The joy of justification

What keeps us going as Christians when life gets tough. Last few weks seen incredible news of the gospel of grace. That God justifies the ungodly as we place our trust in Jesus, we enmter into right relationshisp with God. But what will enjoyinG that relationship look like now?

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Let justification bring you joy

We’ve been on quite journey. Seen hard reality of human sinfulness - the old way of life, in chapter 1-3. All about how we had turned away from God. But then seen beuty of the gospel - God’s righteousness revealed. The way to be right with God open through Christ, received by faith - all about what God has done. Now Paul wants to draw out the blessings of this new status for the believer. Realities of justification in every day life experience.

What words does Paul used to describe the life of the believer?

Romans 5:1–11 NIV

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 now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, 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 is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Wonder if you notice language Paul uses - as he talks about the implications for the person who is justified by faith. Shift of pronouns from they and you talking about life lives outside of grace of God, then chapter 3 is all about what God has done in Christ to bring us to himself, ch 4. Abraham example of faith. Now chapter 5 primary prounoun “We” - what we experience and recieve as those whose faith is in Jesus.

Three things every believer can rejoice in at all times. Rejoice as we look back, as we look now, and as we look forward.

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PEACE with God.

As our sin is dealt with, and we are declared righteous, we can rest in fact that we have peace with God who made us.

8/5/1954 Peace was declared as allies accepted German surrender. Victory in Europe. Long awaited and hoped for. War was over. And for many soldiers, who were once enemies, there was reconcilation under new leadership and desire.

As we look back to the Cross it is God’s declaration of peace with humanity. Bible is story of fallen humanity, who having been decieved by God’s enemy Satan, rebel against their maker. Not only do we live outside of God’s rule, but we dispute his claim to Kingship over our lives and world. Romans 1. Whenever 2 sides wrestle for power, there is war. We were at war with God - hostility between us and God - result - his wrath. We couldn’t make tihngs right.

But

Romans 5:6–8 NIV

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:10 NIV

For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

At the cross Jesus takes our hostility, our treason, and bears its penalty, as he faces God’s wrath. Ate the cross we recieve reconcilition - the bringing together of 2 parties who were hostile and estranged.. We have a permenant peace with him.

Not just a ceasefire, agreement held only as long as we keep our end. Peace that has been won for us, through Christs death and ressurection, through his defeat of Satan and power he had over us. so for those trusting in Jesus, its permenant and secure.

When tempted to despire. tempted to worry that God is angry, we are to look back at the cross and rejoice in this permanent peace.

We look back to peace given, which allows us to look at now and enjoy new reality:

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ACCESS to God

I wonder how we view our relationship with God? Easily see him at distance. stand offish. maybe feel like we shouldn’t bother him, or wouldnt want to hear from us. Especially when we are struggling. Reverent fear might mean we don’t quite know how to approach.

Read v2.

Freind telling me about opportunity for night tour of windsor castle. As taken around, told to to be quiet - queen was in room next door. Wow. Need to know right people to get access to castle. But even more so if you wanted to meet the queen.

Not just peace with God. To stand at a distance in safety. Christ ushers us in the throne room, to introduce us to our heavenly Father. We have open access to the creator of the universe! Place of being highly favoured. Each favourite children as united to Christ. In his grace we have a new standing - not as enemies but Son’s and daughters.

What a difference it makes to our daily Christian walk if we know this truth. That he wants us to come to him always and freely and confidently - through Christ, who ushers us in.

When feeling a lack of joy, maybe feeling distant from God - what are we to do. Come to him as our heavenly Father, who is delighted for us to run to him.

It’s this peace and access which gives us something else.

Third Joy of being Christians - we look forward.

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HOPE in God

Read v2

Hope is desire, optimism of future. Confidence in that hope is dependent on what it is, chances of it being realised. “We hope it will be nice this weekend as we go to the beach” so we pack our rain coats, ready to be dissappointed.

So what sort of hope are we to enjoy in God?

What is it we are hoping for. v2 Paul tells us our deepest desire. The world we all want. Ready.

Romans 5:2 NIV

through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

Glory of God here is a God likeness. Mankind was made in the image of God, to refect his Glory. But since fall, that image has been corrupted and broken. Our experience of humanity is tarnished by sin.

But in gospel God promises to restore us to the Glory for which we were made. On the last day we will be made perfect. No more brokeness, hurt, tears, pain, sickness, sin, no more death. Experience the full reality of right relationship with God forever. What we all long for:

“”You have made us for yourself oh Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you”

True longing of every human - is the life for which we were made restored, and it’s a life found only in relationship with our maker. This is hope Paul is talking about - but its not wishful thinking.:

Romans 5:5 NIV

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

It’s a hope that doesn’t put us to shame - why? because it’s certain. Faith is being certain of what we hope for. Hope isn’t like trusting the weather forcast - but trusting a perfectly faithful God who has demonstrared his faithfulness time and time again.

God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through Holy Spirit.

An objective reality - why do we enjoy peace and access - because God loves us - demonstrated ultimately and objectively at the cross as Jesus dies for his enemies v6-8.

and experienced through indwelling Spirit, who moves into our hearts, to continually help us look to Jeesus.

2 Corinthians 1:21–22 NIV

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

just like person pays deposit to secure new home

As we put out trust in Jesus - God pours out love through Holy Spirit. Experience in very real way. For some overwelhmed with love, for others more sublte, but for every believer very real sense that God loves us. As we look at objective truth, Spirit brings it to bear on in our hearts, stiring up peace and joy, now.

He is garantuntee of God’s love - and of certainty of our future hope.

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If Christ has reconciled to God by his death - how much more will he save us through his life. As we put our trust continually in Jesus, we can be sure, that just as he lives, so our life is bound with his.

We look forward with certain hope and confidence, because it’s the living and reigning Lord Jesus at work, who has promised to finish what he started.

What does this Christian life look like, as we reflect on these blessings.

Romans 5:11 NIV

Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Boast is word rejoice. Bookend of these verses is JOY, this experience of Christian life - JOY.

A life of JOY

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Joy in the gospel and all its beenfits. Joy in Good times, but especially Joy in hard times.

Romans 5:3–4 NIV

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Suffering exposes where we are seeking joy. If our joy is not in the gospel, it will quickly dissappear. If its in circumstance we will soon despair. If its in self righteousness, we’ll soon find ourselves bitter and angry at God. But as we stand in the gospel of grace. Being refreshed through faith by Holy Spirit, pouring out love of Christ, suffering with bring us into great experience of these blessings.

As we cling to Christ through suffering - he will produce perseverance - endurance - single mindedness. What happens as we cling to Christ through suffering - he narrows our gaze, removes the false things we rely on, that we find our needs satisfied in him. - produces character - testedness, no longer surprised by trials - but instead looking forward with eternity in mind, and hope of ressurection firmly in view.

What does gospel bring

peace instead of emnity

access instead of distance

hope in face of despair

JOY. How do we experience -

stand in the grace of God at foot of the cross.

illustrate: standing unmoved.

On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Parks rejected bus driver James F. Blake's order to vacate a row of four seats in the "colored" section in favor of a white passenger, once the "white" section was filled.

What does it look like to experience and grow in the Joy of our justification. We resolutely stand in gospel of the grace. unmoved from foot of the cross. Unmoved from our faith in Christ. We look back, knowing that we have peace with God, because Jesus has dealt with our emnity, and our enemy. We look at now, knowing we stand in throne room of the creator, with open access. We look forward knowing our certain future hope - glory of God, as he...

As we stand in grace what will mark Christian life - even in suffering - a deep deep joy in God.