Romans #08 What You Need
Romans Series #8
Romans 5:1-12
What You Need
Demonstration, Peace, Access
Read 5:1-12
I. Demonstration
A. Helpless
Greek word "asthenes" - translated helpless
def - weak, infirmed, or feeble
also translated - "weak, helpless, sick, and unimpressive"
we stand before God, not strong enough, helpless, deathly sick, and thoroughly unimpressive -
FOLKS God is NOT Impressed
1. we were/are in need of a demonstration
2. demonstration of his power - we are powerless
3. demonstration of his love - in a loveless world
4. demonstration of his forgiveness - we are guilty
B. Right Time (Just Right)
1. at the appointed time - God has a plan
2. God may not be early, but he is always on time!
C. Demonstrated
V7 - on the rarest of occasions would someone die for a spiritually right man
Some might take a chance to die for a man who does good things for society
But Christ v8 - put his LOVE ON DISPLAY - while we were still SINNERS
It is not a matter of being good or bad people in society or being righteous or unrighteous.
We are SINNERS - that is what God HATES at the soul of his being
Christ died for US though God Hates Sin!
1. he didn't just talk
2. he didn't just bail you out
3. he didn't just give you a donation of a pint of blood
4. he offered you a blood transfusion. He emptied himself of Heaven, privilege, priority, position, and Poured out his BLOOD.
5. He submitted himself to the humiliation of the human stain. Surrounded by Sin, he was without sin, the humiliation of lies and a mock trial, beaten within an inch of his life, tortured and spat upon, and then nailed to a cross
6. THAT'S a DEMONSTRATION
Christ came with
a. what you needed - forgiveness, payment for your sin
b. when you needed it - at just the right time
c. why you needed it - because you were/are powerless
D. TO YOU
1. Not someone who loved him
2. not someone who deserved it
3. Not someone else - but YOU
3. just someone who needed it - that's all that you had going for you
Praise the Lord he is a Demonstrative God!
However, Someone can demonstrate great Love but if you don't understand your need you may leave it unrequited
You need …
II. Peace With God
Eirene - (i-ray'-nay)
1. a state of national tranquillity
a. exemption from the rage and havoc of war
2. of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is
A. You Need It
1. God is warring against you
2. You are at enmity with God
a. Jesus said - I didn't come to condemn the world, the world is condemned already
(John 3)
b. Colossians 1:20-22
20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
21Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[1] your evil behavior. 22But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-
B. Through Christ
Dia (dee-ah)
def-
1. through
a. of place - the door, the place we come to God
1) with
2) in
b. of time - Jesus is the now by which we enter in
1) throughout
2) during
c. of means - He is the vehicle that carries from where we are to where we want to be
1) by
2) by the means of
2. through
a. the ground or reason by which something is or is not done - whether we are acceptable of not before Holy God is dependant solely on the person, act, and reliability of the Lord Jesus Christ
1) the reason of
2) on account of
3) because of for this reason
4) therefore
5) on this account
1 Timothy 2
5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus
Being at Peace with God is a wonderful thing but we have it for the express purpose of coming into his presence.
God's demonstration which makes us have peace with God also gives us …
III. Access
This word translated "access" is also found in
Eph 2:18 - for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
Eph 3:12 - in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.
A. Stand IN grace
Def - "stand"
1. [set up] to make firm, to establish a thing,
2. to sustain the authority or force of anything
a. to stand - to stand immovable, continue safe and sound, stand unharmed,
This access carried with it an understanding of boldness by which we can approach the Throne of God
Hebrews 10:19 - "we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus"
We don't stand ON grace, or even simply Under grace, we are IN grace.
We are plunged in the middle of it and aren't going anywhere!. We are immersed in the middle of grace.
Don't miss this glorious portion that Christ has made available to you.
You have Access to the Lord of Heaven and Earth, the Creator of all, the Redeemer of Mankind,
don't throw away your great opportunity for daily living to come into his presence and experience all that he has for you
Hebrews 10:35-36
35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
His presence is a good place to be
Psalm 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
B. Rejoice in Hope
Of the Glory of God
Romans 3:23 - says that ALL FALL SHORT of the GLORY of God - but NOW through the death and resurrection of Christ, I HOPE IN the Glory of God because I am IN GRACE.
I will no longer FALL SHORT, because I have been raised WITH Him and SEATED in Heavenly places!
If you don't rejoice, you DON"T KNOW what you have nor what you've been released FROM
If you don't rejoice, you don't know what you've been given
If you don't rejoice you don't know your POSITION
C. Rejoice in suffering
Suffering is NOT a bad thing
The Good NEWS is GOOD - Everything God allows is GOOD
Rejoice because it produces God's best in your life
> produces perseverance
produces character, produces hope
> doesn't disappoint
We have an on time God who WILL NOT let you down, he will not disappoint
> because God's Love Poured into your Hearts and it NEVER NEVER, No NEVER let's you down. It never fails, It never comes up short
> Whether Glory and Hope or Suffering and struggle, Rejoice!
It's NOT the hope or the suffering it's about what's been provided for us In Christ. The Focus is on HIM!
Rejoice, Rejoice, Rejoice
Bill Bright, Founder of Campus Crusade for Christ in 1951, suffered from a disease that hardens the lungs and is terminal. Nearly 4 years ago he was given less than a year to live. He long outlived their expectations, but the disease is difficult and painful, but he continued to serve the Lord. Earlier this year, his journey, his race came to and end and he entered the presence of the Lord he faithfully preached and served. A few days before his death, James Dobson called to talk to Vonetta and let them know that they were praying. Bill wanted to talk and though he struggled to be heard and understood. Struggling through the pain, his heart firmly fixed on the finish line, he told Dobson, "I am Rejoicing!"
He knew without a doubt that God had Demonstrated his love for him and he was at Peace with God, he Rejoiced in Suffering and the Hope of Peace because he had lived in the Earthly access to the Presence of God and was about to enter into the blessing of God's Presence he had waited so long to experience.
Rejoice, Live, Rejoice