#8 Romans 5: 12-14 How Paradise was lost

As individual people, we have to get to the point of realizing that it’s not what we do that makes the difference when it comes to salvation, it’s all about Who we know. When we know Jesus, we have salvation, when we don’t  know Jesus,or when we choose not to know Jesus, then  we’re lost,

1 John 5:12. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life

So now, now, we’ve got that truth in our minds  we’ll follow Paul as he moves on in his teaching about salvation.  As we move into Chapter 5, we find there are some benefits of being saved by grace through faith.

In the first 5 verses of chapter 5, Paul gives us several reasons  Why True Believers Can Rejoice in their salvation. See you need to see not only why you can rejoice this morning. But more than that you need to see Why – despite what’s going on around you - you should rejoice.

Now, maybe you’ve got some stuff going on in your life and maybe you haven’t felt like rejoicing. But since when do we only do what we feel like doing? See, were supposed to do whets right – irrespective of How we might feel at any point in time

So, If you haven't been in a rejoicing mood lately,  I want to show you why every child of God has the right to praise the Lord and be filled with joy

This is what Peter says in 1 Peter 1:8.

⁸ You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.

So, if we’re gonna understand this, we have to start by recognizing where we stand as believers because the 1^st reason that we have for rejoicing is because of our position in Jesus. So lets look at verse 1

 ¹ Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

KJV says  ¹Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Paul says that people who have believed in Jesus have been made right or Justified in Gods sight

"justified". There’s one of those big theological words again. Basically, it means "to count someone righteous." It means " to judge, to treat, or to look upon as righteous."

It doesn’t mean to make righteous! It means that we’re treated like we were righteous.

Handkerchief illustration

My right hand, under the cloth represents Jesus in His righteousness. My left hand is uncovered. It represents me in all my sins. That’s how God sees me before I am saved.

But, when I place my faith in Jesus, When I have a relationship with Jesus (move left hand under the handkerchief)  I’m no longer seen. All that God sees when he looks at me is the righteousness of Jesus!

 We’re all sinners! Even though most of us claim to be Christians, we’re still sinners!

Justification doesn’t mean that God’s not aware of our sins. It means that in spite of our sins, God treats us as though we weren’t sinners. Even though we’re unrighteous, God treats us as though we were as righteous and pure as He is Himself.

How’s that work? Well, it happens because when Jesus died on the cross, He paid for ALL of our sins. Then when we receive Him as our Savior, God gives us the righteousness of Christ, So, Justification doesn’t mean that we are perfect, it just means that God chooses to see us as though we were

Imagine some guy on trial for something or other. The prosecution knows he is guilty, the defendant knows he is guilty and even the judge knows he is guilty, but the jury finds him not guilty. Even though nearly everyone in that courtroom knows the man is guilty he is treated like an innocent person because he has been declared innocent.

When I stand before the Lord, I know I am guilty, the devil knows I am guilty and God knows I am guilty. But, because I’ve trusted Jesus with my life God treats me as though I was innocent because He has justified me!

Now, once you get this truth firmly fixed in your heart it should change you forever So, how did  this justification come about in your life and mine? By faith! We didn't earn it!

We didn't deserve it! All we did was take God at His Word concerning Jesus and God justified us by faith! I’m grateful this morning that faith is the only requirement for salvation.

See, if I relied on my own ability to perform - I’d be lost.

If it required me to keep a list of rules perfectly - I’d be lost.

If it required me be a good person-  I’d be lost.

So, that’s why I thank God, it is all by faith! Lets go a bit further

In these next few verses, Paul outlines some of the benefits of justification. Because we are considered righteous by the Lord, there are certain things that belong to us and these possessions should never be taken for granted. But we should meditate on them and allow them to be the catalyst for rejoicing in the Lord.

 ¹ Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us

According to Paul, salvation brings with it peace with God! Now, that’s something that can be hard to understand by our human minds! see, every lost person is the enemy of God,

Rom. 8:7. ⁷ For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will

But, when that lost person turns to Jesus Christ by faith, God declares an end to the hostilities! God declares peace. He then brings that person into a right relationship with Himself. So, when we exercise our faith and trust Jesus with our lives  We get to enjoy peace with God. What does this mean?

#1: God's wrath is turned away

Rom. 5:9. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.

#2. Heaven is satisfied

1 John 2:2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

#3. Old enemies have been reconciled –

2 Cor. 5:18 ¹⁸ And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.

Now, there’s an expression that I have heard many people use over the years. People talk about  "Making their peace with God." And I think that that’s a wrong statement. Its impossible for any of us to make peace with God. See, God made peace with us 2,000 years ago at Calvary and as soon as you and I accepted that we have peace

Colossians 1:20,  ²⁰ and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

We don't get to make peace with God, He made peace with us at the cross. And so that’s why Peace is the first permanent blessing that everyone receives at the very instant of salvation. We’re accepted by God! And because of thatWe’re at peace with Him! Lets go on to verse 2:

² Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

 V2 verse teaches that through Jesus, we have direct access to God Himself.

The word "access" means "to enter the presence of the king." Through Jesus, we have the right to enter into the very presence of the God of Heaven and we can do so without fear!

This was a radical idea for Paul's readers. Most of them came from a religious background that demanded that a respectful distance between the worshiper and God.

Think for a minute about the Temple! Gentiles were restricted to the outer court of the Temple. If they went any further in, they could be executed. Women were restricted to "The Court Of Women". Then, there was the "

Holy Place

". Where only the priests could minister. Beyond that there was the "Holy of Holies". Only the High Priest was permitted to enter this room, and then only once per year on the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur and he couldn’t enter without the blood of an innocent sacrifice. They tied a rope round his ankle…..So the message was crystal clear:  "Keep Your Distance!"

But  Paul's teaching us that through Jesus, we all have full access to the Father in Heaven! That’s why we don’t need a church full of saints to intercede for us. And why we don’t need to go sit in a confessional and have some man give us absolution. Since God tore the curtain in the temple on Good Friday you and I have the right to approach the throne of Grace directly for ourselves. Guys, there is only one way to Heaven: In John 14:6, Jesus said

 “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me

If we’re walking with Jesus we’ll have no trouble entering the presence of the Father!

Now, not only is there peace with God and access to God presence, but the Christian also enjoys a blessed assurance of salvation. Like the old hymn,

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine, O what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long;

this is my story, this is my song,  praising my Savior all the day long.

Pauls tells us that the assurance we have is two-fold.

 Assurance Here –

Notice the phrase, this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.The word "stand" carries the idea of permanence, of being firmly fixed and immovable.

Basically, this verse teaches us that we are absolutely secure in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In other words, this verse is all about our eternal security as believers. So, in verse 1, Paul confirms that we’re saved, or justified, by faith That is, we did not earn, buy or get it as a reward. Salvation was given as a gift!

Then verse 2 says that we "stand" (firmly affixed) by grace. In other words, it was faith that saved the soul, and it is grace that keeps the soul! So cant say on the one hand that  we’re saved by trusting Jesus and then, after that, we have to keep ourselves saved, it’s a total contradiction.

If I can keep myself saved, why don't I just go ahead and do the whole job? The answer? I can't do either! I was saved by grace thu faith and I’m kept by grace,

But, there’s always someone who wants to ask what if this or what if that. Well, here’s the good news. regardless of the if, the child of God is still secure in Jesus! Hey, I've got some "what if's".

What if we stopped looking for a reason not to believe and just started taking the Lord at His Word?

What if we just believed that the same God Who was powerful enough to save us

was also able to keep us?

What if we just let "eternal" mean "eternal"?

What if we just let "everlasting" mean "everlasting"?

What if we just rejoiced in the salvation we have in Him and rested in the blessed assurance that is ours by faith?

What if we just stopped looking for a reason to doubt God and just took Him at His Word?

The bottom line is that you can have absolute assurance here!

But we also get Assurance Hereafter – Just as sure as we can know and believe that we are saved and secure in this life, we can have that same assurance for the life to come. Eternal security extends beyond the grave - Rom. 8:29-30.

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

our security has already been planned by God. That’s why we can say this morning that we are as sure of Heaven as if we had already been there 10,000 years!

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So, there are some privileges that we can enjoy as believers. We’re saved and we are secure, but right now, we live in a world full of trials and tribulations. And we need help in those areas too. Well, lets move onto verse 3

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance

Paul says that the Christian can rejoice in the bad times of life. Why is this true? Because of the little word "knowing".

When trouble comes our way and the trials of life descend on us the true believer knows that God is working our His will in his/her life and is attempting to produce in us a state of Christlikeness. What do I mean by that? Simply that God is trying to make us like Jesus.

The word for problems ("tribulations") means "pressure". There are times when this life will exert pressure on the believer. But  the mature Christian also knows that it takes pressure to produce Christlikeness. Pressure is the process used to turn coal into diamonds. And, it is pressure in the life of the believer that forces out more of the old, sinful nature and reveals more of the image of God. See people pray more when they’re in trouble than when they’re not When they get comfortable again, things like prayer and devotion take a back seat

So, we can rejoice in trouble if we remember that every trial is the hand sof God,

Rom. 8:28. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

With that in mind, it is easier to endure the difficult days.So lets finish off this section:

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

 ⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love

Finally, Paul talks about the benefits derived from the "pressures" of life.

Note the progression mentioned in these verses.

1. Tribulation - Pressure

2. Patience - Endurance

3. Experience - Proven Character or Maturity

4. Hope - The confident expectation that we won’t be disappointed.

Basically, what Paul is saying is that when troubles come in our lives as a result of our walk with the Lord, we learn to endure and through endurance we are matured and our character is proven for what it really is. then as we see God sustain us in the difficult times, we can rest in the knowledge that not only He’s in control but that He’ll see us through.

The more we endure for Jesus, the more we become like Him! And that is a good thing! You can mark this down, "The road to maturity is paved with struggle!"

 Ask Abraham and he will point to Mt. Moriah.

 Ask Jacob and he will point to a pillow of stone.

 Ask Joseph and he will point to a Egyptian prison.

Ask Moses and he will point to the desert.

Ask the three Hebrew children and they will point to a fiery furnace.

Ask Daniel and he will point to a den of lions.

Ask Peter and he will point to his three denials.

Ask John and he will point to Patmos.

If there are times when life is going to be difficult and there is going to be trouble in my life, then how can I rejoice and how can I rest? The answer lies in this last verse.

And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Paul tells us that the love of God, is constantly being poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. As we go through this life, there will be many difficult days. but, as we face all the things that will come our way, we always have the precious Holy Spirit in us

 to guide us, to teach us, to constantly remind us of the awesome love of God for His children.

And that’s what makes the trip bearable! And what makes the destination believable.

If we could just learn to trust god and his promises, He has the power to keep our hearts in perfect peace,regardless of how difficult the way becomes,

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.", Isa. 26:3.)

If you ask me, these reasons are more than sufficient to give every child of God justification to rejoice in God and in His salvation. I am sure the Lord has spoken to some hearts this evening. Maybe you aren't saved and want to get in on justification.

Jesus is available is you will come to Him by faith.

Maybe you have been worried over doubts concerning your eternal security as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is help in Him if you will come.

 Maybe you have been going through trials and tribulations and they have just about got the better of you. Why not bring them to Jesus and let Him let you understand that He is just duplicating His life in you?

Will you come if the Lord is speaking to your heart?