Off the Shelf Sunday School--Romans

The Benefits of Justification by Faith (5:1-11)

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.      

1.    Those who are born-again through faith in Jesus have peace with God. We become adopted children who are abundantly loved, rather than enemies and objects of wrath. (Jn 1:12-13; Eph 2:1-9)

2.    Why do Christians rejoice in “the hope of the glory of God?” (Col 3:4; 1 Pet 5:10; 1 Jn 3:1-3) Is this hope certain or uncertain? How will you be different when you have the glory of God?

3.    How does suffering for Jesus strengthen our faith and make us more like Jesus? How have you suffered for Jesus? (Mt 24:9; Jn 15:20)

4.    The Holy Spirit causes a spiritual birth through faith in Jesus. He indwells born-again believers and works to change their thinking, character and behavior. The presence of the Holy Spirit is the evidence of our salvation. Salvation is certain, for the calling of God to those he has chosen to be heirs of salvation is permanent. (Ti 3:4-7; Php 1:6, 2:12-13; Eph 1:11-14)

5.    The death of Jesus on the cross is a one-time payment for sins that forgives those who have faith. This is a legal payment to meet the demands of God’s justice for sins. (Rom 6:23) Because Jesus rose from the dead, he lives to intercede for us and so our salvation is secure. When we die and are judged as sinners, Jesus will be there to guarantee our salvation. (Heb 7:23-25; 10:8-14)