Roman 5 - 6

From Justification to Salvation

Chapters 5 and 6 of Romans are powerful and clear messages that not only did God justify us by faith, but he then saved us by His grace through Jesus Christ.  "We were utterly helpless" (5:6), but Jesus Christ came to die for us even though we were sinners.  Paul illustrates this tremendous grace of God by asking, would you die for a righteous man, or even a great man?  Jesus chose to die for us even when we were sinners, thus we should grow to live for Him.

Adam, the first son of God, introduced sin into the human race by disobeying the command of God to avoid and not partake of the tree of knowledge.  Adam, though still God's son, was unable to redeem the human race from its fallen condition because of sin.  Jesus, the Son of God, came without sin, through the virgin birth, to redeem all of us.  Where sin entered through the first man, Adam, grace and salvation came through the second Adam, Jesus Christ, who remained sinless.

Through His perfect sacrifice all the requirements of the law were met and the Grace of God was ushered in through a new covenant with God and man.  This provide freedom from the bondage of sin.  Paul entertains the rhetorical question, "Since God's grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning?" (6:15).  No!  To be free from the bondage of sin through grace, gives us the privilege and responsibility to live for Him and display His salvation.  We are free!