Now What?

Romans 5:1–5 NKJV

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Easter has passed, the celebration is over, now it is time to get to work!

No one hires an employee without knowing he or she s capable of doing the job

John 14:15–18 NKJV

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

Jesus promised prior to His departure that He would not leave the disciples as orphans, abandoned, disenfranchised, powerless

He would equip them for the task at hand through the power of the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive

Paul tells us in Chapter 5 that we “have been justified” by faith

Romans 10:9–10 NKJV

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:9-10

In our text for today Paul uses the phrase “having been justified”. The Greek verb Diako, Aorist, passive, participle meaning that an action was performed upon you, at a specific point in time and that action is continuing today.

The work Dekio - means to direct or to show such as a manner or custom so one would know what is right!

Dekanos - deacon should be one who demonstrates, directs or shows what is right behavior

So Dekio sets the standard against which one is judged. if passed then said to be justified if not one “missed the mark” harmatia or sinned

Justification isn’t an action that you do - he was justified in his actions-it is a model that you see and then follow, and then are judged according to

In the OT there was no justification for man’s behavior. Nowhere in the law will you find justification for sin because the example or model of behavior was a Holy, Righteous, sinless God which required the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of Sin. No one was able to fulfill the requirement

Revelation 5:1–5 NKJV

And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”

So what is he new model we need o follow?

Romans 5:1 NKJV

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

By faith in the finished work of Christ we have peace with God

Why? because His sacrifice met the requirements of the Old Covenant! Blood needed to be shed in order for the New Covenant to be established!

We had no peace because we were at war with God. Our sin was forever condemning us

Galatians 2:16 NKJV

knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

The word pace here means a cessation of hostilities hence Christ has the title the Prince of Peace! We have “concrete” or “permanent” peace

It is now because we have been measured by the standard of faith that we have access to His grace

Romans 5:2 NKJV

through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Grace - Kharis - Goodwill freely disseminated (by God) especially to the benefit of the recipient regardless of the benefit accrued by the disseminator

We now stand in the presence of God not as harmatia - those missing the mark but we are now found righteous because we met the standard (justified) not by our works lest any of should boast but by the exercise of our faith!

Hebrews 4:14–16 NKJV

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Phil 3:7-11

Philippians 3:7–11 NKJV

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.