Rigtheous Living: Living with Certainty

Veterans Day Monday

What is certain- We all have ideas of what we will be, or how life will turn out.

As we get older we begin to doubt our what seems certain begins to change. It almost seems that we live in an uncertain world

Mine was…

I am here to tell you today that there is only on certainty that we can hold onto and it is in what God has done, because He is good!

His love, His work, His way.

Paul answers the question of can one be certain of the Saving work of Christ on the cross for Daily life

Today we will look at these promises given to us in Romans 5:1-11 that declare the certainty of our Justification through faith

Romans 5:1–11 NASB 95

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

We have peace with God (VS 1)

We are hostile to God apart from the redeeming work of Christ

Romans 8:7 “because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,”

Hostility is ugly- it is full of tension, and pride, and self glory

Some of us this morning are still hostile towards the Lord

that is not peaceful

Isaiah 48:22 ““There is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord.”

This is who we once were, through Christ we have been are no longer enemies with God but He calls us friend.

“Condemnation means God declares us sinners, which is a declaration of war. Justification means that God declares us righteous” -Warren Wiersbe

This is our certainty that we did not do anything to make our selves friend it was Jesus and imparting His righteousness we have become friends of God

Have you ever wondered what draws us here- without Christ we wouldn't come here- think about it

not out of obligation- obligation only get us so far, or is fading

Parents raise your kids in the way of the Lord- grace, love, discipleship. Yet remember they are His

Have you ever wondered why we desire to praise His name- He has made us friend- that is why this is a certainty

The power of an prayer and invitation

We have access to God (VS 2)

Hebrews 10:19 “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,”

The veil has been torn the wall has been torn down

Jesus opens the door into the very grace of God

Grace - We have full access to the abundance of His grace

This how we live confidently in Christ

There is not a time we do not need His grace- He is rich in it.

Ephesians 2:4 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,”

What is our Glorious Hope- it is that the work of Christ for our past, present, and future all found in verse one and two

Peace- Past- Access to God is our present- Hope in the Glory of God - the future

1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;”

Some of us are holding onto our past

We first must receive the glorious hope of God’s grace that your past has been forgiven

It would be good to repent and talk about, make sure the people you are talking about it with are pointing you to this turth that you are forgiven and its not about self preservation but self denial

It is not based on us- Christ working in you

We have access to the father in order that He would do a mighty work in us

Yes we are to go to Him

Yes there are riches of His mercy

Go to him with confidence and surrender

Hard difficult not easy, but necessary

I have had times in my life when I needed God and I could do nothing but surrender, there have also been times when I went to God and also could do something in my own power.

Dont due the later- He will allow but will bring you full circle

Our access to the father is not for our will to be done but His

He wants us to draw close to Him

We were never intended to not have access to the father

We look forward to God’s glory

This we rejoice in

There are always times of rejoicing- good times

But they must never be our hope- we can and I have found comfort in the good times

It is all about Christ

We can Rejoice in Trials (VS 3-4)

I am grateful for these verses

Life happens- It is certain we will face trials

I was thinking about my favorite verse

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.””

This verse has been very easy to quote but very difficult to live out

Church there are days when I am weak, coming here has been a trial for us, this is not easy. I have had days that have not been good, stressing, worrying

This has been a trial for 3 months - difficult one

We have faced loneliness, lost of friends, doubt, uncertainty- there was no way we could imagine what we would be facing right now. Yet but I believe this is the point Trials they are not something you think about or desire.

This is for us to be prayerful together-

At the same time I know it has not been easy for some of you.

Please let me know how we can be praying for you- you have trials that

Yet what is it all for- God’s glory

Proven Character- Tribulum latin word for Tribulation- Timber with spikes that would be put over grain to separate the wheat from the chaff

Sounds painful

I am convinced Paul understood trials far greater than most of us- yet how easily we can compare, it is not about us our trials our for God’s glory

We rejoice in the trials not because of ourselves

What do we rely on during trials- God’s grace

He is rich in it- He is doing a work

It is never to big for Him

Our trials must lead us to lean

Romans 8:35–39 “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Day by day we lean on the Lord and we face them head on as Paul states

If this is meant for our good there is only good in Christ- he wishes no man should perish

He desires that we would meet our trial head on, confidence in Him that he has giving us all we need

The power of the Love of God (VS 5-8)

In times of waiting

We do not like to wait

We do not like that we can see the outcome

Proverbs 13:12 “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”

It sustains us

Psalm 119:116 “Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.”

We are reminded of the love of God that it is abounding 6-8

If God’s love for us was seen as we were sinners how greater now that we are HIs

the demonstration

We know of this love

Great cost

Nothing has changed His love is unchanging

Salvation from God’s wrath (vs 9-10)

For a second think about what is being said while we were enemies of God he saved us and now we are friend, how much greater now is this love for us.

How you ever had an enemy?

School

Neighbor- Christmas Vacation

What we know about God matters.

We should know we are secure through faith in God and the work that He has done through Christ

1 Thessalonians 1:9–10 “For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.”

Part of this faith is turning from Idols

Part of this faith is waiting for Jesus

Hebrews 7:23–25 “The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

Part of this faith is that we draw near

Now is the time to do all these things

Where else can we go

Yet you and I cant do these on our own we need help from our Savior

I find this amazing how it works- God is with us for this very purpose, he has not let go, yet we must surrender

Its not about us, its all about Him

What keeps us for today is the day of Salvation

I am convinced that the love of God is truly what our world needs

let us not stop praying thinking that all will now be fixed, there is only one who can save us as both enemy and friend.

Election- let us not stop praying,

May we continue to pray for our country, our leadership

God has continual love and grace for us.

Peace with God (vs 11)

Man had declared war against God

This is our state apart from God we are at war

Nerf Battle

This is a war with a full option of peace - we either loose or even a better option is we surrender

This is the peace because of the justification upon the cross

Ephesians 2:11–18 “Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one …”

Application

How do we apply todays message to our life

1. Remember the Gospel

The Gospel- Not only do we need to tell others we need to remind our self of the Gospel

Christ died for our sins and now lives and has made us clean

We are underserving of this immense love- we didn't do anything God has done it all- How do we preach the Gospel to ourselves- God’s love is beyond understanding, It is displayed through Christ- a great cost.

Christ died for us

2. Have Courage

Spend time with Him:Discipline ourselves

In the Trail

In the time of Rejoicing

In times of silence

Our confidence is lacking when we look to ourselves, or others

Now this doesn't mean we dont stay in fellowship, our hope is only in where the Lord is

Prayer- honest

Bible- quality time over quantity

Worship- it is not about you,

Discipleship, are we set on sharing this good news with others

Christ is with us

3. May our faith increase

We wait: Not waver

God will not fail

Complete dependance on Him

We do this together:

Christ is coming back for us