PEACE, PAIN, PRESENCE OF GOD

TEXT:

Romans 5:1–5 ESV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

THE FIRST BIG HEADER I’D HAVE YOU TAKE NOTE OF THIS MORNING IS...

WE HAVE PEACE!

The peace that the Christian has access to is unpacked here in Romans 5 beautifully. God points us toward peace with these incredibly rich promises of God.

Peace, peace, wonderful peace

Coming down from the Father above

Sweep over my spirit forever I pray

In fathomless billows of love

Peace is the smile of God reflected in the soul of the believer.

William Hendriksen

There is a peace that passes understanding.

There is a grace that knows no limit.

There is a hope that never fades.

There is a joy that defies rational explanation.

PEACE is available to the Christian because of WHO JESUS IS...

P‌EACE can be experienced by those who are

1. Justified by Faith

Romans 5:1 ESV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The word justified means that we have been made right with God, no longer facing guilt for our sin, punishment for our wrong, or fear of his wrath.

‌

Why do we have these beautiful blessings?

NOT because of our earning or deserving, BUT because of our faith in what Jesus Christ did (verses 6–9).

Christ died for US in our

weakness

ungodliness

our sinful rebellion

on our way to God’s wrath (where we rightfully deserve to go)

Christ justified us before the HIGH HOLY COURT OF HEAVEN by shedding His precious blood for us!

God is NOT waiting for us to get good enough to love us.

He is NOT measuring how much he will care for us by how righteous we will become.

The worst of us was laid on Him and the best of him was laid on us!

WE HAVE PEACE BECAUSE we have been Justified By FAITH...

WE HAVE PEACE BECAUSE...

2. We Are Standing in Grace

Romans 5:2 (ESV)

2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand...

Now, almost everyone here this afternoon that is in Christ knows that we are lifted from our guilt and shame BY CHRIST ALONE! It is Christ’s work; not our earning or deserving anything…Christ is the one that lifts us to a loving relationship with God.

But there’s another incredible truth here:

God did not lift me to his love through faith for just a brief moment; He keeps me in his love.

GOD HAS LIFTED US UP FROM OUR SELF-DESTRUCTION...

We who were WEAK, UNGODLY, SINFUL REBELS HEADED FOR THE WRATH OF GOD!

CHRIST HAS LIFTED US UP

…CLEANED US UP

…STOOD US UPRIGHT IN HIS GRACE!

Grace that is

as broad as eternity,

as high as heaven,

as secure as God Himself!

We EXPERIENCE peace because...

3. OUR HOPE IS IN GOD’S GLORY

Romans 5:2b (ESV)

2 and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Hope here is NOT hope against hope.

Hope here is NOT optimistic wishing.

This HOPE is a future confidence that because we have been justified through faith and because we stand in grace, our eternal relationship with God is secure!

...hope is really the direction taken by the whole Bible. Hope is the music of the whole Bible, the heartbeat, the pulse and the atmosphere of the whole Bible.1

A. W. Tozer

The Bible not only beautifully and powerfully unfolds the loving embrace of our God; it also speaks just as plainly of the pain that makes us long for those arms.

I’m grateful that God’s Word doesn’t hide our misery or sugarcoat our problems.

WE ALSO HAVE PAIN

How can we have peace in a fallen world where disease, disappointment, disaster, and death are chasing humanity down on every side?

We can experience this peace from God when we recognize the purpose of our suffering.

John 16:33 ESV

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Job 14:1 ESV

1 “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.

The Purpose of Our Suffering (verses 3–4)

Romans 5:3–4 ESV

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

Rejoice in suffering?! How can this make sense?

The Bible teaches us clearly that suffering in this world produces glimpses of heaven’s greater truth in those who are in Christ (verse 4)!

It is when we view our suffering as meaningless—without purpose—that we are tempted to despair.

R. C. Sproul

Philippians 1:29 ESV

29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

Romans 8:16–17 ESV

16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Philippians 3:10 ESV

10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Since neither our suffering nor our handling (or mishandling) of it can separate us from God, life’s challenges produce endurance.

WHEN YOU ARE IN CHRIST, YOUR ADVERSITY IS A LIKE PULPIT TO POINT TO GOD…instead of a pit of despair.

Suffering as a child of God produces:

endurance

character

hope

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

So suffering ultimately gives us greater hope in the glory that will be revealed in us (verses 4–5).

Not prosperity

Not good times

Not parties

Not health, wealth, and wisdom

Not success

BUT SUFFERING!

Suffering eases our grasp on the things of this world.

It makes us less willing to die for the things that do not last and more willing to live for the things that are eternal.

Pain strips away the posers…all the distractions of the world that parade as important.

Pain makes us more conscious of the importance of the work of the Spirit in us and others.

WE HAVE PEACE

WE HAVE PAIN

WE HAVE THE PRESENCE OF GOD!

WE HAVE THE PRESENCE OF GOD!

The Promise of God’s Spirit

Romans 5:5 ESV

5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

God did not pour out his love into our hearts through His Holy Spirit with an eye-dropper...

more like Niagara Falls.

What a SAVIOR!

Yes, we have PEACE from God…because we have peace with God!

justified by faith

standing in grace

rejoicing in hope

Yes, we have the PRESENCE OF GOD…because of the Person of the Holy Spirit.

But we forget that pain is also a promise...

It’s the pathway to

endurance

forging character

lasting hope

It’s a package deal…pain is there, but it is WRAPPED IN PEACE AND GOD’S PRESENCE!

Only WE get to know and experience that.

This very personal experience for the believer should compel each of us to tell everyone about Jesus -

because they have NO peace

they have NO personal relationship with Christ through the Holy Spirit

they only have pain…what a tragedy!