Morning Message: For Example

Bobservations' Column

Titled - " ...For Example"
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz

Paul continues his teaching on righteousness, sanctification, The Law, Grace and Mercy, freedom, and bondage. The lessons in this chapter speak of his own past and testimony, learned at the feet of the Rabbis, and how exasperating it was to seek righteousness with God, via the rules of corrupted mankind.

The above character traits reveal the dichotomy of the human heart that every human must address: Good vs Evil. We have heard many tell us how fulfilled we will be if we simply “follow our heart,” as though all good things will flow from our hearts. What if instead as we search our hearts, we find evil things in there too? We know that there is evil in this world. Oh! Woe is me! What to do?

Searching our hearts is a good thing. We might even learn wisdom as we do, and a fear of the Lord. In searching our hearts, we should also search the scriptures so that we might also know the thoughts of our Creator! Jeremiah 17:9 comes to mind. In spite of what the therapists of psychology and adherents to philosophy tell us (both of which are mere human disciplines), God has already told us to watch out! “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Verse 10 continues; “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even so to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doing.”

God knows what is in the heart of every human; He knows the good, the bad, and all the ugly facets of our hearts. And, He know how fleshly desires can be very tempting. He knows our strengths, and our weaknesses too.

Our glorious and incredible God knows you and me better than we know ourselves. As He knew King David to be a womanizer, an adulterer, and a murderous conspirator, He also knew that David had a heart after God. We can see then how King David himself was an example of God’s grace and mercy. David even accepted the consequences of his sin, and moved on, leading and reigning as King with God’s blessings.

From 2 Samuel 12:22-23 -

"And he said, while the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, ‘Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to Him, but he shall not return to me. "

Bobservations' Column:  Audio Version

Sunday Morning Message:

Romans 7:1-14 - " ...For Example"

Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:

In Romans 7, Paul tackles the relationship between the law—the commandments given by God—and human sinfulness. He begins by making it clear that those who are in Christ have been released from any obligation to the law of Moses. This is for the same reason that we have been released from our slavery to sin: We died, and death breaks those obligations. Those who come to faith in Christ are so closely associated with His physical death and resurrection that we experience a kind of spiritual death and are resurrected into a new spiritual life. This is how we are freed from our responsibility to the law.

Paul uses the illustration of the law of marriage. A woman whose husband has died is no longer obligated to remain faithful to him. She is free to marry another man. In a similar way, our death with Christ freed us from our obligation to the law and allows us to serve God in what Paul calls the new way of the Spirit (Romans 7:1–6).

Some apparently thought Paul's teaching about freedom from the law meant that he believed the law itself to be sinful. He insists that he does not. Instead, it was the law that revealed his own sinfulness to him. He learned that he was covetous after being told by the law not to covet. Worse, as a sinful human being, merely knowing that covetousness was a sin made him want to covet! Our rebellious natures often choose to break rules just for the sake of breaking rules. The law promised Paul life if he could keep the commandments, but he discovered he could not do it. In that sense, the law doomed him to death. Still, though, Paul describes the law as holy, righteous, and good (Romans 7:7–12).

The Purpose of the Law

The law has several purposes according to Romans 7:7-13:

Identifies sin (verse 7)
Excites sin (verses 8-9)
Kills and condemns sinners (verses 10-11)
Reveals the utter darkness of sin (verses 12-13)

Part of the law's purpose and ministry in our lives is to identify that we have a sin issue. We all have this internal issue that will show itself in external behavior in the presence of instruction to the contrary. God’s law is also in our conscience apart from any written law. The law is like a mirror used to expose our flaws and disobedience (Hebrews 4:12).

The law doesn't just reveal sin; it excites it. You do not need to examine yourself long to discover a tendency to sin when presented with a human law. The more Paul knew and followed the law of Moses, the more sinful he became, until he even was able to justify the murder of Christians. What he thought was righteous was in fact deadly. Thankfully, after his salvation (Acts 9:1-31), he came to realize the true purpose of the law. We only become worse the more we adhere to religious standards and rulebooks to discern our spiritual condition.

The law puts everyone under the death sentence that sinners deserve. It shows we are utterly sinful and reveals our depravity. It must do these things so it can point us toward Jesus.

Sunday Morning Audio Message: 

Key Words and Definitions with Reference:

Know the Law (7:1) - "those who know the law."  Although Paul intends to include God's written law, he is not referring to any specific law code, but to a principle that is true of all law -- Greek, Roman, Jewish or biblical.

Dominion (7:1) - or jurisdiction.  No matter how serious a criminal's offenses may be, he is no longer subject to prosecution and punishment after he dies.

For the Woman (7:3) - A simply analogy, using marriage law to illustrate the point Paul had just mad about law's jurisdiction. The law that governs a married woman's actions no longer has any jurisdiction over her once her husband dies.  

Become Dead (7:4) - This death happened at a point in time, with results that are complete and final; and in response to faith in His Son, God makes the believing sinner forever dead to the condemnation and penalty of the law.

By the Body of Christ (7:4) - Because, as the substitute for sinners, He suffered the penalty of death that the law demanded.

Married to Another (7:4) - Just as the widow in Paul's analogy (vv. 2, 3) was freed to remarry, the believer has been freed from his hostile relationship to the law that condemned him and can, therefore, be remarried - this time to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:24-27).

Fruit (7:4) - A transformed life that manifests new attitudes (Galatians 5:22, 23) and actions (John 15:1, 2; Philippians 1:11; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:19,20; Ephesians 2:10).

Flesh (7:5) - Scripture uses this term in a non-moral sense to describe man's physical being (John 1:14), and in a morally evil sense to describe man's unredeemed humanness, that remnant of the old man which will remain with each believer until each receives his or her glorified body (8:23).  "In the flesh" here describes a person who is able to operate only in the sphere of fallen mankind - an unredeemed, unregenerate person.  Although a believer can manifest some of the deeds of the flesh, he can never again be "in the flesh."

The Motions of Sins (Sinful Passions) (7:5) - The overwhelming impulses to think and do evil which characterize those who are "in the flesh" (Ephesians 2:3)

Aroused by the Law (7:5) - The unbeliever's rebellious nature is awakened when restrictions are placed on him and makes him want to do the very things the law forbids.

Fruit to Death (7:5) - The sinful passions at work in unbelievers produce a harvest of eternal death.

Delivered From the Law (7:6) - Not freedom to do what God's Law forbids (6:1, 15; 8:4; cf. 3:31) but freedom from the spiritual liabilities and penalties of God's Law.  Because we died in Christ when He died, the law with its condemnation and penalties no longer has jurisdiction over us (vv. 1-3).

Serve (7:6) - This is the verb form of the word for "Bondservant", but here it is parallel to being slaves of righteousness (cf. 6:18, 19, 22), emphasizing that this service is not voluntary.  Not only is the believer able to do what is right; he will do what is right.

The Newness of the Spirit (7:6) -A new state of mind which the Spirit produces, characterized by a new desire and ability to keep the law of God.

Oldness of the Letter (7:6) - The external, written law code that produced only hostility and condemnation.

Is the Law Sin (7:7) - Paul wanted to make certain his readers did not conclude that the Law itself was evil (from vv. 4-6; cf. v. 12).

I Had Known Sin ((7:7) - The Law reveals the divine standard, and as believers compare themselves against that standard, they can accurately identify sin, which is the failure to meet the standard.  Paul uses the personal pronoun "I' throughout the rest of the chapter, using his own experience as an example of what is true of unredeemed mankind (vv. 7-12) and true of Christians (vv. 13-25).

Covet (7:7) - Quoted from Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21.

Occasion by the Commandment (7:8) - A starting point or base of operations for an expedition.  Sin uses the specific requirements of the law as a base of operation from which to launch its evil work.  Confronted by God's Law, the sinner's rebellious nature finds the forbidden thing more attractive, not because it is inherently attractive, but because it furnishes an opportunity to assert one's self-will.

Sin Was Dead (7:8) - Not lifeless or nonexistent, but dormant.  When the law comes, sin becomes fully active and overwhelms the sinner.

Without the Law (7:9) - Not ignorance or lack of concern for the law (cf. Philippians 3:6), but a purely external, imperfect conception of it.

When the commandment Came (7:9) - When he began to understand the true requirements of God's moral Law at some point prior to his conversion.

Sin Revived (7:9) - He realized his true condition as a desperately wicked sinner (cf. 1 Timothy 1:15).

I died (7:9) - He realized his deadness, spiritually, that all his religious credentials and accomplishments were rubbish (Philippians 3:7, 8).

Which Was Ordained to Life (7:10) - Theoretically, perfect obedience to the law could bring eternal life, and with it happiness and holiness.  But, no one except Christ has - or could - ever fully obey it (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Sin...Deceived Me (7:11) - By leading him to expect life from his keeping of the law, when what he actually found was death (v. 10); and by convincing him that he is acceptable to God because of his own merit and good works.

The Law is Holy (7:12) - The fact that the law reveals, arouses, and condemns sin, bringing death to the sinner, does not mean that the law is evil (cf. v. 7).  Rather, the law is a perfect reflection of God's holy character (cf. vv. 14, 16, 22; Psalm 19:7-11) and the standard for believers to please Him.

Has Then What is Good Become Death (7:13) - Sin is the cause of spiritual death, not the good law.

Sin ...Might Become ... Sinful (7:13) - An awareness of the true nature of sin and its deadly character, which brings the sinner to see his need of salvation - the very purpose God intended the law to serve (Galatians 3:19-22).

Morning Message: Servants of Righteousness

Bobservations' Column

Titled - "Servants of Righteousness"

Written by:  Pastor Bob Lawrenz

Last week we referenced the Book of Ruth briefly, the daughter-in-law of Naomi. Ruth’s homeland OF Moab held nothing for her after her husband died. She clung to Naomi because of Naomi’s faith in a living God. Naomi saw the possibility of a kinsman redeemer for Ruth because of the Law. Ruth stayed with Naomi and had hope. And as we read a few weeks ago, “hope maketh not ashamed” (Romans 5:5).

We can follow what Paul writes in Romans 5 as it applies to Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth: From tribulations, to patience, to experience, to hope, as we follow Ruth and Naomi’s history. It is not odd then that Naomi and her husband were from Bethlehem-Judah, and it was to there that they returned. It was Naomi’s husband, Elimelech that must have had the idea to go to Moab. It was God Who had a better idea, and not only returned Naomi and Ruth to Bethlehem, but beloved Ruth became the great-grandmother to Israel’s renowned King David! And hence the Godly bloodline to the Redeemer was preserved.

It was a dark hour in the lives of these three women; all three had lost their husbands in a strange land. Moab was named after Lot’s grandson, borne of the incestuous relationship with his eldest daughter after the events at Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19). The girl’s sister also bore a son to Lot, and Benammi was the progenitor of the Ammonites. Both the Moabites and the Ammonites were forbidden from entering the congregation of the Lord for ten generations once The Law was given to Moses. It was the same for the bloodline of Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. Entanglements with unGodly people bring a judgment that can last for years. The ten-generation judgment came upon the Ammonites and the Moabites because they refused to give the Hebrews open and clear passage back into their homeland after the Exodus from Egypt.

For those without faith, God sees their sins still in-place. But for Believers…

For Believers, God chooses to forget our iniquities!

Luke 7:36-50 - 

“The Parable of the two Debtors” is important to understand. Simon the Pharisee questioned Jesus’ views on forgiveness. And to the woman of the parable? 
“And (Jesus) said to the woman, ‘Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.’”

Bobservations' Column:  Audio Version

Sunday Morning Message:

Romans 6:14-23 - "Servants of Righteousness"

Summary/Additional Commentary and Definitions:

This morning, we will be going through the second half of Romans 6. Paul is continuing to argue why we should not continue freely sinning once we are in Christ. Doing so leads to a lifestyle of volunteer slavery, a slave to sin. Instead, as believers, we live as if we were slaves to righteousness. Why? Because it is our new nature. Serving righteousness is who we are now. The result of righteousness, given freely to us in Jesus Christ, is to become like Christ and experience eternal life. Spiritual transformation began for us with the great doctrine of regeneration when in our deadness we were given life. It included conversion when we were transformed into a new kind of person. That launched us into a lifelong experience of sanctification. Sanctification, you remember, is being separated from sin, but alive unto God.

You either serve sin or you serve righteousness. And that’s just the basic understanding of what it means to be a believer. When you came to Christ, you died – past tense. Your old man, your old self died, was buried, and a new person arose. And you now have a new Master, and your Master is the Lord and righteousness. You are not only ethically bound to obey, but you are also creatively bound to obey. It is now in the fabric of your being to do what once you could not do.

You came into the world fit only to obey sin. But now, you have been recreated to obey righteousness.

It is important to understand that salvation is not an addition to your life, salvation is a transformation. We were dead in sin but are now alive in Christ.  Old things are passed away, all things become new.  There are some people who have the idea that you are who you are, and when you get saved, something gets added. The Bible never teaches that. Never!

Sunday Morning Audio Message:  

Key Words and Definitions with Reference:

Sin Shall Not Have Dominion (6:14) - Sin must be able to exercise control in our bodies or Paul's admonition becomes unnecessary (v. 13).  But sin does not have to reign there; so, the apostle expresses his confidence that those who are Christ's will not allow it to do so.

Not Under Law But Under Grace (6:14) - This does not mean God has abrogated His moral law (3:31, cf. Matthew 5:17-19).  The law is good, holy, and righteous (7:12, cf. 1 Timothy 1:8), but it cannot be kept, so it curses.  Since it cannot assist anyone to keep God's moral standard (cf. 7:7-11), it can only show the standard and thus rebuke and condemn those who fail to keep it.  But the believer is no longer under the law as a condition of acceptance with God - an impossible condition to meet and one designed only to show man his sinfulness.  The believer is under grace, which enables him to truly fulfill the law's righteous requirements (7:6; 8:3, 4).

Shall We Sin (6:15) - In other words, does the fact that we are no longer compelled to sin mean that we are somehow free to indulge in sin without fighting our desires to do so? This seems to have been a criticism levelled at Paul more than once (Romans 3:8; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:19–24), and one that misguided people often levy at Christianity today. Paul provides his common response to ridiculous questions: "By no means!" This is from a Greek phrase, mē genoito, which is the equivalent of "of course not," or "heaven forbid!"  Paul will go on to show that our freedom from the authority of sin should cause us to resist and reject our sinful desires, not to take lightly God's grace and forgiveness by indulging them.

Form of Doctrine . . . Delivered (6:17) - In the Greek, "form" is a word for a mold such as a craftsman would use to cast molten metal.  Paul's point is that God pours His new children into the mold of divine truth (12:2; cf. Titus 2:1).  New believers have an innate and compelling desire to know and obey God's Word (1 Peter 2:2).

Manner of Men . . . Infirmity of Your Flesh (6:19) - Human terms.  Paul's use of the master/slave analogy was an accommodation to their humanness and their difficulty in grasping divine truth.

More Lawlessness (6:19) - Sin's appetite only grows when it is fed (Genesis 4:7). 

Fruit (6:21) - or benefit. Even more lasting for those who continue to live free from righteousness is death. All sin leads eventually to death and separation from God in hell. Death is the ultimate "fruit" of living free from the control of righteousness.

Holiness (6:22) - The benefit of being slaves to God is sanctification, the outcome of which is eternal life.

Wages of Sin (6:23) - Spiritual death is the paycheck for every person's slavery to sin.  Again, the apostle emphasizes that the coming of death into the world resulted directly from the coming of sin into the world.  God warned Adam that this would happen, and it did (Genesis 2:17; 3:17-19).    God has made it clear that man brought suffering and death into the world by his sin.  He has also made it clear that Christ's suffering and death were accepted by God in payment for the sin of the world.

Gift of God (6:23) - Eternal life is a free gift God gives undeserving sinners who believe in His son (cf. Ephesians 2:8, 9).  The death of His son cost both Father and son infinite pain, yet it is all offered to us as a free gift by His grace.  It only becomes a gift in reality if it is accepted, of course, and the tragedy is that most people will never accept it.

Morning Message: Bloodline Restored

Bobservations' Column

Titled - "Bloodline Restored"

Written by:  Pastor Bob Lawrenz

Last week in the teaching, we touched on the Lord’s move from heaven to Earth, leading into Christmas Day, and fulfillment of the Name Emmanuel (God with us, from Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23) “Therefore, the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel.”

In Luke’s Gospel, we learn that the virgin’s name was Mary, and her espoused husband was Joseph. We learn there too that Mary remained a virgin until Jesus’ birth.

Both Mary and Joseph were of King David’s Royal Lineage as revealed in the two studies of it in Matthew (Joseph’s) and Luke (Mary’s). Much has been written about Mary’s role in the life of our Savior, but scriptures are all but silent about Joseph after Jesus was 12 years old, and His Earthly parents went looking for Him, returning to Jerusalem, and finding Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41-47).

Though little is written of Joseph’s life, we find much has been written concerning Joseph’s ancestry. In his lineage, Joseph is surely of the House of David. But upon a closer look in the Old Testament, we find that his family tree includes Kings that had done evil in the sight of God. King Jehoiakim’s name in particular is omitted from the listing in Matthew 1:10-12. Though a true son in the lineage, Jehoiakim’s name was deliberately deleted, because of a judgement of God.

Follow along as we see what lies in Jesus’ blood line that would cause an ancestor’s name to remain unspeakable, as the Word reveals, and speaks clearly of it. We will find God’s faithfulness to His own Word, in prophetic promises, and in prophetic judgments as well. This should be as much a part of the Christmas Story, as the miraculous birth of Jesus. Miraculous from both Mary and Joseph's families.

From Luke 3:32,

“Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the Son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson,...” 

Bobservations' Column:  Audio Version

Sunday Morning Message:

Matthew 1:1-17 - "Bloodline Restored"

Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:

Christmas is the celebration of Jesus, the celebration of a King! How many of our Christmas hymns declare Jesus as King? “Joy to the World, the Lord is come, let earth receive her king.” “Hark! The herald angels sing, glory to the new-born king.” “Noel, noel, noel, noel, born is the king of Israel” (The First Noel). “This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing” (What Child is This?). “Born thy people to deliver, born a child, and yet a King” (Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus).

We know through the prophets, God told his people that he would send a King to defeat their enemies and rule over them with perfect justice and righteousness, someone who’d usher in a kingdom of everlasting peace.

For example, the prophet Micah said, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah…from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose going forth is from of old, from ancient days….And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace” (Micah 5:2, 4-5a).

And the prophet Isaiah, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

And the prophet Jeremiah, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.” (23:5).

Through the prophets, God told his people that a King would come to undo the effects of the curse on the world because of sin. Wrongs would be righted. Oppression would cease. The wicked would get what they deserve, and God’s people would dwell in safety and peace. This King would set up a government unlike any the world has ever seen. God’s plan to redeem and remake the world would reach its climax with the coming of this King.

Matthew begins his Gospel with a formal genealogy of Jesus to show his readers at the outset who Jesus is, and what He came to do.

Notice that verse 1 begins, “The book of the generation (genealogy - biblos geneseos) of Jesus Christ.” This is the exact same phrase used in Genesis 2:4, “These are the generations (biblos geneseos) of the heavens and the earth when they were created,” and 5:1, “This is the book of the generations (biblos geneseos) of Adam.”

Matthew uses this phrase to draw a parallel between Jesus and Genesis, between Jesus and God’s creation of the world and Jesus and God’s creation of mankind. Matthew is saying, not so subtly to his original readers, that Jesus came to establish a new creation and is the new Adam. Matthew’s genealogy thus tells us who Jesus is and what he came to do. It tells us that God sent Jesus to remake the world and be the King of a new people.

How do we know who this King is? Well, the writers of the New Testament were convinced that a man named Jesus of Nazareth was this promised King who would come to set things right and bring us back to God.

One of the ways they argue their case that Jesus is this promised King is unexpected and often overlooked: genealogies. It’s no accident that the New Testament opens with the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-17). Matthew begins his Gospel with a formal genealogy of Jesus to show his readers at the outset who Jesus is.

The focus of the genealogy is Jesus’ identity as King. We see in His genealogy, that Jesus came from a royal family, that He is the rightful King, He alone has the legitimate claim to the throne. It also shows prophecy being fulfilled in every detail. God is indeed faithful to His promises, and His Word is absolutely trustworthy.

Secondly, we see that through this bloodline, the broken bloodline. Jesus' human family line was far from perfect. Among them we see adulterous, lying, scheming, murderous, idol worshippers.

Matthew is telling us that the Messiah didn’t just come through broken people, but through a broken and decaying nation. This genealogy teaches us that God used broken people and a broken nation to move his plan of redemption forward.

Jesus is the King of grace.

Sunday Morning Audio Message: 

Key Words and Definitions with Reference:

Book of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ (1:1) - This phrase is viewed by some as Matthew's title for the entire Gospel.  The Greek phrase translated "book of the genealogy" is exactly the same phrase used in Genesis 5:1 in the Septuagint.  Genealogies were extremely important to the Jewish people of the time, and Matthew will write this book with his fellow Jewish readers in mind. In order to back up his claim that Jesus is the Messiah, he will have to start by showing that Jesus is a legitimate descendant of Abraham and especially of David.

Jesus Christ (1:1) - Matthew calls Him "Jesus Christ" from his opening verse. The name Jesus is derived from the Greek version of the name given by Joseph and Mary in obedience to the angel (Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:31), which is Iēsou. This, in turn, is from the Hebrew Yeho'sua, also translated as "Joshua," which means "the Lord is Salvation." The term Christ means "anointed one, "the exact equivalent of the Hebrew word for "Messiah" (Daniel 9:25). Matthew's Jewish readers would have understood it to mean Messiah. Jesus was both the rightful descendant of King David with a legitimate claim to the throne of Israel and the long-expected Savior of Israel.

Son of David (1:1) - A title used for Messiah in only the synoptic Gospels.

Son of Abraham (1:1) - This title takes Jesus' royal lineage all the way back to the nation's inception in the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12:1-3).

Matthew's mention of Abraham and David is significant for another reason. They represented God's two great covenants with the nation of Israel. God's covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3; 22:18) declared Israel to be His chosen people with a promise to bless them greatly. God also told Abraham the entire world would be blessed through his descendants. That promise is fulfilled in Christ.

God's covenant with the great King David, made through the prophecy of the prophet Nathan, was that David's line would rule over Israel forever: "Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever" (2 Samuel 7:16). Matthew will show that Jesus is the ultimate fulfilment of that covenant promise to David, as well.

Tamar (1:3) - Tamar is the first of five women mentioned in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus and not nearly the only person connected to questionable moral choices. This is significant. First, genealogies did not require the mention of any women, at all, since the line was passed through male descendants. Matthew goes out of his way to mention these women, including a conception under questionable circumstances

However, this fits into the focus of Matthew's book: Jesus, who came to offer grace and forgiveness from God to humanity through His own life and death and resurrection. It also fits with the counter-cultural way in which Jesus honored and esteemed women during His ministry on earth. As someone once involved in a profession considered despicable—a tax collector for the Romans—Matthew would have appreciated God's ability to use sinners to accomplish His will.

It is unusual for women to be named in genealogies.  Matthew names five: Tamar was a Canaanite woman who posed as a prostitute to seduce Judah (Genesis 38:13-30).  Rahab (v. 5) was a Gentile and a prostitute (Joshua 2:1).  Ruth (v. 5) was a Moabite woman (Ruth 1:3) and a worshipper of idols.  Bathsheba ("Uriah's wife," v. 6) committed adultery with David (2 Samuel 11).  And Mary (v. 16) bore the perceived stigma of pregnancy outside of wedlock. Each of these women is an object lesson about the workings of divine grace.

Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab . . . Jesse begot David the king (1:5, 6) - This genealogy is not exhaustive.  Several additional generations must have elapsed between Rahab (in Joshua's time) and David (v.6) - nearly four centuries later. Salmon fathered a man named Boaz by a woman named Rahab. This is the second woman mentioned in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus. She was also, remarkably, a Gentile. Her famous story is told in Joshua 2. Rahab was a prostitute living in the town of Jericho who protected Israel's spies because of her confidence in Israel's God. In exchange, Joshua spared her life when the Israelites destroyed Jericho, and he allowed her to live among the people of Israel after they had occupied the Promised Land (Joshua 6:25). Though Rahab was known as "Rahab the prostitute," she is also praised in both Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25 for her faith in God.
Matthew is clearly not interested in protecting the reputation of Jesus' human ancestry. In fact, he seems to go out of his way to show that Jesus is a true son of Israel—from the most to least reputable among them. Though Jesus never sinned, the Bible never suggests the human line He was born into was any more or less sinful than the rest of humanity. Jesus came to die for sinners (Hebrews 4:15–16).

Josiah begot Jeconiah (1:11) - Jeconiah is also called Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:6; 2 Chronicles 36:8) and sometimes Coniah (Jeremiah 22:24).  Jeconiah presence in this genealogy presents an interesting problem.  It was Jeconiah whose sins caused God to cut off his seed from ever sitting on David's throne (Jeremiah 22:30). Jeconiah's royal line of descendants is listed here to show the legal right of Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, to David's throne, even though neither Joseph nor any others of Jeconiah's seed could ever have the spiritual right to the throne. That right was carried through Mary's ancestry. Jesus was heir through Joseph to the royal line of descent, but since he was not an actual son of Joseph and thus not a physical descendant through this line, the curse bypassed him.
Matthew's telling of the line of Jesus, which began with Abraham and continued through David, now comes to a dramatic moment in Israel's history. God had promised King David that his descendants would rule Israel forever (2 Samuel 7:16). They did exactly that, from Solomon all the way through Jeconiah, also known as Jehoiachin. Jeconiah's reign on Israel's throne ended abruptly after only three months when Jerusalem was conquered by Babylon and many of its people carried off into captivity (2 Kings 24:8–17). His brother Zedekiah became a caretaker king over Jerusalem, but he is not in the line of Jesus. Zedekiah's reign ended in 587 BC when Jerusalem was fully and finally destroyed by Babylon after one last rebellion (2 Kings 25).
The era of the Babylonian captivity had begun and the era of the reign of David's descendants seemingly ended. It did not end for good, however. Matthew's point in making this genealogy is to show that Jesus, of David's line, will rule and reign over Israel forever, just as God promised.

Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel (1:12) - The final king in the line of Jesus, Jechoniah—also known as Jehoiachin—was taken to Babylon. He became the father of Shealtiel, who became the father of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was given permission by Babylon to lead the first group back to Israel, where he became the governor of Judah (Haggai 1:14).  See 1 Chronicles 3:17-10, where Zerubbabel is said to be the offspring of Pedaiah, Shealtiel's brother.  Elsewhere in the OT, Zerubbabel is always called the son of Shealtiel (e.g. Haggai 1:1; Ezra 3:2; Nehemiah 12:1).  Zerubbabel is the last character in Matthew's list who appears in any of the OT genealogies.

Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus (1:16) - This is the only entry in the entire genealogy where the word begot is not used - including those where whole generations were skipped.  The pronoun whom is singular, referring to Mary alone.  The unusual way in which this final entry is phrased underscores the fact that Jesus was not Joseph's literal offspring.  The genealogy, nonetheless, establishes His claim to the throne of David as Joseph's legal heir.

Fourteen Generations (1:17) - Matthew did not set out to make an exhaustive genealogy of Jesus. He is interested in making a historical and legal case. His thesis is that Jesus has a legitimate right to claim His position as a direct descendant of both Abraham and David. Matthew's book will assert that Jesus is, in fact, the fulfilment of God's promises to both of those key figures in Israel's history.

Matthew also set out to build his genealogy in a way that would be easier to follow or easier to remember. To do so, he created three sections, each with 14 names included in it. This does not mean that only 14 generations passed during each period of history. Matthew's readers would have known that only 14 generations are included in each section of his list, though more of them occurred in history.

The sections are Abraham to David, David to the Babylonian exile of Israel, and that deportation to Christ. There are indeed 14 generations included between Abraham and David. Counting David again gives another 14 generations through Josiah. The final 14 begins with Jeconiah and ends with Jesus. Some commentators count them slightly differently. Some scholars have suggested varied opinions as to what Matthew may have intended to represent with the number 14, but no fully satisfying explanation is available.

Morning Message: Moving Day

Bobservations Column
Titled - "Moving Day"
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz

Growing up, my folks put our house up for sale. My father had finished building our house the same year I was born.  The Village was looking for a new Village Clerk, and to qualify for the position, Dad would need to reside in the village. Church and school would be the same, and my friends would be just outside the village. The house did not sell, so we did not move.

Ten years later, another FOR SALE sign went up. The house sold, and a new house was being built. Still just across town, but schools were new, and my old friends were further away. Everything changed on moving day.

This is the time of year when we celebrate changes in the times of The Word of God. He was about to embark on an enormous change. From a Heavenly abode with the Father with no constraints of time, the Word would be born of a virgin into the physical world that He created (Colossians 1:12-16).

He was to enter His world, grow up as a human child, with a human family, under the authority of human parents, and the Father. His new surroundings and life were at the will of His Heavenly Father, and ours. His experiences would be choreographed by the Father, so that nothing would be left undone. The life of Jesus would be exactly as the Father had the Holy Spirit inform the prophets, so that they would write about it and inform the human race of their coming Redeemer (Genesis 3:15).

Today’s message is about dying-to-self, to perform the will of the Father, for the fulfillment of the Father’s Word.

From John 1:1,2 and verse 14,

 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…"

Bobservations' Column:  Audio Version

Sunday Morning Message:

Romans 6:1-13 - "Moving Day"

Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:

Last week, as we finished up chapter 5 of Romans, Paul concluded with the beautiful thought that where sin increased, grace super increased all the more. Paul taught that grace is more powerful and greater than all our sin. Adam’s sin changed the world by introducing sin and death (separation from God) into the world. But now Jesus has come and he has also changed the world. Rather than being under the power of sin and death, we can be under the power of grace and receive justification. Now that grace is overflowing, Paul is going to ask us with whom we are in union: Adam and Christ? Humans have a sin problem. God has a grace solution. But it's an absolute solution -- it changes us at the core of who we are. There is no "sort of" salvation, only absolute freedom from the sin that once enslaved us.

Justification and sanctification are two different realities, but they must never be separated and isolated one from the other. If they become totally separated, the logical end is license. If they become merged together, a “works” oriented salvation results.

Paul is moving from freedom from the penalty of sin, (1:18-5:21) to freedom from the power of sin (6:1ff). He has explained “the righteous by faith” in 1:18-5:21, now he is moving on to explain “shall live” and fill out the meaning of the Habakkuk quotation in 1:17—the theme verse of the entire letter. If the cross was sufficient to deliver from the penalty of sin, here it is sufficient to deliver from the power of sin.

As we beging chapter 6 this week, the apostle Paul asks believers a rhetorical question, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” (KJV). This question reflects a common criticism of Paul’s teaching, both in his time and ours. Critics argue that preaching about boundless grace could inadvertently provide a license to sin.

Paul argues, however, that those who have died to sin cannot continue in it: “By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:2, ESV). This does not mean that believers are sinless. Rather, it means that sin is no longer our master: “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (verses 17–18, KJV).

Freedom from the power of sin is not an end but a means to righteous living. For this reason, Paul writes, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6:12–14). The proper response to God’s grace is to commit ourselves to righteousness rather than sin.

Romans 6 is emphatically against the idea that grace is a license to sin. Instead of continuing to sin, we ought to yield to the power of the Holy Spirit: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25).

Paul argues that, in spite of our past, all whom God has justified will experience personal holiness (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11a; 1 Timothy 1:12, 13).

Sunday Morning Audio Message:

Key Words and Definitions with Reference:

Shall We Continue In Sin (6:1) - Because of his past Pharisaic experience, Paul was able to anticipate the major objections of his critics.  He had already alluded to this criticism, that by preaching a justification based solely on the free grace of God, he was encouraging people to sin (cf. 3:5, 6, 8).

Certainly not! (6:2) - "God forbid!"  This expression, in the strongest sense, repudiates a statement, and it contains a sense of outrage that anyone would ever think the statement was true.

We . . . Died to Sin (6:2) - Not a reference to the believer's ongoing daily struggle with sin, but to a one-time event completed in the past.  Because we are "in Christ" (6:11; 8:1), and He "died in our place" (5:6-8), we are counted dead with Him.  this is the fundamental premise of chapter 6, and Paul spends the remainder of the chapter explaining and supporting it.

Baptized Into Christ Jesus (6:3) - This does not refer to water baptism.  Paul is actually using the word baptized in a metaphorical sense, as we might in saying someone was immersed in his work, or underwent his baptism of fire when experiencing some trouble.  All Christians have, by placing saving faith in Him, been spiritually immersed into the person of Christ, that is, united and identified with Him (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:17; 10:2; Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21; 1 John 1:3). Certainly, water baptism pictures this reality, which is the purpose - to show the transformation of the justified.

Into His Death (6:3) - This means that immersion or identification is specifically with Christ's death and Resurrection, as the apostle will explain (6:4-7).

Buried With Him (6:4) - Since we are united by faith with Jesus, as baptism symbolizes, His death and burial become ours.

Newness Of Life (6:4) -This is true if, in Christ, we died and were buried with Him, we have also been united with Him in His resurrection.  There is a new quality and character to our lives, a new principle of life.  This speaks of the believer's regeneration (cf. Ezekiel 36:26; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 4:24).  Whereas sin describes the old life, righteousness describes the new life.

Our Old Man (6:6) - A believer's unregenerate self.  The Greek word for "old" does not refer to something old in years but to something that is worn out and useless.  Our old self died with Christ, and the life we now live is a new divinely-given life that is the life of Christ Himself (cf. Galatians 2:20).  We have been removed from the unregenerate self's presence and control, so we should not follow the remaining memories of its old sinful ways as if we were still under its evil influence.

Body Of Sin (6:6) - Essentially synonymous with "our old man."  Paul uses the terms body and flesh to refer to sinful propensities that are intertwined with physical weaknesses and pleasures (8:10, 11, 13 23).  Although the old self is dead, sin retains a foothold in our temporal flesh or our unredeemed humanness, with its corrupted desires (7:14-24).  The believer does not have two competing natures, the old and the new; rather one new nature is still incarcerated in unredeemed flesh.  But the term flesh is not equivalent to the physical body, which can be an instrument of holiness (v. 19; 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:20).

Done Away (6:6) - Rendered powerless or inoperative.

Has Died (6:7) - Through his union with Christ.

Freed From Sin (6:7) - No longer under its domination and control

We shall Also Live With Him (6:8) - The context suggests that Paul means not only that believers will live in the presence of christ for eternity, but also that all who have died with Christ, which is true of all believers, will live a life here that is fully consistent with His holiness.

Dominion (6:9) - Mastery, control, or domination.

He Died To Sin (6:10) - Christ died to sin  in two senses: (1) in regard to sin's penalty, He met its legal demands upon the sinner; and (2) in regard to sin's power, forever breaking its power over those who belong to Him; and His death will never need repeating (Hebrews 7:26, 27; 9:12, 28; 10:10; cf. 1 Peter 3:18).  Paul's point is that believers have died to sin in the same way.

He Lives To God (6:10) - He lives for God's glory.

Likewise (6:11) - This implies the importance of Paul's readers knowing what he just explained.  Without that foundation, what he is about to teach will not make sense.  Scripture always identifies knowledge as a foundation for one's practice (cf. Colossians 3:10).

Reckon (6:11) - While it simply means to count or number something, it was often used metaphorically to refer to having an absolute, unreserved confidence in what one's mind knows to be true - the kind of heartfelt confidence that affects a person's actions and decisions.  Paul is not referring to mind games in which we trick ourselves into thinking a certain way.  Rather, he is urging us to embrace by faith what God has revealed to be true.

In Christ (6:11) - Paul'[s favorite expression of our union with Christ.  This is its first occurrence in Romans (cf. Ephesians 1:3-14).

Mortal body (6:12) - The only remaining repository which sin finds the believer vulnerable.  The brain and its thinking process are part of the body and thus tempt our souls with its sinful lusts (cf. 8:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 15:53; 1 Peter 2:9-11).

Present (6:13) - Referring to a decision of the will.  Before sin can have power over a believer, it must first pass through his will (cf. Philippians 2:12, 13). 

Your Members (6:13) - The parts of the physical body, the headquarters from which sin operates in the believer (7:18, 22-25; cf. 12:1; 1 Corinthians 9:27).

Instruments of Unrighteousness (6:13) - Tools for accomplishing that which violates God's holy will and law.

Morning Message: The Voice of Joy and Gladness

Bobservations' Column

Titled - "The Voice of Joy and Gladness"
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz

Today’s text begins with the word, “Wherefore.” It is from the Old English usage, identifying that a summary is to follow. The word takes us back to Chapter 3, verse 19, where this theme began. At the end of that opening verse, we learn from verse 23 that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

It’s hard for modern man to acknowledge that even the newest newborn is born into the heritage of sin, even in their innocence. To be born into sin means that sin is somehow inherited from our ancestor(s) in this case.

That would take us to Genesis 5, where we are reminded that Adam was made in the pure likeness of God, while his third named son, Seth, was made in the image of his then fallen father, Adam. It is a spiritual truth, for Adam’s heart was corrupted by his own disobedience to the Father. And we are all descendants of Seth.

Being just 10 days away from Christmas, we should be aware that Seth’s bloodline is the origin of our sinless Savior’s bloodline, "in Whom was no sin, though he was tempted in all points as us yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15), which is the proof that Jesus is the ONLY ONE "immaculate" (spotless, perfect) in conception, because He was conceived by the Holy Ghost.  The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is neither biblical nor necessary. Jesus was miraculously conceived inside Mary, who was a virgin at the time. That is the biblical doctrine of the virgin birth. The Bible never hints that there was anything significant about Mary’s conception. Mary is not an exception to the Bible’s statement that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23). Mary needed a Savior just like the rest of us (Luke 1:47). This is the substance of the Good News of the Gospel, for Jesus broke that chain of sin from His own ancestry. (Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-38)

So, with chapter 5, the summary continues: "By one man, Adam, sin entered the world, and death by his sin." Adam’s actions changed humanity, and the coming Christ was to change it again by paying for the price of sin in all the world. One might ask Adam why, but before we can ask, God had promised a Redeemer. The prophets wrote of Him, His coming, His attributes, His grace, and mercy, and even His role in God’s creative week of six days. Sin reigned unchecked from Adam to Moses, and then, Moses was appointed to bring us the knowledge of sin by delivering the Law to mankind, and revealing to us God’s displeasure, and judgment due to sin.

Why we celebrate Christmas then becomes clear. Those willing to believe on Jesus are no longer under the Law, but under His grace.

“I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now, I see.”

Bobservations Column:  Audio Version

Sunday Morning Message:

Romans 5:12-21 - "The Voice of Joy and Gladness"

Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:

Over the centuries of mankind’s history, many men and women have significantly impacted the destiny of those who followed after them. None, however, has had greater impact than Adam, the first man. In our text, Paul shows just how great the impact of Adam’s “fall” has been upon mankind. Paul stresses this impact to demonstrate that in spite of the curse, which Adam’s sin brought upon the human race, God has provided a cure in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

To the unbeliever, this passage promises and offers not only the forgiveness of sins, but a new beginning, in Christ. To the Christian, there are no more encouraging words than those found here. These words speak not only of the salvation which God has accomplished for us, in Christ, they also lay the foundation for the next section of Romans in chapters 6-8, for the basis for sanctification found in the truths which Paul expounds here. The words of our text are words of life and hope for all mankind, indeed, "The Voice of Joy and Gladness."

A. What happened as a result of Adam's action?

Paul teaches that through the one sin of the one man, Adam,

• Sin entered the world. 5.12
• Death entered the world. 5:12
• Death comes to all men. 5:12
• Death reigned. 5:14
• Many die by the trespass of the one man. 5:15
• The judgement followed one sin. 5:16
• And brought condemnation. 5:16
• Death reigned through one man. 5:17
• Condemnation for all men. 5.18
• Many made sinners. 5:19
• Sin reigned in death. 5:21

B. What happens as a result of Christ's action?

Paul teaches that through the one man, Jesus Christ, all of the above is reversed. Paul refers to:

• Gift. 5:15
• God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflows. 5:15
• Justification. 5:16
• God's abundant provision of grace. 5:17
• The gift of righteousness. 5:17
• We reign in life. 5:17
• Justification that brings life for all men. 5:18
• Many made righteous. 5:19
• Grace reigns through righteousness. 5:21
• Eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 5:21

Sunday Morning Audio Message: 

Key Words and Definitions with Reference:

Just As . . .Sin Entered (5:12) - Not a particular sin, but the inherent propensity to sin entered the human realm; people became sinners by nature.  Adam passed to all his descendants the inherent sinful nature he possessed because of his first disobedience.  That nature is present from the moment of conception (Psalm 51:5), making it impossible for man to live in a way that pleases God.  Satan, the father of sin (1 John 3:8), first brought temptation to Adam and Even (Genesis 3:1-7).

Through One Man (5:12) - When Adam sinned, all mankind sinned in his loins (v. 18; cf. Hebrews 7:7-10).  Since his sin transformed his inner nature and brought spiritual death and depravity, that sinful nature would be passed on seminally to his posterity as well (Psalm 51:5).  

Death (5:12) - Adam was not originally subject to death but, through his sin, it became a grim certainty for him and his posterity.  Death has three distinct manifestations:  

• Spiritual Death or Separation from God (compare with Ephesians 2:1,2; 4:18).
• Physical death (Hebrews 9:27).
• Eternal Death - also called the second death, which includes not only eternal separation from God, but eternal torment in the lake of fire.

Because All Sinned (5:12) - Because all humanity existed in the loins of Adam, and have through procreation inherited his fallenness, and depravity, it can be said that all sinned in him.  Therefore, humans are not sinners because the sin, but rather they sin because they are sinners.

Sin is not imputed (5:13) - Though all people were regarded as sinners (v.12) , because there was no explicit list of commands, there was no strict accounting of their specific points of violation.

When There is No Law (5:13) - The period from Adam to Moses, when God had not yet given the Mosaic Law.

Nevertheless, Death Reigned (5:14) - But even without the law, death was universal.  All people from Adam to Moses were subject to death, not because of their sinful acts against the Mosaic Law (which they did not yet have), but because of their own inherited sinful nature.

Not Sinned . . . Likeness . . . of Adam (5:14) - Those who had no specific revelation as did Adam (Genesis 2:16, 17) or those who had the Mosaic Law (compare with verse 13), but nevertheless sinned against the holiness of God, i.e., those who "sinned without law" (2:12).

A Type of Him . . . To Come (5:14) - Both Adam and Christ were similar in that their acts affect many others.  This phrase serves as transition from the apostle's discussion of the transference of Adam's sin to the crediting of Christ's righteousness.

Many Died (5:15) - Paul uses the word many with two distinct meanings in verse 15, just as he will the word all in verse 18.  He has already established that all people, without exception, bear the guilt of sin and are therefore subject to death.  So, the "many" who die must refer to all Adam's descendants.

Much More (5:15) - Christ's one act of redemption was immeasurably greater than Adam's one act of condemnation.

The Gift (5:16) - Salvation by grace.  The word gift is an important one in the Bible, and it is good that we understand its definition and implications.  When it comes to the matter of our salvation, the New Testament writers use different Greek words—words that emphasize the gracious and absolutely free quality of the gift. Here are the two words most commonly used for the gift of salvation:

• Dorea, meaning “a free gift.” This word lays particular stress on the gratuitous nature of the gift—it is something given above and beyond what is expected or deserved. Every New Testament occurrence of this word is related to a spiritual gift from God. It is what Jesus offers to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:10). It is the “unspeakable [or indescribable] gift” in 2 Corinthians 9:15. This gracious gift is identified as the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38; 8:20; and 11:17.  The adverb form of this word is dorean, translated “freely” in Matthew 10:8; 2 Corinthians 11:7; Revelation 21:6; 22:17. In Romans 3:24, immediately following God’s pronouncement of our guilt, we have this use of dorean: “Being justified FREELY by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” The gift of salvation is free, and the motive for the gift is nothing more than the grace of the Giver.
• Charisma, meaning “a gift of grace.” This word is used to define salvation in Romans 5:15-16. Also, in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT [charisma] of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” This same word is used in conjunction with the gifts of the Spirit received after salvation (Romans 12:6; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; 1 Peter 4:10).

Condemnation (5:16) - The opposite of justification.  It refers to a verdict of guilty and the penalty that verdict demands. 

Many Offenses (5:16) - Adam brought upon all people the condemnation for only one offense - his willful act of disobedience.  Christ, however, delivers the believer from the condemnation of many offenses.

Justification (5:16) - This legal term comes from the Greek word for "righteous" and means "to declare righteous." This verdict includes pardon from the guilt and penalty of sin, and the imputation of Christ's righteousness to the believer's account, which provides for the positive righteousness man needs to be accepted by God. God declares a sinner righteous solely on the basis of the merits of Christ's righteousness. God imputed a believer's sin to Christ's account in His sacrificial death (Isaiah 53:4, 5; 1 Peter 2:24), and He imputes Christ's perfect obedience to God's Law to Christians (5:19; 1 Corinthians 1:30. The sinner receives this gift of God's grace by faith alone. Sanctification, the work of God by which He progressively makes righteous those whom He has already justified, is distinct from justification but without exception, always follows it (8:30).

Death Reigned (5:17) - Adam's sin brought universal death - exactly opposite the result he expected, and Satan had promised:  "You will be like God" (Genesis 3:5).  Christ's sacrifice brought salvation to those who believe.

Gift of Righteousness (5:17) - Righteousness that is from God.  The gospel reveals that on the basis of faith - and faith alone - God will impute His righteousness to ungodly sinners.

Will Reign in Life (5:17) - Unlike Adam's act, Christ's act has - and will - accomplish exactly what He intended (Philippians 1:6), spiritual life (Ephesians 2:5).

One Man's Righteous Act (5:18) - This is not a reference to a single event, but generally to Christ's obedience (cf. v. 19; Luke 2:49; John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38), culminating in the greatest demonstration of that obedience, death on a cross (Philippians 2:8).

Free Gift . . . To All Men (5:18) - This cannot mean that all people will be saved; salvation is only for those who exercise faith in Jesus Christ (cf. 1:16,17; 3:22, 28; 4:5, 13).  Paul using "all" with two different meanings for the sake of parallelism, a common practice in the Hebrew OT.

Made Righteous (5:19) - This expression probably refers to one's legal status before God and not an actual change in character, since Paul is contrasting justification and condemnation throughout this passage, and he has not yet introduced the doctrine of sanctification (chapters 6-8) which deals with the actual transformation of the sinner as a result of redemption.

The Law Entered (5:20) - Although the Mosaic Law is not flawed (7:12), its presence caused man's sin to increase (cf. 7:8-11).  Thus, it made people more aware of their own sinfulness and inability to keep God's perfect standard (7:7; Galatians 3:21,22), and it served as a tutor to drive them to Christ (Galatians 3:24).