Scripture printed Text: Romans 5:1-11
The Apostle Paul writes to the saints at Rome who are facing opposition for their faith. He writes to them the truth of God’s word, and a future hope with Him in glory. In Romans 5:1 he says to the saints, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. Christ finished work; His death, burial and resurrection from the dead makes us right with God. By faith, we are justified, which means justification places us in right standings with God. Since we have been made right in God’s sight, we have peace with God, because of what Jesus has done for us. Our faith has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege called grace where we now stand and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Lesson outline:
The Blessings of Justification (Romans 5:1-5)
The Beauty of Justification (Romans 5:6-8)
The Reconciliation of God Leads to Our Joy (Romans 5:9-11)
Paul presents his case that apart from Christ coming to die on the cross, no one could ever be in an intimate relationship with God. Sin caused a separation and caused enmity between God and man. This resulted in all humanity stands guilty before God. Only Jesus could atone for man’s sins by placing him in right relationship with God. Nothing on our account but faith alone is what makes this union possible with God. Salvation is a free gift from God. Nothing we can do to earn, merit, work at gaining salvation, but accept it as a gift from God.
The blessing believers have is being justified with God. Justification is a judicial act, whereby God through Jesus declares man by faith to be righteous. In other words, means to cause someone to be in a proper or right relation with someone else. First, justification declares one to be right with God. Jesus made us to become right with God. We are justified by faith in Christ. Secondly, Justification provides us peace with God. Peace means a set of favorable circumstances involving peace and tranquility. Thirdly, justification provides the believer access into God’s grace wherein we stand. This access allows us to approach the throne of God boldly and without reservations. Lastly, justification is the first blessing of the believer’s life and carries with it, many other blessings. Blessings we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
The beauty of Justification, Paul moves on to discuss the depths of God’s love. Until Christ came, humanity was utterly helpless. Christ came at the right time and died for sinners. But God commended His great love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ dies for us. God sending His Son Jesus to die clearly demonstrates His love for humanity. Jesus died in our stead! For God so love the world, that He gave His Only Son to die for sinners. There’s no doubts or questions concerning the depths of God’s love for man. God’s great love for us moved Him to send His Son.
The reconciliation of God leads to our joy. Justification through faith in God, make us right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, saves us forever. Jesus resurrection from the dead, restore man’s broken relationship with God. God reconciled us through Jesus. Reconciliation means to reestablish proper friendly interpersonal relations after these have been disrupted or broken. In other words, means we are no longer enemy with God. Sin broke man’s relationship with God, and Jesus finished work on Calvary restore that broken relationship. God and man are no longer enemies, but are friends again. The believer’s joy comes from and through Jesus Christ, who have made us friends of God. Celebrate our justification by faith through Jesus Christ.
Share these eternal truths with others concerning our justification through Christ. Explain how Christ’s death not only reconciles us back to God, but empowers us to live godly lives. Rejoicing in the hope of glory with God.