Sermon Tone Analysis

*Sermon Worksheet & Manuscript*

*Robert L. Hutcherson, Jr.*

*Quinn** Chapel A.M.E.

Church*

*                                        Sermon Preparation~/Delivery*

                                                      *Romans 5:1-5*

*/“Our Hope is Built…”/*

*The Rev. Karla J. Cooper, **Pastor*

*June 3, 2007*

\\                                                      *Trinity Sunday*

\\ Sermon Worksheet & Manuscript

*TEXT*

/"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." (Romans 5:1-5 NASBR)/

*BODY*

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*As Christians Perseverance in our faith brings us closer to God.

We have the fulfillment of a direct relationship to him.

Thirdly, it is understood that by our direct and intimate relationship to God we persevere because God is with us.

If God is for us, who can be against us?

And the fourth effect of perseverance is the strengthening of our own character.

*

* *

*The doctrine of eternal security, perseverance of the saints, the security of the believer or as some say, "once saved, always saved" is not only one of the most important teachings of the NT, its also one of the most liberating.

There is nothing like the comfort, contentment, peace and joy of knowing that you are secure!

That’s why I love that old hymn, "My hope is built on nothing less that Jesus blood and righteousness, I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus name."*

* *

*In Romans 3, Paul declares that all men are sinners that "There is none righteous, no, not one."

In chapter 4, we are taught that a person is saved not by being good, but by faith.

Even Abraham the father of the Jews was saved because his faith was "accounted for righteousness" (verse 22).

This was difficult for the Jews to understand because they came from a religious system that taught them they had to follow a myriad of rules and regulations to please God.

Eternal security is often just as difficult to those who were raised in religious traditions that emphasize rules, dress codes, and strict adherence.

They have trouble believing that God accepts them based on faith alone.

We are "kept by the power of God through faith for salvation."

We are not "kept" or maintain our salvation by our own weak, limited power to be good.

Rather we are "kept" saved by the awesome, unlimited power of God.

After we "trusted" in Christ for salvation, we were "sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise."

As the Holy Spirit came to reside in us, He became "the guarantee of our inheritance," the earnest, the down payment, the engagement ring in our relationship with God.

How long will we have Him? "Until the redemption of the purchased possession," until our bodies are glorified in heaven.

"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."*

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*We are eternally secure because we have the "hope of the glory of God."

Our hope of eternal security causes us to rejoice.

Eternal Security is Great Reason to Rejoice!

Notice carefully Paul’s words at the end of verse 2.

He says we can "rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

What does that mean?

The word "rejoice" here means "boast" or "exult."

It implies celebration or jubilation!

Think of it this way.

God has promised us a fantastic future.

Does He keep His promises?

Of Course!

What He has said, He will do.

Paul said in Titus 1:2 that he lived "in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began."

We can "rejoice in hope" because no matter how bad things are right now, God has promised they will be much better in the future.

We can "rejoice in hope" because no matter how good things are right now, they can’t even compare with the "glory" we will know in the future!

The promised future "hope of the glory of God" assures us that what God started in our lives when He saved us, He will complete in glory!*

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*The security of our future is rooted in our past, it is not only true that you chose Christ, but also Christ chose you… long before you were born.

Ephesians 1:4 says, "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world."

One of the great truths of the Bible is that whoever wants to be saved can be saved.

Romans 10:13 tells us, "For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."

Whosoever will may come!

That’s free will.

Another great truth is that God chooses those who come to Him.

In fact, He chose them long before they chose Him.

That’s election.

Though these concepts seem to clash in many minds, they are both true.

The Bible says that those God "foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son." Are we "conformed to the image of His Son" yet?

Fully?

No. Partially?

Yes.

In other words, we’re not through with that process.

Get this important truth: God didn’t predestine us just to enter into a relationship with Jesus.

He predestined us to be "conformed" to Jesus.

That’s not yet complete!

He didn’t just predestine the initiation, He predestined the completion!

We are not predestined just to start, but to finish!

We are not predestined to be incomplete, but to be complete!

We learn that those who are "predestined" are those who are "called" and those who are "called" are also "justified" and those who are "justified" are also "glorified."

Notice that all of this is in the past tense.

Have you been "called" yet?

Yes.

Are you now "glorified?"

Not yet… However, according to God’s Holy Word, we will be someday.

*

* *

*Again note the past tense.

God is speaking of our future as though it has already passed.

In His mind it has!!!

We are eternally secure because God has promised that those He "foreknew" and "predestined" in eternity past will certainly be "conformed" to Christ and "glorified" in eternity future!

Thus, our security in the future is rooted in our past!

This is why Paul says in our text that we can "rejoice in the hope of the glory of God!"*

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*We should praise God for our security.

Eternal security is not just a doctrine to be studied, it is a reason to worship!

We are at "peace with God" because of Christ’s work in the past.

We "stand" in grace because of He intercedes for us in the present.

We have no fear of the future because of the "hope of the glory of God." Look again at that word "rejoice."

It means celebrate.

That’s what worship really should be: a celebration of the glory of God.

We ought to wake up every day celebrating our security.

We ought to enter this house of worship every Sunday celebrating our fantastic future!*

* *

*When a person retires, his co-workers usually throw him a party to celebrate his hopefully secure future.

When a person is accepts Jesus, we ought to throw a party to celebrate their future too, for it is absolutely secure!

Nothing in this world is absolutely secure.

Banks fail.

Stock markets crash.