ROMANS: THE POWER OF FAITH

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Romans 5:1–21 (NKJV) 

1. Peace with God 

Vss 1-2 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

• It is clear through Scripture that those who don’t know Christ are actually at war with God
• Romans 8:7–8 (NKJV) Because the carnal mind is enmity (enemy) against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
• “carnal” is the Greek word “sarx” which deals with the flesh; in other words, people who are not in Christ
• Douglas Moo – “God’s righteousness is available only through faith in Christ—but it is available to anyonewho has faith in Christ.”[1]
• Through our faith in Christ, we are moved from the side of the enemy to God’s side
• Warren Weirsbe said, “Condemnation means that God declares us sinners, which is a declaration of war. Justification means that God declares us righteous, which is a declaration of peace, made possible by Christ’s death on the cross.”[2]
• “We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God.”[3] – Thomas Merton

1. Hope in our Problems

Vss 3-5 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

• John 16:33 (NKJV) These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
• Our problems in life serve to make us better for the road ahead
• Traits described in this passage[4]:
  • Tribulation – grievous trouble; severe trial or suffering
  • Perseverance – steady persistence, especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement
  • Character – qualities of honesty, courage, morality, integrity
  • Hope – what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best

• “character” is the Greek word “dokimẽ” which describes something that has been tested through trials, not just a learned attribute
• David Martyn Loyd Jones said, “Trials and tribulations are very good for us in that they help us to know ourselves better than we knew ourselves before.”[5]
• Robert Mounce said, “Hope does not disappoint because…God floods our hearts with his love through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”[6]

1. Acceptance in our Sin

Vss 6-11 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

• Romans 5:7 (NLT) Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.
• It’s not logical that someone would die for others, yet Christ died for sinners who could never be worthy
• He saw us as we are and still loved us
• As a result, we are now “justified” by His blood and will be saved for eternity by His love

1. A Promise for our Future

Vss 12-21 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. 20Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

• These last 10 verses underscore what was our reality without Christ
• Because of sin, humanity faced a hopeless state; eternal death and separation from God were the inevitable consequences
• But God…
• Vernon McGee breaks it down for us all: “To simplify it, all this section means is this: one transgression plunged the race into sin; and one act of obedience and the death of Christ upon the Cross makes it possible for lost man to be saved.”[7]

[1] Douglas J. Moo, The Letter to the Romans, New International Commentary, Eerdmans Publishers, 2018.

[2] Weirsbe, Warren. The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1, Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996, 527.

[3] Water, Mark. The New Encyclopedia of Christian Quotations, John Hunt Publishers, 2000.

[4] Definitions from Dictionary.com, Accessed 18 June 2025.

[5] Blanchard, John. The Complete Gathered Gold: A Treasury of Quotations for Christians. EP Books, 2006.

[6] Mounce, Robert. Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary, Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995, 135.

[7] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary: The Epistles (Romans 1-8), electronic ed., vol. 42 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 101.