SESSION 4 ONE GREAT SAVIOR The Point God offers us hope and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. The Passage Romans 5:6-11 The Bible Meets Life Why would Jesus save me? When we come face-to-face with our sin and failures, we can become despondent. A feeling of doom can settle in. After all, we have earned the wrath of God. But the story doesn t end there. It is amazing that God the holy, righteous God who has condemned our sin also loves us and stepped in to save us. We deserve judgment and hell, but God offers the only way out through Christ. The Setting Having demonstrated that all humans are sinners needing salvation, Paul then examined the origin and nature of salvation. Justification, or being declared righteous by God, was a key description of salvation (Romans 3:26). Paul used Abraham as an example of how God justified a sinner by grace through faith rather than by works (4:1-5). When we are rightly related to God through Jesus, we experience peace with God (5:1) and hope for the future (v. 5). BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 49
What does the Bible say? Romans 5:6-11 (HCSB) Wrath (v. 9) God s wrath is His holy disapproval and disappointment with human sin. It is not the same as human anger or a temper tantrum. Reconciled (v. 10) God restored the harmony that originally existed between Himself and humans before we sinned. God initiates reconciliation, and sinners receive the benefit through salvation. 6 For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! 9 Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life! 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have now received this reconciliation through Him. 50 SeSSion 4
THE POINT God offers us hope and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes DISCUSS: Invite your group members to discuss Question #1 on page 37 of the PSG (Personal Study Guide): What is one of your favorite rescues from history, film, or literature? Allow time for each person to respond. SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 38): As a young man, I worked on an offshore drilling rig. On this particular dark and stormy night I was off-loading materials from a supply boat. The small boat was being violently tossed in the waves, and a cable hit me and launched me overboard. The pounding waves carried me further into the dark waters of the Gulf. I drifted so far that I no longer could see the lights of the rig. TIP: Gather prayer requests at the end of the Bible study; you ll still get the same prayer requests and be able to manage your time well. Notes After two hours adrift, I had given up hope of being saved. I was lost in the darkness and became gripped with fear. Suddenly, in the midst of the darkness a light burst through the turbulent waves a boat equipped with a searchlight. When that light hit me, my hope was restored. I was saved! ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): Display a life preserver and ask your group: In what kinds of situations do we need one of these? Discuss how we need life preservers when our lives are at stake. In a desperate situation, a life preserver can mean the difference between life or death. Scripture says that without Christ, a person is spiritually dead. Our only hope is found in Christ. He is our Rescuer. (If a life preserver isn t easily accessible, use a life vest or children s flotation device.) GUIDE: Call attention to The Point on page 38 of the PSG: God offers us hope and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. PRAY: Transition into the discussion with prayer. Thank God for His gracious act of sending Jesus to pay the price for our sin. Display Pack Item #4 to use with your discussion of Question #2. Cut apart Pack Item #5 and have it ready to distribute to your group. PLAYLIST PICK: You Alone Can Rescue by Matt Redman BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 51
5 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Romans 5:6-8 (HCSB) 6 For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Romans 5:6-8. SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 39): In Romans 5, Paul clearly laid out the basics of the gospel message. Jesus is the light of the world; He dispels the darkness, removes all fear, reconciles us to God, and brings hope. Jesus did all of this through His death on the cross and He did it for the least likely group most people would consider. Paul noted three kinds of people: The just person. Paul is not using a theological term at this point, but describing a person others see as morally upright or exemplary in his or her conduct. The good person. This person is generous, kind, and loving toward others. While the just person may never appear to do anything wrong, everyone simply likes to be around the good person. For that reason, it s rare someone would die for the exemplary citizen, but he might dare to do so for someone who has been loving and caring. The sinner. The ones Jesus died for are neither upright nor good. Christ died for the ungodly (v. 6) and this title fits all of us. ALTERNATE QUESTION: What emotions do you experience when you read these verses? LEADER PACK: Bring your group s attention to Pack Item #4, Love of God poster, to lead into your discussion of Question #2. DISCUSS: Question #2 on page 39 of the PSG: What do these verses teach us about God s character? TRANSITION: The next verses explain more fully how Jesus death made it possible for us to be forgiven of our sins. 52 SeSSion 4
THE POINT God offers us hope and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Romans 5:6-8 Commentary Jesus died for us. Verse 6: Paul stressed the radical changes we experience when we trust Jesus as Lord and Savior. Before we were saved, we were helpless and ungodly. The word helpless could be rendered weak (ESV) or powerless (NIV). Even when we acknowledge we are sinners, we have no ability to change our situation. A sinner is also ungodly in the sense of not knowing the true God in a meaningful way. In Paul s time, many people were religious, but they worshiped pagan gods rather than the true God. They were without a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Being a sincere follower of other so-called gods or living a good life, as defined by human standards, is not enough. Salvation involves God declaring the ungodly to be righteous (Romans 4:5). God provided the salvation sinners need at the appointed moment. Here Paul used a Greek word (kairos) for time that could be translated due time (KJV). Although this word is sometimes used interchangeably with chronos (clock time or calendar time), kairos points to an opportune moment or when the time is ripe. God s plan to save sinful humanity through Jesus was not an accident or a divine afterthought. God did not send Jesus because God was surprised humans had messed up. Salvation through Jesus was God s eternal plan of redemption. Verse 7: Gentiles with a pagan religious background might have thought of gods as capricious or unpredictable. Jews might have thought they could earn salvation by doing good deeds. So Paul offered a human analogy. On rare occasions one person might sacrifice his or her life to save the life of a just person. Sometimes a heroic person might dare to die for a good person. We occasionally hear about a friend, family member, soldier, or first responder making the ultimate sacrifice to help another person. From the human level we can think of occasional heroic, sacrificial actions. But Jesus death on the cross for sinners is much more profound than these human examples. Verse 8: Our salvation is only possible because Jesus died for our sins. Jesus was more than an ordinary heroic human. In the background of Jesus death at the appointed moment (v. 6) was God s love for us. God s love goes beyond attraction to someone who is lovable. God loves sinners. God makes known His love in many ways, but Paul especially highlighted God s action in Jesus. Indeed, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! God initiated salvation through Jesus while humanity was still enslaved to sin. Jesus was righteous, but He died for the unrighteous, bringing us into a right relationship with God (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus death on the cross is the ultimate proof of God s love. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 53
10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Romans 5:9 (HCSB) 9 Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath. ALTERNATE QUESTION: In your own words, what does it mean to be declared righteous by His blood? READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Romans 5:9. DISCUSS: Question #3 on page 41 of the PSG: How would you explain God s wrath to someone reading this verse for the first time? SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGES 40-41): Christ does more than just rescue us from our sin. Paul writes in verse 9 that we are declared righteous in Christ. We all stood before God as guilty sinners sentenced to death. We were under the wrath of God. Because God is holy, He must punish sin. In fact, His righteous character demands that He deal with our sin. In an act of divine love, God sent His own Son to suffer and die in our place. Christ willingly came to die as the substitute for our sin. By His death and shed blood, Jesus is able to declare us righteous. To be declared righteous, then, means our sin all of it! is removed, and we stand before God completely forgiven, justified, and righteous in His eyes. TRANSITION: Jesus doesn t just save us from our sin; He allows us to have a restored relationship with God. 54 SeSSion 4
THE POINT God offers us hope and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Romans 5:9 Commentary Jesus saves us. Verse 9: Paul had offered a comparison between heroic, sacrificial human actions (v. 7) and the unique, loving action of God in Jesus death on the cross (v. 8). The phrase much more then suggests that we see how much more impressive is God s love than any human love we might be familiar with. God s love through Jesus means salvation is available to sinful humanity by His blood. Because of Jesus death for our sins, we have been declared righteous by His blood. Paul returned to one of his favorite word pictures or analogies for salvation. To be declared righteous is to be justified (NIV, ESV). Bible scholars sometimes debate whether this term primarily means declared righteous (that is, God decides we will be treated as if we are righteous) or made righteous (that is, God makes us to actually be righteous). The more traditional view is that declared righteous is the better interpretation. Certainly Paul presumed that Christians will become more and more righteous or sanctified or holy as they grow and mature in their Christian lives. In fact, sanctification is God s will for our lives (1 Thessalonians 4:3). A sinner stands guilty before God in His court room. But rather than making the sinner suffer the just consequences of his or her sins, God graciously offers salvation and decrees those who receive that salvation to be deemed as righteous on the basis of Jesus shed blood. One key aspect of our salvation is our being saved from God s wrath. Unfortunately, many people tend to misunderstand divine wrath. Certainly wrath could mean God s anger, and words such as wrath and anger refer on the human level to emotions. But God s wrath is primarily His disapproval of human sin. At times God s wrath was manifest in judgment such as the destruction of the city of Sodom (Genesis 18:20-21; 19:15). At other times, however, divine wrath was exercised by allowing sin to reap its so-called natural consequences. Paul described God s wrath on the sinful Gentiles as God delivering them over to the consequences of their choices (Romans 1:24,26,28). Rather than acting against them, God let them self-destruct. Paul did not shy away from the subject of God s wrath, but his main point was that salvation from God s holy displeasure with sin was possible through faith in Jesus Christ. The basis for our justification is Jesus, not our human problem-solving skills. Jesus was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification (4:25). BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 55
15 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Romans 5:10-11 (HCSB) 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life! 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have now received this reconciliation through Him. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Romans 5:10-11. SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 43): Through His death, Christ has provided the way for reconciliation between God and each of us. We re offered a reconciled, or restored, relationship with God. ALTERNATE QUESTION: Why is Jesus resurrection just as important as His death for our salvation? DISCUSS: Question #4 on page 42 of the PSG: What all are we offered in a relationship with Christ? DISCUSS: Question #5 on page 43 of the PSG: How would you like your life to reflect the reality of being reconciled to God? DO: Divide group members into subgroups of three or four people. Instruct subgroups to complete the first part of the activity on page 42 of the PSG together. For the second part, allow time for group members to complete this individually. HOPE IN CHRIST: Romans 5:8-10 tells of the grace and hope God extends to us through Christ. CircleHighlight the words or phrases that give you hope. 8 BUT GOD PROVES HIS OWN LOVE FOR US IN THAT WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US! 9 MUCH MORE THEN, SINCE WE HAVE NOW BEEN DECLARED RIGHTEOUS BY HIS BLOOD, WE WILL BE SAVED THROUGH HIM FROM WRATH. 10 FOR IF, WHILE WE WERE ENEMIES, WE WERE RECONCILED TO GOD THROUGH THE DEATH OF HIS SON, THEN HOW MUCH MORE, HAVING BEEN RECONCILED, WILL WE BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE! 56 SeSSion 4 As Christ-followers, we re called to share this hope. Who are five people you d like to invite to join this Bible study?
THE POINT God offers us hope and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Romans 5:10-11 Commentary Jesus reconciles us to God. Verse 10: Paul gave us a remarkable description of the amazing transformation we can experience by being saved. Paul was inspired to use several word pictures or figures of speech to try to capture what it means to be saved. Although he often used justified or declared righteous in this letter, he also depicted salvation as being reconciled. Being justified comes from a court room context, while reconciliation comes from the general area of human interpersonal relations. Reconciliation becomes necessary when two people or two groups have become at odds with each other. Paul described the situation of sinners before trusting Jesus as Lord and Savior as being God s enemies. Either you are a devoted follower of God, or you are opposed to God. There is no neutral or sort-ofalienated-from-god option. Paul used similar language in another letter. Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil actions (Colossians 1:21). Any sin or failure to obey God counts as alienation and hostility in the eyes of God. Paul noted two aspects to the experience of Jesus followers. First, they had been reconciled to God through the death of His Son. Second, since we are reconciled through God s action in Christ, we will also be saved by His life. Paul might have meant Christians share a close relation with the risen Christ. Paul wrote about his own experience, For me, living is Christ and dying is gain (Philippians 1:21). Or Paul could have meant that the risen Christ carried on an intercessory role for His followers (Romans 8:34). Jesus had assured His followers that He would always be with them, even after His departure (Matthew 28:19-20). Verse 11: Paul stressed that Christians should rejoice in response to salvation. The related term joy reflects the experience of many Christians. Although Paul might seem to have been a very serious, sober kind of person from some of his letters, he clearly saw a role for rejoicing in the Christian life. This gratitude could be for the gift of salvation or for Jesus in general. Paul s emphasis on the universality of human sin and guilt in last week s session might have left some readers feeling hopeless. But this session reminds us of God s generous offer of salvation through the gift of His Son Jesus. Our sins deserve God s wrath, but because of God s grace we can receive salvation. In a world that offers quick fixes to most problems, we need to reaffirm that Jesus is the only way to salvation and eternal life. Paul noted that God wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). In our next session we will look in more detail at how we respond to God s offer of salvation. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 57
5 minutes LIVE IT OUT Notes SAY: What will you do with God s message of hope and forgiveness? GUIDE: Lead group members to consider the responses to the Bible study listed on page 44 of the PSG. Memorize Romans 5:8. Post this verse in a place where you ll see it often. When you do, pause to thank God for the gift of a reconciled relationship with Him. Write your testimony. Grab a pen and put down on paper the story of your own salvation. Focus on three questions: (1) What was your life like before salvation? (2) How did you come to know Jesus? (3) What is your life like now since you ve been saved? Extend an invitation. This week, invite each of the five people you listed in the Hope In Christ activity on page 42found here to come to Bible study with you next week. Make a plan to pick them up, meet them in the parking lot, or meet for coffee beforehand. LEADER PACK: Distribute Pack Item #5, Romans 5:8 Memory Verse Cards, and encourage your group members to commit this verse to memory. Wrap It Up SAY: A life separated from Christ is marked by darkness, fear, and hopelessness. But we have hope. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He is our ultimate Rescuer. Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid. MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife 58 SeSSion 4