God is Hope Romans 5:1-5

Introduction: Talk about a fallen world and its many trials. Ask the question, “Where do we find hope?”. We can try to find hope in many things (list a few) but our ultimate hope is only found in Him.

JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

We must first understand our position in Him if we are going to understand the hope that we have in Him.

Romans 5:1 CSB

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Justified-declared right because we have been justified (still raggedy but positionally we are declared righteous)

By faith-It is trust in Christ that brings about peace with God (in which we were once enemies).

Romans 5:1 CSB

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The hope that we have isn't promised to everybody. But those who have peace with God through faith in Christ have a hope that we we can stand on. (Hope is not wishful thinking or “willing things into existence”)

Hebrews 11:1 CSB

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

it is the confidence we have because of what we know and believe

LIVING IN LIGHT OF BEING JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

Romans 5:2 CSB

We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

Positional Change

v. 1-from guilty to justified, from hostile to God to peace with God

v. 2 standing in grace (stability)

ref: Paul on Damascus

Boasting

v. 1 Justified (past tense)

v. 2 Standing (present tense)

v. 3 Hope (future tense)

Our boasting is in the fact of all that we have (justification and grace) but also in all that is to come (glory of God-heaven).

These tenses compass/surround and reorient our lives.

I’m not who I used to be

I am understanding who I am

I have confidence in what’s to come

Hope in trials

Romans 5:3–4 CSB

And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.

And not only that (wait there’s more!)

Here’s the way that we think about life and suffering now:

afflictions produce endurance

endurance produces character

character produces hope

Romans 5:5 CSB

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.