one great savior

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GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes

GUIDE: Invite members to look at the picture in Personal

SESSION 4

ONE GREAT SAVIOR

Study Guide (PSG) p. 46.

DISCUSS: Question #1 (PSG, p. 46): When was a

The Point

time you got lost?”

God offers us hope and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

GUIDE: Ask a volunteer to

The Bible Meets Life

summarize the author’s story

Why would Jesus save me? When

of being rescued from The

we come face-to-face with our

Bible Meets Life (PSG, p. 47).

sin and failures, we can become despondent. A feeling of doom can settle in. After all, we have earned

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY:

the wrath of God. But the story doesn’t end there. It is amazing that God—the

Display a life preserver or a life

holy, righteous God who has condemned our sin—also loves us and stepped

vest. Ask your group: In what

in to save us. We deserve judgment and hell, but God offers the only way out

kind of emergency situation

through Christ.

do we need this? Say, “In a desperate situation, a life

The Passage

preserver can be the difference

Romans 5:6-11

between life or death. In

The Setting

today’s lesson we will discover how Jesus is our rescuer in our desperate situation.”

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 (Rom. 3:26). Paul used Abraham as an example of how God justified a sinner by grace through faith

GUIDE: Introduce The Point (PSG, p. 47): God offers us hope and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

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S e ss i o n 4

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).

STUDY THE BIBLE

Romans 5:6-8 6 For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment,

Romans 5:6-8 10 minutes

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 volunteer to read Romans 5:6-8.

GUIDE: Remind members of

Jesus died for us.

the sessions they have studied

Verse 6. In this week’s key text Paul stressed the radical changes we experience when we trust Jesus as Lord and Savior. You might be reminded of the images on television of the before and after pictures of people who lose lots of weight or houses that are remodeled in remarkable ways! Paul, however, was describing our spiritual transformation through Jesus, not a more superficial, external change. 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 on our own to change our situation. Later in this letter Paul reinforced this point by using the word picture of us as slaves to sin (6:6,20). We could not liberate ourselves from that slavery. Perhaps a weak analogy might be someone today addicted to drugs, alcohol, nicotine, or pornography. Although medication and counseling can help those addictions, Paul pointed us to a spiritual situation of complete helplessness. A sinner is also “ungodly” in the sense of not knowing the true God in a meaningful way. Paul understood that many people were religious, but they worshiped pagan gods rather than the true God. We might know people today who are good citizens and do good deeds, but Paul realized they were not related to God in the right way and 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” (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 the “due time” (KJV). Although this word is sometimes used interchangeably with chronos (clock time or calendar time), kairos points to an opportune

so far in this unit. • “One Great Creator” (The Point: God created us—and He knows each of us.) • “One Great Purpose” (The Point: We were created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.) • “One Great Problem” (The Point: Without Christ, we are condemned forever.) LEADER PACK: Draw attention to Session Titles on Item 1: “Unvarnished Truth.”

DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG, p. 49): Why do we sometimes struggle to recognize we are helpless? (Alternate: What do these verses teach us about God’s character?)

S U G G E S T E D U S E | W E E K O F S E P T E M B E R 25

53

THE POINT

God offers us hope and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

SUMMARIZE: In Romans 5, Paul 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. On PSG page 48 we see that Paul noted three kinds of people: • The just person. Paul is 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. 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.

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S e ss i o n 4

moment or when the time is ripe. Paul touched on the same idea in Galatians 4:4 when he said Jesus arrived in human history when “the time came to completion.” 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. The basis for our salvation is the fact Christ died for the ungodly. Although we live in a culture that likes to solve its own problems through science, technology, medicine, and other expressions of human achievement, our fundamental problem, sin, can only be solved by God’s intervention. The New Testament authors summarized the good news about salvation in many ways. For example, Paul also wrote, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3). Jesus even described His own task or mission in several ways. Jesus came to “give His life—a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Also, He came to “seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). His task was also that sinners “may have life and have it in abundance” (John 10:10). Verse 7. Perhaps Paul expected his readers to be puzzled why God would graciously offer salvation to sinful humanity. 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. Even today we occasionally hear about a friend, family member, or first responder making the ultimate sacrifice to help another person. Maybe a soldier throws his or her body on a grenade to save the life of a colleague. Bible scholars are not sure if Paul intended a sharp distinction between “just person” and “good person” in this analogy. Some think the “just person” is someone we admire or respect and that we might help, while the “good person” is someone we know and love deeply. Rather than making a distinction, Paul might have used different words to make one main point. 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. Paul made sure his readers knew the eternal context for Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. 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. The Greek word translated here is agape. The Greek language had several words for love, but Paul used a term that in biblical usage pointed to a sacrificial, unselfish kind of love. The other Greek words, such as eros and philia referred to a human love that responds to something or someone we find attractive, lovely, or lovable. Eros generally refers to physical attraction, and philia is a friendship love. God’s love goes beyond attraction to someone who is lovable. God loves sinners! The fact God is loving is taught in both Old and New Testaments. In our session on Isaiah 43, we saw that God loved His people (Isa. 43:4). In Psalm 136 the author used the refrain “His love is eternal” at the end of every verse! Christians are familiar with John’s emphasis that “God is love” (1 John 4:8,16). On the human level we know that talking about “love” can be easy or maybe even cheap. A marriage partner might want the spouse to manifest his or her love in some concrete or practical way. Paul stressed that God proves His own love for us. God’s love for sinners was not merely theoretical or academic in nature. God makes known His love in many ways, but Paul especially highlighted God’s action in Jesus. In fact, God did not wait on sinners to shape up before He demonstrated His love for them. Indeed, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! God initiated salvation through Jesus while humanity was still enslaved to sin. Peter noted that Jesus’ death for our sins was a unique “once for all” kind of action. Jesus was righteous, but He died for the unrighteous, bringing us into a right relation with God (1 Pet. 3:18). Jesus’ death on the cross is the ultimate proof of God’s love. Some people still misunderstand the biblical teaching on salvation. They might think of Jesus as loving and God the Father as only just and judgmental. Paul and other New Testament writers remind us that both God the Father and God the Son are loving and seek a close relation with sinful humanity. John 3:16 reminds us that God’s love for the world was uniquely revealed in the gift of His One and Only Son. When Jesus compared Himself to a shepherd who cared for his sheep, He mentioned that He would “lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10:15). 1

GUIDE: Highlight the Bible Commentary 1 that defines and describes God’s love for us.

LEADER PACK: Ask a volunteer to read Item 2: “Quote from Lewis Sperry Chafer” (also on PSG page 49): “Anyone can devise a plan by which good people go to heaven. Only God can devise a plan whereby sinners, which are His enemies, can go to heaven.” SAY: ”Because of God’s great love for us, Jesus came to us in the midst of our helpless, sinful state, so that He could save us from our sins.”

TRANSITION: “Verses 6-8 show God’s love for us and explain that He proved His love through Jesus’ death on the cross. As we move to verse 9, we will see exactly what was accomplished by Jesus’ sacrifice.”

55

THE POINT

God offers us hope and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

STUDY THE BIBLE Romans 5:9 10 minutes READ: Ask a volunteer to read verse 9.

Romans 5:9 9 Much more then, since we have now been declared

righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath. KEY WORD: 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

SUMMARIZE: Use Bible Commentary 2 to explain the meaning of declared righteous. Refer to the Biblical Illustrator excerpt: “Righteousness in Pauline Thought” on page 61, for further detail. Ask a volunteer to read or summarize Digging Deeper on PSG page 51 for more insight into God’s righteousness and how we are made righteous by God’s power alone.

GUIDE: Use content from the KEY WORD (PSG, p. 50) and Bible Commentary 3 to explain the meaning of wrath.

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S e ss i o n 4

tantrum.

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). 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. 2 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 Thess. 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. 3 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 (Gen. 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 (Rom. 1:24,26,28). Rather than zapping 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).

DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 50): To what degree do you feel at peace in your relationship with God? (Alternate: What is the relationship between God’s’ love and His wrath?)

TRANSITION: “Verses 1011 will show us that Jesus’ sacrifice not only saves us from sin, but also has reconciled us

Romans 5:10-11

to God.”

10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God

through the death of His Son, then how much more, having

STUDY THE BIBLE

been reconciled, will we be saved by His life!

Romans 5:10-11

11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our

10 minutes

Lord Jesus Christ. We have now received this reconciliation through Him.

READ: Invite a volunteer to read Romans 5:10-11.

KEY WORD: Reconciled (v. 10)—God restored the harmony that originally existed between Him and humans before we sinned. God initiates reconciliation, and sinners receive the benefit through salvation.

Jesus reconciles us to God.

SUMMARIZE: Use information from the KEY WORD (PSG, p. 52) and Bible Commentary 4 to explain

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. A reconciliation becomes necessary when two people or two groups have become at odds with each other. For example, one person might betray another person by acting unfaithfully. The relationship that becomes 4

the meaning of reconciled and discuss briefly how it differs from justified.

57

THE POINT

God offers us hope and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

SUMMARIZE: Use Bible Commentary 5 to highlight two aspects of our experience as Jesus’ followers: • We are reconciled to God through the death of His Son. • We will be saved by His life. SAY: ”Through His death, Jesus provided the way for reconciliation between God and each of us. We are offered a reconciled or restored relationship with God.”

DISCUSS: Question #4 (PSG, p. 53): Why do some Christians feel at times they are not reconciled to God?

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broken might be a business partnership, a marriage, or a long-term friendship. The former partners, spouses, or friends might remain hostile with each other, or they might work for a restoration of the former relationship. Paul described the situation of sinners before trusting Jesus as Lord and Savior as being God’s enemies. This term might seem too strong to some of Paul’s readers. After all, they might think, “I’ve never been hostile to God!” Paul, however, was thinking of two basic types of relations with God. Either you are a devoted follower of God, or you are opposed to God. There is no neutral or sort-of-alienatedfrom-God option. Paul used similar language in another letter. “Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil actions” (Col. 1:21). Any sin or failure to obey God counts as alienation and hostility in the eyes of God. Paul’s own experience offers a good example of being an enemy of God. Before he met the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul was “a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man” (1 Tim. 1:13). Paul’s role as an aggressive persecutor of Jesus’ followers is described in the Book of Acts (8:1-3; 9:1-2). Although Paul’s readers may not have not shared his role as persecutor, earlier they had failed to honor God and receive His Son Jesus. As a Christian Paul was no longer an enemy of God; he was now “appointed a herald, an apostle” (1 Tim. 2:7). 5 Paul noted two aspects to the experience of Jesus’ followers. First, they had been reconciled to God through the death of His Son. The death of Jesus for our sins was a consistent theme in the preaching of the early Christians and in Paul’s letters. Our reconciliation with God is due completely to God’s action in and through the death of Jesus for our sins. Paul was always clear that we cannot earn or merit our salvation by doing good deeds. The initiative for our salvation is all God’s. All the work of salvation has been done by Jesus. In another letter Paul stressed, “Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ” (2 Cor. 5:18). On the human level two alienated people might work together to rebuild their relationship. But our salvation from our sins is different. God does the reconciling! “That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself” (v. 19). Paul was comfortable using a word picture drawn from the arena of personal relations, but he was crystal clear about the dynamics of the God-human reconciliation.

Second, since we are reconciled through God’s action in Christ, we will also be saved by His life. These words might be a little more puzzling to us. 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” (Phil. 1:21). Or Paul could have meant that the risen Christ carried on an intercessory role for His followers (Rom. 8:34). Jesus had assured His followers that He would always be with them, even after His departure through His ascension (Matt. 28:19-20).

SUMMARIZE: Call attention to what being “reconciled to God” (v. 10) means for us (PSG, p. 53): 1. Our future is secure. 2. We have a reason for joy. SAY: ”This is very good news!

Verse 11. How should a Christian respond to salvation he or she has experienced through Jesus Christ? Here Paul stressed that we should also rejoice. 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. He wrote “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord” (Phil. 3:1). Or, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (4:4). Elsewhere Paul stressed a sense of gratitude as a proper response. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15). This gratitude could be for the gift of salvation or for Jesus in general.

The unconditional love of

In just a few verses Paul took us on an amazing journey. Christians could see how they moved from being God’s enemies (“ungodly”; Rom. 5:6) to the reconciliation made possible through the death of Jesus for our sins. The King James translation of the Greek has “atonement” rather than reconciliation. Historians of English translations of the Bible suggest the word atonement was first used by William Tyndale. The English word literally means at-one-ment, or what we typically call “reconciliation” today. 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 week’s session reminds us of God’s generous offer of salvation through the gift of His Son Jesus. If we could save ourselves or meet God half-way, we would be inclined to brag about our achievement (3:27-30). In this week’s session we once again realize the gift nature of salvation. Because of our sins we 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 Tim. 2:4). In our next session we will look in more detail at how we must respond to God’s offer of salvation.

of being reconciled to God?

God is greater than our sinfulness. God promises us eternal life and abundant life through Jesus who reconciles us to God.”

DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 54): How would you like your life to reflect the reality

(Alternate: Why is Jesus’ resurrection just as important as His death for our salvation?)

DO: Invite volunteers to share their responses to the activity on PSG, page 54: “Hope for the Future.”

59

THE POINT

God offers us hope and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes GUIDE: Emphasize The Point: God offers us hope and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Review Live It Out (PSG, p. 55; see text to the right). Invite group members to think about which application

LIVE IT OUT The good news for believers is that we have been reconciled to God by what Jesus did for us on the cross. Now He invites us to join Him in the ministry of reconciliation. What will you do with God’s message of hope and forgiveness?

>> Create a prayer list. List the names of family or

friends who need to be saved. Commit to praying for them daily. Ask the Lord to open their eyes to their spiritual condition.

>> Share your testimony. Write out the story of your

own salvation. Pray for the opportunity to share your testimony. Ask God to give you the courage to be faithful in your witnessing.

speaks most to their needs.

>> Invite five people. Take steps to connect with the five

Wrap It Up GUIDE: Emphasize that when we feel as if we’re drowning in all the chaos and hopelessness around us, we have a reason for hope—and that reason is our Savior, Jesus Christ. SAY: “Thank God for those who shared the gospel with you when you were helpless. We can be the ones to help others come to know the love of God and a restored relationship with Him.” PRAY: Thank God for His never-failing love. Pray that we will understand that God truly loves us and desires a relationship with us.

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S e ss i o n 4

people you listed in the activity on page 54. Invite them to visit your Bible study for Session 5.

ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/MIKE RUTHERFORD (59/1475)

SHARING THE GOOD NEWS

the complete story of Scripture,

Jesus—and Jesus

reaching all the way back to the

only—offers us hope and

roots of Judaism. He wanted

forgiveness. When we turn

followers of Jesus to understand

from our sin and trust what

how righteousness, as related

He has done for us, we can be

to the work of Jesus, completed

saved and have eternal life

the story. Jesus’ work was not an

with Him.

awkward interruption. Rather,

The Dome of the Rock at Jerusalem. It stands on the site of the three Hebrew temples: Solomon’s (958–587 B.C.), Zerubbabel’s (a restoration of Solomon’s after a return from exile in 538 B.C.), and Herod’s (20 B.C.–A.D. 70).

it was an act of fulfillment. The

Each week, make yourself

Roman church, Paul’s target

available either before or after

audience for this epistle, was likely

the session to speak privately

a mix of Jews and Gentiles.

with anyone in your group

“To Jewish recipients of this

who wants to know more

letter, Paul wanted to show how

about becoming a Christian.

the righteousness Jesus graced

See the article, “Leading

upon believers did not contradict

Someone to the Greatest

“Paul, in [his] epistle to the

the story of God’s work with Israel.

Decision of All,“ on page 2 for

Roman church, offered a brilliant

At the same time, as an apostle to

guidance in leading a person

explanation of the Christian faith.

the Gentiles, Paul was writing to

to Christ.

In a world of varying religious

show how Jesus brought Jews and Gentiles together through one

Remind group members that

viewpoints, Paul wrote the Book of Romans with a clear mandate

gospel message.”

to clarify exactly what happened

The excerpt above is from the article “Righteousness in Pauline Thought” (Fall 2011), which relates to this session. More Biblical Illustrator articles are available that relate to this session. See page 7 about Biblical Illustrator.

in the historical life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. “In the Book of Romans,

page 2 in the PSG offers guidance in how to become a Christian. Encourage believers to consider using this article as they have opportunities to lead others to Christ.

‘righteous’ is a prevailing theme. Paul offered an explanation of righteousness that honored

>> Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid (MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesFor Life). >> Grow with other group leaders at the Groups Ministry blog (lifeway.com/groupministry). >> Additional ideas for your group are available at BibleStudiesFor Life.com/blog. 61