David Macdonald - October 13, 2019

Northbrook Bible Chapel

Thanking God For Your Benefits! Romans 5:1-5 The Benefits Package……… 5 weeks paid vacation 14 paid holidays Full medical & dental Savings plan matching up to 50% of your salary Company car lease – Any car you want European sports car New car every 2 years Our benefits – Romans 5:1-5 Romans 4:25 – starting point – He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. (NASB) Justification: How you get right with God – declared righteous By grace alone – through faith alone No one can brag – “I did it my way” Courtroom scene Forgiveness Just the beginning Peace with God (v. 1) Privilege of Access (v. 2a) Preview of the Future (v. 2b) Purpose in Pain (vv. 3-5) 1. Peace With God Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom 5:1 NASB A fact not a feeling An unsaved person is at enmity with and separated from God Isaiah 48:22 - "There is no peace for the wicked," says the LORD. Psalm 7:11 - God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day. Romans 1:18 - For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, Great enemy of peace is sin Might feel at peace, but not be at peace – delusion Believer is at peace, but might not feel at peace – carnality, lack of teaching Peace made possible through the cross – Isaiah 53:5 Once we gave peace with God, we should experience peace of God. 2. Privilege of Access(vs. 2a) Rom 5:2 NIV through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand…. The word access - used of someone who brings another into someone else's presence Greeks, Romans, Pagans – did not want access to their gods Jews – limited access – no intimacy – high priest could enter Holy of Holies Cross changed everything Veil torn from top to bottom Eph. 2:13 – brought near by the blood of Christ Lam 3:22-23 - Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 3. Preview of Our Future (vs. 2b) Rom 5:2 NIV … And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Our hope founded in the glory of God In heaven we will see fully the glory of God Moses desire – Exodus 33 – “show me Your glory… 1 John 3:2 - Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. J. B. Phillips – hope = a happy certainty 2 Reasons for our HOPE: Jesus Christ prayed we would be with Him and the Father The resurrection of Christ 4. Purpose in Pain (vs. 3-5) Rom 5:3-5 NIV Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; (4) perseverance, character; and character, hope. (5) And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. John 16:33 - In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. Justification - not escape from trials—but a guarantee that trials have purpose Romans 8:28 - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. English word tribulation comes from the Latin word tribulum