(Rom 5:2) Grace and Hope: The Blessings of the Christian Faith.

INTRODUCTION:

Is there really a difference between the Christians life and the unbelievers life?

What would you life be like without Christ?

And let’s be honest - sometimes it feels like there is no difference.

The believing dad

Sometimes - we wonder what difference there us between us and those who do not have Christ.

Especially those who have some form of religion.

Is there really a diffirence between a person who has Allah and one who has Christ.

Further,

Is there really a difference between a Cathaloic and a protestant?

A Mormon vs. a an Evangelical.

Let it me first, began by cautioning us - I am talking about someone who truly holds to these belief’s .

Not someone who claims the title only, but one who actually believes in the title they claim.

We all have jobs …

We all pay taxes ....

We all have houses...

We all have kids ....

- Our kids are on the same soccer team.

- Go to the same school.

- Have thee same fears and struggles

If were to rashly lump all religions into one lump.

We all pray to a god

We may even all study our Scripture devotedly.

>>>>>> Whether the Bible, Koran, or the Book of Mormonism.

It makes you wonder - Is there a really a difference when you are a Christian?

In fact, sometimes it feels like unbelievers are far more successful and happy then Christians.

Doesn’t it.

-

The believing dad

Sometimes - we wonder what difference there us between us and those who do not have Christ.

Especially those who have some form of religion.

Is there really a diffirence between a person who has Allah and one who has Christ.

Further,

English Standard Version Chapter 12

Why does the way of the wicked prosper?

Why do all who are treacherous thrive?

Is there really a difference between a Cathaloic and a protestant?

A Mormon vs. a an Evangelical.

Let it me first, began by cautioning us - I am talking about someone who truly holds to these belief’s .

Not someone who claims the title only, but one who actually believes in the title they claim.

The believing dad

Sometimes - we wonder what difference there us between us and those who do not have Christ.

Especially those who have some form of religion.

Is there really a diffirence between a person who has Allah and one who has Christ.

Further,

Is there really a difference between a Cathaloic and a protestant?

A Mormon vs. a an Evangelical.

But our text this mornings contends that - there is a difference.

Let it me first, began by cautioning us - I am talking about someone who truly holds to these belief’s .

Not someone who claims the title only, but one who actually believes in the title they claim.

>Because we cannot read people’s hearts.

>Because we do not know the ultimate outcome of every person.

We sometimes forget - that it is wonderful to be a Christian.

declares that there is a mighty difference between the Christian life and the unbelievers life.

A might difference between the one who believes in Christ and the one who believes in something else.

Romans 5:1–2 ESV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

And our text answers that.

Does not address the modern diffirences between Isalm, Cahtolicism, mormonism, and Convervative Protestantism.

But it does calrify that one diffirence

From this text,

From this text,

The first difference we have is peace with God.

I remind us -

Apologetic PROP: The Gospel believers life is so much better then the any other life.

What does unbelievers not have,

But may I say this

that believers do have?

PROP: The Gospel Gives us access to Grace and Hope.

PROP: The Gospel Gives us access to Grace and Hope.

Trans: And this text will teach us that - only those who by faith trust in Christ have access to the grace and hope of God.

Trans: And this text will teach us that those who by faith trust in Christ have access to the grace and hope of God.

******************PRAY*******************

This section is predicated on the teachings of .

The Peace of God Gives us

Who has peace with God and access to his grace and Hope?

Only those who are not trusting in their works,

but are trusting in the work of Christ have his peace, grace, and hope.

All others are under the wrath of God. ()

So let’s first consider, who gives us access -

1) The Doorman to Grace and Hope is Christ.

Our text says -

English Standard Version Chapter 5

2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith

ILLUSTRATION:

ILLUSTRATION:

ILLUSTRATION:

If you ever seen, a U.S. Embassy oversea’s - outside is always a pair of what?

If you ever seen, a U.S. Embassy oversea’s - outside is always a pair of Marine Guards

A Pair of Marines

Not just anybody can walk into a US Embassy.

Only U.S. Citizens can walk into a US Embassy.

And the Marines are the doorkeepers.

Access to grace and hope - comes only through Christ.

He is the doorman to the grace and hope of God.

He is the doorman to the grace and hope of God.

Again,

This section is predicated on the teachings of .

Who has peace with God and access to his grace and Hope?

Only those who are not trusting in their works, (v. 20)

but are trusting in the work of Christ (v. 21-25) have his peace, grace, and hope.

All others are under the wrath of God. ()

Which means you can want to the hope and grace of God - but not have it.

You can have a general love towards God, but without trusting in the Gospel you don’t have it.

TRANSITION:

Just like you cannot walk into a US Embassy without being a U.S. Citizen;

This section is predicated on the teachings of .

You can only have access to the Grace and Hope of God if you are a Christian.

All others are barred.

Who has peace with God and access to his grace and Hope?

And live without the hope and grace of God.

Only those who are not trusting in their works,

but are trusting in the work of Christ have his peace, grace, and hope.

But what does it mean we have grace and hope?

All others are under the wrath of God. ()

2) Christ Gives Us Abounding Grace.

We asked what difference is to be a Christian? Does it matter?

But May I contend,

To live without Christ, is to live a life without grace.

And God’s grace is the most valuable possession you can have.

Why is that?

Because you don’t have to be all that can be.

Because you can not be all you need to be.

Because you can’t be all you can be.

Grace picks up where we fail.

>>>>>In Christ, we have access to God’s grace.

Further, in Christ,

As Christians, we not only have grace, but

we have abounding grace.

It is abounding because it is an all encompassing love.

Gracethat forgives, sanctifies us, and blesses us.

It is abounding because we stand in God’s grace.

Romans 5:2 ESV

2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

The position of standing -

marks access and surety.

Something we can have confidence in.

ILLUSTRATION:

If you were to go out to one of the rivers around us, and stand it.

You have access to that water.

You have surety so long as you stand in the water.

You have access to more water then you could possibly ever need.

In the same way,

Christs’s work on the cross allows us to stand in the river of God’s grace.

Christs’s work on the cross allows us to stand in the river of God’s grace.

God’s grace is always flowing around us, abounding his love towards us.

As Christians - We have access to as much grace as we could ever need.

That is what Paul means when he tells us we are standing in the grace of God.

But why does that matter? Why does God’s grace make a difference in our lives?

I want you to consider 3 aspects of God’s grace that matters in our lives.

There are three aspects of grace we should consider in this passage.

Both implied in this text.

To begin with,

a) There is a forgiving grace.

Why does being a Christian matter?

Because -

All have sinned.

All have commited iniquity.

We all have unclean lips among unclean people.

Because none of us will be declared righteous by the Law.

And None of us can change. We are hopelessly condemned as sinners.

And wickedness always deserves God’s anger and punishment.

If God is a rightful Judge of the world - we all deserve punishment.

Romans 1:18 ESV

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

God’s grace is an invaluable possession because it means

We don’t have to be what should be.

We don’t have to be what we can’t be.

Christ gives us access into God’s forgiving grace.

Further,

b) There is a sanctifying grace.

Another reality of why grace is so valuable - is because God gives us sanctifying grace.

ILLUSTRATION:

Have you ever felt like you could do nothing, but sin.

- Perhaps there was one temptation in your life … and you kept trying to stop sinning.

- Perhaps you have gone through the day and struggled with one sin after another sin.

We often piety drug addicts because of their addictions .... but if we were honest our sin is just as powerful as any narcotic.

Tim Challies once remarked,

“I am a sinner. And as a sinner I exhibit all kinds of behaviors both odd and ugly. The more I come to know myself, the more I see the ways in which I am a product of my sin, in which I view the world through the lens of my sin. When I look outward, and when I look at others, I see them through sinful eyes and interpret them through a sinful mind.”

The reality is ....

None of us are what we should be.

None of us, apart from God, will be what we should be.

Tim Challies once remarked,

I am a sinner. And as a sinner I exhibit all kinds of behaviors both odd and ugly. The more I come to know myself, the more I see the ways in which I am a product of my sin, in which I view the world through the lens of my sin. When I look outward, and when I look at others, I see them through sinful eyes and interpret them through a sinful mind.

Paul will picture us in the next few chapters as being slaves, shackled to sin.

Every person in this world is hopelessly stuck in sin.

And we are stuck in it’s consequences.

And we are stuck in it’s shame.

But Christ represents transforming, sanctifying grace to all those who are trapped in sin.

Romans 6:1–4 ESV

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:3–4 ESV

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

What Paul talks about in is that Christ gives us a transforming grace.

He transforms us from slaves to sin to followers of God.

ILLUSTRATION:

I think we rarely understand the significance of God’s sanctifying grace.

Probably the closest equivalent would be someone,

trapped in slavery,

but then emancipated.

What must it felt like to be one of thousands of slaves who set free at the end of the Civil War?

It was hope they never dreamt was possible, but now they had it.

They would have celebrated joyously and the prospect of freedom.

God’s sanctifying grace means we have been emancipated from sin.

If you understand what sin is and you understand what it means to be emancipated from it

>>>>>>>>- then you understand why sanctifying grace matters in your life.

Christ gives us sanctifying grace,

And finally,

c) There is the grace of God’s blessing.

We live in a world where we keep up with proverbial Jones’s - Don’t we.

and so we look up at the seemingly perfection of others - and think in our hearts>>>>Why is my life so hard?

Even more so, we ask -

English Standard Version Chapter 12

Why does the way of the wicked prosper?

Why do all who are treacherous thrive?

CAVEAT:

We look

Now the reality is - that most of the time others lives are not as perfect as they may seem on the outside.

>>>> We are just to far away to see it.

And further- often if we wait long enough we will see the cracks in that seemingly perfect life.

Because life creates cracks.

And a life without the wisdom of Christ is doomed to struggle.

But may I say - we don’t need lives where everything is perfect either.

Have you ever considered that?

>>>> we don’t need lives where everything is perfect either.

Certainly we recognize this world is not how it should be, and we look to eternity where God will conquer all suffering.

But, what we really need is not a perfect world,

We long and ache when it is not perfect.

However, what we really need is a

Instead,

But>>> a God who is perfect and shows us his grace towards us.

We need a God who is perfect and shows us his grace towards us.

Instead of being about what I can do, it should be about how I can lean upon my savior.

And as we consider whether there is any difference between a believer and unbeliever,

May I remind you -

The unbeliever, is under wrath

God’s goodness is not showering blessings upon their lives.

- And so at times it may seem that the wicked thrive and prosper.

- If we wait long enough - we realize what they don’t have >>>> God’s blessing.

The unbeliever,

If we wait long enough - we realize what they don’t have.

God’s blessing is often treated like it is some abstract mystery

They don’t have God’s blessings.

- something we know exists, but we can’t see in our own lives.

but I guarantee when we get to heaven we will understand how God blessed those trust in Christ.

How God filled the cracks in our lives we can’t fill.

God’s grace is not a promise of riches,

but a promise that God will fill the cracks we can’t fill.

He was all he needed to be when we couldn’t be all that we need to be.

He in his perfect wisdom blessed and cared for us in our weakness and wickedness.

In other words,

you don’t to be all that should be.

You need God to be all that he can be in your life.

You need God’s grace.

Exodus 34:5–6 ESV

5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

What is he promising - to forever have is eye upon his people.

But do you ever struggle with remembering that reality?

As Christians - we have God’s blessing.

Seeing that truth in your life?

When I have trouble seeing God’s providential blessing in my life - I often think of Elisha -

If you recall in 2 - the Syrian army is looking to capture Elisha.

1 Kings 6:15–18 ESV

15 He lined the walls of the house on the inside with boards of cedar. From the floor of the house to the walls of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood, and he covered the floor of the house with boards of cypress. 16 He built twenty cubits of the rear of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the walls, and he built this within as an inner sanctuary, as the Most Holy Place. 17 The house, that is, the nave in front of the inner sanctuary, was forty cubits long. 18 The cedar within the house was carved in the form of gourds and open flowers. All was cedar; no stone was seen.

2 Kings 6:15–18 ESV

15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha.

Is God not always there, showing grace to his people?

God’s hand may not always be plain an obvious,

but you can be assured it is there.

I think of ,

Psalm 95:7 ESV

7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice,

We in Christ are able to stand in the wonderful grace of God.

we have abounding grace.

So what we have here

Whether we are considering the

It is abounding because it is an all encompassing love.

Love that forgives, sanctifies us, and blesses us.

But it is also abounding because we stand in God’s grace.

Romans 5:2 ESV

2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

The position of standing -

- forgiving grace

- Sanctifying grace

- or the grace of God’s blessing.

We in Christ are able to stand in the wonderful grace of God.

Remember, if you didn’t have Christ you wouldn’t have access to God’s grace.

But further, our text promises us that Christ gives us a

marks access and surety.

If you were to go out to one of the rivers around us, and stand it.

You have access to that water.

You have surety so long as you stand in the water.

In the same way,

Christs’s work on the cross allows us to stand in the river of God’s grace.

God grace is always flowing around us, abounding his love towards us.

It is abounding because it is an all encompassing love.

Gracethat forgives, sanctifies us, and blesses us.

The Peace of God Gives us

3) Boastful Hope.

(2) Boastful Hope.

Again, we wonder if being Christian really matters.

But remember - without Christ there is no hope.

Romans 5:2 ESV

2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

To begin with, we are told to rejoice.

Now the original word rejoice can also be translated boast.

Romans 2:17 ESV

17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God

Same word.

Our text is probably a contrast with the Jews sinfully boasting in keeping the law.

as compared to the Christian who boasts in the hope of Christ.

In other words, before Christ you boasted in your good works.

But by but by – Paul has shown that no one can stand without sin.

But by but by – polish show that no one can stand without sin.

None of us can keep the law written on our hearts or the law written in God's Word.

So we can’t boast in us keeping God's law,

but in light of Christ – we are to boast in the hope found in God.

Say it another way,

before Christ we had no hope to boast in because of our sin.

But now we have abundant hope to boast in because of Christ.

My understanding of this word is I think that this word can both mean rejoice and boast.

And, in this case probably means both the idea of rejoicing and the idea of boasting.

Two words in English, but one word in Greek.

We are rejoicing and boasting in what Christ has done for us.

Do you rejoice and boast in God?

ILLUSTRATION/EXHORTATION/APPLICATION:

Sometimes I think the reason we need evangelistic programs to help us reach our communities

>>>> is because we don't fully appreciate what Christ has done for us.

Why is it that a new believer often can bring more people to Christ then all the rest of the church combined?

One reason -

Because they are ecstatic they have been saved.

They know what Christ has done for them and they are rejoicing in it.

They know what Christ has done for them and they are rejoicing in it.

And the natural effect is they go, and properly, rightfully

>>>>boast to their friends that they have found Christ.

In the natural effect someone static about somethingx

I have heard people tell a new believer, well I am glad you are excited, but when you have been saved a long time like me .... it wears off.

Really?

Your salvation is no more valuable to you then a new toy, new car, a new house?

I often hear people say - well I just don’t have that many opportunities.

But I wonder if the real problems is they have lost the joy in their salvation.

That if they truly remembered what Christ had done,

they would rejoice in their salvation,

and the natural result is that their joy becomes contagious to everyone around them.

I want to know Christ >>>> Because I want to know what makes this person so excited.

In other words - the root problem with evangelism for many of us - is not faithfulness to the opportunities.

But that the Gospel has become ordinary rather extraordinary to us.

So I challenge us - are you rejoicing and boasting in God?

>

But what are we rejoicing in?

Our text teaches us, we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

And that is hope.

But what hope are rejoicing in?

Our text teaches us, we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

How is God’s glory a hope to us?

And that is a long answer, but the short of it is - eternity is our hope.

Romans 8:18 ESV

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

We rejoice because we know how this ends.

Romans 8:17

Romans 8:21 ESV

21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us... 24 For in this hope we were saved

Paul says in :

: 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us... 24 For in this hope we were saved

English Standard Version Chapter 8

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved

We will expand what that means when we get to ,

but we are told here we are to rejoice and boast in Christ because of the hope we will find in eternity.

When you understand sin, and it’s effect on everything -

Then you know it is wonderful to be able to say - this world is not my own, I am just a passing through.

Then you know it is wonderful to be able to say - this world is not my own, I am just a passing through.

Remember, if you didn’t have Christ, you wouldn’t be able to have eternity as your hope.

CONCLUSION:

So, we considered - Is there really a difference between the Christians life and the unbelievers life?

Is there really a difference between the Christians life and the unbelievers life?

Yes, we may

all have jobs …

all pay taxes ....

all have houses...

have kids ....

Grand hope

Yes, we may all have an appearance of sincere religion.

Yes, our families may all look like good wholesome, average families.

Yes, our families may all look like good wholesome, average families.

Yes, At times in our lives, the wicked may prosper.

Yes, At times in our lives, the wicked may prosper and the treacherous may thrive.

But our text reminds us - there is a difference.

The Gospel believers life is so much better then the any other life.

The Gospel believers life is so much better then the any other life.

We have something to rejoice and boast in that unbelievers don’t have. .

Why?

that believers do have?

Because -

PROP: The Gospel Gives us access to Grace and Hope.

The person who does not trust in Christ - has no grace and no hope.

Given enough time everyone of their lives will scream there need for the true God, his grace, and his hope.

It is just a matter of time.

As Christians, we ought to boast and rejoice in the Gospel.

Because we have grace and hope in Christ.

>>>>>That is why it wonderful to be a Christian.

>>>>>That is why it wonderful to be a Christian.

Because when you aren’t good enough, and your world is falling apart.

We know everything is going to be ok.

Why?

Because grace means God will take care of what I can’t take care of.

Because hope means this world is not my own - I am just passing through>>> We all are looking for the day when God will take away the pain of this world.

The pillars of Islam, Hinduism, Mormonism…

In contrast

The pillars of Christianity - is that by Christ we have wonderful grace and hope.

Oh, it is wonderful to be a Christian.

May we leave hear resting and rejoicing in the wonderful grace and hope of God.

Boasting in our wonderful savior Jesus Christ

Given enough time,

But we know that a and

But may we not forget - that we are not all the same.

Nice looking families all around time, but without grace and without hope.

It may seem the wicked thrive, and the gospel makes no diffirence.

Cross References: ; , , , ; .

But we truly understood what grace means and

Response:

a) How does grace and hope make the Christian life a wonderful life?

and we truly understand what hope we have - we proclaim it is wonderful to be a Christian.

b) Why does standing in grace matter? How does grace change our lives?

c) Why is hope important? How can you rejoice daily in hope?

d) How can we boast in Christ? Why is Christian boasting different from prideful boasting? How does boasting relate personal evangelism?

Five pillars of Islam