2020-04-19 Romans 5.1-5
Notes
Transcript
1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance,
4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.
5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
I. God is giving your peace.
I. God is giving your peace.
1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
A. Because of Jesus you can have eternal peace.
A. Because of Jesus you can have eternal peace.
1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Illus: Eternal peace has to be the foundation for everyting. Let me explain what eternal peace means.
The bible say we are born into this world as enemies of God. We are born with a rebellious nature which rejects God.
I think that is pretty self explanatory for anyone who has younger kids at home right now in the midst of social distancing.
I want you to understand that our rebellion does not go unnoticed. The bible says that the payment for your rebellion is eternal death.
If God does not work, there is no peace. There is only eternal torment, judgment and death.
But God did work. He became a human being just like us, Jesus Christ, died on the cross facing both the physical and spiritual punishment we deserve, and became our replacement.
Jesus faced our punishment for us. More than that though, he gave us what he deserved. He made us God’s children. One day when we pass from this earth, there is not judgment or wrath for anyone who has trusted by faith in Christ. Why? Jesus has already taken care of it.
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
20 and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds expressed in your evil actions.
22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him—
B. Because of Jesus Christ you can have peace today.
B. Because of Jesus Christ you can have peace today.
1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Illus: I love how scripture says this grace in which we stand. It is active.
Today you stand in grace. Today you live actively in the peace that God has given you because he has declared you righteous.
Let me attempt an illustration here… we are all living stressed out lives where we do not feel the freedom to live.
We do not have the freedom to go eat out. We don’t have the freedom to gather with friends. We don’t have the freedom to live.
Now imagine if a doctor could prescribe you with perfect immunity. You could go out now and not worry one bit about catching or transmitting the corona virus.
Can you imagine the feeling of grocery shopping without worrying about what you touch or the people on the aisle with you?
Can you imagine going out to eat with your friend or family member feeling the safety of gathering again.
Can you imagine the comfort of hugging someone you love again or sitting next to your friends at church?
That doctor would have given you the gift of living in peace. Your immunity from the disease gives you peace to life today.
God has given you the eternal immunity from sin. Yes we still sin, BUT we know even when we falter, God has already forgiven us and declared us righteous.
If God has done that, we live with confidence not fearful that our next sin will send us to hell, but peacefully in faith in the God who has forgiven us.
6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
II. Your eternal hope is going to transform your temporary affliction.
II. Your eternal hope is going to transform your temporary affliction.
3 And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance,
4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.
A. God is using this affliction to make your stronger.
A. God is using this affliction to make your stronger.
3 And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance,
4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.
Illus: Muscle is built through strife. Muscles only grow as the body is torn weaker and heals over the wounds.
The only way to build muscle is through working your body to weakness.
Life is the same way . God redeems the pain in your life into strength and endurance.
Sorrow builds strength.
God will not waste these days in your life, but instead will work to transform these days into your strength.
Generally as people we do everything we can to avoid pain. To escape it. Much like the person who owns a gym membership but never goes, we have embraced a lazy powerless faith.
Perhaps it is time to embrace real faith, not shying away from pain, but instead welcoming whatever God brings to our lives knowing God will redeem it and heal it for good.
7 especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself.
8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.
10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
B. God is using this affliction to transform who you are.
B. God is using this affliction to transform who you are.
3 And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance,
4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.
Illus: As I have pastored I have noticed one of two things happens when people walk through pain.
1. When some one walks through pain they grow in strength and godliness as they learn to lean on God through the pain.
2. When another walks through pain their faith in God is decimated.
Why would two people experience such separate astonishingly different reactions.
Pain in many ways works as a refining fire. It takes all that you lean on and tests it.
Pain reveals and refines who you are and what you trust.
For the genuine follower of Jesus pain strips away all of your self reliance and strength. It leave you bare where all you have is God. In that moment your come to learn a level of faith and life in God that you could have never known without pain.
For others when the fire of pain burns up all of your self reliance and strength, you realize there is nothing underneath it. It may actually expose a lack of God in your life. When the fire of pain burns you and you have nothing beyond your own strength, that fire will leave you as an empty shell devastated by the brokenness of your pain.
The fire of pain, burning away all of you will either stronger in the faith of God, or expose the emptiness of what you are.
What is it revealing today?
2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
III. God is working right now in your life.
III. God is working right now in your life.
5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
A. God will not waste this affliction, but instead transform it as it transforms you.
A. God will not waste this affliction, but instead transform it as it transforms you.
Illus: We do live in a world of death. A world controlled by death produces death.
That said, I believe God is sovereign and good. God is powerful enough that He will not waste these days.
God will take the brokeness of these days, transform you, and give you strength.
God does not waste a moment of your life, nor will he waste a drop of your pain.
12 Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.