Written by: Ruth Walker (Church Army)
Romans 5 v 1-5
Since we have been made right with God by our faith, we have peace with
God. This happened through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has brought us into that
blessing of God’s grace that we now enjoy. And we are happy because of the hope
we have of sharing God’s glory. We also have joy with our troubles, because we
know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and
character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint us, because God
has poured out his love to fill our hearts. He gave us his love through the Holy
Spirit, whom God has given to us.
Notes
How often do you give thanks for problems in your life? If you’re like me,
you don’t. You spend most of your time moaning about how bad life is, and
asking, “Why is this happening to me?” and, “Why can’t life be easier?”
This passage talks about having joy in our troubles - not something we all find easy to do. However, God often uses our problems for good. Often, if you look back on parts of your life when there have been problems, you can see how God has worked for good, despite you not feeling good at the time and not seeing a way out. When we have problems, God promises not to leave us, and he helps us through those times by his Holy Spirit.
Do you know of the poem called “Footprints”? It talks about a man on a beach looking back over the events of his life, like footprints on a beach. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints - his and God’s - but sometimes there was only one. The man said to God: “I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed you most, you would leave me.” The Lord replied, “My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
We all grow by our experiences, whether they are good or bad. They help our development and build our character. The hard times are when we need to listen to God and rely on him. Through our problems we can end up with a deeper relationship with God.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you that when life seems hard, you are with me. Help me to
remember that when there are problems I can be thankful for the opportunity
to grow and deal with them in your strength. Amen
Romans 5 v 6-8
When we were unable to help ourselves, at the moment of our need, Christ died
for us, although we were living against God. Very few people will die to
save the life of someone else although perhaps for a good person someone
might possibly die. But God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ
died for us while we were still sinners.
Notes
Do you love someone enough to die for them? A number of years back Bryan Adams
released a song called: “Everything I Do, I Do It For You”. There is one
part of the song where the lyrics say: “I’d lie for you; walk the wire for
you; I’d die for you”. I used to think this was a really good way of telling
someone how much you really cared for them. You might be willing to lie for
a stranger, you might be willing to walk the wire for a friend, but I would
guess there aren’t many people you would be prepared to die for. Best friends
or family are about the only people you might consider dying for, but even
then you may think twice, especially after a row or falling out with them.
However, this passage talks about how God was willing to send his Son to die for us, even while we were/are sinners. Even at our worst, God still loves us enough to die for us. That includes the murderers in prison or the homeless on our streets - people we wouldn’t necessarily look at twice, but God was as willing to die for them as for us. Isn’t that wonderful?
So often we think that God is just for the people inside our churches and not for the people around. Sadly, that’s also how the people outside our churches often think - that God is not for them but only for the “religious folk”. But Jesus clearly died for us all.
Do you know someone today who needs to hear about the amazing love of God?
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you that you died for me and paid the price for all that I
have done wrong, even when I knew nothing of you. Help me today to follow
you and be a witness to others. Amen
Romans 5 v 9-11
So through Christ we will surely be saved from God’s anger, because we have
been made right with God by the blood of Christ’s death. While we were God’s
enemies, he made friends with us through the death of his Son. Surely, now
that we are his friends, he will save us through his Son’s life. And not
only that, now we are also very happy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through him we are now God’s friends again.
Notes
Have you ever really stopped to take in just how incredible Jesus’ death was?
If you have seen the film “The Passion of the Christ” then I guess you may
have some idea, especially seeing just what Jesus was put through physically,
never mind what it cost him both mentally and spiritually.
In this passage John explains just what Jesus’ death really means for us. We were God’s enemies, not his friends, yet Jesus died for us so that we could be made friends with God. Isn’t that great?
Have you ever had that wonderful experience of having a best friend? Someone you can really talk to about absolutely anything? Someone you love to be around? There is a real happiness when they are around. This is what we have with God. Not only is there a friendship, but also a joy - or happiness - in God and all that a relationship with him brings.
And what does he expect in return? He expects nothing, but he does want us to believe and follow him. Do you believe? Do you want to be a friend of God’s? Are you living your life for Christ? If not, why not give your life over to him today?
Prayer
Dear Lord, often I fail you, and so much of my life isn’t how you would want
it to be. I pray that you would help me to be your friend and grow more like
you in all I say and do. Amen
Romans 5 v 12-17
Sin came into the world because of what one man did, and with sin came death.
This is why everyone must die — because everyone sinned. Sin was in the world
before the law of Moses, but sin is not counted against us as breaking a
command when there is no law. But from the time of Adam to the time of Moses,
everyone had to die, even those who had not sinned by breaking a command,
as Adam had.
Adam was like the One who was coming in the future. But God’s free gift is
not like Adam’s sin. Many people died because of the sin of that one man. But
the grace from God was much greater; many people received God’s gift of life
by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ. After Adam sinned once, he was judged
guilty. But the gift of God is different. God’s free gift came after many sins,
and it makes people right with God. One man sinned, and so death ruled all
people because of that one man. But now those people who accept God’s full
grace and the great gift of being made right with him will surely have true
life and rule through the one man, Jesus Christ.
Notes
Have you ever noticed that when a new baby is born everyone starts trying to
work out which of the parents the baby looks like the most? We have traces
of both parents in us. Sometimes it is obvious by the way we look, but sometimes
it is shown more in our personality or the habits we have.
We are all born descendants of Adam. He was born without sin but brought sin into the world, which meant death. When Jesus came into the world he was like Adam and born without sin, but he did not bring sin into the world. In fact, his death and resurrection meant he brought life back into world. God gave us all a gift through Jesus. To receive this gift of life, all we need to do is believe, then we are free from sin and are given God’s gift of eternal life.
Have you ever wished you could change your family? Well, God gives us this opportunity. Although we are descendants of Adam, we can also be part of the family of God. We do not have to be trapped in a life of sin; we can choose to opt out of it into true life with God.
Are you part of God’s family?
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you that although I’m a descendant of Adam, I can be part
of your family too. Therefore, I do not have to fear death but can have eternal
life with you. Amen
Romans 5 v 18-21
So as one sin of Adam brought the punishment of death to all people, one good
act that Christ did makes all people right with God. And that brings true
life for all. One man disobeyed God, and many became sinners. In the same
way, one man obeyed God, and many will be made right. The law came to make
sin worse. But when sin grew worse, God’s grace increased. Sin once used
death to rule us, but God gave people more of his grace so that grace could
rule by making people right with him. And this brings life for ever through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Notes
What is grace? One dictionary definition is “the unmerited favour of God”.
Often we do not deserve God’s favour, never mind the forgiveness which God
gives us for what we have done wrong, for the sin in our life.
This passage says that just as sin grew, God’s grace grew too. The favour that God has given us means that what we do wrong does not have to rule over us; we are can be forgiven and his grace puts us right with God again.
The Message Bible puts it so clearly. Verse 21 reads: “All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that’s the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life – a life that goes on and on and on, world without end.”
What could be more appealing than a life everlasting with God? It certainly beats all that this world can offer us. Money, fame, wisdom - these will all fade when we die, but God’s love and grace will continue, and we can enjoy these with God too.
Do you not think this is something everyone should know and experience? God loves for us to tell others about his love, mercy and grace. Why not find a way to tell someone today of his love? You could forward a word-on-the-web email to them, or even invite them to see a Christian band playing in your area.
Prayer
Dear Lord, often I want to share your love and grace with others but do not
have the courage to do so. Please give me your strength and words to tell
someone today about you. Amen
Romans 6 v 1-7
So do you think we should continue sinning so that God will give us even more
grace? No! We died to our old sinful lives, so how can we continue living
with sin? Did you forget that all of us became part of Christ when we were
baptised? We shared his death in our baptism. When we were baptised, we were
buried with Christ and shared his death. So, just as Christ was raised from
the dead by the wonderful power of the Father, we also can live a new life.
Christ died, and we have been joined with him by dying too. So we will also
be joined with him by rising from the dead as he did. We know that our old
life died with Christ on the cross so that our sinful selves would have no
power over us and we would not be slaves to sin. Anyone who has died is made
free from sin’s control.
Notes
If you do something wrong and then someone forgives you, does it mean you have
the right to do it again and again, knowing you will be forgiven? Of course
it doesn’t. We often fail and end up doing the same things wrong again, but
we should strive not to. This is what today’s passage talks about. When we
become Christians, we should put down our old lives and strive to live Godly
lives because God is living in us through his Holy Spirit.
In Paul’s day, baptism was usually by immersion. You were lowered completely into the water, symbolising being buried like Christ and your old way of life dying and being buried. Then you were raised out of the water, symbolising Christ’s resurrection and you being raised into your new life with Christ.
Getting baptised is a sign, showing yourself and others that you are following Christ and he is now in control of your life. Baptism can often be a great witness to others about the difference that Christ has made in your life, and it is a statement about wanting to be a different person through Christ.
Have you ever made a public statement of your faith? If not, you may want to think about getting baptised. Many churches have different views on baptism, especially if you were baptised as an infant, so I would suggest talking to a leader from your church. They may suggest confirmation, or being interviewed in church about how accepting God into your life has made a difference to you.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you that as a Christian you live in me. Please help me not
to live my old life, but to remember that you have given me something better
to strive for. Amen
Romans 6 v 8-14
If we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. Christ was raised
from the dead, and we know that he cannot die again. Death has no power over
him now. Yes, when Christ died, he died to defeat the power of sin just once
— enough for all time. He now has a new life, and his new life is with God.
In the same way, you should see yourselves as being dead to the power of
sin and alive with God through Christ Jesus.
So, do not let sin control your life here on earth so that you do what your
sinful self wants to do. Do not offer the parts of your body to serve sin,
as things to be used in doing evil. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people
who have died and now live. Offer the parts of your body to God to be used
in doing good. Sin will not be your master, because you are not under law but
under God’s grace.
Notes
Have you ever experienced a close friend or family member dying? It’s always
a hard time. We miss them so much and wish they hadn’t been taken away from
us. There are times when death seems better than life for that person, because
of ill health. But this doesn’t make it any easier for us to cope with. Even
the thought of our own death can scare us.
In today’s passage, Paul talks about how death has no power over God. We might fear how we will die, but as Christians we do not have to fear what lies beyond death. If it is a Christian who has died, it can be easier to let go of the loved one because we know they will be in heaven. However, that still doesn’t mean we won’t grieve for the person. Even Jesus cried when he found out his friend Lazarus had died (John 11 v 35).
Jesus conquered death and sin on the cross. We need to remember that as Christians we do not need to fear death. However, this should not make us feel that we can continue to sin and be ok. We need to remember not to let sin control us. We have handed over our lives to Christ, so we should use the gifts we were born with to please him.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you that you have the power over sin and death. I offer you
myself, my time and my talents. I pray that you will use me for your will.
Please help me be a witness to you in what I do each day, week, month and
year, and to remember that what I do is through your strength. Amen
word-on-the-web uses the Scripture text taken from the Youth Bible, New Century Version (Anglicised Edition) copyright 1993 by Word Publishing Milton Keynes