MADE RIGHT WITH GOD THROUGH FAITH
Romans 5:1-11
OUR JUSTIFICATION
V:1. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
A. Several commonly used terms set the stage for the text.
1. Justified: To count righteous; to put in a right relationship with God.
It means to reckon, to credit, to judge. It does not mean to make
righteous. Justification is necessary, because man rebelled against
God and took his life into his own hands.
2. Justification comes through faith in Jesus
Faith: To believe, to fully trust in; to have confidence; to have
reliance
Faith means both to believe and be faithful to the belief
Notice: It is solely God acting on us, His justification to put us in
a mind of faith.
3. Grace: Highest privilege, It is a gift of favor; unmerited and
undeserved. Grace is a place we were brought. It is a position we
are placed. (Practical Word Studies Of The New Testament)
B. We were born in sin and shaped in iniquity.
1. Our born position cannot change without the blood Jesus shed on
the cross.
2. Our original place and position of sin only changes by the new place
and position of grace gained through faith in Jesus.
3. It is Christ acting on us in faith that keep us in right standings
with the Father.
C. The word stand is from the Greek word histemi which means to
abide, appoint, covenant.
1. We stand or abide in God's grace which gives us joy in His
Glory.
2. The word hope means to expect with confidence; to anticipate
knowing.
3. All of our hope is God acting on us in the place of Grace to
to give us joy in eternal life.
THE BENEFITS OF SUFFERING
V:3. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
A. The word suffering means trouble, and distress in trials and tribulation.
1. To the world. suffering can lead to discouragements, despair and
hopelessness.
2. To those in Christ, suffering becomes purposeful and meaningful.
3. In Christ our welfare is in His hand and always has a His
desired outcome which works to our benefit.
B. God gives us 3 benefits of suffering which blend together.
1. Perseverance : The word means to be steadfast and constant: to
endure. To be faithful in doing good works.
2. Character: Character is displayed in our conversation, ways and
conduct. The believers thoughts are to be free of covetousness
and focused on Christ.(PWS)
3. Hope: To expect with confidence
4. Suffering develops us mentally and physically.
a. Mentally because we learn to trust God.
b. Physically because we learn we can do all things through
Christ who strengthens us.
C. We are not disappointed because of the love of God and the indwelling
of the Holy Spirit.
1. We have a history of God keeping His promises.
2. We have the present history of God taking care of us.
3. The Holy Spirit reminds us of what God said and
what God has done and is doing in the present.
GOD'S DEMAND FOR JUSTICE
V:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
A. In Genesis 3, God promised Satan that a woman seed would bruise
him on the head because influenced man to sin.
1. According to C. I. Scofield that proclamation was made 4000
years before the birth of Christ.
2. The woman seed is Christ Himself.
B. Because of Adam's sin, all mankind was cast into sin.
1. To satisfy God's demand for justice, a perfect sacrifice was
required.
2. Only Jesus, the Son of God could satisfy God's demand for justice.
3. Why God waited so long for the right time is beyond me.
4. Let me suggest the following:
a. A thousand years to us is but a day to God.
b. It was God's plan to bring Jesus through 42 generations
of His promise people to be born of a virgin.
C. We were born without the power to fight Satan.
1. We were born without the power to save ourselves from
eternal damnation.
2. We were born without the desire to know God.
a. The Word says there is none righteous, no not one.
b. The Word says all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God.
c. Without Jesus we are hopeless.
THE LOVE OF GOD
V:7. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
A. With all my sins, I don't deserve anyone to die for me.
1. To protect a child or a love one, someone would put themselves
in harms way.
2. Our soldiers and police officers put themselves in harm's way
everyday, but not expecting to die.
B. Christ purpose for descending to earth was to die.
1. God made perfect earth, but He did not make perfect men.
2. God gave man the ability to make decisions, knowing at some
time man would corrupt himself.
3. It was out of God's grace that He allowed man to sin, so that
Jesus could be our salvation.
4. God's love for mankind was demonstrated on the cross
with Jesus voluntarily dying for our sins.
5. We were born in sin, shaped in iniquity, but predestined to
abide in Christ.
THE POWER OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS
V:9. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!
A. The sacrifice of an animal, was started in the Garden of Eden.
1. God killed an animal to make a covering for Adam and Eve,
2. The sacrifice of the animal did not provide salvation.
3. They were covered until grace came.
B. We can infer that Adam and Eve were obedient to God after being
locked out of the Garden of Eden.
1. They taught their sons to listen to God and make sacrifices to
him.
2. The sin of Adam and Eve affected their sons and all following
generations.
3. The sin of Adam and Eve set in motion the salvation of mankind.
RECONCILED THROUGH FAITH
V:10. For if, when 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!
A. The death of Christ on the cross opens the door for us to be considered
right before God.
1. In sin, we are enemies of God.
2. In sin, we reject God's commands and follow the influence of Satan.
3. The word enemy in Greek means a legal opponent against God
as an opponent in a lawsuit.
B. While we were legal opponents against God, Jesus died for our sins.
1. Jesus took our place on the cross.
2. Because of the death of Jesus on the cross we are restored to
friendship with the Father.
a. Jesus settled the law suit.
3. Our faith in Jesus causes a thorough change in our position.
4. We are changed from enemy to friend.
5. Jesus' righteousness was imputed to us while He died on the cross.
REJOICING IN THE WORK OF CHRIST
V:11. Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
A. In Christ there is a change in what gives us joy.
1. The word rejoice means inner gladness, and deep-seated pleasure.
It is a dept of assurance and confidence that ignites a cheerful heart
(PWS).
2. We have the assurance and confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ
leads us into eternal life.
B. This joy we have, the world didn't give it and the world can't
take it away.
1. This joy we have is not based on circumstances of this
earth, but the Lord Himself,
2. This joy we have does not change when the wind changes its
directions.
3. This joy we have is the same from day to day.
4. This joy we have rests on our expected hope in the finished
work of Christ.
THANK GOD FOR THE JOY I HAVE IN JESUS
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North
Houston, Texas 77041
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