that expense.

Would he just drop it and let it all go to waste?

I mean, is that what he's wanting to do?

Has His Son come and sacrifice everything and go through the cross and the separation from the Father and do it.

All and then just drop the ball?

He that spared not his own son, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?

You see his argument, his point?

It is God that justifies, who is he that condemns.

It is Christ Jesus that died, yea.

Rather than that was raised from the.

Dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

He's just building his case for our confidence.

Notice that he's died, yea, rather he has been raised.

It's not a we serve not a dead Savior, but a risen Lord.

Now he's at the right hand of God who makes intercession for us.

Everything has been given to us through Christ.

And so he says, who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or anguish or persecution, or famine.

Or nakedness, or peril or sword.

Even as it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

For I am persuaded that neither death.

Nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor.

Powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate.

Us from the love of God, which.

Is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Claim that, believe that and breathe this spirit of triumph and victory that we need to learn if we're living, for the Lord to have such a confident.

Spirit as the fifth chapter, as we.

Come back to it, Paul, after making the statement down to verse 11 that we've received this reconciliation, he breaks off.

In verses 12 through the end of.

The chapter, where he's making a contrast.

He's already made it that while we.

Were enemies, Christ died for us.

Much more.

Now being reconciled, we shall be saved.

By his life, that every provision has been made.

But he makes this contrast again by.

Comparing what Christ has provided, what we have through Christ, versus what one man, the first Adam, has brought into the world.

And so that's the contrast in verse.

14, but in both of them, whether talking about the law that is the law of Moses and what he'll look.

At in chapter seven when we get.

Over there a little closer, or whether.

We'Re talking about law that existed even.

In Adam's day in the garden, that there cannot be sin if there's no law.

And that tells us, of course, that.

There'S always been law.

Why?

Because there's always been sin.

And yet while we look at sin and the consequences that came as a.

Result of that sin into the world.

We can see the perfect life and.

Righteousness of the one man, Jesus Christ.

And compare then what he has brought into the world.

And so that's the contrast that he's.

Trying to draw upon.

I'd like to read starting in verse.

12.

Therefore, just as through one man sin.

Entered the world, and death through sin.

And thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.

I think that's important for us to.

Note just as we start this discussion.

Paul says that death spread to all men, and it doesn't say because Adam sinned.

He said, because all sin.

I die spiritually because I sin, not because Adam sinned.

Now, I know I get the point.

That'S being made, but we need to take some accountability.

Paul is saying that we die because we've sinned, and that's an individual application.

And so just as through one man.

Sin entered the world, See?

And death through sin, and thus death's.

In other words, he's going to get.

To Christ coming into the world and.

Through his life, a different result.

But the point is, neither through Christ.

Or through Adam, do.

Do we have consequences, or I guess you'd say products of our lives that.

Are beyond our control.

In other words, Jesus, his death on.

The cross does not automatically save the world.

He does make atonement for the sins of the world, and he is the propitiation for the sins of the world.

1 John 2:2 says, but that does not guarantee that all are saved any more than it guarantees that everybody who is born in this world is accountable.

Because of what Adam did.

We are accountable because of what we've done.

And I think that's an important point to bring out from verse 12.

And then notice in verse 13, he's.

Trying to explain why for until the.

Law, sin was in the world.

Talking about the law, the law of Moses, sin was in the world, and death through sin.

That's been before the law of Moses, and thus death spread to all Men, because all sinned.

For until the law, sin was in the world.

But sin is not imputed where there's no law.

So there had to be law even in the garden.

And there was nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, because sin, even over.

Those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is the type of him who is to come.

So you have through one man sin enters the world.

Verse 15 says, but the free gift.

Is not like the offense.

For if by the one man's offense.

Many died, much more the grace of.

God and the gift by the grace.

Of one man, Jesus Christ abounded to many.

So you have the free gift versus the offense.

And one man, through one man's offense, sin enters the world, and thus many die.

Consequently, through the gift, by the grace.

Of the one man, the grace of.

God abounded to many.

And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned.

For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation.

But the free gift which came from many offenses, resulted in justification.

So you have on the one hand condemnation, on the other hand, justification.

For if by one man's offense, death.

Reigned through the one, much more, those.

Who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life.

Through the one Jesus Christ.

Therefore, as through one man's offense, judgment.

Came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one man's righteous act, the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.

For as by one man's disobedience, many were made sinners, so by one man's obedience, many were made righteous.

And this kind of goes back a little bit to the discussion we had over in chapter four and the emphasis.

On how one can be made righteous.

Or can be justified.

Sin is not imputed.

Because of faith.

Not because there's no law.

There's law alright, but righteousness is imputed on the basis of faith, there's forgiveness.

And so, as Paul would write and.

Describe the blessedness of the man unto.

Whom the Lord offers forgiveness, and he uses David's example, and so he ends in verse 21, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

So this section is to express that while we had death reign from Adam to Moses and their sin, through the one man Adam, even so through the.

One man, Jesus Christ, many were made righteous.

And his point is to again stress.

This idea, this conquering spirit of reconciliation.

And what we have in Christ Jesus just like in chapter eight.

And so in chapter six.

While we'll not have time to look at it this morning, we're going to.

Look at the other side or the.

Other attitude toward God's grace.

I thank you so much for studying with us.

We hope that you will continue your studies and have a burning desire for God and for His Word.

Thank you again.

Have a great day and a pleasant week.