Sermon Tone Analysis

*Blessed Assurance*

*Romans 5:1-11    September 9, 2001*

* *

*Scripture Reading: *Responsive Reading # 668, Hymnal

 

*Introduction:*

 

Illus.: Blessed "insurance."

Peace of mind.

Blessed assurance.

Peace of soul.

In our passage last week we learned what faith is not: it is not trusting in works, flesh, or law; but it is always by belief, and that is in Christ alone.

(This need for faith is the common denominator of the gospel that keeps us as equals in our dependence upon Christ in overcoming the other common denominator of our sinfulness.)

And so now that we know largely what faith is not, we must travel further along the road to what it is, or rather, what we have because of it.

We can learn best what faith is by defining what it does give us.

Please turn to our passage this morning in Romans 5:1-11.

The "therefore" at the beginning tips us off that this begins a new thrust in Paul's argument.

His argument will stretch from chapter 5 through chapter 8 and carries on from what he has already told us about our justification by faith.

What we have in our passage this morning is the theme of assurance, the certainty that our justification will lead to final salvation.

This is a radical new power that God gives us in our continual struggle against sin and the law.

This theme dominates the first and last paragraphs in these chapters (5:1-11 & 8:18-39) which frame the argument of Romans 5-8.

To show you where we are going, the passage in 5:12-21 about Adam and Christ grounds or supports the claim for assurance in 5:1-11.

Then in chapters 6-7, Paul deals further with the two continuing threats to our assurance – sin and the law.

Then in 8:1-17 he shows how the work of the Holy Spirit overcomes these threats.

*Big Question:*

 

/What assurance does faith in Christ give us?/

 

*I.

Cycle One*

 

*          A.

Narrative (v.

1)*

 

*          B.

Implication*

 

Faith in Christ assures us of peace with God.

 

*          C.

Illustration*

 

*          D.

Application*

 

Peace can be the absence of hostility, but even more here it is the general sense of harmonious well-being, the /shalom/ of the OT.

(S.

Is. 32:17-18)

 

It refers to the well-being and prosperity of people who have been blessed by God.

 

Paul transfers the term "peace" from the national blessing of Israel to the personal experience of every believer.

(S.

Is. 52:7)

 

This peace is the objective state of harmony with God that believers who have been justified enjoy.

Paul is indicating and detailing for us the benefits that our new justified status brings.

Note also that this is not only the peace "of God" but peace "with God."

It is not just an inner sense of serenity and security that wells up inside our hearts when we appreciate the blessings we enjoy in Christ; it is the objective position we find ourselves in because God has ceased to be hostile toward us by reconciling us to himself.

Paul is telling us that God's verdict of justification marks the entrance into the Christian life.

When we respond to the gospel in faith, God declares us innocent and our relationship with him begins.

*II.

Cycle Two*

 

*          A.

Narrative (v.

2a)*

 

*          B.

Implication*

 

Faith in Christ assures us of grace with God.

 

*          C.

Illustration*

 

*          D.

Application*

 

We also have access to grace – like when a person has "access" to the President.

But our access to God is constant – it is access into his grace.

It is a state in which the believer lives.

God's free giving to us does not stop when we become Christians.

It continues to be poured out on us so much that we can be said to live in a constant state of grace.

We not only get into relationship with God by grace, we live out that relationship day-by-day by grace.

(Amazing Grace)

 

It is that same amazing grace that undergirds all my life.

"Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home."

*III.

Cycle Three*

 

*          A.

Narrative (v.

2b)*

 

*          B.

Implication*

 

Faith in Christ assures us of glory with God.

 

*          C.

Illustration*

 

*          D.

Application*

 

Now Paul introduces what becomes the theme of this paragraph: the hope we have as Christians to share in God's glory.

But this glory of God is not a trouble-free existence and leads us into the next idea.

*IV.

Cycle Four*

* *

*          A.

Narrative (vv.

3-4)*

 

*          B.

Implication*

 

Faith in Christ assures us of godly process.

*          C.

Illustration*

 

*          D.

Application*

 

Paul says in effect, I know Christians will continue to suffer.

But life's difficulties do not contradict what I have been saying about the wonderful blessings of being a Christian; in fact, God actually uses them to bring us even greater blessing.

In fact, Paul claims at the end of verse 4 that suffering can actually lead to hope.

Just as resistance to a muscle strengthens it, so challenges to our hope can strengthen it.

Note four points here that give us a better perspective on suffering:

 

          1.

Suffering is a normal part of a consistent Christian life.

2.

God uses suffering to accomplish his purposes.