TITLE: Celebrating True Saving Faith pt. 2 (Romans 5:1-11)
1. We celebrate peace with God. (1)
2. We celebrate access to grace. (2a)
3. We celebrate the hope of glory. (2b)
4. We celebrate growth in trials. (3-4)
5. We celebrate assurance of God’s love. (5-9)
6. We celebrate friendship with God. (10-11)
All these blessings are “through Christ...” (v. 1, 11)
**4. We celebrate growth in trials. (3-4)**
Romans 5:3 (NASB), “And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope ...”
Tribulations: “trials, pressures, hardships, sufferings.”
John 16:33, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
**5. We celebrate assurance of God’s love. (5-9)**
Romans 5:5, “...and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous person; though perhaps for the good person someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”
• True saving faith grants us two assurances: God’s love and God’s Spirit. V. 5
• If God loved us when we were sinners, how much more will he love us now that we are His sons and daughters!
**6. We celebrate friendship with God. (10-11)**
Romans 5:10, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”
• Reconciliation: “change, exchange.” (hostility to friendship)
• James 2:23, “Abraham...was called a friend of God.”
PAINTING: The Return of the Prodigal Son - by Rembrandt van Rijn (1606 – 1669)
• A picture of reconciliation, friendship.
• Some people think that Rembrandt painted himself as that lost son. In his later years, he lost everything. His wife and five children all died at a young age. His wealth gone. His health gone. He was alone. He was buried in an unmarked grave. All he had was his faith in God.
• Luke 15:32, “But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.”
A Meditation in John 3:16. “Christ - Greatest Gift.” (anonymous)
God - the greatest Lover
so loved - the greatest degree
the world - the greatest company
that he gave - the greatest act
his only begotten Son - the greatest gift
that whosoever - the greatest opportunity
believeth - the greatest simplicity
in him - the greatest attraction
should not perish - the greatest promise
but - the greatest difference
have - the greatest certainty
everlasting life - the greatest possession
