The Book of Romans

The righteousness of Christ God  gifted to us through  His birth, death and Resurrection. Jesus died so that we could live in Him.

There is no one righteous without Him…no, not, one.

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Romans 5:18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.

Keep coming back to the reality that grace is all around you, that you are being perpetually filled up by God’s spirit, and that you are being “loved into existence,” now and always. Sabbath Moments 

The Book of Romans

Righteousness imputed

A. Justification by faith explained 3:21–31 

B. Justification by faith illustrated 4:1–25 

C. Justification by faith enjoyed 5:1–11 

D. Conclusion: all can be declared and made righteous 5:12–21

The NKJV Study Bible

Romans

3:21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 

 

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. 29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 

5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” 9 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. 

13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. The New King James Version

Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also,

Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.

Genesis 15:5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

Psalm 32:2 

Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,

And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Genesis 3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

Romans 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

Isaiah 60:1-3 Jesus is the light of the world!

The Old Testament was written to the children of Israel. All Scriptures is for our learning and teaching the ways of the Lord. We now live in the Covenant of Grace in Christ Jesus. 

To our triune Godhead be all Glory!

There will come a day that Jesus Christ will stand and reign from Jerusalem. There will be no more war… hatred and dissensions will not exist in His Kingdom.

Isaiah 49:6 

Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant 

To raise up the tribes of Jacob, 

And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; 

I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, 

That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

Ephesians 5:14 

Therefore He says:

“Awake, you who sleep,

Arise from the dead,

And Christ will give you light.”

Revelation 21:24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

From the very beginning in the garden of Eden, the world has offered enticing distractions that Satan uses to make us think we can be happy outside of God's plan for us (Genesis 3:1-7). And every one of us gives in to sin ... not just once but regularly (Romans 3:23;  Ecclesiastes 7:20;  1 John 1:8).

We sometimes look to worldly pleasures as substitutes for God, but our true hope is in God, who sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be the substitute for us (Romans 6:23;  2 Corinthians 5:14-15). Jesus is the One who satisfies every longing of our hearts, and He will never disappoint us. First 5

Sometimes we need to just let go of the need for tidy (or settled and uncluttered), and savor the awe and wonder in the Grace moments of the ordinary. Sabbath Moments

Isaiah 60:1-3

Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising. The New King James Version

Light is a metaphor for the salvation and spiritual awakening brought by the Messiah. The second-person pronouns in this passage are feminine and singular. They refer to Zion/Jerusalem, which is personified as female.

Israel was sent as a light to the nations. That role was transferred to the Servant-Messiah in 49:6. Faithlife Study Bible

Arise is addressed to Zion. Zion is both the recipient of God’s light and the reflector of it. Isaiah’s prophecies often emphasize the contrast between light and darkness to symbolize the contrast between eternal life and death, salvation and judgment. 

As was the case during the Exodus from Egypt, darkness is on the wicked while God’s light is on His people. Deep darkness elsewhere describes a cloud enfolding the glory of God and serves as a warning of His impending judgment.

Gentiles is translated “nations”. In the earlier passage, they come to heavenly Zion to be taught of God; here they come to bring tribute. Isaiah foresaw a day when not only would the righteous remnant in Israel be devoted to God, but so would the redeemed from all peoples. 

Christ is the light to kings. The NKJV Study Bible

As far as we have the knowledge of God in us, and the favour of God towards us, our light is come. And if God’s glory is seen upon us to our honour, we ought, not only with our lips, but in our lives, to return its praise. We meet with nothing in the history of the Jews which can be deemed a fulfilment of the prophecy in this chapter; we must conclude it relates principally to future events. It predicts the purity and enlargement of the church. The conversion of souls is here described. They fly to Christ, to the church, to the word and ordinances, as doves to their own home; thither they fly for refuge and shelter, thither they fly for rest. What a pleasant sight to see poor souls hastening to Christ! Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Isaiah 9:2 

The people who walked in darkness

Have seen a great light;

Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,

Upon them a light has shined.

Isaiah 58:8 

Then your light shall break forth like the morning,

Your healing shall spring forth speedily,

And your righteousness shall go before you;

The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Isaiah 42:6 

 “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, 

And will hold Your hand; 

I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, 

As a light to the Gentiles,

Jeremiah 13:16 

Give glory to the LORD your God

Before He causes darkness,

And before your feet stumble

On the dark mountains,

And while you are looking for light,

He turns it into the shadow of death

And makes it dense darkness.

Luke 12:32-34 In Holy Spirit we have the power to do God's will

Out of the abundance of our heart we can speak truth! That still, small voice of Holy Spirit provides the power to accomplish His desire for our life.

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Ephesians 1:5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Our true King, Jesus, knows the end from the beginning and takes every measure of our lives into account as He leads us. His motivation is love, and all the decisions He makes stem from and are tied to that love (John 3:16;  1 John 3:1;  1 John 3:16).

This does not mean every scenario we face will be perfect if we follow Jesus, but we can trust that all of it works together for good (Romans 8:28). First5 

Grace is not something you add to your life. Like a creedal quiz response, “I believe in grace.” Check.

Which is all well and good... however, grace happens when you let yourself—your messy, unfinished, incomplete—self be wrapped in the arms of grace. And hear the affirmation of the gift of enough.

In that embrace, there is, quite literally, an internal recalibration. While nothing is "added" to your life, there is a new awareness of the light that is (alive and well) within. Let’s call it our new internal wealth account. 

Because grace also grows (and imbues) courage.

"I want to separate courage and bravery,” Brené Brown writes. “Courage, the original definition of courage, when it first came into the English language, it's from the Latin word cor, meaning heart, and the original definition was to tell the story of who you are with your whole heart... and wholehearted folks had, very simply, the courage to be imperfect. Sabbath Moments 

Luke 12:32-34

32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The New King James Version

This image recalls the old testament’s depiction of God as a caring shepherd of His people. Elsewhere the new testament presents Jesus as the fulfillment of the old testament’s promise of a true shepherd of God’s people. 

Eternal riches, are not lost when a person dies. Instead of focusing on accumulating earthly riches, Jesus’ followers are to pursue heavenly rewards by seeking God’s kingdom and giving generously to the impoverished. The focus of everyone, whether wealthy or not, should be the kingdom of God. Faithlife Study Bible

In contrast to the world’s hoarding of possessions, the disciple must be generous with what God gives. By serving God and others, you can invest in your eternal future. You cannot take possessions with you in the next life, but you can store up an eternal treasure by giving to others. 

What people consider valuable is where their energy will be spent. Knowing God and investing in His purposes should be the treasure we seek.

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in Luke’s Writings 

In both of his books, Luke highlights the activities of the Spirit with his unique phrase “filled with the Holy Spirit.” The Book of Acts chronicles the anxious anticipation of the Spirit’s coming, the dramatic empowering of the disciples on the Day of Pentecost, and the spread of the church by means of the Spirit’s power. But Luke also highlights the Holy Spirit’s ministry in his Gospel, where the ministry of the Holy Spirit centers on Jesus. Those connected with Jesus—John the Baptist, Elizabeth, Mary, and Simeon—are filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself is filled with the Spirit’s power. The Old Testament prophets had spoken of One who would be empowered by the Spirit of God. Luke underscores in his Gospel that these prophecies have been fulfilled in Jesus. The NKJV Study Bible.

Matthew 6:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Ephesians 1:9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,