Day 122 – Thursday, May 19, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Romans 5

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Faith Triumphs in Trouble

5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ 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. 

(Romans 5:1–5, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Justification by faith, as Paul spoke of in chapter 4, leads to peace with God.
• Through Christ we have access into this grace, and hope to see and experience the glory of God.
• Through this grace, we can stand persecution and even tribulation.
• Trials produce perseverance, character, and hope.
• That hope in God does not disappoint, but delivers us through the troubles of our lives.

Christ in Our Place

⁶ For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. ¹⁰ For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. ¹¹ And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 

(Romans 5:6–11, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• This passage begins with the pivotal Scripture of hope for the sinner, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” What a powerful thought! Then it goes on to describe how unlikely it is that anyone would die for another, yet Christ did just that. He demonstrated His love for us in that unselfish act.
• Through faith in Him and His selfless acts, Jesus won justification and salvation for us.
• We are reconciled through His great sacrifice.

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

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—¹³ (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. ¹⁴ 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. ¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

²⁰ Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, ²¹ so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

(Romans 5:12–21, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul then moves to a comparison of Adam and Christ. This comparison shows how one brought sin to mankind, and the other gave mankind the opportunity for forgiveness of sins.
• He says that death reigned from Adam to Moses. Even those without the law offended.
• Howere, just as the offense was universal, the free gift of forgiveness and salvation is available universally to those who believe.
• One man brought sin, and another brought grace.
• One man brought death, and another brought life.
• Where sin abounded, grace abounded more.
• Adam sinned and brought the guilt of sin into the whole world, and all of mankind. But Christ brought grace for that sin, and that grace will reign through righteousness (via our faith) to eternal life through Jesus Christ to all who believe.
• Jesus is the Answer!!

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.