July 8, 2012
Evening Service

This morning Paul used an example of Abraham to paint a picture of what faith looks like in action.  

 

Rom 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness."

 

He went on to explain that it has nothing to do with our works or circumcision, but only our faith.

 

Rom 4:23-25  Now it was not written for him alone that it was imputed to him,  (24)  but for us also to whom it is to be imputed, to the ones believing on Him who has raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;  (25)  who was delivered because of our sins and was raised for our justification.

 

Paul begins this chapter by referring back to this statement on our justification.  It is like he is answering the question; how does this justification affect a believer’s life?

 

 

Rom 5:1-5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  (2)  Through Him we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice on the hope of the glory of God.  (3)  And not only this, but we glory in afflictions also, knowing that afflictions work out patience,  (4)  and patience works out character, and character works out hope.  (5)  And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us.

·         He lists the results we will see.

o   Peace with God-the war is over all enmity is gone, our hearts now belong to Christ and nothing can separate us from Him.

o   We have access by faith into His grace-we stand in a new position, we are now welcomed into His presence as He would welcome His own Son.

o   We rejoice in hope of the glory of God-we will one day be fully exposed to God’s glory.

 Joh 17:22  And I have given them the glory which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are one,

§  We have glory in afflictions-not that we enjoy them, but are able to see God’s hand work through them.

§  Patience (Perseverance)-steadfastness, we now have roots in Him and are no longer blown about with the troubles of everyday life.  We have learned to wait upon the Lord.

§  Character-the seal that we have came to Him, surrendered, and been proven through many experiences.  It is now a second nature, it is who we are.

§  Hope that does not disappoint-we will never be disappointed in our salvation because “the love of God is poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us.”

 

 

Rom 5:6-8  For we yet being without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  (7)  For one will with difficulty die for a righteous one, yet perhaps one would even dare to die for a good one.  (8)  But God demonstrates His love toward us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

§  This summarizes the divine, unique, and super natural love Christ has for us.  He does not require us to get our lives in order first; no He takes us just as we are.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rom 5:9-11  Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  (10)  For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  (11)  And not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation.

§  Our justification also brings us;

o   Salvation from the wrath of God-He paid a tremendous price to bring us to this state of justification would He allow us to perish in the end?  NO

o   We are reconciled to God-out hearts have been transformed; we are no longer enemies but sons and daughters.  By the work of our Savior we are no longer alienated from God but restored to the relationship He created us for.

 

Rom 5:12-14  Therefore, even as through one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed on all men inasmuch as all sinned:  (13)  for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.  (14)  But death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is the type of Him who was to come;

§  This is what is referred to as the “Adamic sin.”  It is the sin nature we all inherited after Adam’s fall in the garden.  Because of the presence of sin death became the price all had to pay.

 

 

Rom 5:15-18  but the free gift shall not be also like the offense. For if by the offense of the one many died, much more the grace of God, and the gift in grace; which is of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.  (16)  And the free gift shall not be as by one having sinned; (for indeed the judgment was of one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses to justification.  (17)  For if by one man's offense death reigned by one, much more they who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ.)  (18)  Therefore as by one offense sentence came on all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came to all men to justification of life.

§  Just as Adam’s sin brought death to all of us (condemnation), Jesus’ Righteousness is offered freely to all for our justification. 

 

Rom 5:19-21  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.  (20)  But the Law entered so that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound,  (21)  so that as sin has reigned to death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

§  Adam’s disobedience was only the first step of God’s wonderful plan.  The Law was given to magnify the fact that we could not work our way into God’s grace.  It made it very clear that we needed a Savior.

§  God’s grace now abounds through the Righteousness of Jesus Christ bringing to us not death, but eternal life.

 

Let this verse ring within your heart;

§  Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

 

Allow the Word to fulfill its purpose in your life and by faith accept this wonderful gift  He offers.

 

When we get just a glimpse of how much God truly loves us and desires a relationship with us, how can we do anything else?  Surrender is my only option.

 

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And that life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith toward the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.