Romans5

Romans chapter 5 begins by declaring that being justified by faith, believers have peace with God through Jesus Christ and access to grace, rejoicing in the hope of God's glory. It further explains that God demonstrated His love by sending Christ to die for us while we were yet sinners and enemies. The chapter then contrasts Adam's transgression, which brought sin and death to all, with Christ's obedience, which brings justification and life to many.

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Peace and Access through Justification

Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;

through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

And not only so, but we also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh stedfastness;

and stedfastness, approvedness; and approvedness, hope:

and hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us.

God's Love Demonstrated in Reconciliation

For while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: for peradventure for the good man some one would even dare to die.

But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath of God through him.

For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life;

and not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Adam and Christ: The Two Heads of Humanity

Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned:—

for until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam’s transgression, who is a figure of him that was to come.

But not as the trespass, so also is the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound unto the many.

And not as through one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment came of one unto condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses unto justification.

For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ.

So then as through one trespass the judgment came unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness the free gift came unto all men to justification of life.

For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous.

And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:

that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Study Notes for Romans 5

Verse 1

Justification by faith (the theme of chapters 3-4) results in immediate peace with God, ending the state of hostility and alienation caused by sin.

Verse 2

Access (Gk. *prosagoge*) refers to the introduction into God’s presence. Believers stand permanently in a state of grace (divine favor) and possess confident hope (expectation) of future glory.

Verse 3

Paul instructs believers to 'glory' (rejoice) in sufferings, redefining tribulation not as punishment but as a constructive process that builds Christian character and maturity.

Verse 5

The hope built through suffering will not disappoint because the Holy Spirit assures the believer internally of the reality of God's love, grounding their expectation.

Verse 6

Christ died for humanity when we were 'without strength,' emphasizing our utter helplessness and inability to save ourselves. This highlights the unconditional nature of God’s initiative.

Verse 8

God demonstrates (commendeth) his love by acting while we were still sinners—a powerful contrast to human standards, where sacrifice is usually reserved for the righteous or good.

Verse 10

Paul moves from justification (legal status) to reconciliation (relational restoration). If God accomplished the harder task (reconciling enemies through Christ's death), the easier task (preserving those reconciled through Christ's resurrection life) is certain.

Verse 11

Atonement (KJV) is better translated 'reconciliation.' This joy is founded on the completed work of Christ, which has restored the broken relationship between God and humanity.

Verse 12

This verse introduces the profound theological comparison between Adam and Christ. Through Adam’s singular act, both sin (the moral corruption) and death (the consequence) entered the world, making death universal.

Verse 13

Sin was present before the Mosaic Law was given, but transgression is not 'imputed' (formally charged) without a known command. Nevertheless, death reigned, proving that sin’s power was active.

Verse 14

Adam is called a 'figure' (type) of Christ, the one who was to come (the antitype). Death reigned even over those who did not commit a conscious sin of disobedience like Adam, emphasizing the inherited consequence of Adam’s fall.

Verse 17

The contrast emphasizes the superiority of Christ's work. Instead of merely reversing the curse, those who receive grace and righteousness are promised to 'reign in life,' suggesting not just survival but victory.

Verse 20

The Law entered not to save, but to make sin explicit and reveal its magnitude (*that the offence might abound*). This serves to highlight the even greater, surpassing power of God's grace.

Verse 21

This verse summarizes the ultimate triumph of the Christ-event. Where sin ruled absolutely, bringing death, grace now reigns through righteousness, leading directly to eternal life through Jesus Christ.

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Romans5

Peace and Access through Justification

God's Love Demonstrated in Reconciliation

Adam and Christ: The Two Heads of Humanity

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