We have Eternal We have Eternal LifeLife

Romans 5:15,20-21Romans 5:15,20-21

Romans five Paul has shown Romans five Paul has shown to the readers that through to the readers that through salvation Christians have: salvation Christians have: Peace with God ,Christian Peace with God ,Christian Hope with God,Hope with God, and now and now Paul Paul brings another asset to the brings another asset to the table which is table which is God’s Love God’s Love and this week We have and this week We have Eternal Life.Eternal Life.

5:155:15 But there is a great But there is a great difference between Adam's sin difference between Adam's sin

and God's gracious gift. For and God's gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, the sin of this one man, Adam,

brought death to many. But brought death to many. But even greater is God's even greater is God's

wonderful grace and his gift of wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. this other man, Jesus Christ.

Adam’s offense is contrasted Adam’s offense is contrasted with Christ’s freewith Christ’s free gift (v. 15). gift (v. 15).

Because of Adam’s trespass, Because of Adam’s trespass, many died; because Christ’s many died; because Christ’s obedience, the grace of God obedience, the grace of God abounds to many abounds to many bringing lifebringing life. . The word The word many many (liter-ally “the (liter-ally “the many”) which is the same as all many”) which is the same as all men.men.

WWe have “much more” in Christ. e have “much more” in Christ. Today we are looking forward to Today we are looking forward to

something more wonderful than the something more wonderful than the Garden of Eden. As the writer of Garden of Eden. As the writer of

Hebrews tells us, “These all died in Hebrews tells us, “These all died in faith, not having received the faith, not having received the

promises, but having seen them afar promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, off, and were persuaded of them,

and embraced them, and confessed and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and that they were strangers and

pilgrims on the earth” (Heb. 11:13). pilgrims on the earth” (Heb. 11:13). McGee, J. V.McGee, J. V.

Paul sets the stage to show Paul sets the stage to show all of mankind have the all of mankind have the legacy of Adam that is, all legacy of Adam that is, all have sinned. But in have sinned. But in contrast all will not receive contrast all will not receive the gift of eternal life even the gift of eternal life even though Grace abounds though Grace abounds much more than sin.much more than sin.

Second, Paul explains that Second, Paul explains that Christ sacrifice was truly an Christ sacrifice was truly an example of the Gift overflowing example of the Gift overflowing with the Grace of God.with the Grace of God.

First we are shown that we First we are shown that we were and still are totally were and still are totally helpless when it comes to helpless when it comes to saving ourselves. Universalism saving ourselves. Universalism is not the rule for salvation.is not the rule for salvation.

To simplify it, all this section To simplify it, all this section means is this: one means is this: one transgression plunged the transgression plunged the race into sin; and one act of race into sin; and one act of obedience and the death of obedience and the death of Christ upon the Cross makes Christ upon the Cross makes it possible for lost man to be it possible for lost man to be saved. McGee, J. V.saved. McGee, J. V.

Paul has previously stated (v. 14) Paul has previously stated (v. 14) that death reigns as king. Death that death reigns as king. Death came to the throne by one man came to the throne by one man who committed only one offense—who committed only one offense—that is, the original sin, the one act, that is, the original sin, the one act, involved the race. Here Paul involved the race. Here Paul presents another kingdom which is presents another kingdom which is superior to the kingdom of death. superior to the kingdom of death.

It is the kingdom of life. It is It is the kingdom of life. It is offered to the subjects of the offered to the subjects of the kingdom of death through the kingdom of death through the superabundance of grace. superabundance of grace. Man has only to receive it. Man has only to receive it. The King of the kingdom of The King of the kingdom of life is Jesus Christ. The gift life is Jesus Christ. The gift comes through Him. McGee, J. comes through Him. McGee, J. V. (1991).V. (1991).

Romans 5:19. In otherRomans 5:19. In otherwords, our justification is the result words, our justification is the result

of a living unionof a living unionwith Christ. And this union ought to with Christ. And this union ought to

result in a newresult in a newkind of life, a righteous life of kind of life, a righteous life of

obedience to God.obedience to God.Our union with Adam made us Our union with Adam made us

sinners; our unionsinners; our unionwith Christ enables us to “reign in with Christ enables us to “reign in

life.”life.”

v 20v 20 God's law was given God's law was given so that all people could see so that all people could see how sinful they were. But how sinful they were. But

as people sinned more and as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful more, God's wonderful

grace became more grace became more abundant.abundant.

The function of the law was to The function of the law was to increase or multiply the increase or multiply the

knowledge of how sinful man knowledge of how sinful man really is. The trespasses really is. The trespasses

became great but yet the became great but yet the Grace of God became Greater. Grace of God became Greater.

Bottom line is that Bottom line is that we can not out sin we can not out sin

God!God!

V 21V 21 So just as sin ruled over So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and right standing with God and resulting in resulting in Eternal life Eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Law’s power to expose sin The Law’s power to expose sin as sin is dwarf by the exceeding as sin is dwarf by the exceeding power of God’s grace to reign power of God’s grace to reign through righteousness. In the through righteousness. In the end God’s grace is infinitely end God’s grace is infinitely more powerful than sin and more powerful than sin and death. Redeemed sinners can death. Redeemed sinners can live in hope and be victorious live in hope and be victorious resulting in resulting in eternal life through eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.Jesus Christ our Lord.

We have received God’s Grace and We have received God’s Grace and are now at Peace with God.are now at Peace with God.

We can now enjoy the certain hope We can now enjoy the certain hope about our future.about our future.

We can enjoy a never ending love We can enjoy a never ending love that God has given those that are that God has given those that are

saved.saved.

We can now have eternal life We can now have eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Next week: Next week: It’s all about New LifeIt’s all about New Life

Living a New IdentityLiving a New IdentityRomans 6: 1-4Romans 6: 1-4