Sunday, January 15, 2017
Daily reading assignment: Romans 5-6
Today’s scripture reading is so vast in addressing the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith that there is neither time nor space for me to do this study justice. Rather than a lengthy dissertation on matters of sin, grace, atonement, justification and salvation; allow me to suggest a simple amplification for those verses that brought me to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:6-8 – For when we were yet without strength [feeble; powerless; incapable of atoning for our own sins], in due time [fitting or proper time appointed by God] Christ died for the ungodly [sinners].
7 For scarcely [hardly to be expected] for a righteous [just] man will one die [die in his place]: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die [give their life].
8 But God commendeth [exhibited; demonstrated] his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us [as our substitute; in our place].
Romans 5:12 – Wherefore, as by one man sin [the sin of Adam, the first man] entered into the world [sin being the violation of God’s Law], and death by sin [the effect of sin]; and so death passed upon all men [spread like a plague or blight], for that all have sinned [humans are born with the nature of sin]:
Romans 5:18-19 – Therefore as by the offence of one [Adam, the first man] judgment came upon all men [the whole human race] to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [Jesus Christ] the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life [the forgiveness of sin is to all who receive Christ’s gift of salvation and atonement].
19 For as by one man’s [Adam, the first man] disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one [Jesus Christ] shall many be made righteous.
Romans 5:20-21 – Moreover the law entered [was given], that the offence might abound [be more apparent]. But where sin abounded [increased], grace [God’s unmerited favor] did much more abound [superabounded]:
21 That as sin hath reigned [rule as master] unto death, even so might grace reign [i.e. reign triumphant] through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:6 – Knowing this, that our old man [man of flesh; corrupt sinful nature] is crucified [put to death; lit. impaled on a stake] with him, that the body of sin [our old sinful flesh] might be destroyed [annihilated; put to death], that henceforth we should not serve sin [be subject or under bondage to the power of sin].
Romans 6:11-14 – Likewise reckon [judge] ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin [no longer under the power of sin], but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign [have dominion] in your mortal body [in your body and spirit], that ye should obey it [power and dominion of sin] in the lusts [sinful desies] thereof.
13 Neither yield [present] ye your members [i.e. members of the body…tongue, feet, hands] as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin [i.e. under the dominion of sin]: but yield [present; dedicate; devote] yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [i.e. members of the body…tongue, feet, hands] as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion [power] over you: for ye are not under the law [recognizing that we cannot be justified by obeying the law], but under grace [God’s unmerited favor].
Romans 6:23 – For the wages [payment, reward or consequences] of sin is death [physical and separation from God]; but the gift [i.e. spiritual endowment] of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Copyright 2017 – Travis D. Smith