Sermons on Romans 5:20-21
The various sermons below interpret Romans 5:20-21 by focusing on the interplay between law, sin, and grace. Both sermons emphasize the overwhelming nature of grace in comparison to sin, using the Greek term "superabound" to illustrate how grace not only counteracts but surpasses sin. This interpretation highlights the transformative power of grace, which not only forgives but empowers believers to live righteously. Additionally, both sermons discuss the role of the law in revealing sin, suggesting that the law serves to increase awareness of sin rather than justify or condemn. This shared perspective underscores the idea that the law's purpose is to make the depth and nature of sin more apparent, thereby magnifying the necessity and abundance of grace.
While both sermons agree on the overarching themes of grace and the law, they diverge in their emphasis and theological implications. One sermon presents grace as an active, reigning power that works dynamically in the believer's life to produce holiness and righteousness, contrasting it with the static nature of the law. This portrayal of grace as a dynamic force highlights its role in bringing eternal life through righteousness. In contrast, the other sermon focuses on the law's function as a "schoolmaster," leading individuals to Christ by making them aware of their sinfulness and inability to achieve righteousness independently. This interpretation emphasizes the law's role in guiding people to the realization of their need for salvation through Jesus Christ, as supported by Galatians 3:22-24.
Romans 5:20-21 Interpretation:
Understanding Law, Grace, and Our Union with Christ (MLJTrust) interprets Romans 5:20-21 by emphasizing the superabundance of grace over sin. The sermon highlights that grace does not merely balance sin but surpasses it significantly. The preacher uses the Greek term "superabound" to describe how grace exceeds the increase of sin, suggesting that grace is not just a counterbalance but an overwhelming force that reigns over sin. This interpretation underscores the transformative power of grace, which not only forgives but also empowers believers to live righteously.
The Law's Role in Revealing Sin and Grace (MLJTrust) interprets Romans 5:20-21 by emphasizing the function of the law as a means to increase the awareness of sin. The sermon highlights the Greek term used for "entered" in verse 20, explaining that the law "entered in alongside" sin, indicating that it was not fundamental but served a specific purpose. This interpretation suggests that the law was not meant to justify or condemn but to reveal the depth and nature of sin, thereby making grace more apparent. The sermon uses the analogy of a ledger to describe how sin was not "entered into the ledgers" until the law came, emphasizing the law's role in defining and codifying sin.
Romans 5:20-21 Theological Themes:
Understanding Law, Grace, and Our Union with Christ (MLJTrust) presents the theme of grace as a reigning power. The sermon explains that grace is not passive but active, reigning through righteousness to bring eternal life. This theme is distinct in its portrayal of grace as a dynamic force that actively works in the believer's life to produce holiness and righteousness, contrasting with the static nature of the law, which can only point out sin but not overcome it.
The Law's Role in Revealing Sin and Grace (MLJTrust) presents the theme that the law's ultimate purpose is to lead individuals to Christ by making them aware of their sinfulness and inability to achieve righteousness on their own. This theme is distinct in its focus on the law as a "schoolmaster" that brings people to the realization of their need for salvation through Jesus Christ, as highlighted in Galatians 3:22-24.
Romans 5:20-21 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Understanding Law, Grace, and Our Union with Christ (MLJTrust) provides historical context by explaining the Jewish understanding of the law during Paul's time. The sermon notes that Jews viewed the law as the ultimate guide to righteousness and were likely to misunderstand Paul's teaching on grace as dismissing the law's value. This insight helps to clarify why Paul needed to address potential misconceptions about grace leading to antinomianism (lawlessness) and to emphasize that grace fulfills the law's purpose by enabling believers to live righteously.
The Law's Role in Revealing Sin and Grace (MLJTrust) provides historical context by explaining the Jewish perspective on the law during biblical times. The sermon notes that the Jews, including those who became Christians, struggled to understand the role of the law in God's plan of salvation. The law, given through Moses, was seen as a defining feature that set the Jewish people apart from other nations, making the apostle Paul's teachings on the law particularly challenging for them to accept.
Romans 5:20-21 Cross-References in the Bible:
Understanding Law, Grace, and Our Union with Christ (MLJTrust) references several passages to support the interpretation of Romans 5:20-21. The sermon cites Romans 6:1-2 to address the question of whether grace encourages sin, explaining that believers who are united with Christ cannot continue in sin. It also references Romans 8:3 to highlight the law's inability to sanctify due to human weakness, contrasting it with the power of grace to transform lives. Additionally, the sermon mentions Ephesians 2:8-9 to emphasize that salvation is a gift of grace, not a result of works, reinforcing the idea that grace surpasses the law in bringing about righteousness.
The Law's Role in Revealing Sin and Grace (MLJTrust) references several passages to support its interpretation of Romans 5:20-21. Galatians 3:21 is cited to emphasize that no law can give life or righteousness, reinforcing the idea that the law was not intended as a means of salvation. Romans 7:7-13 is used to illustrate how the law increases the knowledge of sin, while Romans 3:20 and 4:15 are referenced to show that the law defines sin and makes it transgression.
Romans 5:20-21 Christian References outside the Bible:
Understanding Law, Grace, and Our Union with Christ (MLJTrust) explicitly references Martin Luther, noting that Luther faced accusations of promoting antinomianism due to his emphasis on justification by faith alone. The sermon explains that Luther's teaching was misunderstood in the same way Paul's was, as both emphasized grace over the law. This reference to Luther serves to illustrate the historical continuity of the struggle to properly understand and teach the doctrine of grace.
The Law's Role in Revealing Sin and Grace (MLJTrust) references historical Christian figures like Samuel Davies, a preacher from 200 years ago, to illustrate the depth of understanding of sin and grace. Davies is quoted for his hymn "Great God of Wonders," which emphasizes the unparalleled nature of God's grace in light of human sinfulness.
Romans 5:20-21 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Understanding Law, Grace, and Our Union with Christ (MLJTrust) uses the analogy of a marriage to illustrate the believer's union with Christ. The sermon explains that just as a marriage creates a new relationship and identity, so does the believer's union with Christ through grace. This metaphor helps to convey the transformative nature of grace, which not only forgives but also establishes a new way of living that is characterized by righteousness and holiness.
The Law's Role in Revealing Sin and Grace (MLJTrust) uses the analogy of a ledger to explain how the law makes sin more apparent by "entering it into the ledgers." This metaphor helps illustrate the concept of sin being codified and accounted for through the law, making it more tangible and defined.