Second Sunday After Pentecost A

Romans 5:6-15

Phoebe brought the letter: read it aloud Paul moves from you and they to us: Previously he has only mentioned himself as party 3 times. ch. 5 is all about us.

This chapter is about us as a people being one with God- US together. Immanuel

5:6-8 ends each sentence in greek with the same word: ἀποθνῄσκω - to die.

Paul looks around at the mess of the world and says ‘someone needs to pay for this’

Historically this is a theological model called Penal Substitution or Vicarious satisfaction

Penal - as in penalty (The Penal or prison system)

Vicarious as in- on behalf of another (parents live vicariously through their kids in sports, music)

Someone needs to pay for this but nobody knows how. (Either too much or to little in compensation)

Jesus over abundantly contributes the satisfaction or payment for our sins.

Supererogation in catholic theology.

A more helpful way of thinking of this is the word Paul uses in Rom 5:10 - reconciliation (καταλλάσσω - next to each other)

MLK said Calvary is a telescope through which we look into the long vista of eternity, and see the love of God breaking forth into time.

The story of Christ on the cross should be the story of mankind coming to be with one another.

Romans 5:8 is the key verse for how we should interact with the world

Missions story - who gives up more to be a christian? Life long xian or the newcomer?

Christ came along with us, even in death! - That is how powerful He is- even His death is power! What am I going to do when I die? NOTHING. v. 10 Christ then isn’t dead but alive. If his death is that powerful, how much more powerful is His work when He is alive?

The spread of sin and salvation:

1qt of oil can cause an oil slick 2 acres in size. 250k Gallons of water.

v. 12. This is how sin works, It entered through one single vessel and covers all of creation.

Read v. 13 - have you ever been driving on a road for a while and thought - I wonder what the speed limit is only to find out you’ve been speeding? This is the meaning behind v. 13.

v.14 Paul sees Christ as the reversal of Adam

Type v. Antitype

Ever looked up the word ‘type’ in webster?

1 a: a person or thing (as in the Old Testament) believed to foreshadow another (as in the New Testament)

Our 3 y/o and bells (Taco, Bryan, Church) - the BIG BELL - BIG BEN

Moses (law - MT11:28), 12 tribes of Israel - 12 disciples, Adam to Christ.

v. 15 total redemption and reversal

This is one of the most powerful passages in the Christian Bible- it is the pinnacle of chapters 1-5.

Suffering begets hope, Adam begets Christ, Death begets life.

The suffering of Christ is greater

The person of Christ is greater

The death of Christ is better

The life and resurrection of Christ is what matters.

Oprah Winfrey (How’d I do) Presidents, Actors, Philosophers, Religious Figures.

Whose standards do you fail to meet? (Parents, Friends, Self?)

We will die trying to appease others unless we fall down and recognize Christ’s satisfaction.

This matters because His gift is for you, it is for the protester and the anti-vaxxer, the MAGA supporter and the Biden Crew.

This matters because it should cause you to be confident not just in your faith but all of life.

Story of Phil Sitze - one of our members

Isaiah 43:25–44:5 ESV

“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. Put me in remembrance; let us argue together; set forth your case, that you may be proved right. Your first father sinned, and your mediators transgressed against me. Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary, and deliver Jacob to utter destruction and Israel to reviling. “But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams. This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s,’ another will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ and name himself by the name of Israel.”

God redeems us for his own purpose, that we may have a new existence that flourishes in the midst of battle and trial. Look at the disciples they are not failures- they are followers of Christ who birthed a movement that has brought culture and life to the world.

Id invite you to join in that mission today by eschewing any other form of hope and walking in a path forward given to us in Christ.