Romans 5-8 — From Condemnation to Life

What it means

In these central chapters Paul traces the believer's standing from condemnation to unbreakable security in Christ. Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God and rejoice in hope, and God demonstrates His own love in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:1-8). Paul shows how in Adam all died, but in Christ the free gift of grace abounds to many, and he answers the charge that grace encourages sin by teaching that we have died to sin and been raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:1-4). Chapter 7 lays bare the inner war with indwelling sin, which then magnifies the great relief of chapter 8: there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, for the Spirit gives life and assures us we are God's children. The section crests in the promise that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).