Romans 5:8-14

Rom 5:8 (KJV)
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

If one wishes to interpret the Bible properly, it is imperative that one looks at each statement carefully. In this passage we are told that while “we,” which is the body of believers, were still living in sin, Christ died for us. Notice the Bible uses the word “us” and not “everybody.” This is because Christ did not die for the sins of the entire world. He died for the sins of His Elect and that is why Paul uses the term “us.” It was for “us” that Christ died. He did not make an atonement for the entire world but He made atonement for His Elect in the world. (1 John 2:2 KJV) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2 is very misunderstood as many think that Christ died for everyone in the world. If that was the case, then everyone in the world would be saved. The word “commendeth” in Romans 5:8 carries with it the meaning of “demonstrate.” God demonstrated His love toward His Elect by letting His only begotten Son pay the eternal price for their sins.

Rom 5:9 (KJV)
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Here we read that not only did Christ restore what was lost in Adam for His Elect, but now we have a more intimate relationship with God the Father than Adam did, simply because we are now tied spiritually to the Triune God. Adam walked with God in the flesh but because of Christ that relationship has been greatly improved. We read in this verse that we are “justified by His blood” which means because of the sacrifice of Christ, we have been declared not guilty of all the sins we have committed in the past, committing today, and will commit in the future. Justification is not a process but is a one time act of God upon the moment of a believer’s salvation. It is a shame that some view justification as a process and even some theologians add the belief that works must accompany that justification. This is nothing more than Roman Catholic theology being imposed upon the body of believers. Continuing on in this verse, we read that because of that justification, we are saved from the wrath of God, which is eternal Hell, through the Lord Jesus Christ. It is important to know that salvation from Hell can only come through Christ as we read in this verse. There is no such thing as being able to be saved from hell by doing an end run around the cross. False religions attempt to do that but they must come to God on God’s terms and not their own. Christ is the only way to avoid the penalty of Hell. (John 14:6 KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Rom 5:10 (KJV)
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Once again we notice the words used here. The word “we” is used three times as “we” the body of believers are the ones who were once enemies of God but the sacrifice of Christ has reconciled us unto God. The Greek word for “we were reconciled” is in the passive voice which means that we did nothing to be reconciled unto God, it was all the work of Christ. This is why those who are attempting to add works to justification are really suborning heresy by trying to add works to something that has been fully provided for by Christ. When Christ first appeared on the scene to die for His Elect, He was clothed in the same type of body which we are in and that is weak, human flesh. Now compare that body of human flesh which He had 2,000 years ago versus the glorified, deity He now possesses. His eternal life coupled with all the powers of Heaven guards and upholds His redeemed until He brings us to glory individually and corporately on the last day. The phrase “being reconciled” in the Greek is in the passive voice and can be read “having been reconciled.” This means we cannot be anymore reconciled no matter what we do. The sacrifice of Christ for His Elect was complete in reconciling us to God. To attempt to add anything to it would adulterate it.

Rom 5:11 (KJV)
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Once again it is important to note who received the atonement. It was “we” that received the atonement, the body of believers. It was the atonement that reconciled us unto God, so it was not given to the whole world, only to the Elect of God. The word “joy” in the Greek carries with it the meaning of “boasting or glorying” which is a characteristic of the Apostle Paul. (Gal 6:14 KJV) But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Paul gloried or boasted in the cross of Christ. The same word used for “joy” in Romans 5:11 is the word for “glory” in Galatians 6:14. Every true believer should boast only in the cross of Christ since it was through His sacrifice that we were totally reconciled unto God, as the verse states that we “received the atonement.”

Rom 5:12 (KJV)
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

(1 Ki 8:46 KJV) If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near; Here we read that through the sin of the disobedience of Adam, sin had gained an entrance into this world which resulted in not only the physical death of a person but if that person was not the Elect of God, they would also suffer eternal death in Hell, which is the real penalty for sin. Physical death was not the penalty for sin, in fact, if you assess it, it is a merciful thing that God has done. Can you imagine living an eternal life in the flesh with sickness, disease, deformity, or other fleshly maladies? This sin of Adam caused physical death to come upon every human being in the human race because every human on earth has sinned which we read in 1 Kings 8:46. There is no one who has experienced a sinless life on this earth, except the Lord Jesus when He was here. All sin is rebellion against God and must be punished.

Rom 5:13 (KJV)
(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

This verse points us to the Law which God gave to Moses but here God is telling us that sin and its punishable effects were in the world. Even though there was nothing written down, we know that sin existed because Cain murdered Abel and Cain was guilty of that sin of murder. At the time of Cain, God was giving verbal instruction as to what was right and wrong until the time of Moses when the Law of God was written down so all would now be responsible to it and there would be no guessing as to what was right or wrong. God says that if there were no law, then there could be no transgression of it and no penalty, but there was never a time on earth when there was no law of some kind governing the people at a certain time.

Rom 5:14 (KJV)
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

Even though the Mosaic Law did not come into being until the time of Moses, the effects of sin, one of which was physical death, was still present. When we look at the descending ages of the people we see that life spans became shorter and shorter until God finally declared that a person can expect to life to be 70 years old and if by reason of strength, 80. (Psa 90:10 KJV) The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. God is also stating here that sin does not necessarily mean that we sin in the way Adam sinned. Any transgression of the law of God in any form is equal to the sin of Adam and its penalty. Then at the end of this verse God states that Adam was the figure of Him that was to come. This allusion is to the Lord Jesus Christ who would be called the second Adam. The second Adam would be the head of the church, the redeemed of God who He redeemed with His own blood. (Heb 1:3 KJV) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Back