Lecture of Romans chapter5

The topic of the Romans comes out in Rom.1:1.
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.
So, the entire topic of the Romans is Gospel of God, Jesus Christ.
Romans chapter 1 talks about the core of the gospel. So, Who is gospel, and what is gospel?
In chapter 1:2-4, it says Jesus Christ is the gospel.
If one asks, what is the gospel, it says in 1:17 that in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed.
What is gospel? It is the righteousness of God. Through that, we are justified.
In Romans chapter 1, what should come out from here is your value.
Only after that can you have the correct view of the world, identity, view of life and eyes or standards to see things.
For example, Depending on where you find your value, the reason to earn money becomes different.
If you find the finest value in the gospel, your eyes to earn money will be used in the finest value as well. That is, gospel movement.
Also, wherever you are, you would show the gospel, the finest value, in that place.
You would also look at a person with the eyes of the gospel movement.
This is your identity then.
Who am I, and what should I do before I go. Your identity.
Then, from here will come out your view to life - about marriage and occupation.

In Romans chapter 2, it talks about the limit of the law.
The laws is the word of God, so it’s not bad. Actually, it’s good.
What does it mean to say the limit of the law? Let’s say that you followed all of the law except one. Then you still break the entire law. God does not ask how many sins you committed, but if you committed sins or not.
He asks if I’m a sinner or the righteous, not whether I kept the law or not.

In chapter 3, it talks about the finest value of the gospel “righteousness”, and in here the reason why God gave us the law is explained.
The systems like the law or circumcision were merely good conditions. The they themselves were the purpose itself.
But it became a problem because the Jews couldn’t understand the gospel with those good conditions.
The law was given as a good condition, a condition to reveal the sin. 

So the Jews misunderstood and thought that if they kept the law they didn’t sin, and if they didn’t keep the law, they sinned.
That was wrong. The reason for giving the law is to reveal the sin.
So the sin cannot be justified through the act of the law. Instead, through another way God prepared. Only Christ, the righteousness of God, can solve this problem.

So in Romans chapter 4, it says one is saved through faith, and talks about Abraham.
If you keep emphasizing that following the law is the way to become righteous, what about Abraham? When was it that your father Abraham was called righteous? The law came from Moses, but Abraham is a person before Moses.
Father of faith, Abraham whom you respect the most was called righteous by God before Moses.
Therefore, it is not through keeping the law. The law was given by God in order to reveal sin.
So, it is not through the act of the law that we can solve the sin, but it is through believing in Christ – the righteousness of God – that we are forgiven and justified. 

Today’s lecture is on chapter 5. Let me read until verse 11.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

From here the title of the lecture is “The Way Of Life For The Justified Through Faith.”
From chapter 1 to 4 is about us being justified not through the act of law but by faith.
It explains that salvation is through believing in Christ, the righteousness of God.
Then, what is the way of life of the justified by faith? It is “by faith.”
Romans chapter 5 has 21 verses and within it the word “by or through” comes out 18 times.
“Through our Lord Jesus Christ,” “By the Holy Spirit.”
In verse 9, “by his blood,” in verse 10, “through the death of his Son,” “how much more shall we be saved through his life.”
In verse 11, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The word “by or through” comes out 18 times. Then, we can answer who I am and who you are.
I am the one who lives by Jesus Christ. What is the most powerful way of living the life of the justified by faith? It is by Jesus Christ.
Living the walk of faith is relationship with God.
But most of the time, our life of faith is based on interpersonal relationship, social life, or current situation.
The way of life of the justified through faith. By who? By Christ. 

By what? By the Holy Spirit. By His blood, Through His death.

Firstly, In Romans chapter 5, Justification by faith. We received salvation by faith.
What is the result of Justification by faith? We became righteous by faith.
We received salvation by faith, but believing in what? Believing that God saved us from our sins through Jesus Christ.
I will repeat what I said. We believe in God.
We believe in God and the result is becoming righteous.
Acknowledged to be righteous by faith.
We believe God but believe in what in God?
We believe that God is living, is the creator God, and is the sovereign God.
But the faith that the Bible talks about is believing in God who sent us Christ to save us from our sins.
That is, believing that Jesus is the Christ.
In Rom.5:1-2, Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Since we have been justified through faith, what do we do? We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
We rejoice. In other words, we enjoy it.
If you don’t know who God is and who you are, you might misunderstand God as someone who is glaring at you, waiting for you to make mistakes. However, it’s not true at all.
It will come out later on again, but God sent us his only Son Christ to solve our sin.
So, the result of the work of God is us, who are justified by faith.
So, how much would God be happy and pleased when he sees us?
So it says with God,
We enjoy the joy and pleasure of God.
On top of that, we have peace with God.
In front of God, we are so grateful and sorry.
In the Bible, it says Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
It means that I take part in God’s joy and delight..
That is enjoying.
It says in chapter 5 verse 3, Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
The sin that the Bible talks about is not the same with what’s written in the criminal law. It is not about making mistakes or people pointing fingers at it.
The sin that the Bible talks about is satan, the enemy of God, controlling over us; disconnecting us from God. There is a huge wall between God and us. That is sin. Satan being the master of us.
To save us from the sin, God sent his only Son Jesus Christ, solved the problem for good, and saved us by grace through faith.
That is why of course we are so grateful for what God has done, but God himself is happy and pleased whenever he sees us.
How can we even compare the happiness and delight with such thing as sufferings and perseverance?
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
What does it mean? In the end, for those who are in Jesus Christ, in all things God works for the hope.
It means that God makes us to put hope in God and in Gospel.
If you come to put hope in God and upon Gospel through sufferings and perseverance, the power is such an amazing thing.
Now what’s important comes out in Romans chapter 5 verse 6 to 11. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
What does this mean? In verse 6 it says ‘when we were still powerless.” We have no power.
So, salvation is not our choice. It’s not up to us.
When we were still powerless. The state of absolute impossibility.
In verse 8, when we were still sinners. Enemies of God. Still sinners.
Again, in verse 10, when we were God’s enemies.
This is, theologically speaking, the original sin.
God sent Christ and through His blood he solved this problem.
When we were still in this state.
He justified us at this time.
The Romans were emphasizing the law and Paul is saying that how can the sin be solved through the regulations of the law and circumcision.
He is saying it was only through Christ sent by God.
When we were still powerless, still sinners, enemies of God.
The problem was solved at this time, and how can this be so through the thing called law.
He is saying that you emphasize keeping the law and judge those who didn’t, but that’s not it.
God saved us when we were still powerless, sinners, and enemies.
Then, what is the law?
God gave us the law to reveal the problems of man. That is the law.
As we are living we have to follow the social systems, the man-made rules. And sometimes we don’t get to live up to them.
We have a social life and live in a group. So when fall short of them, we get discouraged and hang down our head in shame.
However, would God see us in that way?
If we can’t keep the system or the rules that a group has made, would God also see us in that perspective?
No, he doesn’t. Why? He sent his Son and saved us when we were powerless, sinners, and enemies.
Let me illustrate. My wife is quite short. We have been married for over 40 years.
And all of sudden, if I say to my wife, “Why are you so short,” what would my wife say? Would she say, “I’m so sorry for being short,” or “Are you tall, then?”
Both of the answers are wrong. What is the correct response?
“You married me knowing that I’m short.”
When we were powerless, sinners and enemies, God delivered us. So the act of the law or various systems are not the standard. How can this be the standard?
Would he demand that we keep the law after saving us from this state? I married my wife knowing that she was short, and can I demand that she grow tall now? That’s the same thing.
In chapter 5 from verse 12 to 19. This is about sin. 
What is the sin that Bible talks about? Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.
This is the principle of the representation. Adam was the representative man.
Through one man Adam, the sin entered the world, and death came to all men, and to all people who didn’t commit the same sin as Adam, death reigned over them.
This is the principle of representation. But in here, it is more accurate to say one spirit. The spirit of Adam.
In verse 14, nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
In verse 17, For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
So, what is the sin that the Bible talks about? The sin did not come through our actions, but it came through spirit.
Generally speaking, sin is spoken in a social sense or common ethics, the deeds.
But the sin that the Bible talks about is through one man Adam even over those who did not sin by breaking a command – this talks about action. It is not by our action but by spirit.
Therefore, it is not by breaking the law that we became sinners. We were already sinners.
After that, God gave us the law. We experience sin through the law.
We come to realize that sin already existed. In one sense, sin is invisible because it is spiritual.
So the law make the invisible law visible.
What does “one man” mean in verse 12 and 19?
How can one man’s sin be over all people?
This is the answer to that question.
So, how can one man, Christ’s death make all people righteous?
This is the answer to the first question, “How did all become sinners because of one man, Adam?”
Also, this is the answer to how can Christ’s death make many people righteous.
In chapter 5 verse 20-21, The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This verse can be easily misunderstood as the one who has committed a lot of sin can experience as much grace.
Are there people who committed more sins? No. There are just sinners.
There aren’t people with more sins or less sins. All are sinners.
So the verse “But where sin increased, grace increased all the more” doesn’t mean that.
What it means is that the more we know about the law – that God has given us - the more can we experience God’s grace.
The one who knows more about the law, who studied the law deeply can truly receive God’s grace.
That is why where sin increased, grace increased all the more. If you know what the law is, then, we can truly be thankful for the Gospel that God has sent, and we can understand it more deeply.
Then, let’s ask one questions at this point. Is Christ’s death on the cross the completion of the law or the solution to the sin?
In Galatians 3:13-14, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.
When we refer to this passage, death of Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. So, we can say it is the completion of the law.
In Mark 10:45, For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
In Matthew 5:20, For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
And in Mark 2:1-12, to the paralytic He said, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
In other words, as the sin problem got resolved, the righteous requirements of the law was fully met in us.
What does it mean to say, “As the sin problem got resolved, the righteous requirements of the law was fully met in us?”
The law actually doesn’t demand anything from us.
The law doesn’t require anything, but the sin is revealed and solved. Then, the law is completed.
Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
When the sin problem is resolved, in one sense, the function of the law is no longer needed. Why? The law is to reveal the sin, but the sin is resolved. That’s why the law is not abolished but fulfilled. The reason why the law is given is fulfilled. The completion of the law.
In other words. God, using the law, leads us to Christ.
Romans 5:20, the law was added so that the trespass might increase.
God utilizes the law to reveal the sin and leads us to Christ.
Where sin increased, grace increased all the more. What is the purpose of the sin? It is not condemnation. It is revelation.
God has given us the law, but the sin uses it to fall into condemnation.
If there wasn’t a sin in the world, there was no reason to give the law.
The sin disappeared through the death on the cross and the grace of atonement.
As a result, the function of the law is no longer needed.
That is why Jesus said in Matthew 5:17, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
In John 19:30, It is finished. That’s what it means.
For example, Breaking the Sabbath means death.
So the Jews misunderstood it and thought they will die if they don’t keep it.
That is true, but that doesn’t explain everything. It is eternal destruction due to the sin.
The reason for giving this law is not to talk about death in flesh. It is to reveal the sin.
But Christ atoned our sins, saved us from death, solved the sin by which we had no choice but to die.
In one sense, the Sabbath wasn’t abolished, it was completed.
That is why the seventh day isn’t the Sabbath. Every day is the Sabbath. Fulfillment.
Not giving tithe? That is a tremendous sin before God.
But the Jews thought only about not giving tithe itself. That’s not it.
Not giving tithe should reveal the sin behind it.
However, Christ resolved the sin behind the tithe, and the law of the tithe was completed.
Misunderstanding this, people think the law of the tithe is abolished and think that they don’t have to give tithe.
That is wrong. Because it is fulfilled, we are not just giving tithe. Everything is God’s.
The law was fulfilled. Who am I? I am God’s. That is the fulfillment. The law isn’t abolished,
If the fulfillment is misunderstood, one might think that I’m free and I’m my own master.
But the law isn’t abolished but completed. So the saved one is completely God’s.
That is why, in chapter 5, what is the way of life for those who are justified through faith? It is through Christ.
It is not by the law or the act.
It is through Christ, by his blood, by the Holy Spirit, through his death.
That is the way to make satan kneel. Through Christ.