로마서 Chapter 5

Translation: ESV

1

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Key Message

Those who have been justified by faith enjoy a relationship of peace with God through Jesus Christ.

▸'Therefore' draws the conclusion flowing from the justification-by-faith argument of chapters 3–4.

'Therefore' draws the conclusion flowing from the justification-by-faith argument of chapters 3–4. The result of being justified is 'peace with God (εἰρήνην πρὸς τὸν θεόν).' The relationship with God that was one of hostility has been transformed into peace through Jesus Christ. This is not merely an emotion but a relational reality.

Related Verses

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostilityand through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
2

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Key Message

The justified person stands in God's grace and rejoices in the hope of God's glory.

▸The second result of justification: standing in grace.

3

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,

Key Message

Within faith, suffering produces endurance, endurance refines character, and refined character further strengthens hope.

▸A remarkable paradox is presented: we rejoice even in sufferings.

4

and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

Key Message

The guarantee that hope does not put us to shame is God's love poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

▸The reason hope does not put us to shame is presented: because the Holy Spirit pours God's love into our hearts.

5

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.

Key Message

Christ died for us when we were weak and ungodly, at God's appointed time.

▸The evidence of God's love is presented as a historical event: the death of Christ.

6

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Key Message

Even a sacrificial death for a righteous or good person is very rare; how much more so Christ, who died for sinners.

▸Human standards of dying for others are contrasted with Christ's death.

7

For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—

Key Message

Christ died for us while we were still sinners, demonstrating God's love within history.

▸The core of the gospel is clearly proclaimed.

8

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Key Message

Since the harder thing — the justification of sinners — has already been accomplished, salvation from the final judgment is all the more certain.

▸'Much more (πολλῷ μᾶλλον)' is the logical structure of this passage.

9

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

Key Message

If reconciliation came through death while we were enemies, it is all the more certain that the reconciled will be saved through the life of the resurrection.

▸The 'much more' logic continues.

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.

Key Message

The ultimate purpose of salvation is to rejoice in God himself, and this relationship has been restored through Jesus Christ.

▸The list of justification's results reaches its climax.

11

More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Key Message

Through one man, Adam, sin and death entered all of humanity — this is why everyone needs the gospel.

▸A new section begins at 5:12: the contrast between Adam and Christ.

12

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Key Message

Adam is a type of Christ because both, as representatives, affected all of humanity — and Christ reverses Adam's curse.

▸The fact that death reigned even without the law shows that death is not only the consequence of violating the law.

13

for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.

Key Message

The grace of Christ does not merely cancel Adam's sin but far exceeds it and overflows.

▸The contrast between Adam and Christ is directly presented.

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.

Key Message

Through Adam, death reigned; but those who receive grace in Christ reign in life.

▸'Death reigned' (Adam's result) vs.

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.

Key Message

Just as Adam's one trespass brought condemnation, Christ's one righteous act brings justification and life.

▸The contrast of Adam and Christ is expressed in legal language.

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.

Key Message

Just as Adam's disobedience made humanity sinners, Christ's perfect obedience makes many righteous.

▸The contrast of Adam and Christ is expressed in terms of obedience and disobedience.

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.

Key Message

Where the law makes sin all the more evident, God's grace overflows far in excess of it.

▸The role of the law appears again.

18

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

Key Message

The reign of sin and death has been replaced in Jesus Christ by the reign of grace and eternal life.

▸This is the majestic conclusion of chapter 5.