Tuesday 28 July 2009

Romans Chp 5 Vs 12 to 21 : 'Making Happiness Happen' (28/07/2009)

Posted in by JS Gillespie |
The Problem of Suffering:

1.If God is good He would wish His creatures to be happy
2.If God is all powerful He would be able to make His creatures happy
3.His creatures are not happy
4.Therefore God is either not good or not all powerful or both

We have already argued that we need to face this problem not from the position of ignorance or unbelief but realistically in the full knowledge that God has revealed Himself clearly in :

1.Creation (Roms Chp 1)
2.Conscience (Roms Chp 2)
3.Covenant (Roms Chp 2+3)
4.Christ (Roms Chp 3+4)

When we do this we see that the very seed plot of Adams rebellion is germinating with the joy of Christ's salvation!

For the principle of:

1.Relationship has results
2.Connection brings consequences

Why should it be that our connection with Adam brings our death and condemnation
Why should it be that we all sinned in Adam
What difference do the actions of one man all of those years ago make to me?

"for that all have sinned"

Adam is our federal head - that needs an explanation in itself!
Adam is the representative man - but why? MPs are our representatives in parliament but the fact that they fiddle their taxes doesn't mean that we do!
All humanity was potential in Adam: "And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Gen2:7) - therefore corruption at the stage of Adam affects us all!


Our connection with Adam is not simply because he is like us - a representative man, or he is the chief or head man - federal head but our connection with Adam is very very real!
He is the representative man and the federal head because this connection is real!
There are 4 ways people have come into the world:

1.Adam by creation
2.Eve by formation
3.Christ by incarnation
4.All others by generation

God did not create you and I directly but indirectly
Our connection with Adam is real
"And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of lifes; and man became a living soul" (Gen2:7)
Therefore corruption at the stage of Adam affects us all!
That which condemns the innocent to suffer because of his relationship to Adam also guarantees the:

1.justification of the unjust
2.life to the dead
3.salvation to the sinner

by virtue of his connection in faith to Christ:

1.Relationship with Christ's righteousness brings justification
2.Relationship with a Saviour brings Salvation
3.Relationship with the life of Christ brings life

Before we leave Adam and his suffering and move onto our relationship with Christ and His salvation perhaps there is one matter we should finish dealing with first
One barrier to be bridged
Bridging the barrier of brokenness
What about this problem of suffering
We have seen that within the seed plot of Adams sin there is germinating the joy of Christ's salvation but what about that argument that threatened to derail faith in Christ why did it point to such a wrong conclusion?


1.If God is good He would wish His creatures to be happy
2.If God is all powerful He would be able to make His creatures happy
3.His creatures are not happy
4.Therefore God is either not good or not all powerful or both

All of the most powerful lies are half truths
Even rat poison isn't 100 % poison, even rats aren't stupid enough to dine on poison
The best poisons are mixed with wholesome food - so we swallow it whole and the poison along with it!

There are at least 4 errors:

1.The Reason for unhappiness

2.The Responsibility for happiness

3.The Reality of Happiness

4.Our Receptiveness for Happiness

These issues are not entirely irrelevant to this section of Romans 5

The Reason for unhappiness:

The argument is superficial - doesn't go deep enough - it begins by asking: 'why isn't God doing something about the problem' instead of looking deeper and going further back and asking -
'why do we have the problem'
'where did the problem stem from?'
'why am I unhappy n the first place for God to make me happy.'
Mans Disaster - Sin
God did not make man unhappy - man made man unhappy
This is the subject of Rom 5:12-14
Our Relationship with Adam
We may feel that God has not cured our problem (although that is inaccurate)
But by the same token He has not caused the problem



The Responsibility for happiness:

The argument is based on unfounded and unsafe assumptions - the issue of responsibility - the question assumes that it is Gods responsibility to 'make His creatures happy' - in other words like some spoiled child we turn towards God and cry - well you made me, now you make me happy!
It assumes that happiness is what God does to me!
It is an argument founded on the autonomy of man - that is man is mature and grown up and we are going to make pronouncements on wither or not God exists but at the same time blames God for not treating us as robots!!!
Man's happiness becomes Gods responsibility if man has no personal responsibility for his own happiness
Man is not a robot!
Man's happiness becomes Gods responsibility if man has no personal responsibility for his own happiness
There may be some creatures for whom it is the case that their happiness is the sole responsibility of others

The earth worm is a simple creature - one long nerve running the length of its body, its happiness is really out with its own control - too much water in its environment it drowns, the wrong creatures spot it, it gets eaten by the bird or the mole, it doesn't even have much of a memory - just a few seconds and keeps running into trouble!
The happiness of the earth worm is not his responsibility but he is the victim and at the mercy of his environment and of powerful others
But is man the same as the earth worm?
This argument discerns no difference between the earth worm and man!!
We need to a get a right view of man before we tackle this problem of unhappiness!
The bible will give us the most realistic view of the greatness of man's problem as a sinner: Man's Disaster
The bible will also give us the most glorious view of the worth and potential of man:
Consider Man's Diginity:
Made in the image of God after His likeness (Gen1:27; 2:7; 3:8; 3:22)
Gods view of man (Psalm 8)
The sacrifice of Gods Son was to redeem man (John 3:16; Heb 2:9-18)

The picture the Bible paints of the relationship between God and man is not the same as the relationship between that of God and the earth worm!
God does treat man as the grown up he is!
I am not saying that man of himself can make himself happy but he can make himself very unhappy!

Our Receptiveness for Happiness:

The problem is unrealistic and assumes that man is looking for that happiness and is waiting expectantly to receive Gods happiness
Are we really sitting waiting to receive Gods happiness?
Surely everyone wants to be happy? Don't they?
Surely everyone wants to be free from:

i.Death
ii.Disease
iii.Disaster
iv.Damnation
v.Despair
vi.Discouragement

Don't they??
We do want to be happy don't we??
Are we not all just sitting waiting to be made happy??
Lets look at times when God has offered man freedom from the things that bring unhappiness:

  • Death: John 11:41-54
Here was one performing a miracle of resurrection by the power of God (Jo11:42)
The potential therefore lay in Christ to be the liberator for all men from the power of death and the grave!
Man's response: "Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death" (John 11:53)
They wanted to kill the life giver!

  • Disease: John 5:2-5; 15-16; Luke 6:10-11
Think of the potential here in Christ to cure all of our diseases
The potential for the ned of suffering and disease
"And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day" (Jo5:16)
Despair: Isa 53:4; Mk 5:3-5; 16-17

"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted"
Did we want one to take away our despair?
The one who was able to deal with all of our hopeless situations: the man of the Gaderenes, the woman with the issue of blood, Jarius daughter
"And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts." (Mk5:17)

  • Disaster: Luke 6:46-49

God has prepared in Christ the perfect disaster contingency plan
But we still build on the sand!

  • Damnation: John 3:19; Luke 23

The greatest tragedy is surely this that each of us can see how realistic this all is
If God were to move again in our day as He did in grace in the days of the Lord Jesus Christ man's response would be the same.
It would not matter what great and mighty works He would do and how much potential there was in Him to cure man of His unhappiness, should He refuse to go along with man and declare:

i.Homosexuality as a sin
ii.Gay marriage as an abomination and contrary to Gods created order
iii.Abortion as murder
iv.All religions do not lead to God

They would not have Him they would crucify Him again!
They would not receive His happiness!
The simple view that:
I want to be happy
God ought to make me happy
Is founded on a false premise:
That I am ready to receive Gods happiness!
Which leads me on to ask: what actually is happiness?
What am I actually looking for?
Is it happiness or is it something else?

The Reality of Happiness:

The argument fails to explain what it means by happiness - it fails to ask the question - 'what is happiness?' and assumes that perfect happiness is either the same as a problem free and hassle free existence or is gained by that means - ie. that happiness is in essence the same as prosperity!
It doesn't ask 'what is happiness?'
For when man was offered freedom from the things that make him miserable he didn't take them!
What is man looking for?
I would suggest that man is not primarily on search of real happiness but for something that he confuses with happiness.
Man was made in the image of God, after His likeness and animated by the breath of God
Man made like God and by God lacks only one thing - He is not God!
Herein lay Adams failure: "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" (Gen3:5)
Adam had everything he needed and nothing he did not want
Adam was perfectly happy but created in the uimage of God and for God and desired to be God!
This spirit still works today in man:
"For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." (1John 2:16)
Pride that pushes me above what I am
I desire happiness but a happiness of my own construction and my own imagination and in my own control
I want to be Lord over my own happiness
Man's happiness ultimately must come from something completely different
Not from happiness in being God but in a happiness in being with God!
The message of this book is that man failed by trying to exalt himself to be God
Grace triumphed when God humbled Himself to become man and subjected Himself to the taunts and the torture of the creature that I as mortal man might have the basis and the courage and the reason to subject myself, voluntarily to His will for my good and His Glory and my eternal joy and His eternal Glory
This is where we begun our studies in Romans all those weeks ago.




To summarise then what should this argument actually say:

1.Since God is good He desires His creatures to be happy
2.Since God is all powerful He is able to make His creatures happy
3.God does not impose happiness by power but rather offers it in grace
4.If man were good he would desire Gods happiness
5.If man were willing God would make him eternally happy

In Grace and in in Christ God Bridges the Barrier of Brokenness

4 Relationships:

1Relationship between man and sin
2Relationship between sin and death
3Relationship between me and Adam
4Relationship between Christ and myself

1Relationship between man and sin (5:12)

Connection has consequences
One man and one sin – sin enters
Sin is not simply a practice but sin is:

iSin as a motive (5:2)
iiSin as a man (5:6)
iiiSin as a monarch (5:12)
ivSin as a master (5:14)
vSin as a monster (5:23)

2Relationship between sin and death

Sin produces death
Sin is not a private matter of personal practices
Sin is viewed in scripture relative to God
“sin is lawlessness” and the law in view is Gods law
Sin is falling short of the Glory of God (Rom3:23)
Sin thus separates between me and God (Isa59:2)
Sin is not a private matter – it impacts on my relationship with God
Sin is not simply a practice
3Relationship between me and Adam

“for that all have sinned...”
Does this mean:

iThat all die because we have all committed sins? i.e. because we all repeat Adams disaster we all repeat Adams death?
iiBecause of Adams sin we all die and are affected by that one sin of Adam?

Notice:

iThe past tense of “all have sinned” - this is a sin in the past
iiNotice the parallelism and symmetry in v12:

A - “sin entered” - Adams Sin
B - “death by sin” - Adams Death
B - “death passed upon all” - My Death
A - “all have sinned” - My Sin

Is there not a missing step between B and B? What about the sin of all as the cause of the death of all?
The point is that it is not the sin of all that causes the death of all but the sin of Adam that guarantees the death of all.
Personal sin certainly confirms the diagnosis and at times accelerates the outcome:

i“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Gal 6:7-8)

Adam's sin brings Adams death but Adams sin also brings my death.


iiiDeath is present even where sin is not imputed (Rom 5:13-14) for death is the result of the presence of the principle of sin rather than the result of the practice of sin. So even in the absence of personally committed sin death still reigns – because death comes not from my sin but from Adams!

ivThese verses are the foundation stones which are being laid by the apostle to allow us an understanding of how it is we can receive the “reconciliation” that Christ has achieved for us at Calvary, as we will see the repetition of Adams sin in my life is no more required to bring about my death than is the repetition of Christ's atoning work in my life is required to bring about my salvation and eternal life. The reception of salvation and eternal life is based upon precisely the same principle as the reception of death and condemnation from Adam (Rom 5:18-19). We die first and foremost because we belong to Adam. We live because of our relationship to Christ (Rom 5:18-19).

Why is it that Adams sin should pass to me with its consequences?

iHe is the federal head of the human race – the representative man
iiAll human life was potential in Adam (Gen 2:7)
iiiCorruption of humanity spiritually is actually passed down to me today

So with this comes:

iDeath of the innocent
iiDeath of the unborn
iiiThe suffering of the child


Notice that in this section the apostle is not trying to explain away these problems he is taking them as accepted facts of life.
How often have we heard: 'well if there is a God why... do infants die...do the innocent suffer....did my...'
He is not trying to apologise for them on Gods behalf
He acknowledges the facts and features of this world and then asks the question: 'well what does this tell me about the way that the moral and spiritual laws of the universe operate?' Do they tell me anything?
Does this not tell me that: connection has consequences and that relationship brings results?
This spiritual law, fundamental to the way the universe operates is responsible for so much suffering and death but it is also the route by which my salvation comes!
For if guilt can be transferred by relationship so can Glory!
If sin can be transferred by relationship so too can salvation!
If condemnation can be transferred by relationship so too can justification!
If relationship with Adam brings death then relationship with Christ brings life!


Listen online to : Romans Chp 5 Vs 12 to 21 : 'Making Happiness Happen'


Tuesday 21 July 2009

Romans Chp 5 Vs 12 to 21 – Suffering - My Relationship with Adam

Posted in by JS Gillespie |

There are probably only a handful of reasons for rejecting the Word of God and the Gospel

Most of these reasons are poorly thought out

Amongst them the most serious objection:

The problem of Suffering and in particular the suffering of the innocent:

CS Lewis:

  1. If God is good He would desire His creatures to be happy

  2. If God is all powerful He would be able to make His creatures happy

  3. His creatures are not happy

  4. Therefore God is either not good, not all powerful or both

This is the problem of suffering

There are at least 3 possible responses to this problem:

  1. To deny the existence / power / benevolence of God

  2. To pretend, as do many Christians, that yet suffering happens but bad things only happen to bad people and good things happen to good people! This is really a reflection of personal conceit and pride rather than a reflection of any appreciation of the scriptures and tends only to last so longs as the believer evades suffering!

  3. To be honest - to acknowledge the problem is real and to attempt and to draw from it an understanding of the principles and laws that underpin the universe in which we live.

The apostle Paul does not have the luxury of being able to find a solution to the problem of suffering by denying the reality of God!

He does not live in ignorance!

Paul knows that God has revealed Himself in:

  1. Creation (Rom 1)

  2. Conscience (Rom 2)

  3. Covenant (Rom2 + 3)

  4. Christ (Rom 3 + 4)

None of these revelations will go away

As much as Saul of Tarsus would at one point have loved to have been able to deny the reality of at least the final of these Divine revelations - the evidence of the reality of God in Christ was so compelling on the Damascus Road that his life was forever changed!

The apostle Paul will approach the problem of suffering not from a position of ignorance but with the very real experience and appreciation of God in creation, conscience, covenant and Christ.

As Paul approaches this problem of suffering in the power of the Spirit rather than with the unbelief of the flesh we will see something completely glorious emerging from this perhaps greatest challenge to the Christian faith

We will see that in the seed plot of Adams sin there is germinating the glory of Christ's Salvation

As we look at the suffering of the innocent:

  1. 7 million children murdered in their mothers womb in Britain since 1967

  2. Starving children in Africa

  3. Children born with HIV infection

Paul will ask : if the suffering of the innocent is real and if God is real what does this tell me about the moral order of the universe and the laws upon which this world is founded?

From this Paul will draw a glorious lesson from this problem of suffering

A lesson that underpins and points to the very means of Gods salvation

A lesson that answers and explains verse 11: 'how is it that we receive the atonement?'

  1. Relationship brings results

  2. Contact has consequences

From this Paul will turn the problem 180 degrees around from being the biggest challenge of the Christian faith to being the biggest confirmation of the very means of the Christian faith!

Don't miss this!

  • If contact with dead man brings death what will contact with a living man bring?

  • If contact with an unrighteous man brings condemnation what will contact with a righteous man bring?

  • If contact with a sinner brings sin what will contact with a Saviour bring?

The Problem of Suffering brings before us on a daily, powerful and undeniable basis the very spiritual principles upon which our salvation is based!

4 Relationships to explore:

  1. Relationship between man and sin

  2. Relationship between sin and death

  3. Relationship between me and Adam

  4. Relationship between Christ and myself

There are 2 main ways over the years which have been used to provide a panoramic view of the bible, an overview of everything in the word of God:

  1. Dispensationalism

  • Recognises the distinction in Gods dealings with men

  • Differences in the way God expresses His grace:

  1. Age of Innocence - Eden

  2. Age of Conscience – Adam to Moses

  3. Age of Law – Moses to Christ

  4. Age of Grace – Christ from His birth to His return

  5. Age / Day of Wrath – tribulation

  6. Age / Day of God – millennium and eternity

  • We can see some of these here:

  1. Age of Innocence (5:12)

  2. Age of Conscience (5:13-14)

  3. Age of Law (5:14,20)

  4. Age of Grace (5:20-21)

  5. Age of Wrath (5:9)

  6. Age of God (5:2)

  1. Covenant Theology

  • Emphasises the consistency of Gods character

  • Sadly this had led many to conclude that because the character of God remains the same that there can be no distinction in His dealings with men

  • In Romans 5 we can see the consistency of Gods character – for the way men have always been saved is the way they are saved today: by Grace, through faith, in Christ and by relationship with Christ.

  1. Relationship between man and sin (5:12)

  • Connection has consequences

  • One man and one sin – sin enters

  • Sin is not simply a practice but sin is:

  1. Sin is a principle

  2. Sin is a power

  3. Sin is a person / personified

  • Sin stands with its hand on the handle of the gate ready to enter Eden (5:12)

  1. Sin as a motive (5:2)

  2. Sin as a man (5:6)

  3. Sin as a monarch (5:12)

  4. Sin as a master (5:14)

  5. Sin as a monster (5:23)

  • When sin is dabbled with it “enters” (5:12)

  • The action is not the end of sin – it is the beginning – the door is opened to sin.

  • I don't understand this I though that sin was an action:

  1. Sins of commission – what I do

  2. Sins of omission – what I don't do

  • 1 John 3sin is lawlessness

  • Is sin not simply a breaking of Gods law?

  • We all make mistakes don't we?

  • So what's the big deal?

  • Are you not exaggerating the problem?

  • Sin: “hamartia” : missing the mark

  • The question is whose mark? Gods mark! Gods standard! Gods law!

  • It is natural and tempting for us as human beings to think of sin in terms of what it means for us as human beings: health problems, broken marriages, broken homes, broken bones, disease, death, theft, corruption, injustice etc., all of these things are the human side of sin.

  • The bible views sin however primarily from the Divine side – what sin means to God, and how God responds to sin and what the effects of sin are for man before his God!

  • But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen 2:17)

  • What was so special about the tree? Was it magic fruit?

  • Was there some kind of strange chemistry in the fruit that brought spiritual knowledge?

  1. I very much doubt it: “that which is of the flesh is flesh and that which is of the spirit is spirit” - I find it very difficult to imagine how the partaking of a particular food can modify a person spiritually.

  2. I also find it very difficult to understand how God could create something which is of itself and by its nature evil! “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” (Gen 1:31) – the fruit itself was not inherently evil.

  • The problem came in the eating of the fruit rather than the fruit itself!

  • In eating the fruit I disobey the creator and in disobeying the creator I drive a wedge between me and He who is the author and sustainer of my life, therefore the consequence of that sin is: “in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen 2:17)

  • The only prohibition given to Adam in Eden – if he trusted God on it, he drew near to God if he didn't trust God on it he drove a wedge between him and God.

  • But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isa 59:2)

  • Our relationship with sin fractures our relationship with God.

  • With that sin not only have we lost our link with God but with that sin comes Satan

  • Personality is linked with sin in this section and it is more than a figure of speech:

  1. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1Pe 5:8)

  1. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”

(2Co 11:14)

  1. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:” (Luk 22:31)

  • I don't think that chp 6 deals with sin in a mythical or mystical or magical way but in a clear and down to earth way.

  • We need to stop thinking about sin as simply a practice but rather to think of sin with its consequences – even the sin that goes unknown / unnoticed by others – brings the same effect of separation.

  1. Relationship between sin and death

  • Sin produces death

  • Sin is not a private matter of personal practices

  • Sin is viewed in scripture relative to God

  • sin is lawlessness” and the law in view is Gods law

  • Sin is falling short of the Glory of God (Rom3:23)

  • Sin thus separates between me and God (Isa59:2)

  • Sin is not a private matter – it impacts on my relationship with God

  • Sin is not simply a practice

  1. Relationship between me and Adam

  • for that all have sinned...”

  • Does this mean:

  1. That all die because we have all committed sins? i.e. because we all repeat Adams disaster we all repeat Adams death?

  2. Because of Adams sin we all die and are affected by that one sin of Adam?

  • Notice:

  1. The past tense of “all have sinned” - this is a sin in the past

  2. Notice the parallelism and symmetry in v12:

A - “sin entered” - Adams Sin

B - “death by sin” - Adams Death

B - “death passed upon all” - My Death

A - “all have sinned” - My Sin

  • Is there not a missing step between B and B? What about the sin of all as the cause of the death of all?

  • The point is that it is not the sin of all that causes the death of all but the sin of Adam that guarantees the death of all.

  • Personal sin certainly confirms the diagnosis and at times accelerates the outcome:

  1. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Gal 6:7-8)

  • Adam's sin brings Adams death but Adams sin also brings my death.

  1. Death is present even where sin is not imputed (Rom 5:13-14) for death is the result of the presence of the principle of sin rather than the result of the practice of sin. So even in the absence of personally committed sin death still reigns – because death comes not from my sin but from Adams!

  1. These verses are the foundation stones which are being laid by the apostle to allow us an understanding of how it is we can receive the “reconciliation” that Christ has achieved for us at Calvary, as we will see the repetition of Adams sin in my life is no more required to bring about my death than is the repetition of Christ's atoning work in my life is required to bring about my salvation and eternal life. The reception of salvation and eternal life is based upon precisely the same principle as the reception of death and condemnation from Adam (Rom 5:18-19). We die first and foremost because we belong to Adam. We live because of our relationship to Christ (Rom 5:18-19).

  • Why is it that Adams sin should pass to me with its consequences?

  1. He is the federal head of the human race – the representative man

  2. All human life was potential in Adam (Gen 2:7)

  3. Corruption of humanity spiritually is actually passed down to me today

  • So with this comes:

  1. Death of the innocent

  2. Death of the unborn

  3. The suffering of the child

  • Notice that in this section the apostle is not trying to explain away these problems he is taking them as accepted facts of life.

  • How often have we heard: 'well if there is a God why... do infants die...do the innocent suffer....did my...'

  • He is not trying to apologise for them on Gods behalf

  • He acknowledges the facts and features of this world and then asks the question: 'well what does this tell me about the way that the moral and spiritual laws of the universe operate?' Do they tell me anything?

  • Does this not tell me that: connection has consequences and that relationship brings results?

  • This spiritual law, fundamental to the way the universe operates is responsible for so much suffering and death but it is also the route by which my salvation comes!

  • For if guilt can be transferred by relationship so can Glory!

  • If sin can be transferred by relationship so too can salvation!

  • If condemnation can be transferred by relationship so too can justification!

  • If relationship with Adam brings death then relationship with Christ brings life!

  1. Relationship between Christ and myself

  1. Sin (chps 1 to 3) – why I need to be saved

  2. Salvation (chps 3 to 4) – How I can be saved

  3. Standing (chp 5:1-2) – Now that I am saved

  4. Suffering (chp 5:3-5) – Why do I suffer now that I am saved? What God brings from that suffering.

  5. Setting (5:6-11) – When God saved me (5:6,8,10)

  6. Saviour (5:12-21) – connecting with Gods Grace

  • v11 concludes with: “by whom we have now received the atonement

  • How do we actually “receive the reconciliation

  • Not a formality / baptism / practice / sinners prayer

  • Receiving salvation comes from a relationship with the Saviour (5:12-21)

  • Now that is very interesting because that is what we saw in chps 3 + 4 had been happening for the previous 4000 years:

  1. Justification by faith is nothing new

  2. Justification by faith is faith in a person

  • These OT saints all depended upon Christ for Justification:

  1. Moses:Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.” (Heb 11:26); Deut 32:2-4; 15-18; 1 Co10:1-4 that rock was Christ” (1Co11:1-4).

  2. Abraham: Gal3:8, 16 – the Gospel of the future blessing in Christ; John 8:56.

  3. David: Psalm 110:1; Heb 1:13; Matt 22:41-46: David's Lord was Christ! Acts 2:25, 29-32; Psalm 16 & 22.

  4. Daniel: Daniel 10:5-18; 8:15; 10:9-10, 16; Rev 1:13-17 – Daniel encountered the same person as did John!

  5. Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego in the fiery furnace (Dan 3:25-26) who will protect them in the flames? Surely the God whom they serve, the “Son of God”.

  6. Prophets: Moved by the Spirit of Christ (1Peter1:11)

  7. Elijah and Moses : present with Christ on the Mount of transfiguration (Mark 9)

  • These OT saints all depended upon Christ for Justification!

  • Justification then we would conclude from the pattern of the OT scriptures came when these OT believers exerted faith in a Person, the Person of Christ, rather than Faith in a Process or faith in their understanding of a process!

  • Some did not understand the process but they benefited from it by faith in the Person!

  • The gospel per se was only first spoken of by Christ and the apostles: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;” (Heb 2:3)

  • For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.” (Mat 13:17)

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https://graceinchrist.org/romans
Wednesday 8 July 2009

Romans Chp 5 Verses 6 to 11: 'Rejoicing in Vomit'

Posted in by JS Gillespie |
What is the point of this section?
Sometimes it is possible to read a section of scripture and get a message, get a few points, get an encouragement, get a help, get a life, get a boost but I often ask myself: did I get the point? Did I get the purpose for which it was written?
What is the point to chapter 5.
A heavy chapter of doctrine, often quoted in the gospel 5:6,8,12.
Great doctrinal subjects such as:

1The sovereignty of God
2The plan of salvation
3The all sufficiency of Gods Grace

See in the 3 sections that Gods Grace is sufficient for and Gods purposes are Sovereign over:

1Life's Problems (5:1-5)
2Salvation's Plan (5:6-11)
3Man's Plight (5:12-21)

Or to put it another way He is enough for the:

1Worries of Life (5:1-5)
2Weakness of Self (5:6-11)
3Wickedness of Man (5:12-21)

I can rest in His all Sufficient Grace in:

1Life's Distresses (5:1-5)
2My Disabilities (5:6-11)
3Worlds Disasters (5:12-21)

Yet Romans 5 is a fascinating chapter, for whilst it deals with so many of the great themes and subjects of the gospel and whilst it fits into the flow of the epistle so far:

1Sin (Chps 1 to 3)
2Salvation (Chps 3 to 4)
3Standing in Grace (5:1-2)


Romans 5 is not written as a chapter in a text book to explain the doctrines of the gospel.
This is not a chapter for the intellectually curious
This is not a chapter written to satisfy our inquisitiveness about how it all works and why the world is as it is, why life's problems are as they are, why the innocent die and how the righteousness of Christ can be transferred to the sinner.
This is a section which really breaks off from the main line of the teaching given so far to develop one particular theme and explain one particular issue:
“... and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we rejoice in tribulations also...” (Rom 5:2-3)
We move from 'rejoicing' in our salvation in the future to 'rejoicing' in the every day problems of life.
The real issue that sparks off this development in the epistle of the Romans lies in this question: did I not put my trust and commit my salvation to:

1A Saviour who is all powerful? - Yes certainly : "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matt28:18)
2A Saviour who is all knowing? - Yes certainly : "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee." (John21:17)
3A Saviour who is all wise? - Yes certainly: "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col2:3)
4A Saviour who is always with me?- Yes certainly: "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matt 28:20)

Well if that is true then how come I am having a hard time?'
We need answers to that kind of a question!
Does Christianity have real power or is it some kind of spiritual homoeopathy? All very nice, not do you any harm but lacking any active ingredient?

  • Christ died in chapter 3
  • I've just got saved in chapter 4
  • Then why am I having trouble in my life in chapter 5?
Can't we just cut the tribulation and get to the triumph? Please??
Is the believers faith just pie in the sky when you die?
If so then herein lies one of the great assurances of the reality of Christian experience, one of the great confirmations of the reality and genuineness of the relationship with God established by justification by faith for if salvation is just pie in the sky when you die then the furnace of affliction ought to produce from the Christian the ashes of Christian crumble.
Actually and amazingly it doesn't!
The apostle who writes in Romans 5 : "we rejoice in tribulations also" (Rom5:3) is the same apostle who recounts his trials and sufferings in 2 Co11:23-28!
How do we reconcile these 2 passages as coming from the pen of the same man?
Either we have here:

1.A man who has been cracked by the trials of life or
2.A man who has cracked the trials of life: a man for whom the veil that separates the purposes of a sovereign God in eternity and the pain of mortal man in time has just split apart, so that with unclouded sight he is able to penetrate the mists of Divine purpose and with the hymn writer he is able to 'trace the rainbow through the rain.'

Has he found a God who is able to triumph in life's tragedies?
Has he found that life's problems are but the prelude to a deeper and richer experience of the presence of God?

In:
1Life's Problems (5:1-5)
2Salvation's Plan (5:6-11)
3Man's Plight (5:12-21)

In the:

1Worries of Life (5:1-5)
2Weakness of Self (5:6-11)
3Wickedness of Man (5:12-21)

In:

1Life's Distresses (5:1-5)
2My Disabilities (5:6-11)
3Worlds Disasters (5:12-21)


Is this not a consistent pattern right the way through the word of God?
Are there not a number of such moments in the Word of God?
Moments when all seems dark, bleak, lost, hopeless and finished, when the darkness of despair comes like a storm cloud over the landscape carved by the love and gracious purposes of God? But is it not the case that even the toil of man's tragedy is used to sow the seeds of Gods triumph?
Are we not so often left asking the question: 'Is nothing too great for our God?'
Consider the 'wow' moments of scripture:

  • Daniel 3 - Shadrach, Meschech and Abednigo in the fiery furnace and then "one like unto the Son of God"
  • Daniel 6 - Out of the jaws of the lion: "O king live forever"
  • Exodus 14 - the people of Israel trapped between the armies of Pharaoh and the Red Sea, they're mad, 300,000 unarmed civilians, what do you think Pharaohs armies are going to do when they reach them? Ask them nicely if they would like to come back home? This nation responsible for the death of every first-born in the land? Caught between the sea and the soldiers: "stand still and see the salvation of the Lord" Praise the Lord that Exodus 14 is followed by Moses Song of triumph in Exodus 15
  • Jonah 3 - A great fish washed up onto dry land, vomits and there in the vomit: 'look dad there's a man in the vomit!' Our God is a God who is able even to use vomit for His Glory! He is able to bring Glory out of the flames of Dan 3, out of the lions mouth in Dan 6, through the flood of Exodus 14 and yes even out of vomit! Ever considered why the account of Jonahs experience are recorded in all their stomach churning detail? Because as that man arises out the vomit, God will use Him as instrumental in the conversion of over 1 million people; calculation based on there being 120,000 children under 5 and a fairly even distribution of ages between 0 and 50 years = 1.2 million people! How would we reach 1.2 million people for Christ? 12 million tracts? The God channel? Radio? Power Point? How does God start? With vomit!

Romans 5 deals with some heady theology, deep questions, heavy doctrine but all of it arises from 1 simple question: If God is sovereign how come I'm having a hard time?
The clue is in the crises!
In Romans 5 I trace the total sovereignty of God in all things!
Every aspect of human experience is under His control!
What is the meaning of Romans 5?
What is heavens purpose behind earth's pain?
The opening 2 verses of chapter 5 clearly follow on from the subject of the preceding sections:

1.Sin (chps 1 to 3)
2.Salvation (chps 3 & 4)
3.Standing in Grace (5:1-2)

The opening 2 verses of chapter 5 follow on logically and progressively in the development of the chapter so far
We have already seen that in chapter 4 the great subject of justification by faith is:

1.Justification by faith is nothing new
2.Justification by faith is faith in a person
3.Justification by faith is by faith alone
4.Justification by faith is a full salvation
5.Justification by faith is the beginning not the end

Since Justification by faith is the beginning not the end what could be more reasonable and logical than for chapter 5 to open up with the consequences, the result of this justification, what does it bring me to? It brings me into a relationship with the Lord: into this grace wherein we stand.
From the end of verse 2 the chapter then goes off at something of a tangent from the theme so far and the remainder of the chapter really pick up on the closing words of verse 2 : "we rejoice in hope of the Glory of God"
This them of rejoicing is then pick up on in verse 3: "and not only so but we rejoice in tribulations also...."
This theme of rejoicing which flows from our salvation flows through the whole chapter!
A rejoicing that flows through:

1Life's Problems (5:1-5)
2Salvation's Plan (5:6-11)
3Man's Plight (5:12-21)

1Worries of Life (5:1-5)
2Weakness of Self (5:6-11)
3Wickedness of Man (5:12-21)

1Life's Distresses (5:1-5)
2My Disabilities (5:6-11)
3Worlds Disasters (5:12-21)
How can this be?
For my God is Sovereign and His Grace is sufficient in every trial and difficulty of life.
That joy that flows from our salvation is able to permeate every aspect of our life.
Every aspect of our life?
Is there any limit?
In Romans 5 there is no limit! He is in control of:

1Life's Problems (5:1-5)
2Salvation's Plan (5:6-11)
3Man's Plight (5:12-21)

1Worries of Life (5:1-5)
2Weakness of Self (5:6-11)
3Wickedness of Man (5:12-21)

1Life's Distresses (5:1-5)
2My Disabilities (5:6-11)
3Worlds Disasters (5:12-21)

Working all for His Glory:

In Life's Problems He's there (5:1-5) bringing patience and experience and hope from those experiences
In Salvations Plan He's there, before it starts (5:6, 8, 10)
In Man's Plight He is sovereign (5:12-21) - Adam may have brought the disaster but Christ has brought the deliverance - Adam is the figure but Christ is the fullness

The reason for tribulations lies in 5:6 : " For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly"
God saves:

1.By His Strength
2.In His Season
3.By His Son

The way God Saves is the way God Sanctifies
The way God begins His work is the way God completes His work in us
He molds us in our misery
He transforms me in my trials
It is when my strength is gone that I draw on His strength, when my mind has reached the limits of its understanding that I draw on His wisdom and when my resources have proven insufficient that I draw on His infinite resources: " Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches:" (Jer 9:23) when my:

1.Wisdom
2.Work
3.Wealth

Comes to an end then I draw from the depths of His resources in Christ.
The principles by which God deals with us in Salvation (5:6-11) are the same as the principles by which He deals with me in tribulation and sanctification (5:1-5)
So I can see:

1.The Results of Tribulation (5:1-5) - Fruit - 'patience,' 'experience,' 'hope,' 'faith'
2.The Reason for Tribulations (5:6-11)
3.The Resources in Tribulations (5:6-11) - God (5:5), The Holy Spirit (5:5), The Person of Christ (5:6-11)
4.The Reassurance from Tribulations

The Resources in Tribulations (5:6-11) -
God (5:5)
The Holy Spirit (5:5)
The Person of Christ (5:6-11)

1.By His Strength
2.In His Season
3.By His Son

A trinitarian section:

1.The Spirit (v5)
2.God the Father (v5)
3.The Son (v6-11)


6 verses from 5:6 to 5:11 - all of Christ:

4/6 verses Christ is named - v6, v8, v10, v11
1/6 verses has a personal pronoun for Christ (v9)
The remaining verse is all about the work of Christ (v7)

When God works in Salvation and when God works in Sanctification it is all of Christ
Notice what these verses do not say:

1.Christ died for those without strength
2.Christ died for sinners
3.Christ died for His enemies

All of that would be true and that is often what we take from those verses but that is not quite what these verses are saying
These verses go beyond that
The subject of these verse is not so much about my standing before God in my:

1.Strength (lack of it) (5:6)
2.Sin (5:8)
3.Status as an enemy (5:10)

Rather these verses are really about the setting of His redemptive plan, notice the difference:

1."when we were yet without strength"
2."while we were yet sinners"
3."when we were enemies"

These verses are not simply describing my status or standing before God but rather they are describing the setting or season of His redemptive work in Christ!
These verses not only point out my weakness but they point out His sufficiency
These verses don't preach half a gospel message!
Here is:

Despair that leads to deliverance
Crises that leads to Christ

These verses not only record my trouble but more than that they record Gods timing
The glorious subject of these verses is His:

1.Substitutionary Death (v6, v8, v10)
2.Sufficiency of His Resurrection Life (v8, v10)

The Reassurance from Tribulations:

Notice again how the chapter is building up:

1Life's Problems (5:1-5)
2Salvation's Plan (5:6-11)
3Man's Plight (5:12-21)

1Worries of Life (5:1-5)
2Weakness of Self (5:6-11)
3Wickedness of Man (5:12-21)

1Life's Distresses (5:1-5)
2My Disabilities (5:6-11)
3Worlds Disasters (5:12-21)

Do you see the pattern?
Do you see how we move from:

My personal experience (5:1-5) to
Gods plan expounded and explained in scripture (5:6-11) to
The expectation of Christ's triumph over all of man's sin and suffering and sorrow (5:12-21)

We move from:

what we have experienced in our own private and personal trials and tragedies to
an understanding of what is unfolded in scripture in Christ and the onto
what is yet unseen and not yet fulfilled but expected of Christ's triumph in the depth of man's sin and failure

Each step leads us deeper and deeper into an understanding of Gods purposes and into a deeper and deeper faith in His sovereign power and ability
How far does His power and authority go?
How broad are His Shoulders?
Is he able to bring opportunity out of all trials of life - yes and more than that!

God does not only bring opportunity out of the tribulations but He brings the trial with its opportunity!
Where are the boundaries of my rejoicing in the midst of adversity?
Romans 5 - says there are none!
We need not wonder - is there a solution to every problem
We can rest in this - that was there no solution - there would be no problem!
He is Sovereign over all - if He is not sovereign over all, He is not Sovereign at all!
Consider how the Roman Emperor Hadrian had to build his wall - to stop the Scots; a wild and barbaric bunch, especially round about dinner time! Hadrian knew if he was to be ruler of Britain he had to be ruler of all
There is no Hadrian's wall in Gods sovereignty! There are no no go areas, there are no cul-de-sac out with His authority!
I can rejoice in every circumstance of life!
Betsy Ten Boom: "There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still"



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