Romans Chapter 5

Scripture Translations

Romans 5:1 AMPC - Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.

The Cross

The Law of Empowerment: God Changes Us from the Inside Out
John Maxwell: NKJV John Maxwell Leadership Bible

Romans 5:12-21

God's leadership is transformational. Paul carefully compares and contrasts Adam's work with Christ's and shows the fundamental changes God makes in us. He radically and permanently changes His people from the inside out.

God never demans conduct that He doesn't first empower His followers to achieve. Romans provides a virtual survey of New Testament theology and of God's empowering leadership:

1. He liberates. He frees us from the chains, stains, and pains of the past.
2. He elevates. He embraces us and lifts us up to reign with Him.
3. He educates. He gives us wise counsel and future direction.
4. He compensates. He fills areas where we are weak or lack competence.
5. He motivates. He is our source of vision, hope, and purpose.
6. He regenerates. He transforms us to live on a higher level by His supernatural resources.
7. He activates. He commissions us to obey and move forward in His cause.

From NKJV Maxwell Leadership Bible, John Maxwell

Teaching Videos

​Commentaries

Romans Chapter 5:1-5

Romans 5:1-5 NKJV - Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perserverance; and perserverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

NKJV MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition

Romans 5:4 character. A better translation is “proven character.” The Gr. word simply means “proof.” It was used of testing metals to determine their purity. Here the proof is Christian character (cf. James 1:12). Christians can glory in tribulations because of what those troubles produce.

From NKJV MacArthur Study Bible

Joyce Meyer - The Everyday Life Bible

Romans 5:5 says that the love of God is poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, Who He gave to us. This simply means that when the Lord, in the form of the Holy Spirit, comes to dwell in our hearts through our faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, He brings love with Him, because God is love (see 1 John 4:8).

We all need to ask ourselves is what we are doing with the love of God that has been given freely to us. Do we reject it because we don't think we are valuable enough to be loved? Do we believe God is like other people who have rejected and hurt us? Or do we receive His love by faith, believing that He is greater than our failures and weaknesses?

What kind of relationship do you have with God, with yourself, and ultimately with others?

NKJV Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible Notes

What the Bible says about the grace in which we stand (Romans 5:2)

God’s grace is founded in love, love that is not seasonal or temporary—the very love Jesus displayed at Calvary. In the Book of Romans, the apostle Paul wants us to have a firm mental picture of God’s grace in our lives. To do this he uses the phrase “this grace in which we stand” (Rom. 5:2).

For the believer, living in God’s grace is all-consuming. You can’t walk away from it, because God thinks, responds, and views us through the eyes of grace. We live in a sphere of grace, surrounded by His goodness.

Even when disappointments come, they arrive wrapped in the grace of God. Through grace, you walk in God’s favor, and through this gift of grace you have access to God the Father.

So when you think of your life before God, think of the way He wraps you in His loving care. Sure, at times you feel distracted from Him. Sin captures your attention or a sense of loneliness redirects your thoughts.

But there are no variables with God. He remains the same, just as His love toward you remains constant. Every good thing that comes your way is an act of His grace. Every answer to prayer is His personal response to your need.

From NKJV Charles F. Stanely Life Principles Bible

Wendy's thoughts on related scriptures

Romans 5:1 AMPC - Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

let us [grasp the fact that we] - It is always good to get greater revelation of God's love for us, all the Jesus has done for us, and the authority we have in Him.

Matthew 11:15 NLT - Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

Romans 5:1 NKJV - We have peace with God through Jesus Christ.

What happened to man's peace with God? Just thinking about Genesis and the Fall - the act of disobedience that separated us from God.

Genesis 3:1-7 NIV - Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"

"You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

"When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realised they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves."

Genesis 3:23-24 NIV - So the LROD God bansihed him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

Romans 5:2 NKJV - through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Through Jesus Christ we have peace with God (v1), and grace (v2). We don't deserve either.

Romans 8:5 NIV - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:2 AMPC - Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.

Jesus made a way for us to directly commune with God.

Hebrews 10:19-22 NKJV - Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Romans 5:1-2 The Message - By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us - set us right with him, make us fit for him - we have it all together because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand - out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.

What a beautiful moment of discovery - to find that God has already thrown open His door to us.

Romans 5:3-4 GOD'S WORD Translation - But that’s not all. We also brag when we are suffering. We know that suffering creates endurance, endurance creates character, and character creates confidence. 

In the suffering we need to be asking God, "What do you want me to learn through this?"

James 1:2-4 GOD'S WORD Translation - My brothers and sisters, be very happy when you are tested in different ways. You know that such testing of your faith produces endurance. Endure until your testing is over. Then you will be mature and complete, and you won’t need anything.

Romans 5:5 NKJV -  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

The wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit ...

John 14:26 AMPC - But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.

Romans 5:5 TPT - And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us!

Can you picture God's endless love cascading into your heart? Can you draw it or paint it?

Romans 5:5 GOD'S WORD Translation -  We’re not ashamed to have this confidence, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

We are not ashamed to have this confidence - a confidence that comes from knowing that God is at work, He has a plan and it is good.

Romans 8:28 AMPC - We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

Worship Songs

Romans Chapter 5:6-8

Romans 5:6-8 NIV - 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 person, though for a good person 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.

NKJV MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition

Romans 5:6 - Christ died for the ungodly. God’s love for His own is unwavering because it is not based on how lovable we are, but on the constancy of His own character; God’s supreme act of love came when we were at our most undesirable (cf. Matt. 5:46).

From NKJV MacArthur Study Bible

Case for Christ Study Bible

Romans 5:6 - Christ died for the ungodly. Christ’s love is grounded in God’s free grace and is not the result of any inherent worthiness found in its objects (human beings). In fact, it is lavished on us in spite of our undesirable character.

From Case for Christ Study Bible

Wendy's thoughts and related scriptures

Romans 5:8 NKJV - But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We are so undeserving of God's love.

John 3:16 NIV - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 4:19 NIV - We love because he first loved us.

Romans Chapter 5:9-11

Romans 5:9-11 NIV - Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Case for Christ Study Bible

Romans 5:10 God’s enemies. Humans are enemies of God, not the reverse. Thus the hostility must be removed from humans if reconciliation is to be accomplished. God took the initiative in bringing this about through the death of his Son (see v. 11Col 1:21–22 and note on 1:20).

From Case for Christ Study Bible

Warren W. Wiersbe - Be Right with God, yourself and others

Salvation from future wrath (Romans 5:9-10)

Paul argued from the lesser to the greater. If God saved us when we were enemies, surely He will keep on saving us now that we are His children. There is a wrath to come, but no true believer will experience it (1 Thess. 1:9-105:8-10). Paul further argued that if Christ’s death accomplished so much for us, how much more will He do for us in His life as He intercedes for us in heaven! “Saved by his life” refers to Romans 4:25: “raised again for [on account of] our justification.” Because He lives, we are eternally saved (Heb. 7:23-25).

A will is of no effect until the death of the one who wrote it. Then an executor takes over and sees to it that the will is obeyed and the inheritance distributed. But suppose the executor is unscrupulous and wants to get the inheritance for himself? He may figure out many devious ways to circumvent the law and steal the inheritance.

Jesus Christ wrote us into His will, and He wrote the will with His blood. “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:20). He died so that the will would be in force, but then He arose from the dead and returned to heaven that He might enforce the will Himself and distribute the inheritance. Thus, we are “saved by his life.”

From Warren W. Wiersbe - Be Right with God, yourself and others

Wendy's thoughts on related scriptures

Romans 5:9-10 The Message -  Now that we are set right with God by means of this sacrificial death, the consummate blood sacrifice, there is no longer a question of being at odds with God in any way. If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we're at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life! 

Question for us - How have our lives expanded and deepened since our salvation?

Romans 5:10 NKJV -  For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

We are saved by His life - Jesus saves us from the wrath of God. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 

Ephesians 1:7-8 NIV -  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.

Romans 5:11 NLT -  So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Rejoice. Rejoice. Rejoice. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father is restored through Jesus.

Philippians 4:4 NIV - Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Worship Songs

Romans Chapter 5:12-14

Romans 5:12-14 The Message -  You know the story of how Adam landed us in the dilemma we’re in—first sin, then death, and no one exempt from either sin or death. That sin disturbed relations with God in everything and everyone, but the extent of the disturbance was not clear until God spelled it out in detail to Moses. So death, this huge abyss separating us from God, dominated the landscape from Adam to Moses. Even those who didn’t sin precisely as Adam did by disobeying a specific command of God still had to experience this termination of life, this separation from God. But Adam, who got us into this, also points ahead to the One who will get us out of it.

NIV Quest Study Bible

Do some people get off the hook? (Romans 5:13-14)
Paul was not suggesting that some can escape the consequences of sin by pleading ignorance of the law. His point was that even before the law was given, sin and death exercised power over all humanity. Sin resulted in death even before the commands of the law had defined what sin was. Even when sin goes unrecognized or unacknowledged, it still has an effect.

From NIV Quest Study Bible

Wendy's thoughts on related scriptures

Romans 5:12 AMPC - Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man, and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men, [no one being able to stop it or to escape its power] because all men sinned.

no one being able to stop it or to escape its power - We are all sinners. Only Jesus gives us a way to overcome sin.

John 14:6 NLT - Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Romans 5:14 AMPC - Yet death held sway from Adam to Moses [the Lawgiver], even over those who did not themselves transgress [a positive command] as Adam did. Adam was a type (prefigure) of the One Who was to come [in reverse, the former destructive, the Latter saving].

Jesus was the only man who could save us from God's wrath.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 NLT - So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.

Worship Songs

Romans Chapter 5:15-17

Romans 5:15-17 CEB - But the free gift of Christ isn’t like Adam’s failure. If many people died through what one person did wrong, God’s grace is multiplied even more for many people with the gift—of the one person Jesus Christ—that comes through grace. The gift isn’t like the consequences of one person’s sin. The judgment that came from one person’s sin led to punishment, but the free gift that came out of many failures led to the verdict of acquittal. If death ruled because of one person’s failure, those who receive the multiplied grace and the gift of righteousness will even more certainly rule in life through the one person Jesus Christ.

Warren W. Wiersbe - Be Right with God, yourself and others

The two "reigns" are contrasted (Romans 5:17)

Because of Adam’s disobedience, death reigned. Read the “book of the generations of Adam” in Genesis 5, and note the solemn repetition of the phrase “and he died.” In Romans 5:14, Paul argued that men did not die “from Adam to Moses” for the same reason that Adam died–breaking a revealed law of God–for the law had not yet been given. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Because sin was reigning in men’s lives (Rom. 5:21), death was also reigning (Rom. 5:1417).

But in Jesus Christ we enter a new kingdom: “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 14:17). “Therefore being justified by faith,” we are declared righteous, we have peace with God, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Note that it is we who reign! “Much more they … shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” In Adam we lost our kingship, but in Jesus Christ we reign as kings. And we reign “much more”! Our spiritual reign is far greater than Adam’s earthly reign, for we share “abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness” (Rom. 5:17).

From: Warren W. Wiersbe - Be Right with God, yourself and others

New Spirit-Filled Life Bible

Romans 5:15-19  Paul refers to Adam as “a type” (v. 14) of Christ and draws an analogy between Adam and Christ. They are similar in the fact that their deeds have affected many people. However, their differences are more pronounced, and Paul gives a threefold contrast. First, Adam’s act was an offense, a deliberate going astray; Christ’s deed was one of grace (v. 15). Second, Adam’s sin resulted in condemnation and death, whereas Christ’s deed of grace brought justification and life (vv. 1617). Third, Adam is characterized by disobedience, while Christ is characterized by obedience (vv. 1819). We are in Adam by birth, but we are in Christ by faith. In Adam by birth we are condemned and die, but because of Christ’s redemptive work we can be justified and live if we are in Him by faith.

From New Spirit-Filled Life Bible

Wendy's thoughts on related scriptures

Romans 5:15 AMPC - But God’s free gift is not at all to be compared to the trespass [His grace is out of all proportion to the fall of man]. For if many died through one man’s falling away (his lapse, his offense), much more profusely did God’s grace and the free gift [that comes] through the undeserved favor of the one Man Jesus Christ abound and overflow to and for [the benefit of] many.

[His grace is out of all proportion to the fall of man] - we are not worthy of His grace.

Romans 5:16 NLT - But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.

This free gift is available to us now.

Romans 6:23 AMPC - For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Corinthians 9:15 AMPC - Now thanks be to God for His Gift, [precious] beyond telling [His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift]!

Ephesians 2:8 AMPC - For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;

Romans 5:17 AMPC - For if because of one man’s trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God’s] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

Through Jesus we can reign as kings in life.

Revelation 5:10 NIV - You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

An interesting article from Jerry Savelle Ministries ... "Reign as a king" August 21, 2020. Please note, by including this link I am not saying that I agree with all the information on this site, but rather it gives some context to this scripture.

Romans 5:17 The Message - If death got the upper hand through one man's wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, soverign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides?

Another question for us, are we grasping with both hands the wildly extravagant life-gift that Jesus has given us?

Ephesians 3:20-21 AMPC - Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]- To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

Worship Songs

Romans Chapter 5:18-21

Romans 5:18-21 NLT - Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

NIV Quest Study Bible

How does justification bring life for all? (Romans 5:18-19)

This may sound like everyone has been justified because of Christ. But Paul was not discussing our necessary response to Christ’s work on the cross in this passage. Paul was simply drawing a contrast between the two “Adams”—one introducing sin and death into the world, the other bringing righteousness and life. Eternal life is not automatic; it is for those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace (v. 17).

From NIV Quest Study Bible

NKJV MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition

Romans 5:20 Cf. Gal. 3:19. Although the Mosaic law is not flawed (7:12), its presence caused man’s sin to increase (cf. 7:8–11). Thus it made men more aware of their own sinfulness and inability to keep God’s perfect standard (7:7Gal. 3:2122), and it served as a tutor to drive them to Christ (Gal. 3:24).

From NKJV MacArthur Study Bible

Wendy's thoughts on related scriptures

Romans 5:18 AMPC - Well then, as one man’s trespass [one man’s false step and falling away led] to condemnation for all men, so one Man’s act of righteousness [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God and life for all men.

For all men

1 John 2:2 NIV - He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

An interesting article from Christian Broadcasting Network ... Did Jesus die for the sins of every person who ever lived?
Please note, by including this link I am not saying that I agree with all the information on this site, but rather it gives some context to this scripture.

Romans 5:18-19 The Message - Here is it in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person did it right and got us out of it. But more than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into life!

Another question for us - Jesus got us into life - are we living our best life?

John 10:10 NIV - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Romans 5:20-21 The Message - All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn't, and doesn't have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that's the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life - a life that goes on and on and on, world without end.

the aggressive forgiveness we call grace - what an interesting phrase, what does God's forgiveness mean to you?

Ephesians 1:7-9 TPT - Since we are now joined to Christ, we have been given the treasures of redemption by his blood - the total cancellation of our sins - all because of the cascading riches of his grace. This superabundant grace is already powerfully working in us, releasing within us all forms of wisdom and practical understanding. And through the revelation of the Anointed One, he unveiled his secret desires to us - the hidden mystery of his long-range plan, which he was delighted to implement from the very beginning of time.

Worship Songs

What's next?

Some questions to consider:

1. What did God say to you when studying this passage?

2. What does that mean for how you live your life? (ie is there something you believe God wants you to do differently?)

3. How can we as a Lifegroup support you?

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