Transformation

Introduction

“That’s like putting lipstick on a pig.”

Maybe you’ve heard that adage. It’s pretty clear what it means, right?

You can try to dress somethings up, but it doesn’t change what they really are.

External changes are only that - external. There’s no real change happening.

When that lipstick rubs off, it’s still a pig.

But, then, there are changes that are authentic. What people are really seeking.

This internal change is what brings about true transformation in our lives.

Where turmoil is replaced by peace, condemnation is replaced by grace, and despair is replaced by hope.

Paul shows how that transformation can only be found in Jesus Christ.

You Can Have The Fruit Of Justification

vv. 1-5

First, we need to define the term:

Justification = To Be Declared Innocent

The previous four chapters, Paul laid out our need for forgiveness and our means for forgiveness.

Paul had just written about how we can receive this declaration of innocence by trusting in Jesus for forgiveness.

Romans 4:24–25 ESV

24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

So, as Paul launches into the fruit of Justification, it is based upon the assumption that he is talking to Christians.

“Since we have been justified by faith.”

As we consider this, the question must be asked:

Am I a Christian?

If so, Paul says there are three specific fruits that you are blessed with:

Peace. The opposite of the turmoil that the rest of the world is experiencing.

A state of union with God.

We have received peace at the moment of salvation.

Grace. The opposite of the weight of guilt and conviction that sin places upon us.

Instead it is the freedom we have in our relationship with God.

Grace is this beautiful thing that we have received but it is an ongoing need.

We continue to sin, but we continue to receive grace covering those sins. “In which we stand.”

Hope. Rather than despair that we see so many languishing in.

Hope is an expectation of better things.

So our hope is future focused. That there will be a time where we no longer struggle with sin.

The tension here is that this almost sounds too good to be true.

Paul brings in reality. V. 3 - we rejoice in our sufferings.

Notice we don’t rejoice because of our sufferings! But, despite them.

We see that there is purpose in them.

God redeems our suffering for our benefit.

Suffering —> Endurance —> Character —> (more) Hope.

This hope is combined with God’s love that is “poured” on us by the Holy Spirit.

Poured on - an ongoing rain on a parched land.

We are all checking that ten day forecast. Several years back, after a very hot summer, a rain came in, breaking the heat.

Just sitting out in the rain and enjoying the refreshment that it brought.

This is the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian.

Peace. Grace. Hope. Redeemed Suffering.

The fruit of justification.

Jesus Has Paid The Cost Of Justification

vv. 6-8

We didn’t always have this declaration of innocence.

At one time we were in need of forgiveness.

“While we were still weak.” Sickly. In a spiritual coma.

In that moment of desperation, Jesus died for us.

Jesus, God in the flesh, morally and spiritually perfect. Died for rebellious you and rebellious me.

Paul wants us to understand how significant this is.

For a righteous person. For a good person, perhaps.

We are quite the opposite of that. And Jesus, perfect Jesus, died for us.

God’s love is real.

“I love you” as a form of manipulation.

“If you loved me...” even worse.

There is nothing that God needs or lacks.

God’s love is unconditional.

Christians Will Receive The Fulfillment Of Justification

vv. 9-11

One of the joys of going to Sam’s…the samples. And the way we try to trick the people, as though they care.

We get just a taste…this now taste, but then if you buy the box of 256 beef and bean burritos, you can have as many as you can eat at home!

Salvation is like that. There is the “now” of having certain blessings of salvation, but we still struggle with sin in a corrupt and broken world.

Paul expresses this tension of salvation - “Now” and “Not yet.”

We have been saved, but there is this expectation of a greater fulfillment.

“much more shall we be saved…” (v. 9).

Paul expresses this in two ways:

Christians are saved from wrath.

Romans 2:5 ESV

5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Romans 2:8 ESV

8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

What Paul is expressing is a state that all people are in at some point.

We are deserving of that wrath because of rejection of God, but by grace we receive salvation.

Christians are saved to reconciliation.

This is the positive expression of salvation.

Sin drives a wedge between you and God.

This removes us from the blessings of a relationship with God.

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

When we choose to walk with God, this is what we experience.

When we choose to walk without God, we experience the opposite of each of these.

This is why we “rejoice in God” (v. 11).

Conclusion

Can you say, “since I have been justified”?

Not, are you religious, are you good, are you more moral than someone else...

Have you been justified?

Have you asked Jesus to forgive your sins?

Trusting in Jesus as God who came to earth, lived a perfect life, died in your place on the cross, and was received back to life on the third day.