The Gift Is Free

When a person say's that they are saved, what does that really mean? In Romans 5 Pauls answers some of the questions that should come up when referring to our salvation.

I. Who or what kind of person sets out to die for you?

a. He died for "the ungodly," "sinners," and "enemies" of God.

b. No one sets out to die for another. His life achieving goal was to die for you. Examples: Soldier. Fearful dad.

c. His goal was to mend a broken relationship.

II. Why would anybody have to go to such heights to save me? What did I do wrong?

a. It's not about what you did. It's about what our forefather Adam did that put all of us in a bad predicament.

b. Adam, being the first created, was our representative in Gods creation. Adams actions represented the disposition of the entire human race.

c. When Adam sinned, his disposition in heaven changed, from innocent to guilty, from friend to enemy. (Read vv12-14)

III. How does the actions of One Man save an entire human race?

a. Typology is the theological study of comparable types and actions between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Paul uses Adams disposition, and eventually ours as well, with God to explain how the actions of one man can determine the fate of the many. Example. This method of explanation is used in other parts of Scripture. (Hebrews 7:9-10)

b. The actions of Abraham, who was the great great grandfather of Levi, who is the patriarch of the Levites of the Levitical priesthood, affected in an indirect way the actions of his descendents.

c. In the same way Adam directly and indirectly affected the disposition of the entire human race from innocent to guilty in the court room of God.

D. And with this understanding Paul explains how the actions of one man, Jesus Christ, mended the otherwise severed relationship we had with God. (Read vv15- 16)

IV. What do we have to contribute to this newly found disposition with God?

a. Nothing.

We are fast approaching the Christmas season. And gifts are a major part of the celebration. But most of us grew up with a warped understanding of what a gift is.

When we were young kids my older sister used to terrorize me and my lil brother Tony. She would tell us that Santa Clause gives toys to all the good lil boys and girls, but if you’ve been bad Santa would put pepper in your eyes, especially if you are awake when he comes....

We didn’t know that the gifts were from our parents and it was based on who we are to them relationally, not based on some kind of performance or works. (v 16)

Brothers and sisters the gift of grace that brings justification is free. Not only do you not have to do anything to receive it, you are not even capable of doing anything to receive it.

Jesus paid it all so that you wouldn’t have to.

V. Then what was the purpose for the law?

a. The purpose of the law is clearly given in verse 16.

b. . 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

c. Peter: 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” 1

d. The Church Council: 19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.1

E. Pauls letter, the book of Romans of which we are studying is based off of the decisions made in that meeting covered in Acts 15.

Paul was there. As a matter of fact a fight basically broke out at the end of the meeting between Paul and his companion Barnabus.