Where Does a Christian’s Joy Come From?
Romans 5:1-11
May 21, 2023
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I. Introduction (Romans 5:1-11)
A. People are at war with themselves
B. And with each other – worse than ever
1. In Marriages
2. No one tollerates anyone any more – just bitter fighting – a civil war
C. Struggling to be “at peace” with themselves – their inner being
1. Trying so many different drugs, yoga, TM, counselling…
2. Yet, more people than ever HATE themselves, their bodies, and life itself
3. They hate marriage, bring pregnant, church, and especially GOD!
D. All of that hatred is a defence against the turmoil that is a war between them and God!
1. GRAPHIC: Man and Creator with a battle-zone between them
2. People are literally AT war with God, with the Bible, and with the Spirit of God!
3. Rebels to God’s will and design – want to live their own way, find their own purpose
4. The truth is, if it weren’t for God stepping into this world and loving us, none of us would love Him back!
E. Let’s read the entire portion of Scripture from Romans 5 for today’s message
1. Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2. Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3. Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4. Romans 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5. Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6. Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7. Romans 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9. Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10. Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11. Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
F. Did you notice: Justification, Grace, Access to God, Joy, Rejoicing, Hope, the love of God, the gift of the Holy Ghost, saved from wrath, reconciliation and atonement?
G. THAT is the priceless fruit / results of the Gospel in the lives of humble believers!
II. Message
A. “Therefore…” (Romans 5:1)
1. Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2. Always find out why a ‘therefore’ is there, for!
3. This book explains and defends the gospel
4. The apostle Paul is writing to anyone who will read it, both Jew and gentile, both saved and lost
5. As we start chapter five of Romans, Paul connects all of the facts of chapters one, 2, three and four proving:
a. That God is holy and righteous
b. That all men and all women are sinful, and break God's laws
c. And that we all fail the requirement to enter God's presence...
d. Which is perfection
e. And lastly, Paul proves that when Abraham just believed God it made him righteous
B. Being Justified by Faith
1. What a statement!
2. It is only appreciated by convicted criminals and by sinful people who know what they really are in the sight of God
3. Anyone is capable of being justified, pardoned, forgiven
4. Not by anything that you and I can do, or say
5. And not by just any faith, but a desperate faith in Jesus!
C. The Results
1. Peace with God
a. A Declaration of Peace
1) Paul declares peace where just moments earlier there was intense warfare
2) Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
3) Acts 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
4) As I said at the beginning
a) People are at war with themselves - Struggling to be “at peace” with themselves – their inner being
b) And with each other
c) All of that hatred is a defence against the turmoil that is a war between them and God!
d) People don’t need peace amongst ourselves as much as first, peace with God!
b. Between a Holy God, and sinful people
1) We are enemies of God – rebels – why won’t people admit this truth?
2) Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
3) Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
4) And the truth is, we have no real intention of getting right with God
c. Before God showed His grace towards Abraham, He shows us just how wicked the world had become in Genesis 6-9
1) And how He had to judge it
2) God would not have been a proper judge if He didn’t rightly judge the world with a world-wide flood
3) It was just after Noah’s flood that God calls Abraham to choose to follow Him
4) And that was why God showed grace and made peace with Abraham, because Abraham chose to fear God and follow Him instead of the world
5) By the way, that is repentance!
d. So, HOW can a sinful man or women have peace with God?
1) It is not the cessation of hostilities between two great powers like in a world war simply because they reached an “agreement”
2) It is the removal of the very reason for the warfare
a) NEWSPAPER: WAR ENDS!
b) In WWII, Germany invaded europe and slaughtered millions of people, and forcibly took over a dozen different free nations
c) Japan massacred millions of Philipinos and Koreans and Chinese
d) And then had the audacity to attack the United States in Hawaii, causing the deaths of tens of thousands of neutral soldiers in Pearl Harbour
e) For there to be peace with Germany and Japan, there was only one answer:
f) Absolute and Unconditional surrender
(i) Not through strength and tactics and weapons
(ii) But through Absolute and Unconditional surrender
(iii) And God is not going to surrender!
g) Which resulted in their defeat, and being forced to pay for the losses world-wide for the next 50 years!
h) But when God has to do that towards us…
(i) We will end up being rightly punished by God in hell
(ii) And it will take forever for us to pay for all our crimes against God and men
e. Perfect Redemption, Justification, Absolute Forgiveness!
1) So, God took the blame and punishment for our sins
2) That is Unheard of
3) Unimaginable that anyone would ever freely do such a thing – it would be like Europe and America taking the blame for Germany’s aggression
4) But God was doing something marvellous…
5) He was taking all the blame and all the punishment, and extending peace to those that realise THEY should have been judged!
6) Peace with God is freely offered, but not effective until it is believed!
2. Access to God's grace
3. It is sad that the Catholic Church has said all along that people can access God through sacraments
4. Yet Hebrews chapter __ says that we have one high priest, one mediator, one way to the father... And that is through what Jesus Christ did!
5. Hebrews 4: 16
D. A Right Standing with God
E. Rejoicing, and Glorying
1. in tribulation / intense troubles – but how?
a. Because the Bible records the proof that troubles Have value
b. God promises that he will work all things, everything together for good to them that love God
c. We know that troubles produce patience
d. Patience produces experience
e. Experience produces hope
f. And a Christians hope, assurance, faith will not be disappointed!
2. In the love of God
a. not my love for him
b. But his love for me
c. 1John 4:19?
d. The very fact that God loved sinful, ungodly people is good news!
F. Saved from wrath that is coming on this whole world
G. Reconciled to God
H. We have received the atonement
1. Paul is saying that, In the same way as Abraham was justified before God…
2. “We” are justified, and have peace with God
I. Peace with God
J. God’s Grace
1. Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
2. Instead of being seen as a Law-Breaker (which we are)…
3. We are seen as if we never had sinned – “Justified”
a. Romans 3:23,24 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
4. All because of GRACE
a. Grace is not a person
b. It is at attitude that God has towards sinners that moves them from guilty to forgiven and their sins FORGOTTEN!
c. It means unmerited kindness – unworthy of God’s kindness
5. God’s grace has an eternal effect on us
a. We are not forgiven and then left alone…
b. We are adopted into God’s family, and made a joint-heir with the only begotten Son of God
1) Romans 8:15-17 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
2) Galatians 4:5-7 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
c. We STAND - By which / by this justification, we now STAND, and are no longer ruined, defeated, conquered sinners!
d. We are SONS
1) Absolutely Forgiven
2) Perfectly Restored
3) And Reconciled – no longer enemies of God
e. You probably WISH this were true in YOUR family between some people, and maybe even yourself!
K. All Because of a CHOICE to Believe God
1. Belief is ALWAYS a decision to believe
a. It is not a feeling that makes me believe!
b. It is not something I just do naturally
c. It is something I choose, that overrules fear, doubts, confusion, the past
2. Belief is NOT something I do
3. It just accepts what God says about myself, and about Himself and His Son!
a. I trust God and I believe what He promises
b. Because Jesus Christ is the best promise God ever kept!
4. He was MY substitute
5. Delivered to wicked men, and murdered for everyone’s offenses, especially mine
6. And raised again to life for our justification, pardon
L. All This Grace Causes the Christian to REJOICE – To Get Happy!
1. Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
2. Romans 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
3. Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
4. About the glorious future we now are headed into
5. AND about every tribulation along the way to heaven!
6. Because we know that
a. All our troubles are for good
1) All our troubles – ALL of them – are valuable, and useful to the Christian
2) They actually produce patience in us – a gift
3) Long-suffering makes us patiently wait on the fulfilment of the promises of God
4) If we don’t become more patient, it will make us more bitter, impatient, murmuring
b. Patience also produces something in us – experience
1) Experience is the greatest master teacher of Christian maturity
2) People can talk all day about theology and ideology and philosophy
3) But until they have actually experienced troubles, and stayed the course, and discovered God was there the whole time, and was faithful, then they are frauds
4) Experience is worth ten years of college education!
5) I got most of my jobs because I had experience more than education!
c. Experience produces HOPE
1) The more troubles we go through
2) The longer it takes for troubles to go away
3) Makes us hope MORE
4) Why?
5) Because the promises of God are for SURE! He cannot lie!
6) And we have a hope that will never be disappointed!
7. Did anyone else notice the TRINITY here?
a. God
b. Our Lord Jesus Christ – LORD!
c. The Holy Ghost
M. Why Are We So Joyful and Resilient to Troubles?
1. Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
2. Why do we just keep standing, when normal people crumble and collapse?
3. Not because we are so good now
4. Because the love of God fills us – being loved is probably THE most sought after experience!
5. We have peace with God now, not just in heaven one day
6. The Holy Ghost dwells within every one of us
a. Bringing the Person of Jesus Christ into you
b. Empowering us with the power of Christ over sin and temptation
c. Comforting us in every dark hour
7. Because we have been justified
a. There is that word again
b. How big a deal is justification?
N. Who and What Kind of People Did Jesus Die For?
1. Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
2. Romans 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
3. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
4. For all people
5. Unable to Do Anything to Get Right
a. We are all WITHOUT strength
6. Unworthy of His Kindness / Grace
a. The Jews were not worthy (Dt 7:7,8)
b. Gentiles definitely are not worthy of such love and effort by God
c. Christ’s death was the ultimate kindness!
7. Uninterested in Reconciling
a. We are enemies of God (Romans 5:10)
b. Yet God went out of His way to reconcile us to Himself
8. Ungodly – being sinners – that is what we ARE (Romans 5:8)
9. Guilty
a. God is not unjust to judge the guilty AS guilty
O. None of That Was Too Much for God To Handle
1. Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
2. Romans 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
3. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
4. At the right time
5. God loved US
a. Weak, sinful, uninterested, unworthy, ungodly, condemned men and women everywhere
6. God was kind and showed / proved His love (the cross)
7. By putting His only begotten Son on the cross in the place of
a. Weak, sinful, uninterested, unworthy, ungodly, condemned men and women everywhere
8. Yes, a violent death – no denying it, prettying it up
9. Not the blood of bulls, goats and lambs
10. But of the priceless, precious, perfect Son of God
11. It and only it satisfied Justice, the wrath of God
a. Remember Romans 5:1
b. Isaiah 53
P. God Saved Us from His Wrath (Romans 5:9
1. Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
2. Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
3. The wrath is against all unrighteousness – law-breakers
4. Yet, Jesus made it possible for YOU to no longer be appointed to face that wrath…
a. “NEXT!” (Like in the principal’s office, or in a courtroom)
b. That appointment has been eternally cancelled! Someone else already stepped in, and took the blame AND punishment for your wicked rebellion and sins
5. Listen to me!
a. You and I did not and CANNOT "escape" God’s wrath…
b. You and I were tried already, and found guilty and condemned to hell for all eternity!
c. And that was when JESUS CHRIST stepped in and took the punishment WE deserved!
d. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
e. Christ stepped in and took the wrath we all deserved!
f. That's why a SINNER can say with confidence, I AM SAVED, simply because I believed on Jesus!
g. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
h. Halellujah!
6. SAVED means no longer guilty at all – no longer in trouble with God
7. Secure in HIS stead – I have swapped places with the Messiah
a. If Jesus was forever the Son of God, eternally secure in His relationship with God the Father…
b. And we were condemned, without hope, eternally destined for the darkness of hell…
c. What do you think we are when Jesus swapped places with us on the cross?
d. We are NOW SECURE, Eternally Secure in God’s family
e. All because Jesus was for a moment, abandoned by God on the cross!
Q. No Wonder We Sing! Rejoice! Get Excited! Get Happy About Salvation! (Romans 5:11)
1. Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
2. Because we have received the atonement
a. No one could make atonement for us
1) Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
2) Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
b. Only someone innocent before the Law could mediate and reconcile us to God
1) 2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
2) 2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
3) 2Co 5:20 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.
4) 2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
c. He, as the High Priest, is the only one who can bring two enemies together
d. And all WE do is receive it
e. Faith simply accepts, opens the hands and receives it
f. John 1:11,12
III. Application
A. The peace of God we all so yearn for and need flows out of the reality of making peace with God, through believing what Jesus Christ did in our place on the cross! “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1
B. So, now…
1. How is your heart? Joyful about your salvation? Or at war with yourself, and with everyone around you? Seriously? Critical, fault-finding, angry, frustrated?
2. Are you happy at all about being “SAVED”, or only thrilled with the weekend’s Lotto amount?
3. Does a disco make you more joyful than being washed and forgiven by the blood of the Lamb of God?
C. You are either saved, or lost
1. Doesn’t matter if you are religious or atheist
2. You are either alone, and without God and without hope in this world
3. Or you have the presence and power of the Holy Spirit of God in you!
D. Troubles and tribulations and hardships do not prove anything except that you and I live in a broken world
E. Your joy and rejoicing DURING troubles and heartaches proves you are saved!
F. The question is, are you ready to finally admit you are in trouble with God, and ready to accept the free gift of eternal life, that is offered you at Christ’s expense?
IV.Conclusion and Invitation