4:15. For the law worketh wrath. For where there is no law, neither is there transgression.
The law worketh wrath... The law, abstracting from faith and grace, worketh wrath occasionally, by being an occasion of many transgressions, which provoke G.o.d"s wrath.
4:16. Therefore is it of faith, that according to grace the promise might be firm to all the seed: not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
4:17. (As it is written: I have made thee a father of many nations), before G.o.d, whom he believed: who quickeneth the dead and calleth those things that are not, as those that are.
4:18. Who against hope believed in hope; that he might be made the father of many nations, according to that which was said to him: So shall thy seed be.
4:19. And he was not weak in faith. Neither did he consider his own body, now dead (whereas he was almost an hundred years old), nor the dead womb of Sara.
4:20. In the promise also of G.o.d he staggered not by distrust: but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to G.o.d:
4:21. Most fully knowing that whatsoever he has promised, he is able also to perform.
4:22. And therefore it was reputed to him unto justice.
4:23. Now it is not written only for him that it was reputed to him unto justice,
4:24. But also for us, to whom it shall be reputed, if we believe in him that raised up Jesus Christ, our Lord, from the dead,
4:25. Who was delivered up for our sins and rose again for our justification.
Romans Chapter 5
The grounds we have for hope in Christ. Sin and death came by Adam, grace and life by Christ.
5:1. Being justified therefore by faith, let us have peace with G.o.d, through our Lord Jesus Christ:
5:2. By whom also we have access through faith into this grace wherein we stand: and glory in the hope of the glory of the sons of G.o.d.
5:3. And not only so: but we glory also in tribulation, knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
5:4. And patience trial; and trial hope;
5:5. And hope confoundeth not: because the charity of G.o.d is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost who is given to us.
5:6. For why did Christ, when as yet we were weak, according to the time, die for the unG.o.dly?
5:7. For scarce for a just man will one die: yet perhaps for a good man some one would dare to die.
5:8. But G.o.d commendeth his charity towards us: because when as yet we were sinners according to the time.
5:9. Christ died for us. Much more therefore, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from wrath through him.
5:10. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to G.o.d by the death of his Son: much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
5:11. And not only so: but also we glory in G.o.d, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received reconciliation.
5:12. Wherefore as by one man sin entered into this world and by sin death: and so death pa.s.sed upon all men, in whom all have sinned.
By one man... Adam, from whom we all contracted original sin.
5:13. For until the law sin was in the world: but sin was not imputed, when the law was not.
Not imputed... That is, men knew not, or made no account of sin, neither was it imputed to them, in the manner it was afterwards, when they transgressed the known written law of G.o.d.
5:14. But death reigned from Adam unto Moses, even over them also who have not sinned, after the similitude of the transgression of Adam, who is a figure of him who was to come.
5:15. But not as the offence, so also the gift. For if by the offence of one, many died: much more the grace of G.o.d and the gift, by the grace of one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
5:16. And not as it was by one sin, so also is the gift. For judgment indeed was by one unto condemnation: but grace is of many offences unto justification.
5:17. For if by one man"s offence death reigned through one; much more they who receive abundance of grace and of the gift and of justice shall reign in life through one, Jesus Christ.
5:18. Therefore, as by the offence of one, unto all men to condemnation: so also by the justice of one, unto all men to justification of life.
5:19. For as by the disobedience of one man, many were made sinners: so also by the obedience of one, many shall be made just.
5:20. Now the law entered in that sin might abound. And where sin abounded, grace did more abound.
That sin might abound... Not as if the law were given on purpose for sin to abound: but that it so happened through man"s perversity, taking occasion of sinning more, from the prohibition of sin.
5:21. That as sin hath reigned to death: so also grace might reign by justice unto life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans Chapter 6
The Christian must die to sin and live to G.o.d.
6:1. What shall we say, then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
6:2. G.o.d forbid! For we that are dead to sin, how shall we live any longer therein?
6:3. Know you not that all we who are baptized in Christ Jesus are baptized in his death?
6:4. For we are buried together with him by baptism into death: that, as Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life.
6:5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.
6:6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin may be destroyed, to the end that we may serve sin no longer.
Old man--body of sin... Our corrupt state, subject to sin and concupiscence, coming to us from Adam, is called our old man, as our state, reformed in and by Christ, is called the new man. And the vices and sins, which then ruled in us are named the body of sin.
6:7. For he that is dead is justified from sin.
6:8. Now, if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall live also together with Christ.
6:9. Knowing that Christ, rising again from the dead, dieth now no more.