Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1-5

HAVING BEEN JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, WE HAVE...

Intro.

1. Why should Christians remain confident & hopeful in the face of trials, disappointments, persecutions, temptations, rejections & other stumbling blocks set before us in life? How can we? Does it matter?

2. One basic way of living in the joy of salvation is to count our spiritual blessings! (Psa. 51:12; Eph. 1:3)

3. Rom. 5:1-5: Summation chapter in which Paul begins by affirming & counting some of the Christian’s spiritual blessings: the results of our justification by faith.

I. WE HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED BY FAITH – Rom. 5:1.

A. Christians Are Justified By Faith.

1. Justified (dikaioo) – Pronounced or declared to be just …“not guilty” of sin, acquitted of sin’s guilt; from dikaion, innocent, faultless, guiltless.

a. Not by works of the law (law-keeping, perfect sinlessness), Gal. 3:10.

b. But by faith in Christ – Gal. 2:16; Rom. 3:20-26.

3. One’s own faith is accounted unto him for righteousness – Rom. 4:3-5.

B. The gospel is God’s Power to Save Sinners (Rom. 1:16) Because it…

1. Reveals God’s grace which saves sinners – Acts 20:24 (Eph. 2:8).

2. Teaches us how we live by faith (Rom. 1:17) - Eph. 2:9-10; Tit. 2:10-11.

II. BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, WE HAVE…

A. Peace with God – 5:1.

1. No longer under God’s wrath against sin – 5:9; 1 Ths. 1:10.

2. Reconciled to God – 5:10-11 [Reconcile - “to change from enmity to friendship” - Col. 1:21-22].

3. Our “peace with God” is through our Lord Jesus Christ (Not the LAW - our own sinless perfection) – Eph. 2:14-18.

4. Peace w/ God not subjective peace based on feelings: Objective peace describing our freedom from hostility against God! (Jno. 16:22, 33)

B. Access to & Are Standing in God’s Grace – 5:2a.

1. Access to God’s grace is by faith, not the LAW (3:20) – Gal. 2:21.

2. Justified by God’s grace – Tit. 3:5-7.

3. Established by grace (not false doctrines) - cf. Heb. 13:9. (Reason to remain confident!)

C. A Joyful Hope of Eternal Glory - 5:2b; cf. Gal. 5:5. {The gospel called us to this hope – 2 Ths. 2:13-14.}

1. Our hope gives us the ability to rejoice in tribulations – 5:3a.

a. Example: How could Paul & Silas sing in prison? (Acts 16:25); How could Paul take pleasure in trials? (2 Cor. 12:10)

b. We can follow their example when we face trials – At peace with God, stand in grace with a sure hope!­ – cf. Heb. 12:2

2. Tribulation produces (accomplishes, achieves, develops) perseverance (patience, steadfastness) – 5:3b.

a. Tribulation: “A pressing, pressure, anything which burdens the spirit” (Vine, I:38-39).

b. Pressures test the Christian’s faith which, if allowed, will stifle our faith & hope – Jas. 1:2-4.

c. Perseverance: Constancy, fortitude, endurance under pressing circumstances; spiritual staying power. (cf. Moses - Heb. 11:24-26)

3. Perseverance produces approved character – 5:4.

a. “Experience” (KJV); “the process of proving”; tried integrity.

b. Proven character; tried & tested – Strengthened & purified by patiently enduring trials - (refined faith - 1 Pet. 1:6-7).

4. Character produces hope – 5:4-5a.

a. Practical effect of faithfully standing in God’s grace: Our hope is secure as we endure & our character is tested – Heb. 6:18-19.

b. Sinful, faithless ones have no real hope - Will be woefully disappointed!

c. Christians have a living hope (because we live by faith & shun sin) & will obtain eternal glory! (1 Pet. 1:3; Col. 3:1-4; Phil. 3:17-21)

d. So, we persevere as we eagerly wait for glory! - Rom. 8:25

5. There is no spiritual disappointment in our hope (assured) – 5:5a.

a. The love of God has been poured out in our hearts – 5:5b.

b. By the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

1) The Spirit (His work & fellowship) is an earnest of our inheritance – Eph. 1:13-14.

2) Via revelation of gospel (knowledge of His love) – Gal. 3:1-9.

c. Hope does not disappoint! (We have God’s love revealed to us in the gospel which was confirmed to us by the Holy Spirit, Eph. 2:4-7).

Conclusion

1. When faced with life’s trials, remember spiritual blessings (which include):

a. Justification by faith.

b. Peace with God (wrath against our sin removed).

c. Access to & stand in God’s grace (Heb. 4:16).

d. Joyful hope of eternal glory.

2. With these we are sustained in tribulations, developing perseverance, a proven character & a secure hope – cf. 2 Pet. 1:9-11.