If you will, if you've got your
Bibles, please turn back to Romans 5. Romans 5. Our text is going to
be verses 1 through 5. And I've titled this message,
The Fruits of Justification. I'm going to read a few verses
before we get to our text, though. But there's one thing I want
to confess. You know, the word of God is
so precious to us. It's the most precious thing
that we have in our possessions. And I'm so guilty of reading
scripture and just going over verses without even taking time
to pause and to think about what is being said. And sometimes
I need to read it twice, but when I do that, I know that I'm
missing out on so many blessings of God. You know, if it's the
Lord's will, maybe we'd be able to enter into the extent of the
blessings that are freely given to God's elect through Christ
concerning justification. You know, there's so many people
in false religion. They believe that their works
would justify them in God's eyes. But that's not the case in the
Bible. God's Word plainly states that.
But in Isaiah 64, 6, the Bible plainly says, and speaking of
all of God's elect, I mean all of Adam's seed, but we are all
as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness in this flesh
is as filthy rags. But a lot of people, so many
people, they think that, well, you know, yeah, I believe in
the sovereignty of God, but whenever you make a confession of faith,
when you say you believe and you get saved, you gotta get
baptized, you need to read your Bible, you need to do this, you
need to do that, and that's false religion. Christ finished all
the work at the cross of Calvary. If you will, look at Matthew
7 for a moment. Her faith and her trust and her
confidence is in Christ Jesus. To work in person, to sacrifice,
to blood. It's in Him and Him alone. Look at verse 21 of chapter 7. There are so many people in this
world that's in His shape. For I know I lived most of my
life in false religion. But he says, not everyone that
saith unto me, Lord, Lord. And this is Christ speaking himself.
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth
the will of my Father, which is in heaven. Many will say to
me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name,
and in thy name cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful
works? Listen to what Christ says. And
then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from
me, ye that work iniquity. Now, if you will, turn to Romans
3. You know what? Hebrews 4, it
tells us that God's people has a rest, and we do have a rest,
and that rest is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. But in Romans 3, look
at verse 19 and 20. It says, now we know that what
things whoever the law saith is said to them who are under
the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all the world
may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the
law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight, for by
the law is the knowledge of sin. In Romans 4, You know, our verse and our text
starts out, therefore, and what it's talking about in Romans
4, it's talking about that Abraham was justified by faith, not by
works, but by faith, because he believed God. Abraham believed
God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. If you
will, look at Romans 4, verses 19 through 21. It says in verse 19, it says, and
being not weak in faith, You know, God had promised Abraham
a son, and he truly believed him and trusted him. And God
is telling us so many promises in this book, and we have to
ask ourselves, do we truly believe? But being not weak in faith,
in verse 19, he considered not his own body now dead, when he
was about a hundred years old, never yet the deadness of Sura's
womb. But he staggered not at the promise
of God through unbelief, but he was strong in faith, giving
glory to God, and being fully persuaded that what God had promised,
he was able also to perform. You know, God's word has shown
that justification, it is by faith alone. Okay, where does
that faith come from? And who is that faith given to?
You know, is it something that a man can obtain on his own through
study and prayer and all that? No, it's certainly not. It's
a gift from God. It's a spiritual gift from God. And God's word
says in Ephesians 2.8, and we all know this, it says, for by
grace are you saved through faith, and by that not of yourselves.
It is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. But where does that faith come
from that we have? It comes from God. If you will,
take time to look at the book of Galatians. It's a free gift from God. And
where does it come from? Look at chapter two. Verse 16. Galatians chapter 2 verse 16. This is talking about the faith
that God gives his elect. Where does it come from? Look
at verse 16. Knowing that a man is not justified
by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ,
Even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified,
how? By the faith of Christ, and not
by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall
no flesh be justified. It's all in Christ. If you will,
turn back to chapter five of the book of Romans. In that chapter
there, in chapter five, in verse eight and nine, The Bible says,
but God commended his love toward us, that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us. And it goes on to say in verse
9, much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall
be saved from wrath through him. Well, who are the we spoken of
here? You know, the Bible says that
God chose a people before the foundation of the world, and
he placed them in Christ. And in the process of time, when
God decided to send his son into this world, he come into this
world to die for the sins of his people. And he didn't do
it anything based on those whom he placed in Christ. He didn't
do it on anything based on anything that they did. but according
to his own sovereign will and his purpose, he chose those. In Ephesians 1-3, the word of
God says, according as he, being God the Father, hath chosen us,
the elect, in him, being Christ, before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and without blame before him
in love. And another wonderful verse of
scripture promising such a promise, it's in 2 Timothy. It says, who
have saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according
to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which
was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. You know,
we're going to look at some of the benefits, or you could say
also blessings of justification. that is given to God's people
in Christ. These blessings flow to the believer
through Christ. He is the mediator between God
and His elect, and all the gifts of God are channeled through
Him and Him alone. You know, in biblical terms,
justification is the act by which God declares a believer righteous
in His sight, not based on their own merits, but on the righteousness
of Jesus Christ through faith. Let's look at verse one in chapter
five here of Romans. It says, therefore, We're going
to look at one of the fruits of justification. Therefore,
being justified by faith, there's one, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ. You know, there's a lot of times
we just hear that and it goes in one ear and out in the other.
But can you imagine what it means to have peace with Almighty God? be at peace and not be at war
with him. You know, we are justified and
accounted righteous by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, believing
on him. And this is very important. And
all of God's people do this. There's a lot of people that
believe on Christ. But we believe on Christ as he
is revealed in the scriptures, not as he is revealed out in
most churches in this world. You know, since God has justified
us by faith and not by works, we have peace with him through
both heart and conscience. And he says here, peace with
God. Now that peace with God, that's not an outer peace, that's
an inner peace, it's a spiritual peace. It's not with man, it's
not with the flesh, it's not with this world, and it's certainly
not with Satan. Because the Bible says in this
world and in his flesh that believers are gonna go through all kinds
of hardships and all kinds of trials. And there's a good reason
for that. Our Lord said in the book of
John, he said, peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto
you, not as the world give I unto you, But I give unto you, let
not your heart be troubled, and never let it be afraid. Oh, how
many times he says that in scripture. Be thou not afraid, for he knows
who we are, he knows how we are. You know, because of this peace,
Christ is called the Prince of Peace. And you know, he has many
names in the Bible, but one of my favorite Bible verses in the
Bible that describes our Lord Jesus Christ for who he is and
not for who the Lord says he is. And we all know it. It's
Isaiah 9, 6. He says, for unto us a child
is born, and to us a son is given. The government shall be upon
his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor,
Mighty God. Everlasting Father, and then
the Prince of Peace. And you know, in Ephesians, he
says, for He is our peace. That's why it's so important
that we, in this world that we live in, we keep our eyes on
Christ. And we keep looking to Christ,
for He is our peace. You know, we must fully understand
that this expression not to be interpreted as earthly peace
because we're not going to have no peace in this world. And while
most of us know that if we've been here for any time at all,
we get through one trial or one suffering and then there'll be
another one upon us. You know, but in John, our Lord
was speaking to his disciples, and all, you know, all who are
in Christ are his disciples. But our Lord said these things,
have I spoken unto you, that in me, in Christ, in Christ only,
in me, you might have peace. In the world, you shall have
tribulation. Tribulation is great sorrow,
great pain. But he said, be of good cheer.
I have overcome the world. I have overcome the world. And
in Isaiah 32, 17, you don't have to turn, Isaiah says, the work
of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness,
whiteness and assurance forever. I thank God that the sweet spirit
of Christ lives in each and every one, each and every one of his
elect, those that were placed in Christ before the foundation
of the world. You know, this refers to the peace that comes
from being reconciled to God, through faith in the person and
the work of our Lord Jesus Christ. It's not about our own efforts
to be righteous, but it's about the righteousness that is imputed
or credited to us through faith in Christ and the sacrifice that
he made on his cross. It says in 1 Corinthians, But
of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom
and righteousness, sanctification and redemption. And these are
gifts that will be ours for eternity. Our Lord says in Hebrews, he
says, I will never, he's talking to his leg, he says, I will never,
I will never leave thee or forsake thee. Let's look at verse five
again, I mean chapter five again, verses one and two. It says,
therefore being justified by faith, and what a blessing this
is, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. By whom
also we have access by faith unto this grace, wherein we stand
and we rejoice in the hope, we rejoice in the hope and the glory
of God. You know, through whom also we
have access by faith. You know, our access into the
standing of grace is only by God-given faith, and it is through
Christ Jesus. And we cannot work ourselves
into this standing. Ephesians 2 says, for through
him, speaking of Christ, we both have access by one spirit unto
the Father. That's a blessing. Verse 2 of
our text here, in Romans 5, it says, by whom also we have access
by faith unto this grace wherein we stand. You know, God's elect
in Christ are accepted and beloved. That's speaking of Christ. Therefore,
we're as near and dear to God in Christ as his own beloved
son. And the reason that I say that
is because that's what his word says. Galatians 3.26 says, for
you are, speaking of those that were chosen in Christ before
the foundation of the world, and those that look to Christ
and Christ alone for their salvation. It says, for you are all the
children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Then in Ephesians 1 verse
6 it says, To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He
hath made us accepted in the Beloved. What a precious gift. In verse 1 here of our text,
in verse 2 it says, Therefore being justified by faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and then by
whom also we have access by faith unto this grace wherein we stand
and rejoice in the hope of God. It says here, in the second verse
here, it says, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
You know, we rejoice in God's grace. We rejoice in his love. It's about recognizing who he
is, what he has done, what he's going to do, and what he is doing. But it says here, rejoice in
the hope of the glory of God. You know, biblical hope that
we're talking about here is not the kind of hope that people
use in today's language. It's not some kind of wishful
thinking. But biblical hope is a confident expectation of future
blessings grounded in God's promises toward his people. And because
of his unchanging character, the hope of seeing our Lord by
sight and being in his presence and being like Him. That's going
to happen one of these days. He saved us from the curse of
the law. He saved us from the power of sin. And one day, He's
going to save us from the presence of sin. It says in Romans 5 here,
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing
that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost that
lives in the heart of each and every one of His children. If
you will, this is such a great blessing, and it's spoken of
as in past tense. Turn to 1 John, chapter 3. 1 John, chapter 3. Now, considering who we are, I see
who I am. But it has nothing to do with
me. God chose me according to his own purpose and grace, and
it has nothing to do with me or any of his elect. But look
at this first verse. Behold what manner of love the
Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the
sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew
him not. Now listen to verse two right
here real good. Beloved, it says, now are we
the sons of God, and it doeth not yet appear what we shall
be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like
him, for we shall see him as he is. Beautiful. Let's turn back to
Romans five. That day is a coming. It could
be today, or it could be tomorrow, next month, next year. It's up
to the Lord's choosing. But here in Romans 5, verse 4
verses, Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by
faith unto this grace wherein we stand and we rejoice in the
hope of the glory of God, and not only so, but we glory in
cribblation also, knowing that cribblation, work of patience,
and patience, experience, and experience, hope. It says that
we also glory in cribblation. You know, not so much when God
puts us through trials and cribblation and afflictions, for they can
be very painful, they can be very grievous, But it's the effect
of the trial that we rejoice in. You know, one preacher said
this. He said that trials do not produce
faith, but they reveal faith. And more trials we go through,
that will cause us to get closer to the Lord. You know, cribblation
is a strong term here. It doesn't refer just to minor
inconveniences that we may go through in this world, but it
refers to real hardships. And the hardships that God's
people face in this life, It's for our good and for His glory. God's elect can accept whatever
comes into our life as part. And we do. We accept it as part
of His sovereign will and His purpose. Psalm 119, 7 says, It
is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn
thy statutes. We'll turn to Hebrews chapter
12. You know, He don't call us sheep
for nothing. Sometimes, I don't know if you've
been around many sheep, but they ain't real smart. A lot of times
they get in trouble. And God says that, the Lord says
that He's not going to lose one of His sheep. And if we happen
to get away from a foal very far, He's got ways of bringing
us back. But in Hebrews 12, verse 9, It says, furthermore, we have
had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them
reverence. Shall we not much rather be in
subjection unto the father of spirits and live? For they have
early for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure.
But hey, for our profit that we might be partakers of his
holiness. Now no chastening for the present
seems to be joyous, but it can be very grievous. Nevertheless,
afterward it yieldeth the peaceful fruit of righteousness unto them
which are exercised thereby. And then in the second chapter,
down in verse six, it says, It says, for whom the Lord loveth,
he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. You know,
concerning this verse, Charles Spurgeon said, this indicates
that God's discipline stems from his great love for his people,
much like a good parent disciplines their children out of care and
concern and for their own well-being. But one thing, one important
thing is to consider is that not all suffering is chastisement.
We must remember that we do, we live in a fallen world and
there's sin in us and sin all around us and suffering is a
reality and not every hardship is a direct result of personal
sin or God's chastisement. But God's people truly believe
that whatever the cause that a believer goes through in suffering,
that believer will grow closer if God is checking his faith
out, testing his faith. But all believers know that nothing
happens, nothing in this world happens, or in heaven or anywhere,
without the permissive or the directive will of God. God's
people Do not know the trials or hardships that may come into
our lives in the future, but one of the most comforting verses
that we see is in Romans 8, 28, and we all know it, and that
is that all things work together to the good to them that love
God. It don't stop there, to them who are of the call according
to his purpose. Let's go back to our text in
Romans 5. Let's read verses 1 through 4
one more time. It says, through our Lord Jesus Christ,
we have peace with our Lord, by whom also we have access by
faith unto this grace wherein we stand. We're able to go, we
have a great high priest, and we are able to go to his throne
at any time that we want to, 24-7, he's there waiting for
us. And not only so, but we glory
in crevillation also, knowing that crevillation work of patience
and patience experience, and experience, and experience hope. It says here in the last part
of verse 3 that tribulation works patience. You know to be patient
is to wait upon the Lord. In Hebrews our Lord said be content
with such things as you have. For he hath said, I will never
leave you, nor forsake you. And we take that to heart. In
verse four, it says, in patience, experience. You know, as we go
through these trials, our faith grows and our love grows if we
have that true saving faith that God has given to us. We learn
how much that we need our Lord every day of our lives. You know,
we don't realize, we don't realize, or I don't realize at times,
how fragile I am. and how little control I have
over anything in this life. But God has control over all
things. He says in Philippians, in Psalms 15, he says, the Lord
crieth the righteousness. We go through them cryers. God
testing our faith. He knows how strong our faith
is. Those trials is to test for us to know how strong our faith
is. You know, God cries us in this way in order that we may
know whether we really love God for his own sake. And as we go
through trials, our faith grows, as I say, stronger, and we grow
in grace and in the knowledge of Christ. And it gives us a
good hope. A good hope, Philippians 1.6
says, being confident of this very thing, that he which hath
begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ. Let's read verse 5 here. In our
text it says, And hope maketh not a shame, because the love
of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which
is given unto us. You know, the hope of our salvation
will never be put to shame. And we'll never be disappointed.
Why? Because it's God that promises,
and because our salvation is completely in His hands. People
who purely believe His Word to be absolute truth look to Christ,
and they keep looking to Christ. And one thing that has blessed
my heart so much, you know, in religion, they'll talk about
creation, God being sovereign. They'll talk about salvation.
Some say they're sovereign, but they're not. The one thing you
never hear in false religion is that God is sovereign in providence. In other words, our day-to-day
life is in absolute control of everything that we go through.
And it's always, it's always for our good. It may not be for
our good in this world, but it's for our spiritual good. You know,
it says here in verse 5, that the love of God is shed abroad
in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. The Holy
Ghost, the Holy Spirit, the sweet Spirit of Christ lives in each
and every one of us. And He'll be there for how long?
Forever. He'll be there forever. He said,
I will never leave you worship forsaken. You know, there are
many great proofs of God's love for His leg in Scripture. But
you know, all of God's love is in Christ Jesus. And the one
thing that I want to leave you with is this right here. And
that is this. It's not that I love God. It's that He loves me. Look at
me. And He loves me. Almighty God
of heaven and earth truly loves me. He said, for God so loved
the world that he sent his son into the world. I thank him for
that, and I praise him for that. And may we meditate upon his
word each and every day of our lives.