ROMANS 5

ONE RIGHTEOUS MAN PAID FOR THE SINS OF HUMANITY

Paul shares the good news that faith in Jesus has granted believers access to God's grace. This access brings hope and causes believers to rejoice, knowing they have been given right-standing with God. Believers will be able to rejoice even in their suffering, because they will know that suffering leads to endurance, which leads to character, which leads to hope. Paul writes that the hope of believers will not put them to shame—trusting in God only leads to increased faith and rejoicing!

Paul highlights God’s love for His people, despite their sinful nature. Because Jesus took on the wrath of God and served as a payment for sin, believers are reconciled and made righteous before God. Because God and Jesus are unified, God served as both the Creator of humanity and the solution for humanity.

Showing the contrast between sin and forgiveness, Paul compares Jesus and Adam. Through Adam, sin first entered the world (Genesis 3). Ever since, humanity has been born into a sinful, fallen world. Offering the hope of Jesus, Paul states that just as sin came from one person, salvation comes from one person: Jesus! Jesus is called the new Adam, a leader of a new faith and God’s response to sin. Jesus offers the hope of new life and eternal life, where grace abounds and sin is forgiven.

Romans 5:8 - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.