April 20, 2018

True Love’s Rescue

Romans 5

Alaina Haas
Friday's Devo

April 20, 2018

Friday's Devo

April 20, 2018

Central Truth

We are justified—made right with God—because of Jesus and our faith in Him. Since we are reconciled to God, we can have a relationship with Him. Having a relationship with Him changes everything.

Romans 5

Peace with God Through Faith

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we 1 5:1 Some manuscripts let us have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith 2 5:2 Some manuscripts omit by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we 3 5:2 Or let us; also verse 3 rejoice 4 5:2 Or boast; also verses 3, 11 in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men 5 5:12 The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women; also twice in verse 18 because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore, as one trespass 6 5:18 Or the trespass of one led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness 7 5:18 Or the act of righteousness of one leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Footnotes

[1] 5:1 Some manuscripts let us
[2] 5:2 Some manuscripts omit by faith
[3] 5:2 Or let us; also verse 3
[4] 5:2 Or boast; also verses 3, 11
[5] 5:12 The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women; also twice in verse 18
[6] 5:18 Or the trespass of one
[7] 5:18 Or the act of righteousness of one

Dive Deeper | Romans 5

I grew up in Cocoa Beach, Florida, a beach town one hour from Disney World, which is basically every kid’s dream. As you can imagine, my childhood consisted of frequent trips to Disney World, Disney movies on repeat, and an overwhelming desire to be a Disney princess. As I got older, I realized that most love stories had a similar theme: rescue. A prince would rescue a princess, and everything about her life would change in an instant. She would go from having nothing to having it all.

Romans 5 is a love story far greater than any fairy tale. It’s a true story of rescue from the curse of sin and its consequence, death (Romans 6:23). The theme is that we are justified by Christ and made right with God (Romans 5:1), which immediately opens up a whole new world (cue the Aladdin music). When we accept Christ, our life changes in an instant. We not only cross over from death to life (John 5:24), but our justification comes with blessings beyond our wildest dreams. We have access to God’s grace (Romans 5:2a); we get to hope in a future that is unchangeable—an eternity with God in heaven (Romans 5:2b); we no longer get tossed around by our temporary circumstances, but instead can be strengthened by them (Romans 5:3-4); and our hearts become filled with the love of God through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Jesus’ death on the cross demonstrated His love for us and was the original and ultimate act of chivalry (Romans 5:6-11).

In the second half of Romans 5, we see our need for rescue in the first place. In Disney movies, “true love’s kiss” awakens the princess and frees her from a curse. As descendants of Adam, we are all cursed by our sin, but we’re justified and freed when we accept Christ (Romans 5:12-21). The “true love” of Disney has nothing on the true love of Christ (John 15:13). Jesus is far stronger than any curse, far better than any prince, and loves you more than you can imagine.

This month's memory verse

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

– Romans 5:3–5

Discussion Questions

1. Read Romans 5:1. Peace with God is not something we can achieve, but something that was secured at the cross. Do you truly believe you have peace with God and are made right with Him? In what ways do you see yourself still trying to get right with God instead of resting in His free gift?

2. Read Romans 5:3-4. Think of a season in your life when you were experiencing a trial or difficulty. Looking back, how have you seen suffering produce character, and character produce endurance, and endurance produce hope in your life?

3. Read Romans 5:17-18. Do you believe God’s gift is for you specifically? Why or why not?