Romans chapter 6 lies as a valley of decision between the two mountains of the death of Jesus in Romans chapter 3 for our sin and the new life of Jesus to be lived by the Christian in Romans chapters 6 to 8 and chapter 12 till the end. Up until Romans 6 we have been impacted by the death of 3 men: Death of Jesus for sin in Romans chapter 3 Death of Self to sin in Romans 6 Death of the old man in Romans 6 The challenge now is to be what we are and not to fall between the gaps of what God has made us in Christ and how we live for Christ. Do not fall between the gaps of deliverance and destiny, like the nation of Israel in the wilderness. Romans chapter 8 takes us to the sanctuary experience of the new life in Christ Romans chapter 12 takes us to the altar experience of the new life in Christ. Romans chapters 14 to 16 takes me to the assembly or church experience of the new life in Christ. Here is your new life in Christ, live your best Christian life now.

The fall out from Eden and Adam's sin extended further and longer than that of Chernobyl. Adams fall affects the whole of humanity collectively and individually. Adam's nature corrupts the nature of all born to Adam. Adam erred on who God was, on what he wanted as a person and on how to deal with others! In Christ the old man was crucified with Christ. As Christians we have now a new head, a new Lord, a new master. Our new nature, the Divine nature originates not from Adam but from Jesus. Paul systematically dismantles the catastrophe which is Adam through Romans chapters 6 to 15. The first of these false ideas the Spirit of God challenges is that of our relationship with God. Instead of God being someone we must flee from, hide in fear from, He is Abba Father. Here is the God we fled from welcoming us back with arms as wide as the cross of His Son. He who did not spare His own Son, how shall He not with Him also give us all things? 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

As you Live how You Please How Pleased are you How you Live? Baptism and New Life - Romans chapter 6 verse 4 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." God has taken so much from us as Christians; our condemnation, our sin, our guilt, our separation, our isolation, our hopelessness and our despair. Instead of languishing outside of Eden alone, separated from God and unable to hear His voice, Jesus has taken the judgement, condemnation, died for sin and died to sin for us. In exchange for death, despair and damnation God has given to us new life in Christ. The Christian's new life is one of service, by the Spirit of God, bringing forth fruit to God, for His Glory. As we live our lives as we please, aim high and dig deep. Seek for His abiding joy, the joy of His presence, the joy of His salvation, the joy of His word, the joy of hope in Jesus Christ. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie New Cumnock Church Gospel Hall

The meaning and issues of baptism have significance and consequences forever. Our baptism by immersion into water symbolise our death to sin with Jesus, our burial and resurrection into new life in Jesus Christ. The qualification for baptism rests in the truth that baptism was first Christ's. As Christians we follow Jesus through those waters. This was first His baptism into death, burial and resurrection. We reference the practice of the Anabaptists, baptism by immersion, reference the error of baptismal regeneration and we see how our baptism declares our commitment to live for Jesus in newness of life. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie 

New Cumnock

The burden of sin, guilt and condemnation are carried by the Lord Jesus in Romans chapter 3 to 5. The propitiation of Jesus Christ at the mercy seat brings reconciliation between the sinner and a Holy and righteous God. The penalty of our sin is dealt with at the cross of Jesus Christ. He is my substitute and sacrifice for my sin. In Romans chapter 6 we move from the burdens that Jesus bore to the blessings that Jesus brings for the Christian. The truth of sanctification is opened up, that I might yield to the God from whom I was separated from, serve Him and glorify God forever, the purpose for which I was created. Systematic studies in Romans. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie 

New Cumnock

Romans chapter 6 begins the great section in Paul's letter to the Romans on the subject of sanctification. Christ has died for sin in Romans chapters 3 to 5 and now we see the application of the truth that the Lord Jesus has died to sin in Romans chapters 6 to 8. Paul's preaching of the gospel of God's free Grace triggers the question "shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" Paul answers this great question through chapters 6 to 8 of Romans. Continuance perpetually in sin for the Christian in incompatible with their relationship with Jesus Christ, with the Righteousness of God and the Glory given to Jesus Christ. We cannot have the blessings of the cross of Jesus Christ with the Christ of the cross. There can be no forgiveness of sins without regeneration. By the work of Jesus Christ the Christian has died to sin and the penalty has been paid. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

The righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life, Romans chapter 5 verse 18. Why is the righteousness of the Lord Jesus, the Son of God so important? Why is it significant that it was the eternal Son of God who died for us at the cross of Calvary? The righteousness of Jesus is the subject in the bible of: Angels desire it - angels desired to look into it God demands it - only the righteousness of Christ is sufficient to sustain and survive the righteous wrath of God against sin The security if my salvation depends upon His righteousness. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

Disaster, death, despair, pain, problems and pressures mount upon us. One of Satan's greatest weapons is that of discouragement. In Romans chapter 5 verse 14 we learn that ever before the problems arise God has His plan and His purpose! Adam was only a type of Christ, the original was there already in Jesus. Where Adam failed in Eden, failed against Satan, Jesus triumphed. God is able to keep His people over the flood in the days of Noah, out of the fire of Sodom, preserve them through the famine of the days of Joseph and even propser them in Egypt, ready for deliverance by Moses. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

In Adam's fall we sinned all. 

Death as the product of sin is not purely explicable in terms of individual personal sin. Personally committed sins and personal guilt is insufficient to explain the death of the innocent, the unborn nor the death and loss of the infant. Personal individual sin was not the cause of death reigning from Adam to Moses. In the pre law period of Adam to Moses God condemned humanity generically by flood in the days of Noah, by fire and flame in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, by famine in the days of Joseph and in the death of the firstborn in the days of Pharoah and the Exodus. This reign of death was the consequence not only of imparted sin and death but also as the consequence of imputed guilt and condemnation. It is this imputation of guilt and condemnation by contamination or association with Adam that is the corollary to justification by faith in Jesus. If my relationship with Adam brings death, how much more would my relationship with Jesus bring me righteousness, life and imputed justification. 

Romans chapter 5 verses 12 to 17 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

Romans chapter 5 verse 12 holds the key to understanding justification by faith, the declaration or imputation of God's righteousness which comes the believer by faith alone. Such a bold claim in the gospel seems strange and hard to grasp and yet it is founded on one of the the most common experiences of human existance, that of death. Just as in receiving the nature of Adam we receive with this his death and his sin, so too in receiving Christ, in being in Christ we receive a new nature and with it life and righteosness. That old nature was condemned in Adam and thus remains condemned when we receive it. The new nature is justified in Christ and remains justified when we receive it! In Adams fall we sinned all. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie 

Bible Teaching From Romans

Joy and The Meaning of Life, Glory Transfused by Hope. Joy as a Christian is no small matter! Joy is glory transfused by hope (Romans chpater 5 vs 2). God's righteousness permeates the gospel in its entirety. The righteousness of God is demonstarted in His dealings with the sinner, justified by grace, in His own character as a righteous judge and in the dealings of God with Jesus, the Son, raised from the dead, justified in the Spirit and now glorified eternally in and by His people. Had the righteousness of God been compromised at Calvary, catastrophy would have ensued, the two on the road to Emmaus would have been right in their despair and depression, Satan, death and sin would have won. Do not judge God by a point in time! Judged God (if you must) by the point of time! Romans chapter 5 bible teaching from the Bridgend Gospel Hall, New Cumnock. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

Happiness and joy may not be as far away as you think. For the two on the Road to Emmaus in Luke chapter 24, joy was only 7 miles down the road. Joy is to be found uniquely and supremely in Christ. On the road to Emmaus we learn the secret of the joy that is ours in Jesus (Romans chapter 5 verse 11) in the walk, the word and the worship of Jesus. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

In the middle of the fire, the flame and the furnace, passing through the trials, turmoils and tribulations of life and carrying the burdens of a broken world on our shoulders we can feel empty, drained with no strength left to rejoice as Christians. In Romans chapter 5 verses 6 to 11 we are encouraged, in this season of opportunity, in the due time of Romans chapter 5 verse 6 to find our joy on Christ. Sometimes we need to hitchhike on the hope of Glory, drawing from what Jesus has done for us, is doing in us and in what He is now and eternally. In Jesus the Christian has been enriched with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ. We enjoy the presence of Jesus, the power of Jesus, the provision of Jesus, the peace of Jesus, access in prayer through Jesus and the High Priestly ministry of Jesus. That Joy we so often find against the dark backdrop of personal disappointment. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

It was when we were without strength in due time, at the right season, Christ died for the ungodly. Divine opportunity transects human crisis. Opportunity arises from Divine Decree, Personal Decision and thus human destiny. Romans chapter 5 verse 6 presents the primary and preeminent season of opportunity, that of Christ, His cross and salvation. In moments of crisis Elisha a prophet was anointed, in days of crisis, Samuel a priest was ordained and against the background of crisis David the king arose. Opportunity comes in the crisis of God's moments of purpose, don't miss them. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

In the suffering, trials and despair, in the fire, furnace and flames of suffering, and in the pressures and problems of life, don't quit. This is not the full story for the Christian, this is but part of the story and that story is a love story. For the Christian there is always a past, and a future, as well as a present. Romans chapter 5 verses 6 to 11 - Dr J Stewart Gillespie

Hope does not make ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our heart by the Holy Ghost. Here in our grief and suffering is God's greatest grace, grief that brings me to grace that brings me to Glory.

J Stewart Gillespie

In Romans chapter 5 Paul challenges the Christian to rejoice in hope of teh Glory of God, not only when life goes well, but through the trials, troubles and tribulations of life. We are to rejoice even when life throws us troubles and suffering. We have four good reasons to rejoice in our afflictions; the third of which lies here in verses 3 to 4, that it is through these pressures and tribulations that God transforms and changes my character, so that my character becomes one approved of God. From falling short of the Glory of God, I am transformed to reflect the true Glory of God in faith like Abraham, in love like Ruth and in hope like Job. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

The Christian, justified by faith has peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). That peace with God brings us access by faith in Christ into His Grace (Romans 5:2) and that relationship and standing in Grace transforms our Grief to God's Glory. It is this relationship, in peace with the God of the storm that brings us peace in the storm, for it is His storm. He is the God of the storm (Psalm 107) with power over the storm, His presence in the strom and His purpose for His people through the storm. The secret of enjoying practically the peace of God in the suffering experiences of life lies in our abilit to rejoice in the storm, hope in Christ in the storm and expect the fulfillment of God's Glory in the storm. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie New Cumnock

The Christian is able through suffering and tribulation to boast, to glory even to rejoice in their trials and afflictions. This is only possible because as the Christian enters into the fire and flames of affliction he enters in with the Lord Jesus. The 'we' who glory in tribulations in Romans chapter 5 are also the we who have peace with God, the 'we' who are justified and the we who have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand. Through suffering we take upon us the yolk of the Lord Jesus and we learn of Him. He proves faithful in our suffering, strengthening that bond of love which is experienced more and more as the problems of life press in upon us. For the Christian suffering has meaning, is transformed by the Grace of God and brings us into a vital experience of the Lord Jesus. An experience of Christ in suffering inspires hope for the future in the same one who has loved us from beginning to end. There is a reason that God molds our character in suffering: It is all of Grace It is all of God It is all of Glory 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie 

Systematic teaching from the book of Romans.

Rejoicing in tribulations Romans chapter 5 verse 3. The secret of rejoicing in sufferings as a Christian, the consequences of justification by faith and peace with God. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

Romans chapter 5 verse 2 brings us to the first consequence of God's great salvation in Jesus Christ. Propitiation brings us into the blessings of expiation, the removal of guilt and justification, the covering of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Now enjoying peace with God, I have access in the name and with the authority of the eternal Son of God, Jesus Christ. This brings me into the powerful blessing of prayer, transforming Grief to Glory. 

We rejoice in tribulations also knowing that tribulation works patience. Is it rational or reasonable to rejoice in tribulation or suffering? Surely we ought to 'take arms against a sea of trouble and by opposing end them? Is Hamlet's repsonse to tribulation not the more reasonable or rational response? There is one very good reason why it is reasonable and rational to glory or rejoice in tribulations, trials, pain, problems, and grief and the secret of that is contained within the book of Esther. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

Having bought His children with the blood of the Son of God on the cross, when we were yet sinners we can depend upon our God to not let us down now though the trials, afflictions, tribulations and problems of life. God's Grace is sufficient for the trials of the Christian, opening up for us God's Sovereign Power, prayer and access to God. It is through the trials and afflictions of the Christian life that God brings us to be what we ought to be, living reflections of the Glory of God.
Dr J Stewart Gillespie

Abraham was not only a man of faith, Abraham was a great man if faith. In Romans chapter 4 he becomes the father of all the faithful, not only the patriach of a nation, Israel but the patriach of the faithful! In Abraham's journey of faith he grasped 3 great truths: Trusted in the the Promises of God Rested in the Power of God Looked for the Glory of God Abraham appreciated that God's plans and purposes for us are not for us to fulfill or make happen, but rather they are called into being by God. The provision of the promised land, the abundance for the beseiged city of Samaria in 2 Kings was not a prvision of our making or doing. As believers we are called into what God Himself has done and provided, resting in faith in the one who provides this great and abundant provision rather than in the provision itself. Romans chapter 4, Abraham the father of the faithful.

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

Romans is in essence Paul's answer to a number of serious questions. Is it fair that some are judged never having heard the gospel? The answer is found in Romans chapters 1 to 3. Is justification by faith a new teaching, a new idea from Paul? The answer is found in Romans chapter 4. How can I know I am saved if I do not feel like I am saved? Romans chapter 7 contains that answer. Here in Romans chapter 4 we have the answer to the question, why does God save by faith. The reason for salvation by faith alone is that it is the only means to rest in God's infinite Grace. Since salvation is all of Grace then salvation is for the Glory of God alone. Dr J Stewart Gillespie