Standing in Grace, Anchored in Hope

Secular -

A proud billionaire was boasting to his pastor, "I don't need a savior! I'm a self-made man, and I started with nothing!"

The pastor smiled and said, "That's impressive. But before you take all the credit, let me ask you—did you supply the dirt you're standing on, or the air you're breathing?"

The man went quiet.

"I thought so," the pastor chuckled. "You've been living on God's free handouts your whole life. Jesus is just offering to clear the debt you actually earned!"

Historical/Cultural Context -

Paul wrote Romans to explain the gospel and to establish the theological foundation of the faith. It was written between A.D. 56-58.

Recap -

Last week we were in romans 4 talking about salvation by grace through faith and looking at how Abraham believed God’s promise and it was accounted to him as righteousness. Paul also said that the promise of salvation by substitutionary atonement, that is the sacrifice that Christ gave on the cross was not just for the Jew but for the non-jew also. Non-jews are called gentiles. so because of his well laid out teaching in the previous chapter and the chapters before that he is going to start today’s chapter with a therefore. Any time you see a therefore you have to ask yourself. Therefore what? that means go back and make sure you comprehend what was just written.

Therefore, because of the power of God’s Word that has been demonstrated to us let us ask God’s blessing on it today.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - Through faith in Christ, we are freed from Adam’s debt, rescued while still God’s enemies, and strengthened through suffering.

Life Point- Life’s Pressures Refines Us

Exegetical -

Romans 5:1–5 BSB

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

Homiletical -

Therefore, because of everything Paul just laid out he says we have been justified through faith. Because of what Jesus did on the cross we have access to peace with God the father. His justice and Holiness has been satisfied in Jesus. So we take our faith and receive the peace of God and come to Him humbly asking and receiving His mercy to be cleansed, and regenerated. Being justified by faith. We spent a lot of time on justification last week, so if you weren’t here or didn’t catch up online, please do so.

through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace that God offers.

So we can see that we take our faith and put it in Jesus, thereby receiving and standing in the Grace of God.

So what is faith?

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

This is a fantastic definition when you break it down. This hope hear is not just like saying, “I hope it doesn’t rain.” Or “I hope I get a new motorcycle for Christmas.”

This is to be assured of what we look forward to and we see the evidence for what we looked forward to in our lives.

Is to be so sure that you trust the Gospel message so fully that you know it is real and has power to change the sinner’s life.

Now I can say I have faith that this stage will hold me up. So much so that I don’t think about it failing. I trust this stage to hold. However, I trust the Gospel even more than that, because it can’t be taken away and it can’t be subject to the elements, to moths, to rust or anything like that.

Fully trusting is faith.

Because of this faith we stand in grace.

Now last week we talked about grace. So let me sum it up.

Grace is unmerited favor, freely given to people who cannot earn or deserve it. You can’t earn it and you definitely don’t deserve it. through this grace He forgives sinners, saves them through faith in Jesus Christ, and continues to supply everything necessary for the Christian life.

Grace for the Christian is ever present and never ending.

Because of all of this we should rejoice in the hope of the Glory of God. Because your changes and regeneration have nothing to do with you, but to do with God getting the glory from.

Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

So you can’t boast for the changes and blessing that have happened in your life because God did it, not you. We are dependent on God for the very air we breathe.

Now Paul throws us a curve ball. He says “Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;”

Notice Paul didn’t say if you suffer as a Christian. It’s not an “if” it’s a “when.”

John 16:33 NKJV

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

The word for tribulation means to press, compress, squeeze, or be subject to pressure. It has the idea with it being subjected to pressure or distressing circumstances.

All of that to say that you will have bad situations and circumstances because of the Gospel, not just because of life. Getting saved doesn’t immediately change your circumstances. What it does is change you to be better able to handle your circumstance because now you are not facing it alone, but with and in the power of Holy Spirit.

Paul says to rejoice in these awful circumstances. Even the ones that might end in your martyrdom.

Well pastor I don’t feel like rejoicing. That’s OK. Look at the big picture, when you come through this you will have developed perseverance. Which leads to producing character within you, and from character is the hope of Jesus Christ. Biblical Hope not worldy hope.

What does scripture say about this hope? “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”

Like we said last week you have God the Holy Spirit living in you. He is not some impersonal force but He is a He. Just as Jesus is a He and God the Father is a He. He is a person.

This isn’t Star Wars this isn’t the force. You can’t just use Him and forget Him. He is God and as such has the power to do anything He wants, so long as it does not contradict His attributes.

It is the Holy Spirit who pours out His love in us. That unmerited, undeserved, unearned love of God. I love you because I chose to love you for no other reason than because I choose to do so.

Illustration -

When a blacksmith wants to purify gold he takes a lump of raw gold and puts it into a burning furnace. The gold doesn't enjoy the extreme heat, nor can it remove its own impurities. Left on its own, it’s just unrefined metal. But as the fire heats up, the pressure squeezes out the dross, leaving behind pure, solid gold that can now withstand extreme pressure without breaking.

The heat doesn't exist to destroy the gold; it exists to reveal its true strength and refine its value. In the same way, suffering in the Christian life isn't a sign that God has abandoned us—it is the furnace He uses to build unshakable perseverance, forge proven character, and anchor us in a hope that never fails.

Life Point - Reconciled To God

Exegetical -

Romans 5:6–11 BSB

For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him! For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Homiletical -

I got asked a question. Why did God chose to become flesh and dwell amongst us during the time that He did? I have been thinking about it and I have an answer.

I don’t know. But I am sure glad He came and we can trust it was at the right time.

Paul says we are or were powerless to be Godly. So he came for the ungodly. There was nothing good in us, and he made us good in His eyes.

Paul says “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Paul isn’t saying that some of us were righteous and others good. No he is saying that none of us measure to good. He calls us sinners. That is the lowest of the low. Yet God demonstrated His love for us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Now we have another therefore, therefore what? Christ died for us, so therefore. “since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him!”

Since we have been justified by His blood we will be saved from God’s wrath through Jesus. Whose wrath? God’s wrath. Because Jesus already took that wrath, that punishment on Himself at the cross.

“For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!”

Reconciled. It is an accounting term. “In accounting, to reconcile means to compare two sets of financial records and explain or correct any differences until they agree.”

You see Jesus looked at God’s account and looked at your account and saw they didn’t agree, so He through His blood reconciled your account to be like God’s account. You were reconciled in Christ.

Since we have been reconciled, we know that He lives at the right hand of the father, we shall be saved through His life.

That’s good news folks! That should make us rejoice. That no matter what the world throws at us, we are reconciled to God and get to be with Him for all eternity! We couldn’t do it so Jesus did.

Illustration -

Imagine a rowing crew stranded on a sinking boat in the middle of a violent storm, completely stripped of their oars. They are totally helpless, adrift, and actively cursing the rescue ship that approaches them.

Humanly speaking, a captain might risk his crew to save a noble leader or a close friend. But the Captain of the rescue ship jumps into the freezing water to save the very rebels who are hurling insults at Him. He pulls them aboard and dies from exhaustion in the process, taking their guaranteed drown sentence upon Himself while they were still His vocal enemies.

Life Point - Reborn From Debt To Reign

Exegetical -

Romans 5:12–21 BSB

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned. For sin was in the world before the law was given; but sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who did not sin in the way that Adam transgressed. He is a pattern of the One to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many! Again, the gift is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment that followed one sin brought condemnation, but the gift that followed many trespasses brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Homiletical -

Because of Adam and His sin we get to be born in sin. Aren’t you thankful for Adam? That sin of Adam caused death to enter the world. Death reigned from Adam to Moses before the law was given. Because we don’t know how truly sinful we are. The law was given to Moses and written down to bring to our realization our depravity before a Holy God.

The sin brought us condemnation, but the gift of God made it to be like we had never sinned in His eyes. We trade out sin for His righteousness.

Paul draws a parallel when he says “just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men.”

This is why Paul refers to Christ as the second Adam. Because we were born into Adam’s condemnation and are reborn into Christ’s justification.

Paul finishes this explanation by saying that “The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Grace increased as sin increased. Death is the result of sin, but grace is the gift of God and that gift comes to us bringing eternal life through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

Illustration -

Imagine a patient who inherits a rare, genetic condition. They didn't cause the defect, and they didn't choose to be born with it, but from the moment of their birth, the disease is present in their system, steadily leading toward heart failure. The diagnostic test—like the Law—doesn't create the illness, nor can it cure it; it simply highlights the full extent of the damage, proving that the patient is terminally ill.

Then, an extraordinary surgeon intervenes. Instead of merely managing the symptoms, He performs an immediate, full-organ swap. He places His own perfectly healthy heart into the patient's chest and takes the diseased heart upon Himself. The patient goes from a guaranteed death sentence to robust, thriving health in a single transaction—not because of any effort of their own, but entirely because of the surgeon's decisive gift.

Life Principle– Through faith in Christ, we are freed from Adam’s debt, rescued while still God’s enemies, and strengthened through suffering.

Call to Action – altar call….