October 6, 2024 – Romans 5:1-11

Lesson Date: October 6, 2024

Focal Scripture Passage: Romans 5:1-11

AIM: To lead students to discover some of the blessings that come to those who are justified by faith in Jesus Christ, and to give them an opportunity to thank God for these blessings if they are already saved or to trust Jesus for salvation if they have never done so.

Before class: Read the notes on Romans 5:1-11 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Write the word “Blessing” on the board.  Get copies of the “Blessings of Justification” handout.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Direct everyone’s attention to the word “Blessing” written on the board.  Ask: “What is a blessing?” (allow time for some responses).  Tell the class that we often use the word “Blessing” to refer to the prayer we say before a meal, thanking God for our food.  Tell them we also use it when speaking of a prayer of blessing we might pray over someone, asking God to bless that person.

Tell the students another way we use the word “Blessing” is to refer to something especially good that happens to us.  Ask: “Have you ever received a blessing of something you didn’t deserve, something above and beyond what you could earn or hope for?  If so, what was that blessing?” (allow time for some responses).

Remind the class of the following truths we have learned in the first four chapters of Romans:

• Everyone on earth is a sinner.
• Salvation cannot be earned by being religious or doing good works.
• Justification only comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Ask: “What is justification?” (being declared by God to be righteous, just as if we had never sinned; justification is another word for salvation).

Tell the students the title of today’s lesson is Blessings of Justification.  Tell them being justified is a wonderful blessing, but it is only the beginning.  Tell them in today’s scripture we will discover many wonderful blessings that come as a result of being justified by faith in Jesus Christ.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Remind the class that we are studying the New Testament book of Romans.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (Who Can Be Justified?; we discovered who can be justified, who cannot be justified, and how we can be justified).
   • Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s memory verse (Romans 4:25).
2. Peace, Access, Grace, and Hope.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 5:1.
   • Ask: “What is the first word of that verse?” (“Therefore”).
   • Remind the class that conjunctive words such as “therefore” connect what has come before to what is about to be said.
   • Ask the same volunteer to re-read the first phrase of verse 1, stopping at the comma.
   • Explain that the entire passage we will study today is based on that first phrase; in other words, all the blessings contained in this passage come as a result of being justified by faith in Jesus Christ.
   • Ask: “What’s the first blessing of justification named in verse 1?” (peace with God).
   • Ask: “Who gives us peace with God?” (“our Lord Jesus Christ”).
   • Ask the following questions about having peace with God:
     • “What does that blessing mean for us today?”
     • “How would life be different if we didn’t have that blessing?”
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 5:2.
   • Ask: “What’s another blessing that comes as a result of being justified?” (access by faith to God’s grace, which enables us to stand).
   • Ask the following questions about that blessing:
     • “What does that blessing mean for us today?”
     • “How would life be different if we didn’t have that blessing?”
   • Ask: “What’s another blessing named in that verse?” (hope, which enables us to rejoice).
   • Ask the following questions about that blessing:
     • “What does that blessing mean for us today?”
     • “How would life be different if we didn’t have that blessing?”
   • Summarize: Blessings that come from being justified by faith in Jesus Christ include peace with God, access to the grace of God that enables us to stand, and hope that produces rejoicing.
3. Understanding, Love, and the Holy Spirit.
   • Read Romans 5:3-5.
   • Ask: “The beginning of verse 3 says we can glory or rejoice in our tribulations, troubles, and afflictions; what blessing named in verses 3-4 enables us to do that?” (understanding that God has a purpose in our trials: to grow us, strengthen us, and make us more like Him).
   • Tell the students that Warren Wiersbe explained it this way: “Trials work for us, not against us, and develop Christian character.”[i]
   • Ask the following questions about that blessing:
     • “What does that blessing mean for us today?”
     • “How would life be different if we didn’t have that blessing?”
   • Tell the class that two more blessings of justification are found in verse 5: God’s love poured into our hearts, and the gift of God’s Holy Spirit living within us.
   • Ask the following questions about God’s love being poured into our hearts:
     • “What does that blessing mean for us today?”
     • “How would life be different if we didn’t have that blessing?”
   • Ask the following questions about the gift of God’s Holy Spirit living within us:
     • “What does that blessing mean for us today?”
     • “How would life be different if we didn’t have that blessing?”
   • Summarize: Blessings that come from being justified by faith in Jesus Christ include understanding God’s purpose in our trials, His love for us, and His Holy Spirit within us.
4. Christ’s Death Paid For Our Sins.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 5:6-8.
   • Ask: “According to verse 6, what did Jesus do when we were weak and helpless to save ourselves?” (He died for us).
   • Ask: “According to verse 8, how did God show His love for us?” (by sending His beloved Son to die for us; John 3:16).
   • Ask: “According to verse 8, when did He do that?” (while we were sinners).
   • Tell the students another blessing of justification is that Jesus’ death paid for our sins.
   • Ask: “We know that Christ’s death paid our past sin debt so we could be saved, but what does that mean for us today?”
   • Explain the following:
     • Christ’s death on the cross paid for ALL our sins; not just the ones in the past so we could be saved, but also the sins we will commit today and in our future days.
     • This assurance frees us from the condemnation of the devil.
   • Ask: “How would life be different if Jesus Christ had not paid for all of our sins through His death on the cross?”
   • Summarize: Blessings that come from being justified by faith in Jesus include the assurance that Christ’s death on the cross paid for all our sins.
5. Saved From Wrath, Reconciled, Salvation, Joy, Atonement.
   • Read Romans 5:9.
   • Ask: “What’s another blessing that comes from being justified through the death of Christ?” (we are saved from God’s wrath).
   • Remind the students that Romans 1:18 says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.”
   • Tell them that Romans 2:15 and Revelation 6:17 say there is a day of wrath coming.
   • Ask the following questions about being saved from wrath:
     • “What does that blessing mean for us today?”
     • “How would life be different if we didn’t have that blessing?”
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 5:10.
   • Ask: “Two more blessings of justification are found in that verse; what is the first?” (being reconciled to God).
   • Ask the following questions about being reconciled to God:
     • “What does that blessing mean for us today?”
     • “How would life be different if we didn’t have that blessing?”
   • Ask: “What is the other blessing found in that verse?” (we are saved by Christ’s life).
   • Remind the students that Romans 4:25 says Jesus had to rise from the dead for us to be justified (saved); in other words, we are saved not only because Jesus died for our sins, but also because He conquered death and is alive today.
   • Ask the following questions about being saved by Christ’s life:
     • “What does that blessing mean for us today?”
     • “How would life be different if we didn’t have that blessing?”
   • Read Romans 5:11.
   • Ask: “Two more blessings are found in verse 11; what is the first?” (joy).
   • Ask the following questions about the joy God gives us:
     • “What does that blessing mean for us today?”
     • “How would life be different if we didn’t have that blessing?”
   • Ask: “What blessing does verse 11 say we have received?” (atonement).
   • Tell the class that word is also translated “reconciliation.”
   • Explain that atonement means we have been made “at one” with the Lord (John 17:22-23).
   • Ask the following questions about atonement:
     • “What does that blessing mean for us today?”
     • “How would life be different if we didn’t have that blessing?”
   • Summarize: Blessings that come from being justified by faith in Jesus Christ include being saved from wrath, reconciled to God, salvation through Christ’s life, joy, and atonement.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Remind the students that the title of today’s lesson is Blessings of Justification.  Give everyone a copy of the “Blessings of Justification” handout, and briefly review the lesson by reading those blessings from the handout.  Remind them that we have discussed how each blessing impacts our life, and how life would be different without it.

Ask: “What must a person do to receive those wonderful blessings?” (trust Jesus for salvation).

Stress the fact that we can’t earn those blessings, we don’t deserve them, and we could never pay for them.  Tell the class the blessings of justification ONLY come as the result of receiving Jesus Christ by faith.

Ask: “If you receive a blessing from someone, what do you do in return?” (thank them).  Direct everyone’s attention again to the “Blessings of Justification” handout.  Ask: “Do you think we should thank God for these blessings of justification?” (yes).

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Tell them to thank God for the blessings of justification they have discovered today.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then tell the students some of them might not be able to thank God for the blessings of justification because they have never truly been justified by faith in Jesus Christ.  Tell them if that is true for any of them, they should confess and turn from their sins, and place their faith and trust for eternity in Jesus Christ.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Offer to stay after class to speak to anyone who might have questions about salvation.  Tell the students to keep their handout in their Bible so they can remember and thank God for these blessings of justification.  Ask everyone to memorize Romans 5:8.

[i] Warren W. Wiersbe, Chapter-by-Chapter Bible Commentary, Copyright © 1991 by Warren W. Wiersbe, Nashville, Thomas Nelson, Inc.