Bible Studies

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Here in Part 8 we will continue with the excerpts taken from chapter 6 of my book. We have discussed Rom. 5:1-8, and we are ready to discuss Rom. 5:9. I skipped discussing Rom. 5:12-16 in the book. (Romans 5:12-16 are discussed in my "Twenty-Eight Articles on Holiness and Victory Over Sin" on my internet site.) We will discuss Rom. 5:17-21 when we finish Rom. 5:1-11.

ROMANS 5:9. "having now been justified [dikaioo] by His blood." (Cf. Rom. 3:21-25; 4:25; 5:1.) In this context, dikaioo should be understood in a full sense. "Having now been justified" includes the ideas that we are no longer "helpless" and "ungodly" (cf. Rom. 5:6) and that we are no longer "sinners" (cf. Rom. 5:8) - we have been made righteous (cf., e.g., Rom. 1:16, 17; 3:21-25; 5:19; 6:1-8:17). (Also see the next paragraph.)

"we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him." The Bible makes it clear that "the wrath of God" will be manifested against sin at the end of this age (cf., e.g., Acts 17:30, 31; Rom. 2:1-16; 3:5, 6; Eph. 5:3-7; Col. 3:5-7; 1 Thess. 1:10; 2 Thess. 1:3-9). As most of these references show (along with many other references [I had an endnote: Cf., e.g., Matt. 3:1-12; 4:17; 5:1-48; 7:13-27; 13:40-43, 49, 50; 16:24-27; 24:37-51; 25:1-46.]), a primary basis for Christians avoiding the wrath of God when judgment day comes will be the fact that (because of the grace of God in Christ Jesus) they will not be found in sin.

ROMANS 5:10. The transformation from a state of being "enemies" of God to a state of being "reconciled" to God is included in the "having now been justified" of Rom. 5:9. Being "enemies" of God is the opposite of having "peace with God." (Cf. Rom. 5:1.) Formerly we were hostile toward God (cf., e.g., Rom. 1:18-3:20; 8:5-7; Eph. 2:1-3), but now we have changed (we have been changed). The basis for the wrath of God (sin) has been removed for those who have been justified through Christ Jesus. (See under Rom. 5:9 on being saved from the "wrath of God," and see Eph. 2:1-10.)

"we shall be saved by His life." The words "we shall be saved" apparently mean "we shall be saved from the wrath (of God)" (cf. Rom. 5:9). The words by his life point to the resurrected Christ. He (our great high priest) is well able to save His own from the wrath of God and to take us to glory (cf., e.g., Rom. 5:2, 5, 21; 8:34; Heb. 7:11-10:39).

ROMANS 5:11. "And not only this [apparently referring to the fact that we have been reconciled to God], but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ." For one thing, "we EXULT in hope of the glory of God" (Rom. 5:2). Compare "we also EXULT" in Rom. 5:3.

ROMANS 5:17 21. "For if by the transgression of the one [Adam], death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness [dikaiosune] will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. (18) So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness [dikaioma] there resulted justification [dikaiosis] of life to all men. (19) For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous [dikaios]. (20) And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, (21) that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness [dikaiosune] to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

The Greek verb dikaioo is not used in these verses, but dikaiosis is used in Rom. 5:18. (Dikaiosis, which was derived from dikaioo, is also used in Rom. 4:25.) The adjective dikaios is used in Rom. 5:19. (Dikaioo was derived from dikaios.) The noun dikaiosune, which was also derived from dikaios, is used in Rom. 5:17 and 21.

ROMANS 5:17. "For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one." DEATH [both spiritual death and physical death] REIGNED over mankind THROUGH Adam and BY [his] TRANSGRESSION. (See Rom. 5:12-16.) Where spiritual death reigned, sin also reigned (cf., e.g., Rom. 5:6, 8, 10, 19, espec. 21; 6:1-8:8), and especially after the Mosaic Law was given (cf., e.g., Rom. 4:15; 5:13, 14, 20; 7:5-25; 1 Cor. 15:56; Gal. 3:19).

"much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness."

"those who receive." The grace of God is RECEIVED by faith (cf., e.g., Rom. 4:16; 5:2; Eph. 2:8), as is "the gift of righteousness" (cf., e.g., Rom. 1:17; 3:22; Phil. 3:9).

"the abundance of grace." Cf. Rom. 5:20, 21; 6:14.

"the gift of righteousness [dikaiosune]." This "righteousness," which is given to believers, is "the righteousness of God." (On "the righteousness of God," see above under Rom. 3:21, 22, including the discussion of Rom. 1:16, 17. Also see Matt. 6:33; Rom. 10:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; and Phil. 3:9.) "The gift of righteousness" not only cancels the guilt of sin and gives believers a right standing before God; but, significantly, it also overpowers and dethrones sin (and Satan and spiritual death) and makes believers righteous (cf., e.g., Rom. 5:19; 1 John 2:29; 3:7-12).

"will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." Until the time of new covenant salvation, "death reigned" (Rom. 5:17, cf. Rom. 5:12-16). Mankind was under "condemnation" (Rom. 5:16, 18); they were under the penalty for the transgression of Adam, including the penalty of spiritual death (and with spiritual death came bondage to sin). Christians, however, are part of God's new creation (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17), and (from the time of conversion) they "reign in life." ((I had an endnote: The Greek verb that is translated "will reign" in Rom. 5:17 is in the future tense. The future began with the advent of new covenant salvation, and the future begins for each believer at the time of conversion. The future tense is also used in Rom. 5:19 ("WILL BE MADE righteous"), in Rom. 6:2 ("How SHALL WE who died to sin still LIVE in it?"), in Rom. 6:5 ("certainly WE SHALL BE also in the likeness of His resurrection"), and in Rom. 6:8 ("Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that WE SHALL also LIVE with Him"). In each of these references, the future has already begun. (See, for example, Rom. 6:11-13.) Romans chapter 6 and Rom. 8:1-17 deal (for the most part) with what Christians have now, in this present life.)) They have received the "justification of life" (Rom. 5:18). They have been born again by the Spirit of life (Cf. John 3:3-8; 1 John 5:11-13; Rom. 8:2, 8-11). Although the fulness of eternal life is yet future (cf., e.g., Rom. 5:21; 6:22, 23; 1 Cor. 15:20 23; Titus 3:7), it is important to understand that Christians have spiritual life now - they "reign in life," no longer being reigned over by spiritual death.

The apostle undoubtedly used the verb "reign" here because of the use of this verb earlier in verse 17 ("death reigned"). (Also note "sin reigned in death" in verse 21.) The use of the verb "reign" here is somewhat unusual; typically the New Testament speaks of Christians REIGNING with the Lord Jesus Christ after His second coming. (Cf., e.g., 1 Cor. 4:8; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 2:26, 27; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4, 6.) A big part of what it means for Christians to REIGN IN LIFE now is to reign over sin, no longer being reigned over by spiritual death and sin (cf., e.g., Rom. 5:19, 21; Rom. 6:1-8:14). Those who are reigned over by spiritual death and sin (who are slaves of sin) certainly are not REIGNING IN LIFE.

ROMANS 5:18. "So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men." Through Adam's one transgression there resulted "condemnation" to all men. Romans 5:12-17 show that this "condemnation" included the reign of death (both spiritual and physical death). And, significantly, where spiritual death reigned, sin reigned (cf., e.g., Rom. 5:21; 6:17-22; 8:5-8). It is also to be understood that if people continue in this state, it will ultimately result in the "condemnation" of the second death of Rev. 20:6, 14. The "condemnation" of death is contrasted with the "justification of life," which is spoken of in the second half of Rom. 5:18.

"even so through one act of righteousness [dikaioma] there resulted justification [dikaiosis] of life to all men." The "one act of righteousness" speaks of the voluntary atoning death of the Lord Jesus Christ (cf., e.g., Isaiah chapter 53; John 10:11-18; Rom. 3:24, 25; 4:25; 5:6-10; Phil. 2:8).

Those who submit to God and the gospel of His salvation come under the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ (the last Adam); they are no longer under the headship of Adam. They are, therefore, no longer under the condemnation of death mentioned in the first half of this verse. They have received the "justification of life."

"justification [dikaiosis] of life. (See above on Rom. 4:25, which also uses dikaiosis.) When God the Father, the Ultimate Judge, declares righteous those who submit to the gospel in faith, He is at that time dethroning spiritual death (and sin) for these believers. This is a "justification" that sets believers free from spiritual death (and sin) and makes them alive (and righteous). As the "condemnation" included spiritual death (and bondage to sin), so the "justification" includes spiritual "life" (and freedom from sin). At the end of this age, physical death will also be overthrown (cf., e.g., Rom. 8:11, 23); this also will flow out of the atoning death of the Lord Jesus Christ and is part of the "justification of life."

ROMANS 5:19. "For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners." "The many" [all Adam's descendants] were born outside the Garden of Eden [the place of life and blessing through the abiding presence of God] into a state of spiritual death. "The many were made sinners." They were not merely under the guilt of sin - they were "sinners

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