#22 HCBC 3-11-07 AM
Benefits of Salvation
Romans 5:1-5
INTRODUCTION:
The average person, when considering Christianity, might want to know:
“What’s in it for me?”
To a growing Christian, that may seem a selfish question.
But, God doesn’t seem to mind giving us the answer!
In our study of Romans, to this point we have seen:
The wrath of God is being revealed against:
The wicked sinners
The moral sinners
The religious sinners
And everyone fits into one of those categories
because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God!
We have also seen, or begun to see, the grace of God revealed in that a righteousness from God –
Apart from law
Apart from religious background
Apart from circumcision, baptism, or any ritual
Has been made known!
And we have seen that this righteousness is credited to everyone who believes!
It was credited to Abraham without works!
It was credited to David without works!
It is credited to every boy or girl, man or woman without works!
So, in Romans 5 through 8, the grace of God is further revealed as Paul explains:
Our security in Christ!
Our union with Christ!
Our freedom from the law!
Our life in the Spirit!
And God’s unquenchable love!
Because of what Paul has written in these next 4 chapters, we can see that it is ok to ask:
What’s in it for me?
Because God answers the question, I would say that it is ok to ask: What’s in it for me?
What Are The Benefits of Salvation?
Therefore, since we have been justified…
These benefits of Salvation are for those who have been justified –
For those who have had righteousness credited to them by faith!
These benefits are for those who have come to God without one plea!
These benefits are for those who have realized that man is a sinner and can’t save
himself!
These benefits are for those who have stopped trusting in being good enough;
and now fully trust in the goodness of Jesus Christ and
have received His righteousness!
I. Peace with God vs 1
Eph 2:11-17
He is our peace!
He preached peace:
Peace to those who were far away – the Gentiles!
Peace to those who were near – the Jews!
We were separate from Christ!
We were excluded from citizenship!
We were foreigners to the covenants of the promise!
We were without hope!
We were without God!
But now in Christ we who were once far away have been brought near,
through the blood of Christ!
Now we have peace with God!
Col 1:21-22
We were alienated from God!
We were enemies with God!
But now! (Remember that phrase from Rom 3:21?)
“But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made
known,…”
But now he has reconciled us through the death of Christ!
Now we have peace with God!
II. Access to God’s Grace vs 2
Again, it is by faith that we have gained this access!
This access puts us in God’s grace!
It is God’s grace in which we now stand!
Here is a statement about the security of the believer!
We are standing in His grace and it is He who has put us there!
Later on, in chapter 8, Paul will pose the rhetorical question:
Who can separate us from this?
Eph 2:18; 3:12; Mt 27:51
Eph 2:18
Through Jesus Christ, we have access to God the Father by the Holy Spirit!
We have right of entry!
We have a way in!
Eph 3:12
In him (Jesus) and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom
and confidence.
We have access! We can come to Him!
It says we may approach God with freedom!
Our access to God is direct!
We do not have to use mediators to go to God!
The one true Mediator, Jesus Christ, has opened the door and given us access!
It says we may approach God with confidence!
Our access to God is effective!
We have confidence that God will hear us and answer our prayer according to
His perfect will!
Scripture says that we may boldly approach the throne of grace!
Heb 10:19-22
Because we have a great priest, in Jesus Christ,
and because we can have confident access to God,
let us draw near to God with confidence!
Peace with God
Access to God’s Grace
III. Rejoicing in Hope vs 2
Heb 3:6; 6:11, 18, 19
3:6 Holding on to the hope of which we boast!
We are not like those who have no hope!
Christians may lose sight of their hope but they do not lose hope!
6:11 Showing diligence to the end!
“I just want to finish well!”
To demonstrate the certainty of our hope!
6:18 Receiving encouragement from the hope that we have!
Tit 2:13
2:11-14 the grace of God teaches us to live godly lives while we wait for the
blessed hope, which is the appearing of Jesus Christ who gave himself for us!
We can rejoice because we have this hope!
If we are not rejoicing, why not!
Peace with God!
Access to God’s grace!
Rejoicing in Hope!
IV. Rejoicing in Sufferings vs 3-5
God’s Purposes in Suffering
Corrective Suffering Hebrews 12:4-7
Suffering for God’s Glory John 9:1-3
Constructive Suffering Romans 5:3-5
The Benefits of Suffering
Suffering produces perseverance: Jas 1:2-4
Perseverance produces character: Jas 1:5-8
Character produces hope: Rom 5:5
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.
The Benefits of Salvation:
Peace with God --- Access to God’s Grace --- Rejoicing in Hope --- Rejoicing in Suffering