Good morning. This morning we'll be in Romans chapter 1 through 6. Can you take a copy of God's word and turn there with me please?
!
One thing that Shai and I enjoy to do is puzzles. We've not done many of them, but when we do, we really enjoy getting together and do them.
More her than me, though. When putting together a puzzle, typically we find all the
end pieces and try to get them aligned and fit together. And when the border is connected, we can see how all the interior pictures kind of fit together.
So this morning, as we move forward in Romans to chapter 7, I thought it'd be really helpful if we spend a little bit of time reviewing chapters 1 through 6,
so that we can get the structural bearings on the whole book. So as we come to chapter 7, when we're studying the book and we're going through it,
it makes sense what was said previously. It helps us understand what is said in chapter 7.
So my hope this morning is to take on that daunting task of reviewing chapters 1 through 6.
And I hope that during this time we'll see where Paul is going, how is he building this grand argument,
and that our hearts would be reminded and enriched in the gospel that we've heard thus far
in Romans chapters 1 through 6.
When Nathan began to teach the book of Romans, and as he has been preaching it,
he's often told us the theme of the book of Romans is the gospel.
And Luther said it is the purest of gospels, and that we should ponder this book all the time.
Nathan said the theme of the whole book is salvation is by grace alone,
through faith alone, and Christ alone.
So this morning, the theme that we're going to be unpacking chapter by chapter
is that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
To help us with this and with the amount of scripture we're going through,
I provided an outline this morning.
So if you open your bulletins, you can find that outline,
and it'll provide the ways in which we see this truth explained.
In that outline, the points are,
The glory of the gospel, Romans 1, 16 through 17.
God's righteousness against sin, Romans 1, 18 through 3, 20.
Justification by grace, through faith, in Christ, Romans 3, 21 through Romans 5, 11.
The basis of our justification, federal headship, Romans 5, 1 through 21.
The basis of our justification, union with Christ, Romans 6, 1 through 21.
And as we go through this, just to remind you, this is a big arching overview,
so it'll be a little less experiential in application.
But my hope is, as we go into chapter 7 next week, and the week after,
that there'll be lots more application in the text.
So point number one, the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Romans 1, 16 through 17.
Romans 1, 16 and 17 provide the theme and the summary of the whole book.
Paul sets out and says, this is what the book is about.
And then the chapters have to explain the truths found in Romans 1, 16 through 17.
And I believe what he's saying is, look at the gloriness of this gospel that we have, that we possess.
Verses 16 through 17 say,
I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,
to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
For in it, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith.
As it is written, the righteous shall live by faith.
Paul is asserting that we should not have any shame over the good news that we possess,
but we should glory in it.
It should be something that causes us to rejoice in, to embrace, to treasure.
The gospel is the announcement of good news that brings salvation.
It rescues, redeems, and reconciles.
It liberates, empowers, and secures.
It motivates, convicts, and assures.
Brothers, this gospel is powerful.
And it is at work, even now, in our hearts, sanctifying us, calling us to the glorious grace of our King Jesus.
So we see this with two ways in the first two verses that we're going over.
The first is we see the glory of the gospel is without distinction.
The gospel was first proclaimed to the Jews, but through the Torah, the prophets, and the writings,
they had the prophecies, they had the covenants, and all this points them to a coming Messiah.
But it wasn't just for the Jews.
Paul's making the point that it is for all who believe.
Colossians 3.11 says,
There is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free,
but Christ is all and in all.
And Romans 3.28-29 says,
And Paul's response is,
Yes, God is God of the Gentiles also.
The gospel does not discriminate.
It is for all peoples and all nations.
Every tongue, tribe, language, and people will be present at the Feast of the Lamb.
The gospel motivates us to share the good news with the poor and the rich,
with the American, the African, and the Asian,
with the Jew and the Muslim,
so that Christ is in all and is all.
It is the gospel of the Gentiles also, without distinction.
It is this that we see as faithful to our God that drives us to send missionaries,
that drives us to send people throughout the whole world and to give up the people we love
so that every tribe and tongue would hear
and that every tribe and tongue would believe in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Secondly, we see that the gospel is one that is apart from works or without works.
The gospel is not a message of law, but of grace.
It is a message that the righteous shall live by faith.
In the gospel, the righteousness of Christ is imputed or credited to those who believe.
Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, and not of our own doing.
And we see this in Galatians 2.15.
It says,
The rest of the book of Romans demonstrates how we are saved by grace,
through faith, and Christ alone.
The gospel is for all peoples and not based on the will or works of man,
but on the God who saves.
In application to this first point,
we should think often about the gospel that has saved us.
Think often about our position before God that is based on grace,
through faith,
in Jesus Christ alone.
And it should cause us deep gratitude,
should promote great gratitude in our heart,
and even abound in joy.
Our hearts should be aflamed by the gospel of our Lord.
The song by Sovereign Grace called,
I Will Glory My Redeemer,
expresses these verses beautifully.
It's on the back of your bulletin if you'd like to read along with me.
It says,
I will glory in my redeemer,
whose priceless blood has ransomed me.
Mine was the sin that drove the bitter nails
and hung him on that judgment tree.
I will glory in my redeemer,
who crushed the power of sin and death,
my only savior before the holy judge,
the lamb who is my righteousness,
the lamb who is my righteousness.
I will glory in my redeemer,
my life he bought,
my love he owns.
I have no longings for another,
I'm satisfied in him alone.
Yes,
I will glory in my redeemer,
his faithfulness,
my standing place.
Though foes are many rush upon me,
my feet are firm held by his grace.
My feet are firm held by his grace.
I will glory in my redeemer,
who carries me on eagle's wings.
He crowns my life with love and kindness.
His triumph song I'll ever sing.
And I will glory in my redeemer,
who waits for me at gates of gold.
And when he calls me,
it will be paradise,
his face forever to behold.
We have a glorious gospel.
So let us glory in our redeemer,
who has saved us by grace through faith.
This salvation is without distinction
and without works.
Point number two,
God's righteousness against sin,
Romans 1.18 through 3.20.
Paul is about to explain
the great love that is found in the gospel
and the amazing grace that we have through it.
But first,
he must state the problem.
For someone to know the remedy,
they need to know the disease.
For us to treasure grace,
we need to know why we need it.
We need to know the problem.
Paul begins by putting forth bad news.
This says that all have sinned
and all are held accountable for their sin.
So first,
we see that all have sinned.
The first three chapters of Romans
is very clear that all have sinned.
And we get to verse 23 of chapter 3.
It says,
all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
The Puritan Ralph Benning,
in his book,
The Sinfulness of Sin,
says,
Sin is the transgression of God's law.
Sin is contrary to God.
Sin is contrary to the works of God,
to the law and the will of God,
to the image of God,
to the people and children of God,
and is set against the glory of God.
Benning makes a really keen insight for us to note
that we see in Romans chapter 1 through 3
that when we look at sin,
we need to see it in reference to its God orientation.
Who is sin ultimately against?
So in Romans 1 through 3,
God has universally revealed himself to all peoples.
Instead of exalting in his glory
through knowing,
esteeming,
loving,
rejoicing,
and praising him,
we see in verse 18
that these people have suppressed the truth.
And in verse 23 of chapter 1,
we see they have exchanged
the glory of the immortal God
for his creation.
Man has rejected God
and has failed to give thanks or honor to him
is what chapter 1 is telling us.
And due to man's rebellion,
God gave man over to his impurities
and the lusts of his heart.
Joel Beeky,
in a way that is very much convictional,
says this regarding our perspective of sin.
Today,
sin is often lamented over
because of its consequences.
Since it destroys marriages,
ruins lives,
and wrecks havoc on God's good order,
people grieve over the temporal consequences of sin
and what it does in our fallen world.
But few sigh and cry
over the abomination of sin
because it is such an offense against God.
David cried against thee,
thee only,
have I sinned.
When you become aware of your sin,
what grieves you more,
that it causes harm to you and others,
or that it offends and grieves the heart of God?
The Puritans often viewed
the gravity of sin in proportion
to the infitude of God's majesty.
Since God is infinitely glorious
and majestic and holy and righteous,
sin is unspeakably heinous.
And they often talked about this point.
In Romans 1 through 3,
we're reminded that sin is egregious.
And our sin is ultimately aimed toward God.
But sin is wicked,
not because of its temporal effect,
though that is devastating.
Sin is wicked because of the eternal object it's against,
the God of the universe.
In chapter 3,
Paul begins to explain
that our sin problem
is much worse than actions that we do.
Our sin problem is actually a condition
that we're born in,
a condition that we possess.
We call this condition
the doctrine of total depravity.
Total depravity does not teach
that we are as evil
or as depraved
or as bad
as we could be,
but that all of creation
has been affected
by the corruption of sin.
It teaches that sin
has affected
the totality of creation.
We are born into
this sinful condition
and its effects
corrupt the whole person,
both our body
and our soul.
We see this
in Romans chapter 3,
verses 9 through 18,
if you'll read with me.
What then,
are we Jews any better off?
No,
not at all.
We have already
charged that all,
but Jews and Greeks
are under sin.
As it is written,
none is righteous,
no,
not one.
No one understands,
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside,
together they have become worthless.
No one does good,
not even one.
Their throat
is an open grave.
They use their tongues
to deceive.
The venom of asp
is under their lips.
Their mouth
is full of curses
and bitterness.
Their feet
are swift
to shed blood
and their paths
are ruin and misery.
In the way of peace
they have not known.
There is no fear
of God
before their eyes.
It is a scary place
to be
when there is no fear
of God
in man.
Secondly,
we see in Romans 1 through 3
that all
are held accountable.
So all have sinned
and all
are held accountable.
In Romans 1.18
it says,
for the wrath
of God
is revealed
from heaven
against all
ungodliness
and unrighteousness
of men
who by their
unrighteousness
suppress the truth.
God has revealed
his wrath
against all
unrighteousness.
In Romans 3.9-18
he describes
all as being
under sin.
In fact,
verse 10 says,
no one
is righteous.
All have sinned,
all are under sin,
and all will be
held accountable
before God.
This is exactly
what verses 19-20
of chapter 3 tell us.
Now we know
that whatever the law
says,
it speaks to those
who are under the law,
so that every mouth
may be stopped
and the whole world
may be held
accountable to God.
For by the works
of the law
no human being
will be justified
in his sight,
since through the law
comes the knowledge
of sin.
This is bad news.
In our own works
and efforts
we have all sinned
and we have all
experienced
the wrath of God
in ourselves.
There is not a scale
of right or wrongs
that our future
eternity is based upon.
There is an infinitely
wise, holy,
and righteous God
and any act of sin
is treason
and is unspeakably
heinous.
God's righteousness
against sin
leaves us desperate,
it leaves us condemned,
and it leaves us
silent.
Seeing our ruin
to stay under sin
gives us
great need
for a savior.
seeing the problem,
the disease,
gives us great need
for the remedy,
for the glorious gospel.
God's righteousness
against sin
points us
to the glory
and beauty
of salvation
by grace alone
through faith alone.
So point number three,
justification
by grace
through faith
in Christ.
we see a severe
ending to verse 20
that all will be
held accountable
and all mouths
will be stopped
before the king
of the universe.
But he begins
in 21
and 22
with hope.
He begins to
lay down our hope
that we have
in Christ,
that we are justified
by grace
through faith.
So first we see
that we are justified
by grace
in Christ.
Christ.
And the remedy
for us
is present
in verse 22
of chapter 3.
The righteousness
of God
through faith
in Jesus Christ
for all who believe.
In verses 23
through 26
Paul explains
how God's righteousness
in Jesus Christ
saves us.
We are all unrighteous,
we all deserve
the eternal wrath
of God
for our sins.
That's what verse 23
tells us,
all is sin
and falling short
of the glory of God.
Every one of us
would stand
before our king
with our mouths shut
and our awful deaths
before us
and he would be right
to condemn us.
He would be right
to stamp the gavel
and say that we
are in sin
and we deserve his wrath.
He would be right
to sentence us
to hell.
It's a somber reality
if we think deeply
about sin
and its weight.
But then in verse 24
we see something change
in the letter.
We see this beautiful thing
that God has justified
by grace
as a gift.
But our God
has done something
for us
through his great love
and abundant mercy
he has provided us
redemption
by his grace.
So if you read
verse 24 and 26
with me
and are justified
by his grace
as a gift
through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus
whom God put forward
as a propitiation
by his blood
to be received
by faith.
This was to show
God's righteousness
because in his divine
forbearance
he passed over
former sins.
It was to show
his righteousness
at the present time
so that he might be
the just and justifier
of the one
who has faith
in Jesus.
Jesus Christ
was put forward
as a propitiation
as a gift
of grace
for you.
The word propitiation
is an offering
that was sacrificed
to appease sin.
In a propitiation
the offering
would be brought forth
and the sin
would be appeased
through the offering.
We have all sinned
and deserve God's wrath.
We ourselves
were objects
of wrath.
God put forward
Jesus
in our place
to bear that wrath
for us.
That's propitiation
that we deserve
to be
the object
of eternal wrath.
But God
put forward
in his great love
and mercy
Jesus Christ.
And Jesus Christ
was the object
of wrath
on the cross.
God in his justice
poured out
his judgment
on Christ
for our sake.
At the cross
when our redemption
was accomplished
Jesus died
for every sin
of his people
for all those
who believe
the past
the present
and the future sins.
His sacrifice
was once
and for all.
Jesus on the cross
bore this punishment
for all
our sinful thoughts
all our wicked deeds
words and actions.
So that means
brother and sister
every thought
you've had
that was ill
that was towards
someone else
any slanderous word
any deed
you've committed
those things
that you want
to feel condemned
for because
you've done wrong
if you have
faith in Jesus
all those things
those words
those thoughts
and those actions
have been cancelled.
It says our record
is cancelled
in Christ.
Paul begins
to go back
to the gospel
in chapter 5
Romans 5.8
says
God shows
his love
for us
and that while
we're sinners
Christ died
for us.
In the death
of Christ
we have been
reconciled
to God
and he was
delivered up
for our
trespasses.
In his resurrection
we have received
life and righteousness
and he was raised
for our justification.
Romans 5.9-11
explains this
wonderful reality
for us
if you'll read
there with me.
Since therefore
we have now
been justified
by his blood
much more
shall we be
saved by him
from the wrath
of God.
For if while
we were enemies
we were reconciled
to God
by the death
of his son
much more
now that
we are reconciled
shall we be
saved by his
life.
More than that
we also rejoice
in God
through our
Lord Jesus Christ
through whom
we have now
received
reconciliation.
In the text
in Romans 3.21-5.11
we see a
marvelous truth
that we have
called the
great exchange
or double
imputation.
The word
imputed means
to credit.
So in the
gospel
our sins
our record
all those
thoughts and
deeds
were credited
to Christ
and he dies
for them.
He became
sin and
bore
its curse
and his
righteousness
is now
credited
to us
and we
become
righteous.
There's an
exchange.
We receive
his righteousness
he receives
our sin
and it is
no more.
Our righteousness
that gives us
good standing
before God
is not of
ourselves
and within
ourselves
but it is
from outside
of us.
It is what
we call
alien righteousness.
It is from
outside of us
from Jesus
Christ.
Our penalties
are gone
and we
stand clothed
in works
that are
not our
own.
Truly
we are
saved by
grace alone
in Christ.
Secondly
we are
justified
through faith
in Christ.
Jesus
atoning
death
for us
does not
apply to
everyone
in the
world
but to
those
who
believe.
Look at
Romans 3
with me.
Verse 22
says
the righteousness
of God
through faith
in Jesus
Christ
for those
who believe.
Verse 26
says
that he
might be
the just
and justifier
of the
one who
has faith
in Jesus.
And verse 25
says
whom God
put forward
their propitiation
by his blood
to be received
by faith.
Timothy
George
says that
faith is
the means
by which
one
lays hold
of Christ
who is
our
righteousness.
And John
Calvin
in trying to
articulate
faith
says that
faith
does not
save
it's not
a work
or sorry
faith is not
a work
but it
is the
instrument
or vessel
that joins
us to
Christ.
Christ
and his
righteousness
save.
Faith
is the
means.
The
1689
London
Baptist
Confession
says
saving
faith
is the
means
by which
we
accept
receive
and rest
upon
Christ
for
justification
sanctification
and eternal
life
by virtue
of the
covenant
of grace.
And Paul
further explains
faith in
Romans
chapter 4.
If you
look at
verses 4
through 5
with me.
Now
to the
one who
works
his wages
are not
counted as
a gift
but as
his due.
And to
the one
who does
not work
but believes
in him
who justifies
the ungodly
his faith
is counted
as
righteousness.
There's a
comparison.
The one
who works
the one
who tries
to earn
his works
will only
give what
he is due.
And the
one who
believes
receives
what isn't
his.
Paul does
not see
faith as
a work
that
justifies.
He sees
it as
a means,
as an
instrument
in which
we have
access to
Christ.
Jesus'
work on
the cross
is to
be received
by faith.
And we
see the
splendor of
Christ
on the
cross
and what
he has
done for
us and
we believe
this.
We accept
the truths
of the
gospel,
we receive
them as
our own,
and we
find rest
in them.
Paul
further
describes
faith as
something that
grows in
us.
In verse
20 he
says,
no unbelief
made him
waver concerning
the promise
of God,
but he grew
strong in
his faith as
he gave
glory to
God.
Faith doesn't
just begin our
walks,
brothers and
sisters,
faith is
our walk.
We are
currently living
by faith,
not by
sight.
And as we
look forward
to the
outcome of
our salvation,
we continue
to grow.
We grow in
believing,
we grow in
relying,
we grow in
accepting.
We grow to
accept the
truths of
scripture,
and as they
magnify the
gospel,
and they
change us,
they change
the way we
think.
As we
believe the
gospel,
it changes
our thoughts.
And we
receive these
as these
truths of the
gospel,
bread and
food to
enjoy,
and we
find rest
in them.
The gospel
is a gospel
of rest.
It's not us
who work,
but Christ
who worked.
So now we
can rest,
and in
resting,
we love to
serve,
and we love
to obey.
Praise the
Lord for
such a
marvelous
gospel that
we have.
Norman Clayton
wrote a hymn
called My
Hope is in
the Lord.
It says,
My hope is
in the Lord
who gave
himself for
me and
paid the
prices of
all my
sin at
Calvary.
No merit
of my own
his anger
to suppress.
My only
hope is
found in
Jesus'
righteousness.
And now
for me he
stands before
the Father's
throne.
He shows
his wounded
hands and
names me
as his
own.
His grace
is planned
at all.
Tis mine
but to
believe and
recognize his
works of
love and
Christ receive.
For me he
died,
for me he
lives,
in everlasting
life and
light he
freely gives.
We are
justified by
grace alone,
through faith
alone,
in Christ
alone.
Point number
four, the
basis of our
justification,
federal headship.
faith.
In Romans
5, 12
through 6,
21, we
see the
basis of
the doctrine
of justification
is by
faith.
And this
basis is
found in the
wonderful doctrines
of federal
theology and
union with
Christ.
Federal
theology is
concerned with
understanding the
biblical covenants.
And there is
much discussion
and disagreement
over this
subject.
My hope this
morning is to
present to you
the prominent
Protestant
position for
the last
400 years.
In this
position, there
are nuances,
but for the
most part,
Calvin, Luther,
the Puritans,
the particular
Baptists, the
Presbyterian, and
the founders of
Southern Baptist
Convention all
held to this
view.
And it
matters, it
matters a lot
on how we
cast our faith
upon God and
how we receive
his grace, how
we are
beneficiaries in
Christ.
It has been
the efforts of
pastors throughout
the history of
the church to
diligently labor
to understand
the scriptures
and provide a
biblically faithful
and helpful way
for us to
understand the
way that God
relates to
humanity.
The way in
which God has
a relationship
with humanity
is through
covenant.
All relationships,
all people have
with God is by
covenant.
A covenant is
God's voluntary
condescension to
relate to man.
So God in his
majesty and his
unsearchable
greatness stoops
to lowly man
and he makes
covenant.
He develops a
relationship with
us.
In God's
covenantal
relationship he
always establishes
covenants through
federal heads,
through these
people who
represent a
group of people.
This is a
public person who
represents the
members of that
covenant or
kingdom.
This makes
complete sense
for us.
We live in a
country that
has a president
and when another
king or president
or another
representative from
another country
comes, they
don't come and
hang out with
us and have
coffee with us.
They go, they
meet with our
representative, our
leader, and they
develop relationships
with him.
When the king of
the universe makes
covenant with man,
it is developed
through a federal
person, through a
representative on
our behalf.
And this is what we
see in Romans 5.
We see two
representatives.
In Romans 5, we
see the
representative of
Christ and of
Adam.
So when we think
about covenant
relationships, they
are defined based
on benefits and
conditions that
arrange the
relationship.
In scripture, there
are various
covenants, but there
are three overarching
ones that we see in
Romans chapter 5.
There is the
covenant of works
that is with Adam
in the garden.
There is the
covenant of
redemption that
was made with
Christ when he
accomplished the
work for us.
And there is the
covenant of grace,
which we call the
new covenant.
The covenant in
which we receive
all of God's
grace freely, apart
from any work.
So we see this
concept of works and
of grace laid out in
scripture.
Adam had works set
before him, a
command that he
was supposed to
do, and if he
failed, he received
curse.
If he did it, he
would receive a
reward.
So a covenant of
works is a
commitment based on
obedience.
It's a do this
and live.
Earn the reward.
You get what you
put into it.
A covenant of
grace is a promise
that is based
freely on the
giver, that we
receive freely.
So if you look at
Romans 11, 6, it
says, but if it is
by grace, it is no
longer based on
works.
Otherwise, grace
would no longer be
grace.
Galatians 3, 18
says, if the
inheritance comes
by the law, it
no longer comes
by promise.
So in Romans
chapter 5, verses
12 through 21, we
see the covenant
works, the covenant
redemption, the
covenant grace.
We see two public
persons that stand
for their covenants.
We see Adam, who
sinned, and his
consequence for sin
affected all who
represented, all
creation.
And we see Christ,
whose righteousness,
his perfect obedience
was rendered, who all
who believe receive
grace through him.
They represent a
people.
So let's look at
Adam first.
Number one, the
covenant works, or
what we call being
in Adam.
So Adam was in the
garden, and God
developed a covenant
with him.
After God created
everything, he
developed a
relationship with
Adam.
He was king over
all the universe, and
Adam was his
faithful servant
king.
Adam had dominion, he
ruled, he had a
responsibility in the
garden.
Adam was the federal
head of all creation.
Adam represented all
creation.
So in establishing this
relationship with Adam,
God gave him dominion, he
gave him the luxuries of
the garden, and he gave
him the opportunity for
eternal life.
If Adam does not eat the
fruit of eternal life, he
can enjoy God's
blessings.
He would reflect his
divine image, he would
be a prophet, a priest, and
a king in the garden.
He would execute godly
dominion, and he would
enjoy everlasting life.
And what was supposed to
happen, his image bearers,
his sons and children, were
fruitful, they multiplied,
and they spread his glory in
all creation.
In the beginning was a
picture of rest and
enjoyment of God.
That was the picture of
what Adam had before him.
But tragically, Adam chose
to rebel against his king.
Adam decided to commit
treason, and he ate the
fruit of the knowledge of
good and evil.
And the consequences of
this decision affected all
the people he represented,
all that was under his
dominion.
Look at verse 12 of
chapter 5 with me.
Sin came into the world
through one man, and
death through sin.
So death spread to all
man, because all sinned.
Adam's disobedience brought
sin and death into the
world, providing devastating
consequences both
temporally, here and now we
feel the effects, but also
eternally.
We are now born into a
condition.
Romans 5, 18 says,
one trespass led to
condemnation for all men.
Because of Adam's headship
over all creation and all
under his dominion,
suffers the consequences.
And we see that sin has
affected the totality of
creation and man.
We saw it in Romans 3, we
saw it in our congregational
recitation where
redemption is longing for,
or creation is longing for
redemption.
There is a totality of
effect due to Adam and his
decisions.
after Adam's disobedience,
God justly gave consequences
to all the parties involved.
In the midst of despair, in
the midst of shame, of
failing to commit and do the
covenant works, God revealed
his goodness and his grace and
gave a promise that was solely
based on grace.
And this is the beginning of
promises we see in scripture
that are fulfilled in the new
covenant.
In Ephesians 2, Paul calls
these the covenants of the
promise or the new covenant.
So the covenant of grace, this
idea where we receive all the
benefits apart from anything we
do, is fulfilled in Christ.
He comes, he does a work and
fulfills all responsibilities of
the law and takes our curse for
us.
And in it, we receive benefits
from him.
So think about the ways that he's
fulfilled different promises.
He is the serpent crusher,
blessing to the nations, the
lion of Judah, the lamb of God,
the deliverer, the prophet
greater than Moses, the priest
of a better order, the suffering
servant, the Davidic king, the
son of Abraham, the son of
David, and the Christ.
Jesus is the fulfillment of all
the New Testament promise or all
the Old Testament promises and
brings us the new covenant,
brings us a gift of grace in
himself.
So how?
How can Jesus bring us a gift of
grace?
How can we be part of a covenant
that is freely given to us, even
though we're in Adam, even though
we have sin?
And this is what Roman 5 tells us.
It helps us understand that Adam
disobeyed and broke the covenant
works, and there is a better
representative.
There is a better head.
This is the God-man, Jesus Christ,
who perfectly obeyed God and kept
his covenant.
And this is where we receive the
covenant of redemption.
It's what we see in Romans 5,
that just as Adam was given a
covenant of works in the garden,
Jesus was given a covenant of
works in eternity past.
And we call this the covenant of
redemption.
Look at verses 18 through 19 with
me.
Therefore, as one trespass led to
condemnation for all, so one act of
righteousness leads to justification
in life for all men.
For as by one man's disobedience the
many were made sinners, so by one
man's obedience the many will be made
righteous.
God requires perfect obedience from
man.
But Christ came in the covenant of
redemption and rendered perfect
obedience to God.
He came and brought reconciliation so
that by this one man's obedience the
many can be made righteous.
We don't have to work to do it.
That's what this is telling us in
Romans 5, is that he did all the
work.
Everything we deserved, the perfect
law we need to render, the blameless
life, Christ came, perfectly lived,
and even went a step further and
suffered the curse for our sins.
He lived perfectly and took the
penalty.
We see this in Galatians 3, 13 through
14, Christ redeemed us from the curse
of the law by becoming a curse for
us.
For it is written, cursed be everyone
who is hanged on a tree, so that in
Christ Jesus, the blessing of Abraham
might come to the Gentiles, so we might
receive the promised spirit through
faith.
Jesus is the perfect representative who
perfectly obeyed God and fulfilled the
covenant of works.
In doing so, Jesus brings us grace.
He brings us a gift, as Romans 5 says.
This is what we call the new covenant.
This is what we call the covenant of
grace.
The covenant of grace, this new
covenant, this gift of grace in Romans
5, is solely based on God and his grace
through Jesus Christ.
God's grace is freely lavished on his
people without distinction and without
works because of Jesus' perfect work in
redemption.
Jesus' work in the covenant of redemption is
the foundation for the new covenant, for us to
receive grace. Because he did it, we benefit.
Romans 5, 15-17 says just this,
But the free gift is not like the
trespass, for if many died through one
man's trespass, much more have the grace
of God and the free gift by the grace of
that one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for
many. And the free gift is not like the
results of the one man's sin, for judgment
following one trespass brought condemnation, but
the free gift following many trespasses
brought justification. For if because of
one man's trespass, death reigned through
one man, much more will those who receive
the abundance of grace and the free gift
of righteousness reign in life through one
man, Jesus Christ.
Therefore, in summary, because Jesus is our
perfect representative in his covenant of
works, we have access to free grace through
the new covenant. We are beneficiaries. We do
none of the work. He did it all. The basis of
our justification is Christ's representation
for us. He is the better Adam who perfectly
represents his people as the federal head, and
he offers them salvation. Just as Adam could
not bring eternal life, Jesus Christ brings
eternal life, and we benefit. We are partakers
of that. And this is exactly why Christians in
Scripture are called being in Christ. If you do
a search on the word Christian in your Bible, you
see three uses of it as a label. But if you do
a search on the word in Christ, you see over
a hundred. The primary way the scriptures talk
about us as Christians is that we are in Christ, that
we're beneficiaries of Christ in his work, in all
of his grace. Dave Jenkins says, being a Christian is
not merely being outwardly identified with Christ,
but belonging to part of Christ. Not merely being
united with him, but being united in him. In the
New Testament, Christians are those who are in
Christ by virtue of the new covenant. This is
exactly what we saw in the 1689 definition of
faith, that we are those who saving faith is
accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ
alone for justification, sanctification, eternal
life by virtue of the covenant of grace, or by
virtue of the new covenant. Being in Christ, we
experience him in all his benefits, all of his
blessings. And this is exactly why Ephesians 1-3
says that in him we receive every spiritual blessing
in Christ, so that Christ would be our all in all. That's
the summary. I know this is a lot of concepts and
words and theology, but in the summary, this girds our
justification in Christ is all in all. Matt Boswell and
Stuart Townend in their song, O Church of Christ
Invincible says, O Church of Christ Invincible, people of
the Lord, empowered by the Spirit's breath and nourished
by his word. His covenant of grace will be our portion
evermore, for he who calls us will not change our help and
our reward. Lastly, and shortly, point number five, the
basis of our justification is our union with Christ. In
Romans 6, Paul goes on to explain how we partake of this
grace, of this covenant, by becoming in Christ. This is the
wonderful doctrine that we call the union with Christ. And
for us to develop a better understanding of our union of
Christ, we would have to survey all the New Testament. We
would have to look what in Christ means and look at every
place it's used, because all that is defining, all that is
helping us understand. But for two quotes, that's all I'll do
on this phrase. Hopefully they're helpful to you. Joel
Beeky says, the believer's union with Christ enables him or
her to receive all the benefits of Christ's work, including
justification, adoption, and sanctification. To have Christ is
to have all. And John Owen says, this union is the principle
and measure of all spiritual enjoyments and expectations. This
is what girds us to Christ. This is how we are part of his vine,
his body. He is our head and we are his body. And it's through
our union, through the Holy Spirit that connects us, that we
receive and enjoy all his benefits. So in Romans 6, it explains
how we are united to Christ and experience all of his benefits.
Union with Christ is now the subject of chapter 6, chapter 7, and
chapter 8. So as we think about this overarching puzzle and the
border, the border is that Christ completed a work for us and offers us
grace freely. And now we are united to him and benefit from all that. So
that's how we're secure, liberated. That's how we enjoy all these benefits,
is that Christ did the work and we're now a part of him. We're now connected to
him. So how does one go from being in Adam and being in Christ? How do we go
from experiencing all the curses effects to experiencing all of the benefits, all
the blessings, and all of the grace? We see in verses 6, or 6, 1 through 4, that
the Spirit unites us to Christ. According to verse 4, just as our sins were
buried with him in his death, we are raised with him to new life. There's a phrase in
verse 4 that says, newness of life. This could also be rendered new creation
life. We were spiritually dead in Adam. We were under the curse and we felt all of
its weights. And God, through his Spirit, gives us new life and connects us to
Christ. We were a part of a dying tree, a withering tree, and life was not as it
should be. But by the work of the Spirit, we've been connected to the living
vine, and we receive the resurrection sap. We enjoy the benefits. And as this
subject's broached upon in the book, the rest of the next three chapters are
leaning on it. So we see in chapter 6 that we are freed from the dominion of sin
and that we are alive to God. When we go into chapter 7, we're going to be, we're
going to see that we're freed from the law. And then when we go into chapter 8, we're
going to see that we have no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. So as we
keep going, you're going to see all these benefits that we benefit from or that we
are blessed with. So number one, we are freed from the dominion of sin. Prior to
being united to Christ, sin had dominion over us. We were slaves to it and we
lived our lives for it. But being united to Christ, we've been freed from the
dominion of sin and are now slaves of righteousness. So in chapter 6, you see that
in verse 14, for sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law
but under grace. And then verse 22, but now that you've been set free from sin and
have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end,
eternal life. Those who are connected to Christ produce fruit and sanctification and
they receive their end, eternal life. Secondly, we are alive to God because we are
in Christ. We now have life through his resurrection. We have been united to Christ and
we are no longer dead in sin, but to sin. We're no longer dead in sin, but to sin. It's
no longer a part of us as a consequence. And now we are alive to God. Look at verse 11
in chapter 6. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ. And then
it ends. Now we live in Christ through the Spirit. The new life produces fruit that leads to
sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Through the Spirit we have life in Christ now and we will
receive its end, eternal life. So in review, Romans 1 16 through 17, we see the glory of the gospel
without distinction, without works. Romans 1 18 through 320, we see God's righteousness against sin.
All have sinned and all are held accountable for sin. In Romans 3 21 through 5 11, we see that
justification is by grace through faith in Christ. The atoning work of Christ provides us salvation
by grace alone, not any works, and we have access to this grace through faith in Christ.
In Romans 5 12 through 21, we see the basis for our justification is federal headship. When Adam
failed in representing humanity, Jesus perfectly represented his chosen people. Adam broke the
covenant with God and brought sin into the world. Jesus perfectly kept the covenant of God and offers
eternal life. And in Romans 6 1 through 21, we see the other basis for justification, our union with
Christ. In union with Christ, we are freed from the dominion of sin and given new life in Christ.
Through our union with Christ, we receive every spiritual benefit, and it provides foundation to our
communion and our enjoyment with God. So now that we've summarized the first six chapters, next week,
we will start in Romans 1 or Romans 7 1 through 6, and then we'll finish the book of Romans 7 the week
after. So in closing, Hudson Taylor, Hudson Taylor and his life discovered the beauty and the wonders of
the doctrine of the union in Christ. And John Piper, in an article called How Familiar Truth Forever
Change, Hudson Taylor, says these words about this experience. And I pray this is the experience
that you also have as you ponder the scriptures and as you learn to love and rejoice in these truths.
During a despairing season of Hudson Taylor's ministry, Hudson Taylor found a letter waiting for him in
Xinjiang from John McCarthy. And what Hudson Taylor read in this letter revived his soul and revolutionized
his life. Taylor says, when my agony of soul was at its height, a sentence in a letter from Dear McCarthy
was used to remove the scales from my eyes. And the Spirit of God revealed to me the truth of the oneness
with Jesus as I had never known it before. As I read, I saw it all. I looked to Jesus and saw,
and oh, when I saw how the joy flowed, that he had said, I will never leave thee. I saw not only that
Jesus will never leave me, but I am a member of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. The vine is
not the root merely, but all. Roots, stem, branches, twigs, leaves, flowers, fruit. And Jesus is not that
alone. He is the soil and the sunshine. He is the air in the showers, and 10,000 times more than we've
ever dreamed, wished for, or needed. Oh, the joy of seeing this truth of our union with Christ. So I pray
that as we close our time, our hearts will be drawn to this oneness of Jesus, to this union that we
have, we benefit from, and that we will also see the soil and the sunshine, the air and the showers,
and 10,000 times more than we ever dreamed, wished for, or needed. Pray with me.