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Romans 5-8, “Making All Things New”
Paul writes, “Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). The Greek word for “newness” means freshness or novelty. In the presence of Jesus, something new and fresh has broken into our world and our lives.
Romans 5 through 8 ushers us into a celebration of and call to enter the newness that Jesus has already accomplished for us. He has cut the path, paved the road, called and qualified us to walk his way of new life.
We are each invited to revel or boast in the good news of Jesus and our union with him. Based on all that Christ has already done for us (see chapters 1-4), “we rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2). May the Holy Spirit give us all a triumphant, rejoicing, confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Use the questions below for personal reflection, or discussion in your household or RezGroup:
June 11: Romans 1-4
- In Chapters 1-2, Paul lays down foundational theology around sin and judgment. What arises in your heart when you read these passages? Do you feel any resistance to these teachings?
- Is there a time in your life when you felt like God was asking you for the kind of faith Abraham had (see chapter 4)? How did that experience shape your relationship with God?
June 18: Romans 5:1-11
- Because of the work of Christ, suffering can produce in us endurance, character, and ultimately hope. How have you seen God use suffering in your life to produce any of these three things?
- Have you ever had to show love to someone who felt like an enemy or was just difficult? How does that inform your understanding of God’s love for you?
June 25: Romans 5:12–19
Paul’s comparison between Adam and Christ shows that Jesus’ obedience didn’t just fix the damage of Adam’s sin—it accomplished something even better. How do you imagine God’s grace in comparison to your own sin? How might God want to deepen your understanding of his grace?
Paul’s understanding of sin is both communal and individual. Does your own understanding tend to lean one way or the other? Which one of those is more difficult for you to accept? Why do you think that may be?
July 2: Romans 6:1-11
- Romans 6 tells us that we are dead to sin through Christ. How might God be asking you to die to sin and walk in newness of life?
- How have you seen God already transform your life, so that you are alive to him and dead to sin?
July 2: Romans 6:1–11
Romans 6 tells us that we are dead to sin through Christ. How might God be asking you to die to sin and walk in newness of life?
How have you seen God already transform your life, so that you are alive to him and dead to sin?
July 9: Romans 6:12–23
- Paul talks about the difference between being “slaves of sin” and “slaves of righteousness”. How have you experienced slavery to sin? What might God wish to free you from in this season of your life?
- The last verse implies that slavery to sin results in death, and slavery to righteousness and obedience are followed by the “free gift of God” that is eternal life. How have you experienced joy and new life in righteousness and obedience since coming to follow Jesus?
July 16: Romans 7:7-25
- Is there a time of your life when you felt an overwhelming compulsion to a particular vice, despite wanting to get rid of it? How did you respond in those times? How do you think Jesus responded to you in those times?
- At the end of this chapter, Paul moves from frustration with his own struggle with sin to worship. What are some ways that you engage in worship when you are struggling with sin or feeling far from God and wanting to draw near?
July 23: Romans 8:1-11
- Paul opens this chapter declaring that we have been set free from sin through Christ. How do you imagine “slavery to righteousness” fits in with “the law of the Spirit of Life” and freedom from sin and death? Where can you find harmony between these in Paul’s explanation in the following verses (3-8)?
- Verses 9-11 echo back to a theme Paul talked about regarding baptism in chapter six. If you have been baptized, think back to the moment of your baptism (either a memory or with your imagination if you were an infant). How does this passage make you feel in light of your baptism? If you have not been baptized, are there any desires or feelings that this passage brings up for you?
July 9: Romans 6:12–23
Paul talks about the difference between being “slaves of sin” and “slaves of righteousness”. How have you experienced slavery to sin? What might God wish to free you from in this season of your life?
The last verse implies that slavery to sin results in death, and slavery to righteousness and obedience are followed by the “free gift of God” that is eternal life. How have you experienced joy and new life in righteousness and obedience since coming to follow Jesus?
July 16: Romans 7:7–25
- Is there a time of your life when you felt an overwhelming compulsion to a particular vice, despite wanting to get rid of it? How did you respond in those times? How do you think Jesus responded to you in those times
- At the end of this chapter, Paul moves from frustration with his own struggle with sin to worship. What are some ways that you engage in worship when you are struggling with sin or feeling far from God and wanting to draw near?
July 23: Romans 8:1–11
- Paul opens this chapter declaring that we have been set free from sin through Christ. How do you imagine “slavery to righteousness” fits in with “the law of the Spirit of Life” and freedom from sin and death? Where can you find harmony between these in Paul’s explanation in the following verses (3-8)?
- Verses 9-11 echo back to a theme Paul talked about regarding baptism in chapter six. If you have been baptized, think back to the moment of your baptism (either a memory or with your imagination if you were an infant). How does this passage make you feel in light of your baptism? If you have not been baptized, are there any desires or feelings that this passage brings up for you?
July 30: Romans 8:12–17
- This passage begins with great hope for new relationship with God and ends with a chilling condition: “provided we suffer with [Christ] in order that we may also be glorified with him.” How does this caveat make you feel? Does it excite you, or scare you? Or perhaps a little of both?
- What is it like to imagine calling God “Abba”, an intimate term for father in Hebrew, like Papa or Daddy? What is it like to think of yourself like a child who is adopted by him?
August 6: Romans 8:18-25
Aug 13: Romans 8:26–30
Aug 20:
July 30: Romans 8:12-17
- This passage begins with great hope for new relationship with God and ends with a chilling condition: “provided we suffer with [Christ] in order that we may also be glorified with him.” How does this caveat make you feel? Does it excite you, or scare you? Or perhaps a little of both?
- What is it like to imagine calling God “Abba,” an intimate term for father in Hebrew, like Papa or Daddy? What is it like to think of yourself like a child who is adopted by him?
august 6: Romans 8:18-25
We often hear people say that Christian hope is “going to heaven when you die”. But what does this passage teach about our final hope? What can you tell about God’s heart for creation from these verses?
How do verses 23-25 speak to those with disabilities, various bodily injuries, or aging in general? How do these verses ground our hope for our loved ones who have gone to be with the Lord?
august 13: Romans 8:26-30
Sometimes, it’s difficult to know what to pray. We can find ourselves at an incredible loss for words. How can verses 26-27 help us sit still before the presence of God? Do you find being still before the Lord difficult, or easy, or somewhere in between?
In verses 28-30, we’re told that God works “all things together for the good of those who love him.” How does this truth shape our view of suffering? And how do we strike the balance between rightly and fully grieving evil and suffering while trusting God (without minimizing evil) in the light of God’s fatherly providence and care over the lives of his people?
