The prevailing power of grace over sin is good news not only for justification but also for sanctification. As benefits found in union with Christ, these two things belong together. Christian baptism reminds us that we are united to Christ in both his death and resurrection, so that the reign of sin has ended and the Christian can enjoy the freedom of life in the kingdom of God.

There is no foe more powerful than sin and death. Where sin prevails, death triumphs, and there is no opportunity even for a re-match. But the grace of God found in Jesus Christ is a much greater power than sin and death. Those who receive the abundance of grace will reign in life through the victory Christ has won for us.

If we are justified by faith in Christ, then there are many other benefits that are ours to enjoy. These benefits are also guaranteed; nothing can take them away from us. These benefits are gifts of God's astounding love, demonstrated at the cross of Christ and realized in the resurrected life of Christ in which we now share.

The promise of God to save all of creation is under jeopardy because of the repeated failure of Israel to uphold his righteous law. But in the faithfulness of Israel's Messiah, the righteousness of God to both punish sin and to deliver his people from it has been upheld. Now all of God's people can promote the peace of God's kingdom that has already been established on earth.

God is a righteous judge who shows no partiality to anyone. But what does this mean for Israel, God's chosen people? Has their faithlessness nullified God promise to them? Because God's faithfulness is not dependent on any one else's, his saving purposes can never depend on the frail hope of human ability. Salvation must come from somewhere else, for Jew and Gentile alike.

God shows no favoritism. Because he has promised to redeem his creation, God will not tolerate sin in anyone. Those whom God redeems must not depend on any visible symbol for their identity. The only genuine marker for the people of God is found within.

The same gospel that proves that God is righteous to save sinners also proves that God is righteous to judge sinners. All sinners are without excuse in spite of the sinful condition into which they are born. The abomination we can see in others gives us a glimpse of the uncleanness of our own hearts, and is meant to prevent us from looking to ourselves for any hope of escaping God's righteous wrath.

Having heard about the faith of the Christians in Rome, Paul was eager to meet them. He wanted to strengthen them in the gospel he preached and to encourage more obedient belief in Jesus. His confidence in the gospel as the power of God for salvation stemmed from the demonstration of God's own righteousness in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.