Good morning. Thank you Winston and Amy for
that pretty music and appreciate y'all appreciate what you do
to bring us together in song and music. Also everybody else
and I know it's in God's providence no matter what we do And I thank
God for bringing each and every one of you here this morning.
You can go ahead and turn to the book of Romans, Romans 5,
beginning at verse 1. We're going to go begin this
morning in the fifth chapter of Romans. To kind of go back
a little bit as we lead up to the therefore here in Romans
5, 1, Last time we had a message here,
we talked about Abraham, talked about Abraham and David. The
title of the message was Fully Persuaded. And we talked about
how Abraham was fully persuaded that what God had promised him,
to send the Messiah, that he would perform. He believed God. And we talked about Abraham being
justified, and not based on any works that Abraham did or was
enabled to do, not even on the act of circumcision, the work
of circumcision. But he was justified all based
on Christ, the coming Messiah, his shed blood on the cross.
So as we begin this morning in Romans 5 and verse 1, which reads,
therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore being justified here,
or having been justified is a better translation, or since we are
justifying, or having been made righteous before God. which means
all whom God has chosen in Christ have been justified by Christ's
work on the cross and not by any of the sinner's works or
his efforts to obey the law. This justified by faith here
does not mean that faith is the cause of our justification before
God. Justification is a sentence that's
passed down in the mind of God from all eternity. and which
passed on Christ and on the elect considered in him when he rose
from the dead. Let's look at Romans 4, 25, which
says who was delivered, speaking of Christ, for our offenses and
raised again for our justification. So faith plays no part in our
justification before God. Now, in Romans 4.25 that we just
read, it is God that justifies and not faith. The moving cause
of our justification is not faith, but the grace of God. The believer's
faith or believing does not affect how we're justified before God.
The only thing considered by God in the matter of this justification
is the righteousness of Christ, his person, and his work alone. We're not justified by faith,
either as God's work in us, nor as a work or act exercised by
us. If we were justified by our works
or by something of our own doing, we would have whereof the glory.
But we are justified by faith objectively. as it relates to
the object of that faith, which is Christ and his righteousness
alone. Now, once again, justification is a judicial pronouncement of
God upon all his elect and based totally on the work of Christ
for us. By faith here is simply the means by which we're able
to view and experience how God justifies us based on Christ's
righteousness alone. This God-given faith causes the
believer to be comforted as we come to see that Christ, on our
behalf, completed the work of righteousness that God the Father
required. Our believing, or the gift of
faith here, is explained in Ephesians 2, beginning at verse 8, where
it says, for by grace are you saved through faith, and that
not of yourselves. It is a gift of God, not of works,
lest any man should boast. God-given faith is a fruit and
a result of having been justified already by God's grace in Christ. God-given faith is the way we
see, we understand, and we experience what God has already done in
reconciling himself to Christ, reconciling himself to us by
Christ. This reconciliation is explained
in 2 Corinthians 5, verse 20 and 21. Now then, we are ambassadors
for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us. We pray you
in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he, God, hath made
him, Christ, to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might
be made the righteousness of God in him, in Christ. Many teach that we first believe,
and then we're justified before God. This is heresy. This is
works. We were justified in the mind
of God from eternity as Christ was foreordained as our surety
and our mediator. Christ took on the responsibility
of being the elect surety for the sin debt that we owed. God
the Father looked to the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come
in the fullness of time and pay that debt. Now, in 2 Timothy,
beginning at verse one, 2 Timothy verse 1 reads, 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. And in Revelation
13, eight reads, and all that dwell upon the earth shall worship
him or Satan, whose names are not written in the book of life
of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. This is how God
justified Abraham even before Christ came in time to do the
work. One might say, well, you're saying that Christ did not have
to come in time if God already viewed his elect justified in
Christ. No, that's not what I'm saying.
God is an immutable God. He changes not. God does not
view his elect one way before time and then turn around and
view them another way in time. He doesn't change his mind. Events
change, we change, but God does not change. The basis on which
God justified his elect is what Christ accomplished at Calvary,
when he put away sins and established righteousness, by which God is
just and the justifier of his people. In time and each successive
generation, We're able to view by faith our justification by
Christ alone. We're able to see this in our
own consciences when we believe the gospel of God's free grace
in Christ. Hebrews 9 and 14 reads, how much
more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit
offered himself without spot to God purge your conscience
from dead works to serve the living God? Once God gives us
this grace of faith and reveals Christ as our justification before
God, we're able to experience these next verses in Hebrews,
in Hebrews beginning with verse 10. Having therefore brethren
boldness to enter into the holiness, holiest by the blood of Christ,
blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated
for us through the veil, that is to say his flesh, And having
an high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with
a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled
from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering,
for he is faithful that promised. The last part of Romans 5.1 reads,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Again,
peace with God is solely the work of Christ on the cross.
Colossians 119 reads, for it pleased the Father that in him
should all the fullness dwell. And having made peace through
the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto
himself, by him I say, whether they be things in earth or things
in heaven. In these verses here, Paul is
not speaking of peace with men here on this earth. He is speaking
of that peace that salvation brings, not only between God
and his elect, but also between like-minded brethren, like-minded
brethren in Christ who have fellowship in the same faith. They believe
the same gospel. They look to the same God and
same Christ. Paul in Ephesians 2 tells us
of that peace that Christ brings between brethren, whether you're
a Jew or Gentile, no matter what nationality you are, this peace
is there if you're bonded together in faith, looking to the same
God, the same Christ, believing the same gospel. In Ephesians
2.14, for he is our peace. who hath made both one, and hath
broken down the middle wall of petition between us, having abolished
in his flesh the enmity even the law of commandments contain
in ordinances, for to make himself of twain one new man, so making
peace, and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by
the cross, having slain the enmity thereby, and came and preached
peace to you which were far off, and to them that were nigh. For
through him we both have access, speaking of Jew and Gentile,
by one spirit unto God. Now, therefore, you are no more
strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints
and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation
of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the
cornerstone, the chief cornerstone, in whom all the building fitly
framed together groweth into a holy temple in the Lord. in
whom you also are built together for inhabitation of God through
the Spirit. But on the other hand, even though
believers have that peace and bond of fellowship in the gospel,
this gospel will set in opposition, will set us into opposition with
the world. The world is against Christ,
and it's against his church. Matthew 5.10 where Christ speaks,
blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall
revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad,
for great is your reward in heaven. For so persecuted they the prophets
which were before you. Also in John 15, it tells us
how that Christ was persecuted. John 15, 18 reads, therefore,
the Jews sought to more to kill him, the more to kill him, because
he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his
father, making himself equal with God. And in John 16, 3,
and these things will they do unto you, because they have not
known the father, nor me. After seeing in Romans 5.1 that
justified sinners have peace with God and that peace is by
and through the Lord Jesus Christ. We now take a look at Romans
5.2 where it tells us that we also have access to God the Father
by faith. Romans 5.2 reads, by whom also
we have access by faith into the grace, into this grace wherein
we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God, our access
or right of entry and admission into this grace, this grace God
undeserved and unmerited favor in being justified before him
in Christ. All of this, all of this grace
is by and through the Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins
and who rose again the third day. By faith is not supported
by the earliest Greek manuscripts that we're looking at here, but
it is not wrong to connect this with Christ and his glorious
work of redemption, which is the object of our faith, and
our understanding and knowledge of him, which is the gift of
faith by which we believe. You could also say that without
this God-given faith, without this God-given faith, God's elect
could not have access in an experiential way to this great salvation. We could not experience what
God has done for us in the person of Christ without this God-given
faith. The next part of verse two reads,
wherein we stand. Standing refers to the new place
in which believers are placed by grace is justified before
God and risen in Christ forever. beyond the reach of any judgment.
Our standing in Christ gives us title to enter confidently
as a purged worshiper into the holiest and to boldly approach
the throne of grace in prayer. We have this as a permanent possession
in Christ. Consider these things as we look
to and rest in Christ by faith. We have access to the Father
himself. In Ephesians 2.18, for through
him we both, Jew and Gentile, have access by one spirit unto
the Father. Though he is holy and sovereign,
we can still approach him as a child does to his father. In
Romans 8.15 reads, for ye have not received the spirit of bondage
again to fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption, whereby
we cry, Abba, Father. We have access through Jesus
Christ, 1 Timothy 2, 5. For there is one God and one
mediator between God and man, the man, Christ Jesus. His blood
gives us boldness. In Hebrews 10, 19, and I know
I'm going over a lot of verses, but that's part of my message.
Having therefore breath and boldness to enter into the holiest of
the blood of Jesus, by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living
way, which he hath consecrated for us through the veil, that
is to say his flesh, and having a high priest over us, over the
house of God, let us draw near with a true, a true heart, in
full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an
evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us
hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for He
is faithful, that promise. We have access into God's throne
of grace, to come boldly to Him in prayer, to obtain mercy and
find grace and help in time of need. Look at Hebrews 4.14. Seeing then that we have a great
high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of
God, Let us hold fast our profession, for we have not a high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities,
but was in all points tempted, like as we are yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find
grace and help in time of need. The last part of Romans 5.2 says
and rejoice in hope of the glory of god rejoice means to glory
it is the same word paul used in philippians 3 3 where it says
for we are the circumcision which worship god in the spirit and
rejoice in christ jesus and we have no confidence in the flesh
and the same word in galatians 6 14 where it says, but God forbid
that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ
by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world. The hope here in verse two is
the assurance and the expectation of eternal life and glory. Our
confidence of being recipients and heirs of the glory of God,
or that God has freely justified us, is in and by the Lord Jesus
Christ and him alone. Many people boast with confidence
of salvation, but their glory is not in Christ, but in themselves,
and they don't even realize it. The believer's glory is in Christ
and him crucified. In Romans 5.3, Romans 5.3 reads,
and not only so, but we glory in tribulations also, knowing
that tribulations worketh patience. The first part of this verse,
and not only so, the meaning of which is not only do we now
experience peace with a holy and just God in Christ, not only
do we rejoice in the hope of eternal life and glory in Christ,
as stated in verse two, but we also glory in tribulations. We have confidence of our salvation
by Christ, even in the face of all kind of troubles and trials
that we go through. Tribulations describe one being
crushed by intense pressure, suffering or trouble pressing
upon them from every way. To glory in them does not mean
that we enjoy the trouble or the pain. or the sorrow that
we go through during these tribulations. According to Hebrews 12, tribulations
are bitter. They're bitter experiences in
themselves. Hebrews 12, 11, now no chastening for the present
seemeth to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheless, afterward it yielded
the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised
thereby. We glory in them as we are assured
by God that we cannot lose our salvation. And these tribulations
will never diminish God's grace and love to us in Christ Jesus. Look at Romans 8, 35 through
39. These next verses are very comforting
to the believer. where it says, who shall separate
us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake
we were killed all the day long, we are accounted as sheep for
the slaughter. Nay, in all things, we are more than conquerors to
him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the
love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. There is no way
that a believer could withstand all of the things that I've just
got through mentioning if it were not for God's grace and
the power of God. we can know that tribulation
worketh patience. Tribulations promote and result
in patience, which is endurance and perseverance and the assurance
of God's grace in Christ. James says in James 1, beginning
at verse 2, my brethren, count it all joy when you fall into
divers temptations, knowing this, that the trying of your faith
worketh patience. But let patience have a perfect
work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
How in the world can this be? Well, it's God that worketh in
this matter and not us when it comes to chastening and to these
tribulations that we go through. The Apostle Paul tells us this
in Romans 8, 28. And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are called
according to his purpose. Remember, God does not preserve
us because we persevere. We persevere because God preserves
us. Romans 5, 4 is our next verse. It continues, it says, in patience,
experience, and experience hope. Patient produces experience.
Experience means proof or evidence. Tribulations do not produce faith,
but they reveal our faith as we patiently endure by God's
grace. We suffer as adopted children
resting on the merits of our Savior and trusting in His power
to save us. This experience that we go through,
or this evidence that we have no confidence in the flesh, increases
our hope, which is our certain expectation of heaven and all
blessings in Christ alone. We will grieve in sorrow and
tribulation, but not as those who have no hope. Look at 1 Thessalonians
4, 14. For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus
will God bring with him. Also look at Hebrews 12, beginning
at verse seven. If you endure chastening, God
dealeth with you as with sons. For what son is he whom the father
chastens not? But if you be without chastisement,
therefore are you partakers, then you are bastards and not
sons. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected
us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much more be in
subjection unto the father of spirits and live? for they are
our earthly fathers, verily, for a few days chastened us after
their own pleasure, but he, but God, for our profit, that we
might be partakers of his holiness. Now, no chastening for the present
seemeth to be joyous, but grievous, nevertheless, after it yielded
the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them which are exercised thereby.
Now, as we have seen in verses three and four, In Romans 5,
tribulation brings about patience, and patience brings about experience. Now in verse 5, we will look
at hope, which comes from experience. Romans 5, 5 reads, and hope maketh
not ashamed, because the love of God is shared abroad in our
hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us. Rejoicing in
the certainty of salvation, make it not a shame. I would listen
to our brother Bill back there when he was talking about the
same same verses here. Because our hope has a good and
a solid foundation which is the grace and the love of God in
Christ Jesus. If we were to base our hopes
on our works on what we imagine we deserve or have earned then
we would be ashamed and we would be disappointed at judgment.
In Christ, however, we will not be ashamed or disappointed. This
next verse tells us this. Look at Romans 9, verse 33. As it is written, behold, I lay
in sign a stumbling stone and a rock of offense, and whosoever
believeth in him shall not be ashamed. Also in Romans 10, 11,
for the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be
ashamed. The reason for this is that the
love of God is shared abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost.
God's love has literally been poured out into the hearts by
the Holy Ghost, poured out into our hearts by the Holy Ghost.
This refers to the new birth when the Holy Ghost shows us
and convinces us of our sins and of the love of God for us
in Christ. Look at 1 John 4.10. Herein is
love, not that we love God, but that he loved us and sent his
son to be the propitiation or make reconciliation for our sins.
Our hearts, which is our minds and our affections and our will,
are thoroughly permeated with both the true nature of God's
love and of our being objects of that love as we trust in Christ
for all of our salvation. Notice how the Holy Ghost himself
was given unto us, which means given by the will of God, the
giver, and not by any merits on the sinner's behalf. The work
of the Holy Spirit in the new birth is just as much a free
gift of God through Christ to his people as is their justification
and their redemption. The work of the Holy Spirit in
our hearts is the fruit and result of the work of Christ on the
cross. I'll close by saying thank God that he has sent the gospel
our way by his spirit. He's changed our hearts. He revealed
Christ to us as our only hope for salvation. He's done all
this by revealing how that through Christ God reveals that he is
a just God and he's a savior. Thank you.