Sermon Tone Analysis

Who reigns?

Death reigns in sin, righteousness reigns in life through Jesus Christ.

Previously we have looked at

We are justified by faith and have peace with God (5:1)

Christ died for the ungodly (5:6, 8)

We are saved from wrath because of Christ (5:10)

Through Christ we have reconciliation (5?11)

Death entered through one man, Adam (5:12-14)

Grace entered through One man, Jesus (5:15-19) - - - but we did not finish this section, so we need to go back and look at the previous passage and finish up there.

God’s grace

Consider (Rom5:20-21 again) now going from death in one to life, grace through One.

Through one act many became sinners (5:15)

Through another One’s act, made righteous (5:18)

Now, you need to consider 5:18, is there a requirement to have the right relationship with God?

By One, through the One, many were made righteous (5:19-21)

By one brings condemnation (5:16-18); by One brings commendation (5:18, 3:24-25, 8:1)

Oh, let me bring in just a little more

By one favor lost with God (5:15); by One God well pleased (5:16-18; Mt3:17, 17:5)

We have read 5:15-18 already but here is another well pleasing verse

By one sin reigned (5:13-14); By One righteousness reigns (5:15-17, 21)

Gee, context, we just keep backing up to reinforce the context and content of the context about God’s abounding grace over sin

By one caused abundance of sin (5:20); by One a super abundance of grace (5:20-21)

Grace reigns through righteousness, the one righteous act of the One who gave it all for us!

Jesus Christ.

Grace reigns through Jesus, There is a kingdom, and there is a king and that king is Jesus who is over the kingdom.

A life of grace is all about Jesus and loving, serving others, it is not about you.

A life of grace doesn’t look to self, it looks to Jesus and to serve as Jesus served.

Grace doesn’t reign through self, but through Jesus.

Abounding sin or abounding grace?

It’s your choice now!

What are you going to abound in?

We are all born in Adam

We choose to stay in Adam (sin) or to be reborn and live in the reign of grace.

God’s abounding, grace is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ and hear and obey His call.

Choose today what are you going to abound in today?

If it is Christ, be committed, get engaged and let’s impact the kingdom for Jesus.

One more pass at the scripture then will close out

Romans 5:20–21 (NASB95)

20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The question before us as we start this morning, who reigns, sin/death or righteousness/Christ? How do you know?

So, with that in mind, Paul has told them, taught them that grace abounds more.

He will pick up on that tonight, so here is the plan.

Purpose of the law - abounding sin? (5:20-6:2)

Death and rebirth (6:3-7)

Freed from sin (6:7)

Purpose of the law - abounding sin?

Who wants more grace?

If grace abounds through increased sin, should we sin more?

What observations do you make?

What is the theme of this section?

Is this law, history, prophesy, poetry, promise?

Law, history

What was the purpose of the law (v.20)?

So that transgression (sin) would increase.

Sin reigned in what?

What did grace reign through (v.21)?

Sin reigned in death

Grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life

Look at (v.1), is this a rhetorical question or a real question?

It is more rhetorical than literal.

it is like “since you already know the answer”

Who is the we in (v.2) and what did they do?

The “we” is the Roman Christians, but it can be to anyone can’t it?

They died to sin

(Insert Toe Tag picture here)

Have you been to a cemetery lately?

There is one thing you normally will not see at one, security guards.

There is no point, no resident there is going to be doing anything illegal.

This is the position of a dead person, they cannot do anything anymore, they are dead, no longer have the ability to do anything.

As we look at our passages tonight you will see Paul use “dead” several times.

He not only will deal with death, but with life too through baptism.

Law does not justify (5:20)

The law does not make us sinners (Adam did), but makes us aware of sin (our own).

Purpose of the law is that the offense (sin) might abound

Good works are good, but good works cannot save you, cannot justify you.

We were helpless, but not hopeless under the law, but through grace that brought righteousness we have life through Christ’s works, not our own.

The reign of grace (5:20-21)

Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.

We may think where sin abounded that anger or judgment of God, wrath of God would abound, not grace.

Barclay said” If grace super-abounds over sin, then we know that it is impossible to out-sin the grace of God.

We can’t sin more than God can forgive, but we can reject his grace and forgiveness.”

The reign of grace happens through the righteousness of God revealed in Jesus Christ.

Kuzik said” Many people have the idea that where grace reigns,there will be a disregard for righteousness and a casual attitude toward sin.

But that isn’t the reign of grace at all.

Paul wrote in another letter what grace teaches us: for the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and wordly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age (Tit2:11-12) Grace reigns through righteousness, and grace teaches righteousness.”

So, do you think more sin = more grace?

In the Greek it means “by no means”

Exampled in Rom3:5 “not at all; Rom3:6 “certainly not” and Rom6:2 “by no means”

We are dead to sin, that is our position, past action, singular, Aorist tense, completed action.

If our position is dead, how could we live in sin, you know in present, future tense repeated action.

How about a few simple questions

When did we die?

How did we die?

Where did we die?

Death by baptism

Remember, keep in mind, Paul is writing to Christians, to believers.

General observations?

Pay attention to the “tense” is this past, present or future tense?

Past tense, completed action (aorist tense, indicative)

What do you think the major point of this section is?