Romans Week 4 | Peace, Hope, and Life in Christ

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever received a gift that completely changed your life? Maybe it was something small but meaningful — a note that restored a friendship, or a key that opened a new opportunity.

We’re four weeks into Romans. In chapters 1–2, Paul showed us that everyone needs grace. In chapter 3, he leveled the field—none are righteous. In chapter 4, he lifted our eyes—like Abraham, we are justified by faith. Today, chapters 5–6 answer the “so what” question. What changes now that we’ve been made right with God?

Romans 5–6 tells us about the greatest gift ever given — the grace of God through Jesus Christ. This gift doesn’t just improve our lives; it transforms us from enemies of God into children of peace, from slaves of sin into people truly free.

To understand the weight of these chapters, we need to remember where we are in the book of Romans.

In the first four chapters, Paul has been laying out the foundation of the gospel:

• Humanity is lost in sin and cannot save itself.

• The law of Moses reveals our guilt but cannot make us righteous.

• But God, in His mercy, has provided righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ.

Romans 5–6 is the turning point of the letter. Paul moves from explaining how we are made right with God to showing what that means for the way we live. He describes the incredible results of justification — peace with God, hope for the future, and new life in Christ.

It’s as if Paul is saying: “Now that you’ve been made right with God, let me tell you what that changes.”

Before, we were under the reign of sin and death because of Adam’s failure.

Now, we live under the reign of grace and life because of Christ’s victory.

These chapters paint a picture of the Christian’s new identity — forgiven, free, and full of hope. But to really appreciate the beauty of that picture, we need to understand some of the key words Paul uses throughout these verses — words that appear again and again as he builds his argument for God’s redeeming love.

KEY TERMS IN REDEMPTION (Romans 5–6)

• Trespass — a boundary drawn that's been crossed. Not always intentional.

• Transgression — defiant breaking. Knowing what’s right and choosing the opposite.

• Sin — “to miss the mark.” Not merely behavior but a heart-condition that separates us from God.

• Righteousness — right standing with God. Not earned; credited by faith in Jesus.

• Reconciliation — relationship restored. Sin made us enemies; the cross makes us family.

• Redemption – to free from captivity by payment of ransom.

• Justification — God’s legal declaration: the debt has been forgiven.

• Grace — unearned favor.

• Free Gift — salvation and eternal life received, not achieved.

• Sanctification — the Spirit’s ongoing work to shape us into Christ’s likeness.

When we understand these words, we see that Romans 5–6 isn’t just theology — it’s a love story. God takes us from guilt to grace, from death to life, from slavery to freedom — all through the power of the cross.

God’s grace doesn’t just pardon you — it changes who you are and how you live.

JUSTIFICATION BRINGS PEACE AND HOPE

Romans 5:1–11 (ESV)

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 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. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

What does all this mean?

Paul opens with a big, steadying truth: since we’ve been justified by faith, we have peace with God. Not a mood — peace is a status. The war is over. We stand in grace, not on eggshells.

That gives us a durable hope, one that survives suffering. Suffering, in God’s hands, grows endurance, then character, then hope — and that hope doesn’t embarrass us, because the Spirit pours God’s love into our hearts. The proof isn’t our circumstances; it’s the cross: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. If God reconciled us when we were enemies, how much more will He keep us now that we’re His kids?

We tend to think peace with God is like our satellite internet service — pretty good until a storm rolls through. Paul says it’s more like bedrock under your house.

Application

• When anxiety rises, stand where you already are — in grace.

• Let trials become a workshop, a place where hope is built..

• Talk to God like a reconciled son or daughter, not a nervous defendant.

Peace with God isn’t achieved by you — it’s secured by Jesus.

ADAM BROUGHT DEATH; CHRIST BRINGS LIFE

Romans 5:12–21 (ESV)

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

15 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. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

So what does this mean?

Two representatives; two reigns. In Adam, sin entered and death reigned. In Christ, grace entered and life reigns. The free gift isn’t like the trespass — grace doesn’t just balance the books; it overflows. Where sin piled up, grace piled higher. Adam’s disobedience made many sinners; Christ’s obedience makes many righteous. The Law exposes the depth of the problem, but Christ supplies the remedy.

Think of it this way…

In Adam, death had the last word. In Christ, life gets the last word.

Application

• Stop letting Adam define you. In Christ you are declared righteous.

• Receive the abundance of grace daily — open hands, not clenched fists.

What Adam lost, Jesus more than restored.

DEAD TO SIN, ALIVE IN CHRIST

Romans 6:1–4 (ESV)

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:6–7 (ESV)

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.

Romans 6:11–14 (ESV)

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Romans 6:23 (ESV)

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lets break it down…

Grace is not permission to sin; it’s power to live free. United with Christ, we died with Him and rose with Him. The old self was crucified. Sin is still present, but it’s not president, or in charge. Another way to say this is: Sin hasn’t disappeared, but it no longer calls the shots.

Consider yourselves — this truth — dead to sin and alive to God. Then present yourselves to God on purpose: your thoughts, words, hands, and habits as instruments of righteousness. Sin pays wages — death. God gives a gift — eternal life in Christ.

Simply put…

If sin calls you, it’s dialing the number of the old you. That person doesn’t live here anymore.

Application

• Identity: start your day declaring, “In Christ, I’m dead to sin and alive to God.”

• Intentionality: choose where you present your members — phone, calendar, conversations — to God.

• Integrity: when you stumble, run toward grace, not away. Confess quickly, continue forward.

Sin may tempt you, but it can’t own you — Jesus already does.

THIS WEEK: 3 DOABLE CHALLENGES

Morning declaration: “Father, in Christ I’m dead to sin and alive to You.”

One swap: replace one old habit cue with a 60-second “present yourself” moment — brief Scripture and prayer when that cue hits.

Grace forward: extend the same grace you’ve received to one person who doesn’t deserve it.

SAFETY GUARDRAILS

Grace is not license to enable harm or sin. “Dead to sin” never means staying in abusive or destructive patterns. Seek help, set boundaries, and pursue safety and holiness.

GOSPEL CONNECTION — BRIDGE TO REFLECTION

Those words we defined — trespass, sin, righteousness, reconciliation, justification, grace, free gift, sanctification — aren’t just terms; they’re your story in Christ.

In Adam, trespass and death…In Jesus, justification and life.

Invite the Spirit to move one of those truths from your head to your heart today. Don't wait.