Romans 5:12-17

This passage talks about the contrast between Adam and Christ, first man and God-man. Two people, two acts, shape the destinies of all mankind. There are three movements in Romans 5:12-17:

12-14 Adam and Christ Introduced

15-17 Adam and Christ Contrasted

18-21 Adam and Christ Compared (next week)

First movement, Adam and Christ introduced. Read Romans 5:12-14. Sin came in through one man, Adam. Not through Eve, as the man or husband Adam was held responsible. Husbands are held responsible before God for the spiritual life of their family. In 12b it says "and so death spread to all men because all sinned." The point of this is to say that death spread to all men because all sinned in Adam. Adam was our representative, when he sinned we sinned. Read Romans 5:13-14. The point is: from Adam to Moses people sinned. But these sins were not counted against them because there was no law yet. Yet, there was still death. Why? Because all men sinned in Adam. We were charged with sin when Adam sinned. All of us. In the context of verses 12-21 there is much emphasis (five times) that it references "sin of one man". (vs. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19). The whole analogy between Adam and Christ in this passage is based on truth. Adam was our representative in sin. We sinned in Adam. All humans. Christ was our representative in life. We are made alive in Christ. All believers. We died because we were connected to Adam, by birth. We will live because we are connected to Christ, by faith. The Bible teaches "original sin", we sinned in Adam, we were born into sin. Born with a sin nature and the penalty is death. I may not like it when Adam sinned and his sin was charged to me. But I do love it that when Christ paid for sin, that was given to me. Without this representative or federal headship, with Adam and Christ, we could never be saved, because we would have to die for our sins.

Second movement, read Romans 5:15-17. Three contrasts:

15 Adam Sinned Many died. Christ Obeyed Many saved.

16 Adam Sinned Condemnation. Christ Obeyed Justification.

17 Adam Sinned Death reigned. Christ Obeyed We reign in Life.

If we are in Christ, and have received abundance of grace, then we need not be dominated by death and sin. We don't have to serve sin anymore, don't have to fear death. We reign in life, because of the cross we are set free. We don't have to be defeated by sin anymore, we have the victory. Stop listening to the lies of the enemy, you don't have to give in anymore. Because of the cross and Christ you have been rescued. We need to stop listening to ourselves and start talking to ourselves more.

Discussion Questions:

1. What sin is God calling you to surrender right now?

2. What are some of the things you need to stop listening to and start speaking some truth to? What is that truth?

Romans 5:6-8

We humans really struggle with believing that we are loved by God. Especially in light of the pain and suffering that is going on all around us. How can we know that God loves us? God says: "Look at the cross of Jesus and see my love for you." Read Romans 5:6-8. The passage begins, "for a while we were still weak", not physically weak but spiritually. We were powerless, helpless to save ourselves. Then it says, "at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." He didn't die for the "good people" he died for the ungodly. Three indictments: weak, ungodly, sinners. We were rebels to God at heart, no way to save ourselves, under the wrath of God, deserving of judgment and eternal condemnation. Christ died for us while we were weak, ungodly, sinners. God's love goes to undeserving people. We cannot understand God's love apart from this. Despite the fact that we were weak, ungodly, sinners, rebels, ingrates, undeserving... he still loves us! God's crazy about you, not because of your performance, but just because he loves you! It is undeserved. The fact that Christ died for weak, ungodly, sinners is so unexpected and surprising. Paul elaborates the point in vs. 7. Read Romans 5:7. He points out that we might possibly die for a good person, but Christ died for rebels, sinners, people that didn't love him back. The first thing to understand about God's love is that it is undeserved.

The second thing to understand is that it involves sacrifice. Because God loved us, he gave his own Son. John 3:16. The greater the sacrifice, the greater the love. What sacrifice could God have made greater than this? God sends his own Son, eternal Son of God, to become a man, to die an excruciating death, to bear the sin of the world, to be separated from his Father, so that Jesus cried out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" What more could he have done? God's love for you is sacrificial love.

The evidence of God's love is not found primarily in the life of Jesus, the teachings of Jesus, examples of Jesus, miracles of Jesus, and healings of Jesus. But the evidence of God's love is found in the death of Jesus. That's why Romans 5:8 points to the death of Christ. Love is sacrifical, read John 15:13. Jesus laid down his life for us. Jesus laid down his life for you. What more could God have done to show you how much you matter to him? Romans 5:8 teaches us that the heart of God's love for us is, while we were sinners, Christ died for us. Make the cross the center of your life. Focus on the cross, it is what shows us God's love and his heart to us.

Discussion Questions
1. Do you get God's heart? Have you felt it or experienced it? (share)
2. Do you see God as this vast, infinite God with no heart? Or, have you seen, touched, felt the rentless love of God? Give an example.
3. When you are discouraged do you tend to look to the cross? Or at other things?
4. When you think of the cross what comes to mind?

Romans 5:1-5

Read Romans 5:1-5. There are 3 movements in this passage:

1. Peace & Grace 1-2a
2. Rejoice in Hope 2b
3. Rejoice in Suffering 3-5

First movement: Peace & Grace. Read vs. 1, it does not refer to peace of God meaning peace in hearts not worried or fearful, no it says we have peace with God. Meaning all sins forgiven, right standing with God, we are accepted forever, we are safe secure and loved. Read vs. 2. Now it says we do not just have peace with God but grace from God. That grace is permanent, we cannot fall in and out of favor with God. Both vs. 1-2 say we have peace with God and grace from God through faith.

Second movement: Rejoice in Hope. What does it mean to rejoice? To take joy in, to choose joy, to be glad, give thanks, to praise God. It pleases God and honors God for us to find joy in him. "Joy is the surest sign of the presence of God." Rejoice in hope. We need to have a confident expectation in God. Rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. What is glory? Exodus 33, Moses prayed "Lord, show me your glory." He was asking to see God's greatness, his goodness, his majesty; to see God for who he really is. Read Romans 8:18-25, now we groan inwardly because we are living in a world of sin, heartache, sickness, and death. But one day, no more pain, tears, heartache, sin, cancer, depression, death. Full freedom and joy, that is what rejoice in the hope of the glory of God means!

Third movement: Rejoice in Sufferings. Read vs. 3-5. We need to rejoice not because of our suffering but in our suffering. God is saying "when you experience setbacks, disappointments, heartaches take joy, rejoice, be glad, give me thanks, bring praise to me... don't complain, whine, grumble, grow bitter. But rejoice in the Lord!" In Acts 16, Paul and Silas are in prison and beaten, but what are they doing in the evening: praising God and singing - rejoicing in their suffering! Read James 1:2, I Thes. 5:16-18, Philippians 4:4. Why do we rejoice in our sufferings? The answer is in vs. 3. God uses sufferings to build faith, to shape our souls, to grow our hearts. Overtime God will use suffering to produce endurance, character, and hope. Hope does not put us to shame or disappoint, because of God's overwhelming love for us. (vs.5) God does not drizzle or litely drip his love, he gives us a downpour a flood of his love. It is the Spirit's work to pour out God's love in our hearts!

Discussion Questions
1. Think on this statement and discuss: "It is a Christian duty for everyone to be as happy as he can." Do you choose to be happy or rejoice no matter the circumstances?
2. Do you rejoice in your sufferings? Are you rejoicing or complaining/grumbling about your suffering right now?
3. What is your biggest challenge right now? Are you praises God in it?
4. Are you rejoicing in the glory of the Lord?