Sermon Tone Analysis

The BLESSINGS of those counted righteous

For many people, faith, hope and love are life ideals that while ideal do not gain the traction that they should in everyday life.

It isn’t that they have not firmly embraced saving faith in Christ.

It isn’t even that those same folks do not unwaveringly confess that they have been saved by grace through faith.

Rather, it sometimes seems that what appears more or less clear on Sunday, becomes cloudy and much more difficult to remember and live Monday through Saturday.

For that reason, we will consider the multiple every day implications of justification by faith alone as an integral aspect of salvation and living as a believer.

Our text:

Romans 5:1-12

In , Paul began with a summary statement that what he was about to explain was true because WE have been justified by faith.

The basis of that statement is found in & 4.

The righteousness of God comes through FAITH in Jesus Christ -

Having reminded the believers in Rome and us that,

Rom 3:

Paul took that a logical step further in that because we are all sinners, the law can do more than show us our sin and lack of being righteous by God’s standard.

No human being can be justified by the law.

The righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe - 3:22

Paul repeated that again in the next chapter.

Rom

Before we leave this segment, we would do well to note that once more Paul stressed that this was about faith not works.

Rom 3:

2. Abraham was JUSTIFIED BY FAITH -

For some who say that they are Christians, but have incorrectly defined Christian in their own terms, being a Christian, they incorrectly say, is as much about how we live as what we believe, how we live make us right with God.

That is not what the Word of God says.

Quoting from Moses words in , Paul reminded this about Abraham, Abraham was justified by faith not works.

Rom

Justification is a grace gift through the redemption of that is in Christ Jesus whom God put forward as a propitiation - appeases or satisfies - the just punishment needed for sin - by His blood to be received by faith -

Those who would walk in the footsteps of Abraham must see justification as a matter of faith.

Rom 4:

Rom 4:

3. The promise of righteousness depends on faith -

For Abraham, faith was not only about forgiveness of sin, it was a way of life.

Everything that God promised Abraham was received by faith -

The birth and preservation of Isaac -

Rom 4:

Heb 11:

Father of many nations -

Rom

Faith that God would enable Sarah and him to have a child.

Rom

For Abraham, faith was believing that God could do what He had promised.

Rom

For us, faith has not changed.

It is still believing that God can do what He has promised.

Rom 4:

BECAUSE GOD HAS NOT CHANGED & IS STILL ABLE TO DO WHAT HE HAS PROMISED, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED BY FAITH HAVE THE BLESSINGS LISTED BY PAUL.

The blessings of those justified by faith - 5:1-11

PEACE with God - 5:1

This is not a subjective internal sense of calm serenity.

Instead, it is an external objective reality.

God has declared Himself to be at odds, at war with every human being.

That enmity is because of their sin.

That was repeatedly emphasized by Paul and others in the Scriptures.

Moses recorded that in a song.

Deut 32:

David confessed his sin.

Ps

Jesus made it clear that the wrath of God remained on those who did not believe in Him, receive Him as the Son of God.

Jn

Believing what Jesus said, Paul reminded the believers that any promises of peace apart from faith in Christ were empty promises.

The first great result of being justified by faith is that the sinner’s conflict with God is ENDED forever.

Col

The Word of God refers to the end of that conflict as being reconciled to God.

2 Cor 5:

THIS PEACE WITH GOD IS THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST - NOT TROUGH ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE DONE, NOT THE CHURCH, NOT THE PRAYERS OF OTHERS WHEN WE DIE, NOT THE INTERCESSION OF MARY OF THE “SAINTS”.

2. GRACE in which we stand - 5:2

As believers, we have access to God.

This was unthinkable to the OT Jew.

What was unthinkable then is now available to those who come in Christ.

Heb 4:

With the death of Christ, the curtain in the temple was torn.

Matt

This is by God’s grace and in that grace we STAND - permanent secure position before God.

Our standing in Christ before God was promised by Jesus.

Jn 6:

3. HOPE in the glory of God - 5:2

We stand and rejoice in HOPE of the glory of God.

Whereas the English word hope conveys uncertainty, the NT word used here speaks of something that is certain, but not yet realized.

The believer will share in the glory of God.

Rom 8:

Jesus promised that glory to those given to Him.

Jn

Without the clear and certain promises of the Word of God we would have no basis for this hope.

4. JOY in our sufferings - 5:3

While this seems strange to us, in the NT suffering was viewed as the normal experience of the Christian.

New believers were warned that the kingdom God could be entered only through many tribulations.

Suffering was looked upon as a token of true Christianity - a sign that God counted then worthy of His kingdom

2

Paul reminded them that suffering has spiritual benefits.

Suffering - tribulation (KJV) produces endurance.

And endurance produces character.

And character produces hope.

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.

Endurance - sometimes translated patience (KJV) - perseverance (NKJV, NASB)

The ability to remain under tremendous weight and pressure without succumbing - STEADFAST ENDURANCE/WAITING WITH HOPE

Character (NKJV) - experience (KJV) - dokimazn- approved after testing = proof (of character)

5. LOVE poured into our hearts - 5:5

Hope - God’s love has been poured into our hearts - cc v 8 - we are loved.

God has implanted in our hearts that we belong and love the one who first loved us.

The giving of the Holy Spirit affirms that we are His and we cry Abba Father.

6. RECONCILIATION received through Christ - 5:6-11

The central truth in these verses is in v 10.