Romans (Youth) 5A

Peace With God, through Jesus

Scripture: Romans 5:1-11

Exposure to Exposition & Exploring the Scriptures: (15-20 mins)

• Bible Drills (Memorization of OT & NT Book order)

• Guide the children to Romans 5:1-11 in the Bible. (Help them as needed, NT vs OT)

• Say: We are going to continue through Paul's letter to the church of Rome.

• We will learn that the gospel is God’s power to save everyone who believes, and we should never be ashamed of Jesus.

• Read aloud. (Ask kids to place their pointer fingers on V1 and follow along)

Opening Question

“Have you ever had a big fight with a friend and then made peace again?” How did it feel to be friends again?

(Lead into how Jesus made peace between us and God.)

Notes:

• In Chapters 3 and 4, Paul explained that we’re saved by faith, not by works or being part of a special group like the Jews.

• Paul begins Chapter 5 by showing what happens after we’re made right with God through faith.

Paul will answer two big questions:

• How can we know for sure that we’re really forgiven and at peace with God—especially when life is still hard? (1-11)

• How can one man, Jesus, pay for the sins of everyone in the world? (12-21)

Paul will spend this chapter showing that our peace, hope, and salvation are completely secure because of what Jesus has done.

Romans 5:1-11 NLT
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us, sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we now have peace with God that will never be broken. We can be sure of our salvation because God loved us even when we were sinners, and He still loves us now that we are His friends.

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

• V1-2 Right with God through Jesus' death, which gives us a future hope. This is joyful news!

  • Paul says, “therefore,” which means he’s building on what he already taught — that we’re saved by faith, not by doing good things. (v1)

  • Being made right by faith means God has already declared us “not guilty” — and that verdict can’t change! (v1)

  • Because of Jesus’ death, we don’t have to fear God’s anger anymore — we now have peace with God, a restored friendship that will never be broken. (v2)

  • We “stand” in this grace forever — meaning we don’t have to keep earning God’s love.(v2)

  • Now we look forward to seeing God’s glory — being with Him in Heaven one day! (v2)

  • Kid Point: Jesus makes peace between me and God.

Reference Ephesians 2:14-16

• Paul also wrote in Ephesians 2:14-16 that Jesus Himself is our peace.

• When Jesus died on the cross, He destroyed what separated us from God, our sin.

• Before Jesus, God’s Law showed us how guilty we were.

• The commandments acted like a mirror, reminding us that we were in trouble with a perfect, holy God.

• Because of sin, there was a wall between us and Him.

• But when Jesus died, He took our punishment,  the penalty the Law required.

• Once that penalty was paid, the wall came down!

• Now there is no reason for God to be our enemy- we are friends with Him again.

Romans 5:3-4 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

• V3-4 Trials bring growth

  • Even when life is hard, we can rejoice because we have a future hope! Death is not the end! (v3a)

  • God uses hard things to help us grow strong in faith — like exercise for our hearts. (v3b)

  • Problems & trials teach us to keep trusting God (that’s perseverance), and that builds character and hope. (v4a)

  • A believer who grows through trials becomes spiritually strong — that’s proof that God is at work in us! (V4b)

  • Kid Point: God uses hard times to make my faith stronger.

Romans 5:5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

• V5 God’s love fills my heart through His Spirit living in me.

  • The Holy Spirit reminds us every day that God truly loves us.

  • His Spirit living inside our hearts is proof that we belong to Him.

  • When you feel afraid or unsure, remember- God’s Spirit is like a light in your heart saying, “You are Mine.”

  • Kid Point: He gives us a part of Him and fills us with His hope & love

Romans 5:6-8 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

• V6-8 Jesus died for me, a sinner

  • Before we could do anything to help ourselves, Jesus died for us. Long ago. (v6)

  • We were helpless, stuck in sin, and couldn’t save ourselves. We deserved punishment.

  • People might die for someone they love or for someone good, but Jesus died for people who were His enemies! (v7)

  • That’s the greatest love ever shown: God loving the one who deserves death.

  • Kid Point: Jesus died for me even when I didn’t deserve it.

Romans 5:9-10 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.

• V9-10 Friend of God

  • If He loved us enough to die for us when we were His enemies, we can be sure He’ll keep us safe now that we’re His friends.

  • Jesus is alive today, and His life keeps proving that His plan works because we can see the proof of HOPE in us!

  • God didn’t start loving us just to stop later; His love is eternal (forever).

  • Kid Point: If God loved me when I was His enemy, He’ll never stop loving me now that I’m His friend.

Illustration Idea – Tell this story:

Imagine two soldiers fighting on opposite sides. One risks his life to save the other. After the war, they meet for coffee. The saved soldier says, “I can’t trust you; maybe you’ll hurt me.”

The rescuer replies, “If I saved you when we were enemies, why would I hurt you now that we’re friends?”

That’s how silly it is to doubt God’s love!

Romans 5:11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

• V11 Jesus made me a friend of God

  • Because of Jesus, we’re no longer enemies; we’re God’s friends!

  • We can celebrate our new life with joy because nothing can separate us from Him.

  • Believers should live thankful, joyful lives because we’ve been completely forgiven, even when life gets hard.

  • Kid Point: Jesus made me God’s friend forever, that’s worth celebrating!

Observation Questions (What did it say?)

1. What happens when we go through hard times as believers? (Tribulation produces perseverance, character, and hope. Romans 5:3-4)

2. When did Jesus die for us? (While we were still sinners. Romans 5:8)

3. What are we saved from through Jesus? (From God’s wrath and judgment. Romans 5:9)

Understanding Questions (What does it mean?)

1. What does it mean to have “peace with God”? (It means God is no longer angry at our sin because Jesus paid the price. We’re now His friends, not His enemies Romans 5:1)

2. Why can suffering be a good thing for Christians? (Because God uses it to grow our faith and make us stronger in character (Romans 5:3-4)

3. What does “justified by His blood” mean? (It means Jesus’ death made us right with God — our sin is gone, and we’re declared innocent Romans 5:9)

4. Why can we be sure we’ll stay saved? (Because if God loved us when we were His enemies, He’ll never stop loving us now that we’re His children Romans 5:10)

Application Questions (What should I do?)

1. What should you remember when you go through a hard time? (That God is using it to grow your faith and make you stronger)

2. What can you do when you start to doubt if you’re really saved? (Remember the cross- if God loved you when you were His enemy, He’ll never stop now that you’re His friend)

3. What can you rejoice about today?

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For Older Kids

Romans (Youth) — Romans (Youth) 5A

Remind them: What is the Gospel?

Jesus’ perfect life paid for the sins of all who believe. Jesus died on the cross as the punishment for sin. But Jesus did not stay dead, three days later He rose to life (resurrection) defeating the power of death. Believe, and you will be saved!

• We are all sinful. We all deserve the consequence of sin- death.

• Jesus is what saves us from the sin we all have in our bodies. And one day, he’ll even give us a new body.

Supporting Truths Kids Can Grasp:

• Jesus gives us peace with God.

• God loved us even when we sinned.

• Jesus died to save us.

• God’s love is in our hearts.

• We are friends with God forever.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.