Faith Brings Joy, Peace, Hope, and Love

Having set out God’s way of justifying sinners, and established it on a scriptural basis, Paul now lists the blessings which accrue to those whose faith has been counted to them for righteousness.

Romans 5:1 “1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Therefore

for that reason

justified

to make or declare someone or something righteous

springs from the fountain of God’s grace { undeserved unmerited favor}

to declare righteous

through faith

trustworthiness, through believing without seeing

peace with God

not merely a subjective feeling (peace of mind) but primarily an objective status

a new relationship with God {once a enemy now a friend} ref. v. 10

the end of all hostilities between God and human

not a feeling but a standing

we can come directly into the presence of God

Jesus is not only our Redeemer, but our Advocate.

Q) How do we have this peace with God?

Romans 5:2 “2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”

whom

Who is this?

access

Jesus ushers us into the presence of God.

we have the freedom to enter His presence at all times

The heavy curtain (of the temple) that separated us from God and God from us has been removed.

The curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. The tearing of the curtain signified Christ’s making it possible for believers to go directly into God’s presence

Hebrews 10:19-22 “19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”

we now stand

What does this mean?

indicates that God’s grace is needed throughout the Christian life, not just in the beginning

boast

No longer a boasting in a faulty belief in one’s ability to keep the law, but a boasting in God’s glorious promises through faith in Jesus Christ

hope

a joyful and contented expectation of eternal salvation

the absolute certainty has God’s deliverance

because of God’s manifested salvation in Christ, and because he is the source of all the believer’s expectations, He is called the God of hope

Romans 15:13 “13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

glory of God

Our confidence that the purpose for which God created us will be ultimately realized

What God intended humans to be. The glory human beings were intended to have if they had not fallen .

God’s majesty and overwhelming presence

Romans 5:3 “3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;”

glory in our sufferings

Not “because of” but “in.”

Paul does not advocate a morbid view of life but a joyous and triumphant one.

To glory in suffering means recognizing that we share in Christ’s sufferings because we share in all that Christ has done.

James 1:2 “2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,”

believers can rejoice in tough circumstances and sufferings/afflictions because we know that through such things that the Father is pruning for greater Holiness.

J.V. McGee “ it takes trouble to bring out the best in a believers life. the only way God can get fruit out of life of a believer is by pruning the branches.”

Philippians 3:10 “ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,”

Colossians 1:24 “Now I (Paul) rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.”

perseverance / endurance

Persistence in the face of discouragement or opposition