Romans 5

Verses 1-5, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  It is impossible to have peace with God if you are not saved (justified and sins forgiven).  Sin separates you from God and you carry the burden of guilt and shame for unrepentant sin, whether you want to admit it or not.  It can be emotionally and physically exhausting.  Isaiah 48:22, “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”  When we are in right standing with God, we also can stand in faith against all attacks.  We may not like the trial itself, but we can glory in it, knowing that we will like the outcome of perseverance.  Ephesians 6:13, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”  When we are not right with God, however, we do not have the assurance that comes with imputed righteousness...which means no peace.

God's love for us is not conditional.  Verses 6-9, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”  God will pour out His righteous judgement on the earth, but we do not have to suffer, because Jesus did that for us on the cross.  If He didn't truly love us, He would have wiped us out while we were His enemies, and would have been just in doing so.  Therefore, knowing His wrath is coming, we need to walk worthy of our calling.  Luke 21:34-36, “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” 

Verses 12-14, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.”  As a result of Adam's sin, death entered and reigns in the world.  Death is the penalty for sin, but we receive God's unearned gift of life instead.  Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

Verses 15-16, “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 the one Man, Jesus Christ, 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.”  Adam's actions resulted in negative consequences for the entire human race...death, whereas Jesus' actions offers those who will accept His gift...life.  Verse 19, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”

Verses 20-21, “Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   Where grace is reigning, there will be righteousness and eternal life.  There cannot be a complete disregard for righteousness while calling it grace.  Grace literally teaches us righteousness according to Titus 2. It does not award us freedom to sin, but rather freedom from sin; and to either speak or behave otherwise demonstrates that you do not know God or His grace.