Benefits of Righteousness

Study of Romans: Message Nine

Wednesday Nights MFBC

Romans 5:1-11.

ETS: Paul detailed a few benefits of righteousness.

ESS: We are richly blessed when we trust Jesus by faith for righteousness!

OSS: [Devotional] {I want the hearers to rejoice for the blessings accompanying righteousness.} Cognitive: I want the hearers to know that there is great benefit in trusting Jesus as Savior. Affective: I want the hearers to feel the many benefits of being a believer. Psycho-Motor: I want the hearers to rejoice because of the blessings that accompany justification.

PQ:

What are the benefits of righteousness?

UW: Benefits

Intro.:

TS.: Let us examine a few benefits of righteousness together now:

NOTE: There seems to be three themes present in this passage as a result of one’s justification and obtaining of righteousness:

(1) The love of God. [the motivation]

(2) Reconciliation. [the result]

(3) Rejoicing. [the response]

Notice also the presence of 4/9 fruits of the Spirit in verses 1-5: love, joy (rejoicing), peace, and patience.

We have access to God. [vv. 1-2]

Therefore- this is a conjunction to signify a new thought process. Some suggest this is the transition to a new section where Paul begins to address believers. [1]

Nonetheless, Paul begins expressing that because of righteousness by faith, access has been granted to God.

Additionally, the result of righteousness and access being granted, the individual has peace with God.

APPLICATION: It is a great benefit to us that we, by faith, have been granted righteousness resulting in access to God accompanied by peace between us and God.

We have hope in God. [vv. 2-5]

Next, Paul introduces the first theme of this passage: rejoicing. The proper response to being declared righteous, being granted access to God, and experiencing peace with God is to rejoice. He further elaborates:

We rejoice specifically in the hope provided. This hope is good for both the good and the bad. It provides a sense of better no matter the present circumstances which enables the Christian to endure experiencing the process of a development in character. (sanctification)

This hope is not one that disappoints because it is evidence of God’s love- another theme in this passage- experienced by the gift of the presence of the Holy Spirit upon belief in Christ. It is secure and sealed.

APPLICATION: It is of great benefit to the believer that because of our faith in Jesus- we have righteousness- accompanied by a hope that is beneficial for both good and bad times.

We experience the love of God. [vv. 6-8]

This theme is introduced in verse 5, but it is further emphasized in verses 6-8 where Paul reveals that righteousness is the result of God’s love- it is not that humans did anything to deserve it nor merit it. In fact, let’s examine the way Paul talks about humans in these verses to reiterate that it was simply an act of God’s grace because of His love:

helpless (6a)- meaning without strength or ability. He already identified that we are incapable or helpless to keep the law or do anything to justify ourselves.

ungodly (6b)- pagan people who either did not worship God or did not have knowledge of God.

sinners (8)- unable to obtain the standard of righteousness

enemies (10)- people who were adversaries of God- who hated God. [2]

Thus, it is evident that Paul is reminding the readers that it was by absolutely no merit of their own that God made a way for their justification. It was motivated by His love, and by His love alone.

APPLICATION: It is of great benefit to the believer that when justified- they experience God’s love in a tangible, radical way, realizing that it was His love alone that motivated justification.

We have salvation from God. [vv. 9-10]

The third theme is mentioned here, but it will be further discussed in the fifth benefit: reconciliation.

The key to understanding these verses is simply that found within verse 10. Essentially it means this:

If in His dying He reconciled us (overcoming the barriers present then)- now that He is living- the resurrected, exalted redeemer- how much more is He able to do now. [3]

Salvation seems to be that of protection/pardoning of that in the past, present, and future sense. [4]

APPLICATION: It is of great benefit and comfort to the believer in knowing that if while we were enemies, Jesus did all He did to reconcile us- what more He will do now to ensure our salvation since we are His friends; we have been saved.

We have reconciliation to God. [v. 11]

This theme of reconciliation is one of much importance. The word reconciliation communicates a literal “changing of one’s status”- communicating that though we were enemies of God, through the death of Jesus, we are now friends to God.

Barnes explained what this means in a practical sense: “And on the part of man, by removing his unwillingness to be reconciled; by subduing, changing, and sanctifying his heart; by overcoming his hatred of God, and of his law; and bringing him into submission to the government of God. So that the Christian is in fact reconciled to God; he is his friend; he is pleased with his law, his character, and his plan of salvation. And all of this has been accomplished by the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus as an offering in our place.” [5]

Another theme is repeated here: rejoicing. This is the only appropriate response for what has been done on our behalf.

APPLICATION: It is of great benefit to the believer that we have been reconciled to God- literally changed from enemies to friends; our response should be rejoicing!

Takeaways:

a) access to God

b) hope in God

c) love of God

b’) salvation from God

a’) reconciliation to God

[1] We have established that the key motivator in making a way for humans to be righteous was the love of God.

[2] Let us pause and reflect on verse 8- “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Bibliography:

[1]Edwin A. Blum, “Romans,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1788.

[2]Adam Clarke, The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes, New Edition., vol. 6 (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife Corporation, 2014), 67.

[3]Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: Romans, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885), 113.

[4]Barnes, 112.

[5]Barnes, 113.