From Grace to Freedom: Living in Victory Over Sin
- Be God's Glory
- Nov 18
- 11 min read
Welcome to Day 321 of The Glory Team Bible Reading Plan.
Romans 5–7 explores the transformative power of God’s grace in the life of a believer. Paul shows how faith in Christ brings peace with God, reconciliation, and hope even in suffering. He emphasizes that believers are no longer enslaved to sin but are called to live in newness of life through union with Christ. These chapters also address the ongoing struggle with sin, explaining that while the law reveals our sinfulness, it is through Christ’s sacrifice and the Spirit’s work that we can live victoriously. Paul lays a clear path from justification through faith to sanctification, showing that God’s grace empowers believers to overcome the power of sin and live in freedom.
Romans 5
Romans 5 highlights the blessings of justification through faith. Paul explains that because believers are justified, they now have peace with God through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). This peace produces hope and endurance in trials, as believers experience the love of God poured into their hearts by the Holy Spirit. Paul contrasts Adam and Christ, showing that through Adam sin entered the world and brought death, but through Christ’s obedience and sacrificial death, grace and life are freely offered to all. He emphasizes that God’s love is proven even while humanity was still sinful, demonstrating the depth of His mercy. This chapter teaches that justification not only changes our standing before God but also transforms how we live with hope and confidence in His promises.
Romans 6
Romans 6 focuses on the believer’s new identity in Christ and the call to live free from sin’s dominion. Paul explains that through baptism, believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, symbolizing the death of their old sinful nature (Romans 6:4). Sin no longer has authority over them because they are now alive to God, empowered to live righteously. Paul emphasizes that continuing in sin is incompatible with the new life in Christ, warning that slavery to sin results in death, but obedience leads to righteousness. He encourages believers to offer themselves fully to God as instruments of righteousness, rather than allowing sin to control their lives. The chapter underscores the practical reality of sanctification, showing that grace calls for active participation in God’s transformative work.
Romans 7
Romans 7 examines the struggle between the law and the sinful nature, illustrating the believer’s ongoing battle with sin. Paul uses the analogy of marriage to explain that the law has authority over a person only as long as they live, but believers have died to the law through union with Christ (Romans 7:1–4). He explains that while the law itself is holy, it exposes human sinfulness, revealing desires that conflict with God’s commands. Paul candidly describes the tension between wanting to do good and the power of sin that dwells within, leading to frustration and spiritual struggle (Romans 7:15–20). This chapter highlights the necessity of relying on Christ and the Spirit rather than one’s own efforts to live righteously. It teaches that awareness of sin’s presence is part of the journey, but ultimate victory comes through surrender to God’s grace.
Origin & Meaning of the Name:
The title “Romans” comes from its intended audience—the believers in the city of Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire. The Greek title, Pros Rōmaious (Πρὸς Ῥωμαίους), translates to “To the Romans.” These were primarily Gentile Christians, though the congregation also included Jewish believers who had returned to Rome after being expelled by Emperor Claudius (Acts 18:2). The book’s name reflects the early church’s expansion beyond Jerusalem and Judea into the very heart of the Gentile world—Rome, the center of global influence and power at the time.
Purpose of the Book:
Paul’s purpose in writing Romans was to present a comprehensive explanation of the gospel—God’s plan of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles through faith in Jesus Christ. It serves as a doctrinal cornerstone for Christian theology, explaining concepts such as justification by faith, sanctification, righteousness, grace, and God’s sovereignty.
Paul wrote this letter to:
Strengthen the Roman believers in their faith and unity (Romans 1:11–12).
Clarify the gospel message, emphasizing that salvation is through faith, not works of the law (Romans 3:28).
Prepare the way for his future visit to Rome and his missionary journey to Spain (Romans 1:10–13; 15:23–24).
Address tension between Jewish and Gentile believers regarding the role of the Law and grace (Romans 2–4, 9–11).
Essentially, Romans is Paul’s systematic presentation of the gospel, showing how God justifies the sinner and transforms lives through faith in Christ alone.
Authorship & Sources Supporting the Author:
The Book of Romans was written by the Apostle Paul around A.D. 57, likely from Corinth during his third missionary journey (Acts 20:2–3). Paul dictated the letter to a scribe named Tertius, who mentions himself in Romans 16:22:
“I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.”
Internal Biblical Evidence:
Romans 1:1 – Paul identifies himself as “a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.”
Romans 15:15–16 – Paul refers to his ministry to the Gentiles, consistent with his calling described in Acts 9:15.
2 Peter 3:15–16 – Peter refers to Paul’s letters as authoritative Scripture, further validating Paul’s authorship.
Acts 20:2–3 – Correlates with the timeframe when Paul was in Greece, writing to the Roman church.
External Historical Evidence:
Early Christian writers confirm Paul as the author:
Clement of Rome (c. A.D. 96) refers to Paul’s writings to the Romans in his letter to the Corinthians.
Irenaeus (c. A.D. 180) quotes Romans extensively in Against Heresies, attributing it to Paul.
Tertullian (c. A.D. 200) and Origen (c. A.D. 250) both affirm Pauline authorship in their theological works.These early sources align with church tradition, which has consistently recognized Paul as the undisputed author.
Key People:
Paul – The author and apostle to the Gentiles who wrote the letter.
Phoebe – The servant (deaconess) of the church in Cenchreae who delivered the letter to Rome (Romans 16:1–2).
Priscilla and Aquila – Ministry partners of Paul, known for their faith and service (Romans 16:3–5; Acts 18:2).
Abraham – Central Old Testament figure used as an example of justification by faith (Romans 4).
Adam – Represented humanity’s fall into sin (Romans 5:12–19).
Moses – Symbol of the Law and its purpose in revealing sin (Romans 5:13–14; 7:7).
David – Quoted as an example of God’s forgiveness (Romans 4:6–8).
Tertius – Paul’s scribe who wrote down the letter (Romans 16:22).
Various Roman believers – including names like Andronicus, Junia, Rufus, and others in Romans 16, showing Paul’s deep personal connections in the Roman church.
Conclusion
The Book of Romans stands as one of the most profound and systematic explanations of the Christian faith ever written. Paul skillfully reveals humanity’s universal sinfulness, God’s perfect righteousness, and His redemptive plan through faith in Christ alone. It bridges the Old and New Covenants, showing how God’s promises to Israel extend to all nations through the gospel.
Romans teaches that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works, and that believers are transformed by the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:2). Its theological depth has shaped Christian doctrine for centuries, inspiring reformers like Martin Luther and John Wesley, who both credited Romans with igniting their understanding of true faith and grace.
In essence, Romans is the gospel explained, faith clarified, and righteousness revealed—a divine letter to the world proclaiming that the just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17).
What is God's Name in these Chapters?
In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.
Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.
"Jehovah" is considered a Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" (represented by the consonants YHWH) where the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "my Lord") were added to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) when pronounced by Jewish readers who avoided saying the sacred name directly; essentially, Christian scholars combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai to create the pronunciation "Jehovah" in the Latin alphabet.
Romans 5
In Romans 5, God’s character is shown as merciful, loving, and faithful. He demonstrates His love for humanity by providing justification through Jesus Christ even while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). God is patient in our trials and uses them to produce endurance, character, and hope, showing His desire for our growth and spiritual maturity. His righteousness and faithfulness assure believers that His promises are trustworthy and that His grace transforms our relationship with Him.
No specific Hebrew names of God are directly mentioned in this chapter. The lesson of Romans 5 is that God’s love is unchanging and proactive, offering salvation and peace to all who believe. We learn that trials are opportunities to experience His steadfast love, and justification through faith is the foundation for hope and confidence in God’s promises.
Romans 6
Romans 6 presents God as holy, empowering, and transformational. He calls believers to live free from sin’s control, offering them new life through union with Christ’s death and resurrection (Romans 6:4). God demonstrates His power to break the chains of sin and enable obedience, showing that He desires not only forgiveness but also transformation. His character encourages believers to live intentionally, presenting themselves as instruments of righteousness rather than slaves to sin.
There are no Hebrew names explicitly mentioned in this chapter. The lesson of Romans 6 teaches that grace is not a license to sin; instead, it provides the power to live in victory. God invites us to actively participate in our sanctification, relying on His strength to overcome sin and reflect His righteousness in our daily lives.
Romans 7
In Romans 7, God’s character is revealed as holy, just, and understanding. He gives the law as a reflection of His righteousness, showing humanity what is right while exposing the sinful nature that resists it (Romans 7:12). God understands human weakness and provides a way to victory through Jesus Christ and the Spirit, demonstrating His grace and compassion toward our struggles. His character assures believers that while sin is real, His power enables us to overcome through reliance on Him rather than self-effort.
No Hebrew names are specifically mentioned in this chapter. The lesson of Romans 7 teaches that the law reveals sin but cannot save; victory comes through reliance on God’s grace. Believers are encouraged to acknowledge their struggle with sin and depend fully on Christ and the Spirit, understanding that God’s provision is sufficient to lead us from frustration and bondage to freedom and righteousness.
Christ in Every Book of the Bible
Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.
Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.
The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!
Questions:
Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.
Questions About God's Character: What do these chapters reveal about God’s faithfulness to His word and promises?
How does Romans 5 reveal God’s love and mercy even while humanity was still sinful?
In what ways does God demonstrate His faithfulness and patience in Romans 5 through trials?
How does Romans 6 show God’s holiness and His desire for believers to live in righteousness?
What does Romans 6 teach about God’s transformative power to free believers from sin?
How does Romans 7 illustrate God’s understanding of human weakness and the struggle with sin?
In what ways does God’s character in Romans 7 assure us of His grace despite our failures?
How do these chapters collectively reveal God as both just and compassionate, offering freedom through Christ?
Questions About Themes:
What is the significance of justification by faith in Romans 5, and how does it set the foundation for Christian living?
How does Paul describe the believer’s new identity in Christ in Romans 6?
What is the role of sin and the law in Romans 7, and how do they interact to reveal human weakness?
How do these chapters contrast the effects of Adam’s sin with the effects of Christ’s obedience?
What theme of freedom from sin emerges in Romans 5–7, and how is it applied to daily life?
How does Paul explain the tension between desire to do good and the power of sin in Romans 7?
How do Romans 5–7 emphasize the connection between grace, faith, and practical obedience?
Reflective Application Questions:
How can understanding God’s love in Romans 5 encourage you to trust Him during difficult trials?
In what areas of your life do you need to embrace the freedom from sin described in Romans 6?
How can you actively “consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God” in practical ways today?
When you face internal struggles with sin, how does Romans 7 help you respond with reliance on God rather than guilt?
How can the example of grace and justification in Romans 5 influence how you relate to others who are struggling?
What steps can you take to align your daily actions with the new life God offers in Romans 6?
How can acknowledging your ongoing battle with sin motivate you to depend more fully on the Holy Spirit as described in Romans 7?
These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.
Reference Guides:
Life Application Study Guide
A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler
The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans
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