City Life Starter

I. TEXT: Romans 5:20-21

²⁰ Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, ²¹ so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

II. Study Questions

1. What are some limitations of the law?

2. Why is Christ’s atonement vital to our faith?

3. What does the law expose?

Today’s reading of Romans is a continuation of a “compare and contrast” of Adam and Jesus.  If you haven’t read Eric’s Exposition yesterday, please be sure to read his blog here.

Paul is specifically writing to Jewish believers, who once placed their faith in the law.  The law served as a moral compass for the Jews throughout history, but even then, we see how breaking the law continuously and serving other gods led them to exile after exile.  When Paul is writing to the Romans, he is writing to Roman Jews who were diaspora Jews that lived outside Judea (modern day Israel) and under Roman rule.

Paul is leading his readers to fully grasp the limits of the observing the law, how law doesn’t lead to righteousness, but reveals the sinful nature of man, which he goes into more detail in later chapters.  Paul’s thoughts on the law is that Israel’s being morally superior to the Gentiles doesn’t separate them from sin, but only exposes Israel’s solidarity with the Gentiles in regards to sin.

This is where Christ’s atoning work on the cross applies not only to Jews but also Gentiles, that what we lost in Adam, we were restored through Christ.  The law that exposes the sinful nature of man, the work of grace reveals how inadequate we are, that in our best status we still fall short and we need a Savior who will restore us to God.

Praise God for His lovingkindness, that though he knows we are inadequate and fall short, He still sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Let us worship Him for His lovingkindness endures forever.  JY