Romans 5:17-21 | Verse by Verse Rightly Divided Bible Study
Thank you Father God for this time that we have to read and study your word. I pray Lord for all who are reading or listening to these studies in Romans, that they would sincerely come to understand that we are sinners and that we cannot save ourselves, and then simply believe how that Christ Jesus died for their sins, was buried and rose again for their justification. I pray that they would come to understand also that once we are saved, we can never loose our salvation and are eternally secure in Christ. Thank you so much Father for teaching us this in the foundational doctrines of grace here in Romans. In Jesus's name we pray, Amen.
Romans 5:17-21
17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Although Adam's one sin caused death to reign in the world, Christ's death, burial and resurrection as atonement for our sins causes believers to reign with Christ for eternity! Christ's atonement for our sins was more powerful so that believers could literally spend eternity with Christ in the new heaven and the new Earth. Even from the very moment that we believe the gospel, we have eternal life in us, which is "Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Col 1:27 KJV -
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
It says "they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness" because every person has the choice to either believe the gospel or not to. When you acknowledge that you are a sinner and that you cannot save yourself and then simply believe how that Christ Jesus died for your sins, was buried and rose again for your justification, then you RECEIVE abundance of grace- eternal life, all spiritual blessings in Christ, a heavenly inheritance, a heavenly hope, Christ in You, etc - and this includes the FREE GIFT of righteousness. God's righteousness is imputed to you the very moment that you believe! You cannot ever loose this free gift either! You are now BOUGHT and PAID FOR by the precious blood of Christ.
Eph 2:13 KJV -
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Col 1:20 KJV -
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
It also says "shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ" because as believers we now reign with Christ meaning that positionally speaking we are seated with Christ in the Heavenly places from the very moment that we believe the gospel. We also "reign in life" because we have God's Spirit in our spirit giving us eternal life and His word to renew our minds, setting us apart from the ungodly and from Satan's course for this world. We do suffer as believers while we are here on earth, but as we suffer for the sake of the gospel we are actually earning rewards for the heavenly places! No matter what, because we are in Christ, God causes us to reign in life by Jesus Christ! Amazing!
Eph 1:3 KJV -
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Romans 5:18
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
All people are born as sinners and are therefore ungodly and deserving of Gods righteous judgment and wrath.
Rom 5:6 KJV -
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
But because Christ died for the ungodly, the moment that we believe the gospel we then receive the free gift of eternal life! It is because of HIS righteousness and HIS perfect faith that anyone can be saved. Christ Jesus left the glory of heaven to take on the likeness of sinful flesh, was tempted in every way that we are and yet never sinned. Then, he died for our sins enduring the cruel death of the cross. He was buried also, but three days later the entire Godhead raised Jesus up from the dead.
Phl 2:6-8 KJV
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Rom 4:24 KJV -
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Rom 8:11 KJV -
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
For believers, we died with him, we were buried with him and we arose with him (we will learn more about this in Romans chapter 6). We are also raised to new life in Christ Jesus from the moment that we believe the gospel.
Col 2:12 KJV -
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Rom 6:4 KJV -
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 5:19
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
The reason why it says that by one man's disobedience (Adam) were MANY made sinners is because the Lord Jesus Christ was also born as a man, (Jesus is fully God and fully man) taking on the likeness of sinful flesh yet he did NOT have the sin nature. He had an earthly body like we do but he didn't inherit the sin nature because God is his father.
Mat 1:18 KJV -
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Mat 1:20 KJV -
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
However, even without the sin nature, Christ was still tempted like we are to sin. He was tempted in every way, yet he never sinned. Not in thought, nor in his heart nor in word nor in deed.
Heb 4:15 KJV -
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
It also says that "so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." The reason why it says shall MANY be made righteous is because not everyone will choose to believe the gospel unto eternal life. In fact, the vast majority of people ever born will or have rejected God. But still, many souls are saved and will be saved, praise the Lord! This also means that not everyone is automatically saved. You have to recognize your sin nature, understanding that you cannot save yourself and then simply believe the gospel (Christ's death, burial and resurrection as atonement for your sins). Gods first divine institution is called volition, or individual, which is free will.
Individual – Volition (Genesis 1:26)
Man given volition to operate rationally in his soul rather than according to instincts – not preprogrammed. Mandates from God are directed toward volition. The basis for faith – accept or reject salvation.
Genesis 1:26
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
It is important to mention free will because there are people out there teaching that man doesn't have freewill and that God chooses some people to save and others to go to hell. This is called Calvinism and is also preached in many so-called "reformed" and baptist churches. This teaching is a FALSE GOSPEL and should be avoided at all costs.
Romans 5:20
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
As we talked about in previous studies, the law was our school master to show, or teach us, that we are sinners and that we cannot keep the law. So, the law entered in so that we would be exceeding sinful and recognize our sin nature, and trust in God to save us.
Rom 7:13 KJV -
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Thankfully, however, God's grace abounds even more so that anyone who simply chooses to believe the gospel of the grace of God can be saved unto eternal life!
Romans 5:21
21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sin leads to death. But God's grace and His gift of imputed righteousness will cause us to reign in Christ when we believe the gospel. Hallelujah!
So again, if after studying Romans chapters 1-5, you are still not convinced that we are saved by grace through faith alone PLUS NOTHING and that as believers we are eternally secure in Christ and can never loose our salvation no matter what, then please go back and study Romans chapters 1-5 more on your own. Read and re-read these chapters several times, study it out, and if you would like to find other Midacts Rightly Divided Dispensational Grace Bible commentaries or study videos on the book of Romans I recommend the following teachers: (links included in the description below)
You must fully understand justification and eternal security before moving on to the next section of chapters on Romans chapters 6-8, which are about our identity in Christ and how we can walk in the Spirit instead of after the flesh. Romans 1-5 is one major stepping stone of understanding Grace doctrine. Then Romans 6-8 is the next one. Then, Romans chapters 9-11 helps us understand the dispensational transition and that God only temporarily put the nation of Israel aside to form the body of Christ today in the dispensation of grace. Then Romans 12-16 teaches us about our Christian walk and service and dealing with weaker brethren by grace. Each section of chapters needs to be fully understood before advancing to the next one and then to the next book in Romans through Philemon.
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