Romans 5 verses 1 through 5 for
our scripture lesson. Therefore, being justified by
faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein
we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not
only so, but we glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation
worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope. And hope maketh not ashamed,
because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy
Ghost, our Holy Spirit, who is, or who was, given unto us. I want us to look at the first
verse once again because I think it ought to be read differently
from what you read in the King James Version. Therefore, being
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ. It would be better to read the
first verse in this manner. having, therefore, been justified
by faith. Having, therefore, been justified
by faith. There is a difference between
being justified and having been justified. It so happens that
the Greek bears out that they had already been justified. They were not in the process
of being justified, but had already been justified. It was an accomplished
fact. So when one says being justified,
this denotes, of course, a state or condition And when one says,
having been justified by faith, this signifies an accomplished
fact or something already having taken place. Now, it has been
rendered differently. Some say it ought to read, having
therefore been justified by faith. I've carefully observed both
of these, and they're both correct. Or, having been justified therefore
by faith, or through faith. Let me begin this morning by
saying that faith can rest in no more than it receives from
the word of God. Faith can rest in no more than
it receives from the word of God. The strength of one's faith
is determined by his knowledge of the holy scriptures. Now in
summing up all that we have given thus far, I think I can put it
together in one short paragraph in order to conserve time in
the study of this passage of scripture this morning. Let me
think about what we discussed last Sunday and then sum it up
in this short paragraph. Faith is not counted or imputed
as righteousness. I'm stressing the word as, as
righteousness. But it is counted only unto,
unto righteousness. And I'm emphasizing the preposition
unto. That is, in order to the embracing
of Christ's righteousness. Instead of faith itself being
the righteousness, as so many would have us to believe today,
that justifies, it is revealed to faith, that is God's righteousness,
is revealed to faith, and is received or embraced by faith. I ought to add one additional
statement to that. Not only is Christ's righteousness
revealed to faith, and embraced by faith, but it is this faith,
which is the gift of God, that rests solely, not in its faith,
but in the righteousness of God. It is said by some that the truths
of God are wrapped in so many explanations that people, having
contented themselves with the wrappings, have missed the experience. Now that may sound good to a
lot of people. I want to repeat it again by
way of introduction this morning. I stated that it has been said
by some that the truths of God are wrapped in so many explanations
that people, having contented themselves with the wrappings,
have missed the experience. I came across that statement
recently. I didn't appreciate that statement
anymore. that I can appreciate someone
saying that faith is so simple that any person can understand
it, even a little child can understand faith. I want you to know that
no individual can understand any biblical truth apart from
the spirit of regeneration. I don't care whether he is 75
years of age, 50 years of age, 25 years of age, or 5 years of
age. It takes the spirit of illumination.
It takes the spirit of regeneration to understand spiritual things. And anyone who knows anything
about the scriptures, he knows that to be a biblical fact. So think about this statement
for a moment. The truths of God are so wrapped in so many wrappings
that too many people become contented with the wrappings to the extent
that they miss the experience. Do you believe that? I don't
believe it for a moment. What's the answer to it? I appreciated
an answer that I read to that statement. The same people believe
that faith is the cause of justification. The same people who would make
such statement believe that faith is the cause of justification
and peace is the effect of the cause which is faith. Do you
see the fallacy? From this conclusion, one has
said, one would be forced to say that there is not enough
explanation. And I agree with that a hundred
percent. And then I think you will really
appreciate this. A lasting experience is the fruit of a correct explanation. It doesn't take a brilliant person
to understand that. A lasting experience is the fruit
of a correct explanation, regardless of the amount of wrappings not
of a brief but rhetorical statement that is false." Tremendous statement,
a tremendous statement. One-sidedness in religion thrives
on fragments. The fragments intoxicate the
devotees of various religious movements until they lose sight
of the whole. I don't care what religious group
it is. And you notice I said religious
group. When heresy is involved, there is always an oversimplification
of some things to the neglect of other things of equal importance. However, whenever one thing is
stressed to the neglect of another thing, it always ends up in what? Heresy. That's true of every
heretical movement. Think about the great doctrines
which we have studied. There are individuals, for instance,
who will magnify the free will of man, and yet they don't even know
what the scriptures teach about the subject, while ignoring the
absolute freedom of God. What do you have when a person
does that? You have heresy. Now there is another extreme.
There are some, not as many, who put so much stress on the
absolute sovereignty of God that they leave no place whatsoever
for human action. Now I'm not talking about human
action in a conversion experience. You see, I believe that there
is to be a human action in a conversion experience. But they don't leave any room
whatsoever for any human action. So that's putting too much stress,
you see, on the sovereignty of God. We have already seen that
in the study of justification. There are some who put all the
emphasis on what they call actual justification by faith. to the
neglect of what? Of the study of justification
being an imminent act of God. So whenever we study the scriptures,
whatever the subject is, whether it be faith, whether it be justification,
whether it be righteousness, whatever it is, one should study
every aspect of the subject. from God's eternal plan to the consummation of all things in eternity to come. So one-sidedness in religion
thrives on fragments. I said thrives on fragments.
You don't have to talk to a person very long until you can tell.
whether he is one who believes in the whole scope of truth or
whether he is just picking out certain things that he likes
and he stresses those to the neglect of things of equal or
even greater importance. Now let's look at Romans 5. In
Romans chapter 5, the Apostle Paul deals with the effect of
justification. I said the effect of justification. Paul's therefore in verse 1 is
the conclusion of this argument. He began discussing justification
back in the third chapter beginning with verse 24. The subject is
continued in the fourth chapter. He gives the foundation of justification
in chapter 3, the latter part of the chapter. He gives an illustration
of justification in chapter four. Now he brings to a conclusion
his argument on the subject of justification. And he begins
this chapter with the word, therefore, and this is the conclusion of
his argument. Let us look at it. There are
some beautiful things. There are some wonderful things
in these first five verses. It will take us several services
to complete our study of these first five verses. For instance,
the chapter opens the door from our past, our present is considered,
and also our future. You say, well now, you mean there
is reference made to our past, references made to our present,
and also to our future? Yes. Having therefore been justified,
that goes back to the past, something already accomplished. Our present
access into this realm of grace deals with our present position as Christians, as believers.
And then the hope projects us into the future. Thus we have
the past, the present, and the future. So it opens the door
from our past into our present realm of grace and our glorious
future with Jesus Christ in his kingdom. Could you say more than
that? And yet all of those are found
within the context of the first five verses of Romans chapter
5. I want to divide this subject,
which we will not be able to complete this morning, into three
main divisions, and they are as follows. Number one, as to
the past, faith rests in the justifying act of God. As to the past, faith rests in
the justifying act of God. Number two, as to the present,
faith has access into the realm of grace. And number three, as
to the future, the believer projects himself into the future by hope. All three of these great truths
are discussed by Paul within the context of the first five
verses of Romans 5. Now, looking at number one, as to the past, faith rests in
the justifying act of God. Faith, you see, rests in an accomplished
justification as far as plan and purchase are concerned. Faith rests. I've already discussed
that with you last Sunday, so we should not have to do any
repeating this morning. Now, there are several subheadings
under this major point. The first one that we shall deal
with this morning is this. Actual justification is God's
act in time, not his eternal purpose. How can we describe
this? How can we illustrate this great
principle? It can be illustrated in many
ways. But I think there is one that
stands out above all the others that I am acquainted with. Just as there is the decree of
divine election, Ephesians 1 and verse 4, and then the manifestation
of that decree by choosing certain individuals out of the world
in time, John 15, 19, and 1 Peter 1, 2. So, there is the eternal
purpose of justification, which we have already studied, Romans
8, 30 and 33, and there is justification that takes place in time that is, in the time of regeneration. When did actual justification
take place? It took place, beloved, when
you were regenerated by the Holy Spirit, when the redemptive work
of Jesus Christ was applied to you. You were then, at that point
in time, actually justified. Notice what I said, it had been
purposed before and there is no time with God. It had been
purchased by the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
But from the standpoint of actual justification, declaring one
just before God, it took place when the Holy Spirit did what? Applied the redemptive work of
the sun to your heart. So I have sought to illustrate
it by the use of election as to purpose and election as to
the actual picking out from among mankind in time and placing individuals
into the body of Jesus Christ. We have those two aspects of
election. You know, I had understood the
great doctrine of election for a great number of years before
I really saw the truth of 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 2. Elect
according to the foreknowledge of God or the foreordination
of God. I always thought until a number of years ago that the
word elect in 1 Peter 1-2 meant the very same as the word choosing
or election in Ephesians 1 and verse 4. But it doesn't. It doesn't
mean that at all. It literally refers, according
to the context, the actual picking out in time and placing one into
the body of Jesus Christ. So there are two aspects. of
divine election, the plan and the actual picking out in time. And the same is true with justification. There is the plan, the eternal
plan of God, and then there is the actual application of the
redemptive work of Jesus Christ, which furnishes the foundation
for God declaring the person just before divine justice. I
have some things I want to give on divine justice shortly. I
don't have time to do it this morning, but actually we ought
to take one entire message on the subject of divine justice.
But we know that the justice of God protects his holiness. We know that justice must be
satisfied before the mercy of God can operate, before God can
extend his love or shed his love abroad in our hearts. Justification and regeneration
take place at the same time. Now this is under the heading
of actual justification, so please do not forget what we said at
the beginning of this point. Now let's look at this for a
moment. Justification and regeneration take place at the same time,
but logically The act of the Spirit in renewing is the cause
of justification, and the Father's act of declaring is the effect. There you have the cause and
the effect, and that's important to understand at this point.
I said justification and regeneration take place at the same time,
but logically the act of the Spirit in renewing is the cause
of justification, and the Father's act of declaring is the effect. Justification therefore is a
real act of God, which declares the sinner legally righteous. by the imputed righteousness
of Jesus Christ, although till that time he was not righteous
but guilty and under the wrath of God, according to Ephesians
2, verses 1 through 3. Another point that is very important.
Under this study of as to the past, faith rests in the justifying
act of God. actual justification is something
accomplished in which faith rests. Romans 5, 1 should read, as we
have already stated, having therefore been justified by faith. So this justification is instantaneous. Not only is it instantaneous,
but it is complete. and final. There are three important
words that I have sought to stress. This justification, in other
words, God's having declared us justified before divine justice,
it is instantaneous, it is complete, and it is final. Now that cannot
be The view, if one were to say,
we're in the state of being justified. So you have to understand the
meaning of Romans 5.1. If you were to look at this statement,
therefore being justified as a state of being justified, then
we could not say that it is instantaneous, it is complete, it is final. But since it is a past transaction,
something already having taken place, nothing can be added to
it. Then, beloved, we, the recipients
of grace, all of us in whose heart there has been a work of
grace, we are justified before God. It's complete. It's final. Nothing can happen in our lives
to cause us to lose our justification before God. Now you can see why
the Apostle Paul was so anxious in Romans 4, not only to give
an illustration by using Abraham, the father of the faithful, the
person who believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness,
but he also used David a justified person who sinned, and yet even
though he sinned, his sin was not imputed to him. Why? Because
his justification was a final and complete act before God,
that's why. That gives us great comfort,
does it not? That's why I made the statement
to begin with this morning that faith can rest in no more than
it receives from the Word of God. Thus, when a person has been
misinformed from the Scriptures, his faith will not give to him
the assurance. Now, Paul is talking about assurance
here in Romans 5, 1 through 5. The children of God are to have
assurance of their relationship. So he says, therefore, having
been justified, and this justification being a complete final act of
God to which nothing can be added, that gives us assurance. And
no wonder he goes on to say, we have. That's present. We have peace. Our present peace. And I'll get into that in a moment. What do you think the word peace
refers to here? I don't believe it refers to
what a lot of people think it refers to. You see, there is
peace with God and there is the peace of God. Let me just drop this right now.
The peace about which Paul is speaking here is not the peace
or the tranquility of one's mind. You know what he's talking about?
He's talking about that which furnishes the basis of the foundation
for that peace or tranquility of mind. We have peace with God. so faith can rest in no more
than it receives from the Holy Scriptures. You can understand
now why people become so confused and why today they manifest a
little assurance and then tomorrow when something takes place in
their lives, all of that seemingly What appeared to be peace and
assurance is gone with the wind. Something's wrong. But you see,
the apostle goes on within the context of this passage to show
that we do have assurance and there isn't anything that can
happen to us in life to destroy that assurance. which faith,
I'm talking about justifying faith, gives. Why? Because of
its foundation, and the foundation is not believing in one's faith,
but it's believing in the facts of Holy Scripture. It's believing in the testimony
of God. It's the testimony of God that
gives foundation. And that's why the apostle could
say, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein
we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And he throws
this in, he says, and not only so, but with glory in tribulations.
Even when tribulations come, your assurance is not going to
be destroyed. Knowing that tribulation worketh
patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope,
this hope never makes one ashamed. Why? Because the love of God
has been shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Spirit. And that
too is something that has already taken place as we will see when
we get to verse 5. actual justification is something
accomplished in which faith rests. Is your faith resting in your
faith? Is your faith resting in something
that has happened to you, something external, or is your faith resting
in the testimony of God? Let's look at this. I like what
Augustus Hoplady said. Quote, payment God cannot twice
demand. First at my bleeding surety's
hand and then at mine. So payment has been made, justice
has been satisfied, and my faith is resting in the finished work
of Jesus Christ. That is the only thing that will
give me assurance when the time comes for me to walk through
the valley of the shadow of death. I will not be looking within
to see what I have done or what I have failed to do from the
standpoint of giving me assurance. I'll be looking within, all right,
to see wherein I have failed to make confession, but not for
assurance. I do not look within to find
assurance. I have to go outside of myself
to find assurance, and assurance is found in objective truth,
in objective faith, in an objective person, the Lord Jesus Christ. as faith is the fruit of regeneration
and justification is the effect of regeneration, therefore justification
by faith is a conversion experience. This I want you to really drive
down a peg at this point. Justification by faith on your
part and on mine is a conversion experience. Not the means of one being regenerated. It's a conversion experience. Because we all know that faith
is the fruit of regeneration and justification is the effect
of regeneration. Therefore, justification by faith
is a conversion experience when one rests in his being declared
righteous before God. and that, of course, by God the
Father. Faith is not a necessary condition
for justification. It is the experience of justification,
and I'm emphasizing the word experience. It is the experience
of justification. Faith is not added as an independent
ingredient which makes its own contribution to justification,
as some believe. Another has said faith is not
a human act that complements God's act of grace. But listen to this. Through faith
was not a slight of hand which slips in one human medium
in place of another, human faith for human works. Faith, you see,
is the gift of God. There are many people today who
actually believe that the expression through faith or by faith is
simply a slight of hand which slips in one human medium. in place of another. Human pay
for human works. Human pay for human works. Faith is never put forward as
a work of creativity, a work of mediasy, or a work of merit. It is never given as a ground
of justification. It is not because of faith, but
through faith. And through faith directs us
to the objectivity of God's righteousness in Jesus Christ, who died that
we might live. Faith is distinguished from righteousness
by which we are justified. We went into this in detail last
Sunday. They are not the same in nature.
I'm saying that faith is not the same in nature as justification. Righteousness is the ground of
one's acceptance before God, and faith is simply the instrument
of embracing and resting in that righteousness of God. I like what John Gill said. on
this particular point and he has been criticized in our time
by many. But he makes this statement.
He says faith is not first in justification because that is
a sentence which passed in the mind of God from eternity and
passed on Jesus Christ in the covenant. Faith is not the efficient cause
because God, not faith, justifies. Faith is not the moving cause
because that is the free grace of God. Faith is not the substance
of justification because that is the righteousness of Jesus
Christ. Turn with me once again to Romans
10. Let me review just two or three statements we gave last
Sunday evening because of the importance of these statements.
I don't know how you feel about the Word of God, but I'll tell
you how I feel. I made this statement to my wife this past week, and
I was talking with a couple of the members of the church on
Friday night, and I expressed the same view. You know, when
I have studied a passage of Scripture, and I go from it and get into
other areas of Scripture, I just can't wait to get back to that
particular area once again. Do you know why? I feel that
there's something that I just haven't understood as well as
I'd like to understand. I think that should be the attitude
of every child of God. It doesn't make any difference
how many times you study a passage of Scripture and there's a personal,
diligent study of the Scripture, yet you can't wait until you
get back. Why? Because after you have gone
into other areas of biblical truth, it is because of having
gone into other areas of biblical truth that will give you a clear
insight into the very passage that you're thinking about. The
same is true here. I've studied the book of Romans.
I've taught it several times in 35 years of pastoring churches.
And I always am anxious to get back to Romans. I'm anxious to
get back to Ephesians. I'm anxious to get back to John.
I'm anxious to get back to Revelation. I'm anxious to get back to Hebrews. But you know, there aren't enough
years in one's life to get back too many times if you're going
to really study the Scriptures. Now in the 10th verse of the
10th chapter, For with a heart man believeth unto righteousness,
and with a mouth confession is made unto salvation. These are
some of the statements I gave in closing last Sunday evening,
and I gave them so rapidly, I doubt very seriously you were able
to get them. At least take some notes on them. Listen to this. Faith is not made unto righteousness. Christ is not only made unto
us righteousness, but he is himself that righteousness. These are
statements that I've collected from several works over a long
period of time. and they are meaningful statements.
Faith points us to Jesus Christ, who is our righteousness. That
which points us to righteousness cannot be the righteousness.
Faith does not point us to itself. If it does, then man's faith
would become his Savior. Saving faith is the gift of God
and it points to Christ's righteousness. It points to the obedience of
Christ by whom many are constituted righteous. So the way of faith
is related to this justifying righteousness in no way indicates
that faith itself is that righteousness. Great faith. great statements,
and they need to be emphasized over and over again. So faith
is distinguished from righteousness. The act of justification by God
is followed by an act of appropriating by faith in time the act of God's
justification. I'm trying to explain the meaning
of justification by faith. Listen to it again. The act of
justification by God, I say, is followed, is followed. And this, of course, in time.
And this is what you and I experience by an act of appropriating by
faith. In time, the act of God's justification
on the ground of whose righteousness? Christ's righteousness. You see,
God initiates action. It is God who initiates action. So when God declares one righteous,
then God's declaration of righteousness is followed by what? A person
being justified by faith or through faith in time. And that's the
action, that's the experience of the individual appropriating
what the Father has already declared. And it is what the Father has
said that gives one assurance. And I bring this to a close on
this particular point. Justifying faith is not emotion
but devotion. Justifying faith is not emotion
but devotion. Justifying faith is not passive. What is it? It is coming to Christ. It is looking to Christ. It is
trusting Christ. It is committing oneself to Christ. All of these are scriptural statements
that I'm giving to you. True faith comes directly to
Christ, abides in Christ. and finds his promise true. Thus, justifying faith is not
faith in our faith. Justifying faith is not faith
in the faith. Follow me now. But justifying
faith is faith in Jesus Christ. Let me repeat that. I said justifying
faith is not faith in one's faith. Justifying faith is not faith
in the faith that is the system of truth that has been given
to us. But justifying faith is faith in Jesus Christ, the incarnate
word, to whom the written word gives testimony. Does that make
sense? having been declared righteous
by the sovereign God, justifying righteousness is revealed through
faith, and the result of such justification, those results
are now going to be unfolded. Therefore, being justified by
faith, no, having therefore been justified by faith, We have peace
with God. Now we come to the second part
of our message. I think we have time to develop
this point, and we will take the entire period next Lord's
Day morning on the third point. As to the present, faith has
access into the realm of grace. God's act of justification introduces
the elect of God into a standing that is perfect, but whose state
is imperfect. We have a perfect standing, but
we do not possess a perfect state. Our position in Christ is perfect
and complete. Nothing can be added to it. But
our condition of life is imperfect. Many things can be added to it.
Therefore we are to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. Believers are not completely
transformed in character when justified. Therefore God declares
them righteous, not on account of what they are in themselves,
but what they are in Christ. Now this is why so many people
become disturbed. You see, when the Father declares
us just, we are justified not on the basis of what we are in
ourselves, but what we are in Christ. And in Christ, we are
complete. In Christ, our position is perfected. Nothing can be added to it. Nothing
can be taken from it. The condition of our life, however,
is far different. Thus, our state is not perfect. It is imperfect. Believing in
Jesus Christ is the formula for justification. Christ in believers
is the formula for sanctification. Those who fail to make the proper
distinction between justification and sanctification, as some religionists
do, commit a terrible sin at this point. In fact, it is nothing
short of heresy. Actual justification is possible
because it is always accompanied with regeneration and union with
Jesus Christ and is followed by sanctification. Now notice
what Paul said, having been justified by faith, we have peace with
God. Peace with God is not the calmness
of one's mind and heart, as important as that is, but it is the status
of peace. It's the status of peace. Having
been justified by God, we have peace. It's not the calmness
of mind here that he's talking about right now. It's the status
of peace. And this, of course, flows from
reconciliation. You see, there's a difference
between peace with God and the peace of God. Peace with God is one thing.
The peace of God is something entirely different. He's talking
about the status of peace here. and the peace of God or the calmness
of mind is something else. And he discusses that in Philippians
4 verse 7 where he talks about having the peace of God. You remember a statement made
by the prophet Isaiah? Thou will keep him in perfect
peace whose mind is stayed on thee. Now that's calmness of mind. That's the fruit of the status
of peace. There is first the status of
peace and then the calmness of one's mind. Thou wilt keep him
in perfect peace, whose mind is what? Is stayed on the Lord. So there is peace with God and
there is the peace of God. When you look at Philippians
4 and 7 and study that in the light of the context, you can
see where the Apostle Paul is talking about the calmness of
mind. Will you turn with me please to Philippians? Let's make this
distinction right now. It is important that we do so.
Philippians chapter 4. We may have to read several verses.
We get into the subject of Christian contentment. And, of course,
Christian contentment is based on what? The mind being stayed on the
Lord. Let us begin reading, if you
will, please, with verse 4. Rejoice in the Lord always, and
again I say rejoice. Let your moderation, let your
forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be
careful for nothing. But in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be known unto
God. And the peace of God. He's not talking about peace
with God. He's not discussing the status of peace here. That's
already established. This is the peace of God. This
is the calmness of one's mind. And the peace of God which passeth
all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus. Notice what he says in the very
next verse. Finally, brethren, whatsoever
things are true, whatsoever things are honest, just, pure, lovely,
good report, virtue, praise. And then in verse 9, those things
which ye have both learned, received. Here it is again. Learned and
received. And I'll tell you what, when
you learn something, you receive it and you keep it, your mind
is stayed on it, there's a calmness of mind. You're not going to
lose composure when you face some unknown experience if your
mind is stayed on the Lord. So he goes on to say, you've
learned, you've received, you've heard, you've seen, in me you
do, and the God of peace shall be with you. He goes on in verse
10, says, But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at the
last your care of me hath flourished again, wherein ye were also careful,
but ye lacked opportunity. And then the next verse, Not
that I speak in respect of woe, for I have learned in whatsoever
state I am therewith to be content. He didn't learn that when he
first became a Christian. He didn't learn that as soon
as he realized that he stood justified before God. This was
learned by studying, by experience. Now go back when you tie this
in with what Paul is talking about here in the fifth chapter
of Romans. You see, nothing can destroy
the assurance that one has received because faith rests in no more
than it receives from the Word of God. So justifying faith is not faith
in our faith, it is not faith in the faith, but it is faith
in whom? In Jesus Christ. And we know
that our standing before God is complete, is perfect, but
yet our state is imperfect. Therefore we must study, we must
hide the word of God away in our hearts lest we sin against
the Lord. And as we keep our mind stayed on the Lord, we will
experience this calmness of mind. Calmness of mind. Now look at
something else. Not only do we have peace, this
status of peace, but we also have something else. We have
access by faith into the realm of grace where we're already
standing. We have access into the realm
of grace where we're already standing. Access means introduction into
a condition of free favor with God. Now let me give three points
on this. I'm talking about an introduction.
We've been introduced. Now first of all, who is the
introducer? The Lord Jesus Christ is the
introducer. Who are the introduced? The introduced
are those who have been justified before a righteous and holy God. Now what is the introduction?
The introduction is into the realm of grace wherein we stand. So we have the introducer, Jesus
Christ. The introduced the elect who
have been justified by God before divine justice. The introduction
is the realm of grace wherein we stand. Now, beloved, this
is something that we are already experiencing. This is dealing
with the present. Here we are. We have the status
of peace. And we're standing in the realm
of grace. Now, let's go into this a little bit. Grace is the
realm in which the believer lives. Thus his security is founded
in the eternal grace of God. And he has permanent access,
oh I like this, he has permanent access into, into this realm of grace. And all of this is through Jesus
Christ. It is said that omnipotence cannot
make assurance any more sure, and inspiration cannot reveal
assurance in any stronger terms than what we have stated in this
passage. Access denotes more than a permanent
audience with God. It denotes priestly entrance
into the holy of holies. Don't forget, Jesus Christ, after
his death, the veil was entwined from the top to the bottom. Thus,
according to Hebrews 10, beginning with verse 19, you and I have
access into the most holy place through Jesus Christ. Here, once
again, is the common priesthood of all believers. So access denotes
more than a permanent audience with God. It denotes a priestly
entrance into the most holy place of all. In this we see the priesthood
of believers with an eternal approach to the throne of grace. I like the perfect tense that
is used. in this passage, the perfect
tense places no limit on the supply of grace. That's so important in the study
of the original language at this point. I said the perfect tense
here places no limit on the supply of grace and holds the present
access to be permanent with eternity. Then let's look at something
else. Not only do we have peace, the status of peace, secondly
access into this realm of grace based upon the status of peace,
but there is standing. And in the discussion of this
point, we'll bring this message to a close. Standing Having been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and it's
by faith that we have access into this grace wherein we stand. Now look at standing. Standing
means that the believer's position in grace renders him steadfast
and sure. His standing is steadfast and
sure, not based upon anything within him, but based upon the
unmerited favor of God. Let me give you some choice statements. Faith is not the fleeting persuasion
of a day. Faith is not the fleeting persuasion
of a day. Oh yes, I might persuade individuals
to believe what I'm saying and they'll believe it for a day. But justifying faith, faith which
is the gift of God, understands, receives, keeps. It is not something
that passes with the passing of a day. Now as we look at the
perfect tense, even of standing here, within the context of these
verses. The perfect tense denotes past
accomplishment, present and permanent possession, and the deriving
of eternal benefits. That ought to make you shout.
Let's look at it again. I'm talking about the perfect
tense that is used here. The perfect tense of our standing. What did I say? I said it denotes
past accomplishment. It denotes present and permanent
possession and the deriving of eternal benefits. Words for assurance were exhausted
as far as Paul was concerned. Notice what I said. Words for
assurance had been exhausted. Paul couldn't find any other
words to express himself. and that's why he used the perfect
tense. I like that. One Greek student
said, isn't it wonderful to know that he just came to the point
where he couldn't think of another word and so he just resorted
to the perfect tense. So words for assurance are exhausting. Inspiration gives increased assurance
only by multiplying the perfect tense. The perfect tense of what? The status of peace. The perfect
tense of what? Access into the realm of grace.
The perfect tense of one's standing before God. The standing of the Christian
is entirely by grace. His standing position is not
propped up by external influences. How important that is. There
are many religionists today whose quote, assurance, end of quote,
is propped up by external influences. I want you to know that won't
give much satisfaction when time comes for you to walk through
the valley of the shadow of death. External influences won't give
much satisfaction. Influences of friends, influences
of loved ones, whomever it might be. Won't do very much for you
when you have your back against the wall and you do not know
what the next day holds for you. When you're going through some
unusual trial or experience But here, the standing of the
believer which is perfect is not propped up by external
influences. You see, it is the internal grace
of God that has taught the recipient of grace that he has a perfect
standing before God. That's why the Puritan, when
he faced death, could say, I'm not looking at myself at this
moment in time. I'm not looking at myself. I'm looking at the ship of grace
that shall carry me safely to the haven above. Standing before God, justified
implies previous dishonor? Notice what I said, it implies
previous dishonor. But justice has been satisfied.
Where? In something you have done? No,
in the finished work of Jesus Christ. It implies something
else. What does it imply? Complete
satisfaction. What else does it imply? Perfect
restoration before a righteous and holy God. I give this quotation in closing. One man said, quote, give a man
a gold mine. It is his. He has not to work
for it. He has only to work it. He's not through. Working for
life is one thing. Working from life is quite another
thing. This grace wherein we stand denotes
a position in which we remain to dwell amidst all its privileges. And there are many. Have we forgotten
the privileges which are ours in the realm of grace wherein
we now stand? Having been justified before
God, I have the status of peace. I have access into the realm
of grace. I have a perfect standing before
God because my standing is in Christ.