SERMON NOTES
Title: Blessings of Justification (Part 1)
Romans 5:1-11 (NKJV)
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Christ in Our Place
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Since Romans is a book of logic, it is a book of “therefores.”
“therefore” of condemnation in Romans 3:2
“therefore” of justification in Romans 5:1
“therefore” of no condemnation in Romans 8:1
“therefore” of dedication in Romans 12:1
In presenting his case, Paul has proved that the whole world is guilty before God, and that no one can be saved by religious deeds. He has explained that God’s way of salvation has always been “by grace, through faith” (Eph. 2:8–9), and he has used Abraham as his illustration. If a reader of the letter stopped at this point, he would know that he needed to be saved and he could be saved.
But there is much more the sinner needs to know about justification by faith.
BLESSINGS OF JUSTIFICATION
When God declared us righteous in Jesus Christ, He gave to us seven blessings. We will unpack four of these blessings today.
Blessing #1: Peace with God
Romans 5:1 (NKJV)
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Condemnation means that God declares us sinners, which is a declaration of war.
Justification means that God declares us righteous, which is a declaration of peace, made possible by Christ’s death on the cross.
Psalm 85:10 (NKJV)
Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed.
Romans 4:15a (NKJV)
Because the Law brings about wrath...
Blessing #2: Access to God
Romans 5:2a (NKJV)
...through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand...
The Jew was kept from God’s presence by the veil in the temple. The Gentile was kept out by a wall in the temple with a warning on it that any Gentile who went beyond would be killed. But when Jesus died, He tore the veil (Luke 23:45) and He broke down the wall (Eph. 2:14).
We stand “in grace” and not “in law.”
Justification has to do with our standing; Sanctification has to do with our state.
Blessing #3: Glorious Hope
Romans 5:2b (NKJV)
...and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
“Peace with God” takes care of the past
“Access to God” takes care of the present
“Hope of the glory of God” takes care of the future
Blessing #4: Christian Character
Romans 5:3-4 (NKJV)
And not only that, but we also glory (rejoice) in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Justification is no escape from the trials of life.
John 16:33 (NKJV)
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
For the believer, trials work for him and not against him.
Trials bring us closer to the Lord and make us more like the Lord.
Suffering builds Christian character!
The sequence is:
tribulation—patience—proven character—hope
Our English word “tribulation” comes from a Latin word tribulum. In Paul’s day, a tribulum was a heavy piece of farm equipment which was a timber with spikes in it, used for threshing the grain. The tribulum was drawn over the grain and it separated the wheat from the chaff.
As we go through tribulations, and depend on God’s grace, the trials only purify us and help to get rid of the chaff.
Conclusion:
When God declared us righteous in Jesus Christ, He gave us...
Blessing #1: Peace with God
Blessing #2: Access to God
Blessing #3: Glorious Hope
Blessing #4: Christian Character
Have you accepted Christ as your Savior?
Title: Blessings of Justification (Part 1)
Romans 5:1-11 (NKJV)
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Christ in Our Place
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Since Romans is a book of logic, it is a book of “therefores.”
“therefore” of condemnation in Romans 3:2
“therefore” of justification in Romans 5:1
“therefore” of no condemnation in Romans 8:1
“therefore” of dedication in Romans 12:1
In presenting his case, Paul has proved that the whole world is guilty before God, and that no one can be saved by religious deeds. He has explained that God’s way of salvation has always been “by grace, through faith” (Eph. 2:8–9), and he has used Abraham as his illustration. If a reader of the letter stopped at this point, he would know that he needed to be saved and he could be saved.
But there is much more the sinner needs to know about justification by faith.
BLESSINGS OF JUSTIFICATION
When God declared us righteous in Jesus Christ, He gave to us seven blessings. We will unpack four of these blessings today.
Blessing #1: Peace with God
Romans 5:1 (NKJV)
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Condemnation means that God declares us sinners, which is a declaration of war.
Justification means that God declares us righteous, which is a declaration of peace, made possible by Christ’s death on the cross.
Psalm 85:10 (NKJV)
Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed.
Romans 4:15a (NKJV)
Because the Law brings about wrath...
Blessing #2: Access to God
Romans 5:2a (NKJV)
...through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand...
The Jew was kept from God’s presence by the veil in the temple. The Gentile was kept out by a wall in the temple with a warning on it that any Gentile who went beyond would be killed. But when Jesus died, He tore the veil (Luke 23:45) and He broke down the wall (Eph. 2:14).
We stand “in grace” and not “in law.”
Justification has to do with our standing; Sanctification has to do with our state.
Blessing #3: Glorious Hope
Romans 5:2b (NKJV)
...and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
“Peace with God” takes care of the past
“Access to God” takes care of the present
“Hope of the glory of God” takes care of the future
Blessing #4: Christian Character
Romans 5:3-4 (NKJV)
And not only that, but we also glory (rejoice) in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Justification is no escape from the trials of life.
John 16:33 (NKJV)
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
For the believer, trials work for him and not against him.
Trials bring us closer to the Lord and make us more like the Lord.
Suffering builds Christian character!
The sequence is:
tribulation—patience—proven character—hope
Our English word “tribulation” comes from a Latin word tribulum. In Paul’s day, a tribulum was a heavy piece of farm equipment which was a timber with spikes in it, used for threshing the grain. The tribulum was drawn over the grain and it separated the wheat from the chaff.
As we go through tribulations, and depend on God’s grace, the trials only purify us and help to get rid of the chaff.
Conclusion:
When God declared us righteous in Jesus Christ, He gave us...
Blessing #1: Peace with God
Blessing #2: Access to God
Blessing #3: Glorious Hope
Blessing #4: Christian Character
Have you accepted Christ as your Savior?
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