October 25, 2026

UNIT 2: Paul's Letter to Romans

LESSON: 8

Study Text: Romans 3:21-31; 5:1-11

Central Truth: God saves and justifies those who put their faith in Jesus.

KEY Verse--Romans 5:10 If when we were enemies, we were reconciled by God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life (KJV).

  Since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son (NLT).

LET'S GET STARTED

In the last lesson, we took time to digest a lot of bad news about sin and its consequences. Now we get to reflect on God's good news of salvation. This message should cause us to praise God!

DISCUSSION STARTER--WELL DONE! Which of your accomplishments gives you the most pride?

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We can accomplish many things with God's help and strength and a lot of hard work. It's nice to receive credit for our efforts, and that is not wrong. According to God's Word, righteous deeds deserve rewards (see Pro3:3-4; 11:18). But no one can get the credit for their salvation; that belongs to God alone.

Today, we're turning our attention to Romans 3 and 5. After making the case for universal human guilt in Romans 1:1 through 3:20, Paul turns the reader's attention to the good news of God's salvation or being made right with God. Romans 5, Paul outlines the abundant blessings that flow from our justification and the astonishing love of God that reconciles us to Him.

                                                                   PART 1--Salvation Through Faith

          By the Grace of God                               Romans 3:21-26

Anyu time you see the word but in Scripture, you know something is about to change. Romans 3:21 is no exception. After successfully proving that every human being deserves God's wrath, Paul dramatically changes focus. He shifts from universal sin to righteousness, from judgment to justification by faith, from bad news to good. The Old Testament anticipated this moment when the atoning sacrifice of the Messiah would make salvation a reality. Paul uses a powerful metaphor in verse 25 to describe God's plan of salvation. "God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin." According to Paul, Jesus' sacrifice shows the justice and fairness of God. First, He "was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time." Second, He is fair when He "makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus."

? How have you experienced freedom through Jesus' sacrifice?

No Boasting Allowed                       Romans 3:27-31

Paul's imaginary dialogue partner returns in Romans 3:27 with the question, "Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God?" Paul responds with a blunt, "No." Every person stands condemned by their sin, and God freely offers redemption through Jesus to anyone who puts their faith in Him. We have no reason to boast in our good works. We are "justified" "made right with God," not through obedience to the Law but by putting our trust in Jesus. there is no other way to be saved--for Jews and Gentiles alike. The only way to "truly fulfill the law" is by having faith in Jesus, who reveals the Law's true meaning. Jesus fulfills God's promise as spoken through Jeremiah: "This is the new covenant I will make . . . I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their heart's (Jerimiah 31:33).

? In what ways is God's law written on your heart? How is this different than trying to follow a set of commandments?

PART 2--Benefits of Justification

Peace with God                     Romans 5:1-2

Paul says in Ephesians 2:12 that "living apart from Christ" means living "without God and without hope." Thankfully, God effected His rescue mission in Jesus. He restored the harmony He had intended from before the creation of the world. because we have been made right with God through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we now have peace with God (Rom 5:1). What wonderful truth! When God makes us right with himself, He sets us free to experience life as He intended. Unfortunately, we continue to live in a world plagued with sin and death. We enjoy God's freedom today, but we also long for the day when we will experience all God has for us. Because of what Jesus has done, we can "confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory" (v2). We do not boast in our efforts, but in God's free gift of grace.

 ? What might it look like to "boast" in God's grace? How does this differ from the boasting Paul warns against (Rom 3:27)?

  Rejoicing in Suffering            Romans 5:3-5

While Paul wants believers to "look forward to sharing God's glory" (Rom 5:2), he  also wants us to recognize the benefits of God's grace in the present. Learning to rejoice amid the problems and trials of life is not a matter of maintaining a positive attitude, nor is it some kind of strange delight in suffering. rather, it means looking for the ways God uses our difficulties and pain to work something good on our behalf (8:28). Paul concludes that character developed by endurance "strengthens our confident hope of salvation." Since God loves us, we know that our hope in Him "will not lead to disappointment."

 ? How has God used your difficulties to develop your character?

PART 3-God's reconciling Love

   While We Were Still Sinners               Romans 5:6-8

Paul answers two important questions in these verses. First, when did Jesus come? Paul keeps his answer simple: "at just the right time" (Rom 5:6). The right time, according to Paul, coincided with human helplessness. Still actively rebelling against God, we received from Him the greatest gift of all: salvation. Second, why did Jesus come? Again, Paul answers the question simply: Jesús came to die for us. Jesus did not come to die for people worthy of His sacrifice. No, He died for sinners. If God already sent His Son to die for us, what good thing would He not do for us? "Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give everything else?" (8:32).

 ? Who would you be willing to die for? Why would you be willing to do this?

Much More                 Romans 5:9-11

In Romans 5:9-10, Paul twice uses the phrase "how much more," This style of argument reflects the way that Jewish rabbis move from heavier to lighter in their teaching. If something heavier or more difficult has already been done, "how much more" easily will something lighter be done? God already did the heavy lifting of justifying and reconciling sinners; what's left is, for God, as easy as can be. From the perspective of God's power, this work of ongoing salvation may be lighter, but we must not undervalue it. As Paul concludes in verses 11, this astounding work of reconciliation gives us cause for rejoicing, even "boasting" in God--the only boasting allowed. Boasting in God means glorying in what He has done, what He is doing, and "how much more!" He will certainly do. The good news continues when we discover that God includes us in His great reconciling ministry. As Paul states in 2 Corinthians 5:20, "We are Christ's ambassadors, God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, 'Come back to God!"

? What ongoing work of salvation is God carrying out in your life today?

WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US?

Knowing we were dead to our sins, Jesus willingly gave His life to save whoever would believe in Him. This redemption brings us into vibrant fellowship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. When we seek Him, the Spirit fills our hearts with God's love--a love so boundless that it reaches even the darkest areas of our suffering. Because of his love, Jesus paid a steep price for our salvation, pouring out His blood for our sins and the sins of the entire world. Experiencing this love and mercy should cause us to rejoice and enter fully into the abundant life Jesus offers. and it should cause us to invite others to experience His love as well.

             DAILY BIBLE READINGS

                    Monday: Lovingkindness and Salvation. Psalm 40:9-17

                           Tuesday: Declare God's Salvation. 1 Chronicles 16:20-25

                         Wednesday: Everlasting Salvation. Isaiah 45:15-17, 22-25

      Thursday: Follow Jesus Faithfully. Luke 9:57-62

                        Friday: God wants Everyone to be saved. 1 Timothy 2:1-5

                    Saturday: Salvation Belongs to God. Revelation 7:9-17

RADIANT LIFE

Volume 107 Number 3 Mar. Apr. May 2026

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