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

¶ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

God's Love Demonstrated in Reconciliation

¶ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

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

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

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

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

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Adam and Christ: The Two Heads of Humanity

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have 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 to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by 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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