The Blessings of Our Justification

Romans 5:1-11 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering 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. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much …”

Prayer

INTRODUCTION

Theology

Romans

Chapters 1-4

THEREFORE - WHAT IS IT THERE FOR”

Transition

Chapters 1-4 - Focus on power of the gospel to put people in right relationship with God.

What comes AFTER justification by faith?

SUMMARY STATEMENT OF ALL THAT HAS COME BEFORE IT!

Romans 5:1–4 ESV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE JUSTIFIED?

Just as if I… had never commited the crime!

Legal term.

Declared Righteous

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 3:25–26 ESV

whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

WHAT THEN?

Result #1 - PEACE with God

Peace does not mean a cease fire

Shalom

Isaiah 32:17–18 ESV

17 And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. 18 My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

Objective state of harmony with God

PEACE = to no longer exist under the wrath of God.

Peace with God is what the Gospel produces in the ENTIRE life of the believer!

RESULT #2 - Access to grace

Access to the POTUS

David in Saul’s court

GRACE - the state in which the believer lives

We live in a constant state of grace

Best illustrated by the tearing of the temple in Matth 27:51 “51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.”

RESULT #3 - We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God

Hope here is certainty

No in part but fully in the future

This hope brings joy

This hope is in the Glory of God, not our own strength

FAVORITE PART OF THIS PASSAGE

Sufferings = Tribulation

Rejoice in our sufferings!

HOW?

We know that when God brings us through something it strengthens us

Like an athlete

That endurance gives us assurance that God will pull us through.

Elders

Character building

Hope - Certainty

Faith that is not willing to undergo suffering or affliction is not saving and peace giving faith. Suffering is the badge of the true saving and peace giving faith. Discipleship means allegiance to the suffering Christ.

IF GOD BROUGHT YOU THROUGH IN THE PAST YOU KNOW HE WILL AGAIN!

Romans 5:5 ESV

5 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.

INTERNAL SUBJECTIVE ASSURANCE OF HOPE

The Holy Spirit is poured into our heart.

Thus hope doesn’t put us to shame.

Spirit indwells the believer.

Romans 5:6–8 ESV

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

WE HOPE BECAUSE GOD LOVES US IN AND THROUGH CHRIST

God chose the right time.

At that time we were ENEMIES of God!

Who will die for their enemy?

That is what Jesus did!

Romans 5:9–11 ESV

9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

SALVATION FROM FUTURE WRATH

“If God saved us when were enemies, surely he will keep saving us now that we are his children. There is no wrath.”

1 Thessalonians 1:10 ESV

10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 ESV

9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

Justified and Reconciled interchangeably

Reconciliation, being brought back into fellowship with God.

Jesus sits at the right hand and is still interceding for us.

THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHETHER YOU WILL ASK JESUS INTO YOUR HEART!