3. Review The Gospel Introduced (Romans 1:1 – 1:15) The Gospel Defined (Romans 1:16-17) The Good News of God-Righteousness to all who believe on Christ The Universal Need for Righteousness (Romans 1:18 – 3:20)
4. Review (continued) The Basis and Terms of the Gospel (Romans 3:21-31) RIGHTEOUSNESS, JUSTIFICATION, REDEMPTION, PROPITIATION, GRACE, FAITH The Agreement of the Gospel with the Old Testament (Romans 4) The Practical Benefits of the Gospel (Romans 5:1-11) 7 great blessings which flow from Justification – Peace with God, Access into God’s Grace, Rejoicing in Hope of the Glory of God, Glorying in Tribulations, Eternal Security in Christ, Rejoicing in God, Reconciliation
5. The Victory of Christ’s Work over Adam’s Sin (Romans 5:12-21) Comparison of the results of Adam’s Sin and Christ’s Sacrifice Key Verse: Romans 5:18-19 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. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.
6. Statement of the Comparison of the results of Adam’s Sin and Christ’s Sacrifice Read Romans 5:12 and Romans 5:18-19 What words are used to describe Adam’s action? Offence (or Transgression) - v18/Disobedience – v19 What are the results of Adam’s action? Sin came into the world (v12) – many were made sinners (v19) Death came by sin (v12) – judgment and condemnation came to all (v18) What words are used to describe Christ’s action? Act of Righteousness (v18)/Obedience (v19) What are the results of Christ’s action? The free gift came to all men (v18) – many will be made righteous (v19) Eternal Life came by Righteousness
8. Basis of the Comparison of the results of Adam’s Sin and Christ’s Sacrifice (Romans 5:13-14) Read Romans 5:13-14 What does it mean that Adam was a type (pattern) of Him who was to come? This means that the action of Adam and its results corresponds with (or compares to) the action of Christ and its results Consider the example of Cain – based on these verses, did Cain break any law when he murdered his brother Abel? Answer – No! Based on these verses, was Cain a sinner when he murdered his brother Abel? Answer – Yes!
9. Examination of the Comparison of the results of Adam’s Sin and Christ’s Sacrifice (Romans 5:15-17) Comparing the Causes Read Romans 5:15 What was the cause (reason) that many died? One man’s transgression (offence) – Adam What was the cause of the grace of God abounding (overflowing) to many? One man’s grace – Jesus Christ
10. Examination of the Comparison of the results of Adam’s Sin and Christ’s Sacrifice (Romans 5:15-17) Comparing the Effects Read Romans 5:16 What was the effect of one sin? Condemnation What was the effect of God’s free gift? Justification
11. Examination of the Comparison of the results of Adam’s Sin and Christ’s Sacrifice (Romans 5:15-17) Comparing the Final Results Read Romans 5:17 What was the final result of Adam’s sin? Death reigned over all What is the final result of Christ’s work? Those who receive His abundant grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life.
12. Grace Abounding Read Romans 5:20-21 What was the reason that God gave the Law? So that the offence might abound! How does grace abound where sin abounds? The law shows how great God’s grace is!
13. Conclusion – Christ’s Work Victorious over Adam’s Sin Read Romans 5:21 How does sin reign in death? Spiritual Death keeps people as slaves to sin. Physical and Eternal Death are the result. In what way is Christ’s work victorious over Adam’s Sin? Through Christ Grace Reigns through Righteousness Eternal Life is the result.
14. For next time: The Gospel’s Way to Holy Living (Romans 6) Try to read the passage two or three times before our next meeting Think about what the passage says about Death and Burial Resurrection and Life Slavery and Freedom Law and Grace Think carefully about your position before God Read pages 52 - 58 in Alive and Free Write down any QUESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK
Editor's Notes
When reading, notice that the text from verse 13 to verse 17 is in a bracket (like this!) which shows that what is said in verse 12 is continued in verse 18. The part in brackets is included to explain what is being said. Adam’s sin is called an “offence” because, although the Law (10 commandments) did not come until much later, he disobeyed God’s specific commandment about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden. This shows that sin is not just breaking the commandments. It also shows that the consequences of sin do not just come because of a broken commandment.
Just as the action of Adam in disobeying God had consequences for all his children - he is regarded by God as their representative, so the action of Christ in obeying God had consequences for all who are in him by faith – God regards Christ as their representative.It is important to see that all of this is outside of Law – Adam’s children were sinners under judgment apart from Law, and God’s children in Christ are also justified apart from Law. This is the reason these verses are included.
If we think about this carefully, we will see that the cause of salvation was God Himself. Paul tells us that it was the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (Who is God) that caused the grace of God to overflow. Salvation comes only because of the love and grace of God.
This is a very wonderful fact – JUST ONE SIN brought condemnation upon the whole human race, but even though the offences are many, in God’s grace the one who believes in Jesus can be justified. God’s grace is far greater than sin!
The power of death rules all who are in their sins. They are spiritually dead (dead to God) and will receive the punishment of their sins which is eternal death in the lake of fire. Their physical lives are full of things which displease God.By contrast, those who have received God’s grace and the gift of the Righteousness of God by faith can and will reign triumphantly in this life, having victory over sin, and in the next.
We say already that Cain did not break any law when he murdered his brother, so although he was a sinner, he was not actually a law-breaker.However we say a few weeks ago that not only was David a sinner when he murdered Uriah, but he was also a law-breaker, because the commandment said “You shall not Murder.”Although Cain might have tried to argue that he did not know it was wrong to kill his brother, David could definitely not argue that. The law was very clear. In this way the grace of God is magnified, because it overflows to people who have no excuse – people who know that sin is wrong because the law tells them so. God does not only show grace to people who don’t know their sin, but even to those who deliberately break the law, if they repent and turn to Him.