June 22, 2025
ROMANS 5: THE POWER OF FAITH
June 22, 2025
Pastor Jonathan Falwell
Chapter five of Romans opens with a celebratory verse of the greatest news a person—man or woman—can ever have. After hearing in chapters 1-4 that we have no hope for living at peace with the Creator God because the sin of Adam ushered in a race of humanity who are not worthy to be called sons and daughters of God, hope has been given because of the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary. What all people know, including secular historians, is that Jesus Christ was crucified on a cross. What we believers know from first-hand accounts of those who walked and talked with Jesus is that He rose from the grave on the third morning, under His own power, alive and well, having been the perfect sacrifice for sin. He was seen over the next forty days by scores of people who knew Him, then He ascended back into heaven, waiting for God the Father to tell Him to return to the earth to get His children. This belief in Jesus gives us access to God the Father, as we rejoice in hope of that coming Day.
Focal Passages: Romans 5
Peace with God:
- Read Romans 5:1-2. What is Paul referring to when he opens with ‘therefore’? What is the state of mankind who has not believed that Jesus Christ is the only way to be justified from sins? Whose voice do unregenerated people listen to?
- When we come to Jesus with a repentant heart, asking forgiveness for our sins, what does He give us? Whose voice will we listen to after salvation?
- What else does God give us besides peace with Him? What is grace? What does ‘access by faith’ mean? What should be our response to this glorious access?
- Why does this give us a reason to hope? Read Hebrews 11:1. How does this explain our hope in eternal life?
Hope in our problems:
- Read Rom. 5:3-5. What are tribulations? Why should we glory in them? Read James 1:2-3. Does James also say this? Is patience and perseverance the same thing?
- How can we glory during a trial? What does it mean to you to glory in a trial? What are some things you can be grateful for during a tribulation?
- What do we know about tribulations? What do tribulations produce in our life? How does this happen? What does perseverance produce? What is meant by character? How do all of those produce hope? What is the meaning of hope?
- What work does the Holy Spirit have in all of this?
Acceptance in our Sin:
- Read Rom. 5:6-11. What does the first phrase (still without strength) mean? What does ‘in due time’ indicate?
- Who plunged the whole world into complete sin? How was it done? If Satan was able to tempt Adam and Eve, causing them to sin when they lived in a perfect world, do you think he is able to tempt you as well? How does he do that? Read James 1:13-15. He uses the bait he knows you will respond to. What is the bait that would bring you down today?
- After Adam’s sin, could men go to God anytime they wanted? What did God have to do to offer reconciliation to man? How did One Man reconcile us to God?
A Promise for our Future:
- Read Rom. 5:12-21. Is salvation free to anyone who will believe and repent? What if they continue to live a lifestyle of sin? Read Cor. 5:17. Will a saved man desire to continue sinning?
- Read 1 John 1:6-7. How important is it that we realize turning from our sin is the only way to come to God? Is that what the thief on the cross understood in those few seconds as he spoke to Jesus?
- Why is God’s grace so rich that He can overlook our sin and love us?
Close:
The topic of salvation is as varied as the people who profess it. There is only one standard for our salvation, which is the way it is presented in the Bible. No man’s ideas or suggestions are what we base our future life on—as the Word of God itself says in 2 Peter 1:16-21, “We did not follow cunningly devised fables … but were eyewitness of His majesty.” Are you sure of your salvation?
As we heard this morning from Romans, Paul laid out the truth: we can do nothing for ourselves to merit the free gift of eternal life. He made that abundantly clear in chapters one through four, focusing in chapter five on the only Name that gives us life, the Man Christ Jesus. And if you have been saved, as we read in 2 Corinthians, if we are really in Christ, we will be a new creation! All of the old, sinful lifestyles will pass away, and behold, we will become new. Do you sit in church, then go back to your partner without benefit of marriage? Do you go to work and continue your profanity? Do you continue to drink alcohol, thereby telling your children by your actions that it is okay to drink? Don’t forget, ‘what the parent excuses, the child abuses.’ It is an old saying because it has remained true. Let your light—even if it’s small—shine throughout your home until it is burning bright.
By Sandy Day
June 22, 2025