Read: Romans 5
Key Text: You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)
Reflection: Paul is the church’s supreme theologian. In his letters, he interprets and applies the cosmic dimensions of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Fundamental to Paul’s theological framework is his assertion that through the death of Jesus we have been ‘justified’. ‘Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him.’ (Romans 5:9) ‘The result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.’ (Romans 5:18) What is this ‘justification’?
Put simply, justification is our relationship with God being made right though the sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection of Jesus. Justification is a free gift we receive only though faith – that is, believing in the sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins and entrusting our life to him as Lord and saviour. This is justification by faith.
Jesus is the second Adam. Paul beautifully and brilliantly contrasts the deadly inheritance we received from the first Adam with the rich and life-giving inheritance that is ours through faith in Jesus, the second Adam. Through Adam, death because of sin became a terrible reality (vv.15-17). Through the first Adam came condemnation; through Jesus we receive justification (v.18). Through the first Adam we were all stained with sin; through the second Adam we are clothed with righteousness (v. 19). Through the second Adam we receive the free gift of life eternal (v.21).
The death of Jesus was not simply a heroic example, or a sacrificial model. The death of Jesus was and is the way God has made for us to be reconciled to God and each other. By the blood of Jesus and through faith we are justified – made right with God. ‘For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and are freely justified by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.’
Question: How have you experienced life through faith in Jesus Christ?
Read: Romans 3 (slowly!)
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