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Romans 5 Commentary

Please choose a passage:

Romans 5:1-2

Paul is reiterating that since we have faith in God, we are counted as righteous and he is moving into what this means for our daily life.

Romans 5:3-5

In this life, we will experience suffering. Paul is encouraging believers to trust God through suffering because suffering will produce endurance, character, and hope.

Paul is again emphasizing that we are made righteous in God’s sight apart from anything we do. Christ did not die for us because we were good people; He died for sinners and people who were not living up to God’s standard, which includes everyone.

Romans 5:9

Through faith in Christ’s, we have been justified, and thus saved from the wrath of God that Jesus bore for us on the cross.

Romans 5:10-11

God loved us and died for us while we were sinners and enemies to him. Now that we are saved by grace through faith and are justified in his sight, how much more will he care for those in his family?

Romans 5:12-13

Because Adam sinned, death came into the world and we are all born separated from God. Even before the law was given, death reigned in the world.

Romans 5:14

Death and separation reigned on earth even before the law was given to Moses.

Romans 5:15-17

Through one man’s sin, there was condemnation for all. From the free gift there is justification for many. One man’s sin brought death to all men, but those who receive the free gift of righteousness gain life through Jesus.

Romans 5:18-19

Adam’s sin led to condemnation for everyone. Christ’s death allows many to be justified and to live in a way God desires.

Romans 5:20-21

The law increased sin by making us aware of what we should not do. But, the more we sin the more grace God gives – to believers – through Jesus’s sacrifice.

Additional Resources

Book Theme

The Apostle Paul writes to the world-renowned believers in Rome, the center of the world at that time, in order to answer a slanderous charge made to them against Paul and his message. Paul’s detractors claim his emphasis on faith overturns the law. Paul says that ” just living by the law” does not achieve personal justice before God, while “just living by faith” does. Paul then demonstrates what a just life looks like: harmonious living with Jesus as the leader. Paul also makes clear the choice a believer has: to walk in faith and the power of the resurrection and experience resurrection life, or walk in sin and unnecessarily experience the negative consequences.

Chapter Context

Paul defends his gospel against slanderous charges from competing Jewish “authorities”. Paul demonstrates that the Bible teaches both Abraham and David were justified before God by faith, and that is the only way any human can be justified before God.