Sermon Central
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The Benifits Package Of Justification Series
Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on May 8, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL IS NOT TO GIVE US BLESSINGS, BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST TO RECONCILE US TO GOD. THIS MESSAGE OPENS UP FOR US BENFITS SOME WHICH ARE EXPECTED OTHERS MAY BE UNEXPECTED BUT NECESSARY.
ROMANS 5:1-5. THE BENEFITS PACKAGE OF JUSTIFICATION.
I REMEMBER APPLYING FOR A JOB AT THE TOYOTA CAR PLANT IN DERBY AFTER GO THROUGH A RIGOROUS TESTING PROCESS I WAS ACCEPTED ONTO THE STAFF, AS A RESULT I WAS INCLUDED INTO A COMPANY WITH OFFERED GOOD COMPANY BENEFITS WHICH INCLUDED : EXCELLENT SALARY, HEALTH CARE, PENSION PLAN, BONUS SCHEME, NEW CAR LEASE OWNERSHIP SCHEMES, PROMOTION FAST TRACKS, ALL IN ALL IT WAS A WONDERFUL PACKAGE OF BENEFITS FOR THE TOYOTA WORKER. BUT IT ALL PALES INTO INSIGNIFICANCE WHEN I CONSIDER THE BENEFITS RECEIVED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
V1 PAUL HERE WILL OPEN UP TO US A PACKAGE OF BENEFITS THAT ALL JUSTIFIED BELIEVERS RECEIVE UPON FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST THESE BENEFITS FAR OUTWEIGHS ANY EARTHLY PACKAGE YOU MIGHT RECEIVE: V1 THEREFORE, SINCE WE HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED THROUGH FAITH WE HAVE....
1. V1 THE FIRST BENEFIT WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD... THE PAST FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS.
THE PURSUIT OF PEACE SEEMS TO BE ON EVERYBODIES AGENDA - FROM WORLD PEACE BETWEEN NATIONS ARE IN TURMOIL TO PERSONAL PEACE – PEOPLE ARE IN TURMOIL . YET MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE ABOVE IS PEACE WITH GOD. PAUL IS NOT REFERING TO A STATE OF MIND HERE, BUT A RELATIONSHIP OF PEACE WITH GOD.
A JUSTIFIED BELIEVER FIRST BENIFIT IS TO BE AT PEACE WITH GOD - RECONCILED TO GOD...... NOTICE ITS ONLY THROUGH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST V1 WHOM RECONCILLED US TO GOD (4:25) V10. HE IS THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE PEACE WITH GOD: HE IS NOT ONE WAY AMONGEST MANY WAYS ANYBODY WHO CONSIDERS THEY HAVE PEACE WITH GOD ANY OTHER WAY ARE DELUDING THEMSELVES.
NT EXAMPLE:JHN 9 : THE BLIND MAN HEALD BY JESUS - THE AUTHORITIES FIRST TRIED TO PERSUADE HIM THAT HE HAD NOT BEEN HEALED AT ALL. THEN WHEN THEY ADMITTED HE HAD BEEN HEALED THE ONE WHO DONE IT WAS A SINNER V24 – THE MAN MAKES A PROFOUND STATEMENT V31 WE KNOW THAT GOD DOES NOT LISTEN TO SINNERS- THE FIRST THING A SINNER NEEDS TO DISCOVER IS A WAY BACK TO GOD HOW TO GET ACCESS WITH GOD...THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. EPH 2:14-16
DR. M. LLOYD JONES WRITES, “ IF YOU ARE ANXIOUS TO OBTAIN SOME BENEFITS FROM THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND, THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO DISCUS IS, HOW CAN I GET INTO BUCKINGHAN PALACE? WHAT HAVE I TO DO TO GET ADMISSION? THEN HOW DO I APPROACH THIS GREAT PERSONAGE? IT IS TOO OBVIOUS IN THAT REALM. AND YET WE PAY NO ATTENTION TO THIS WHEN SEEKING BLESSINGS FROM GOD. WE GO TO GOD AND EXPECT TO GET ALL WE ASK FOR AT ONCE. BUT THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. ALL BLESSINGS COME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST; AND WE MUST FIRST BE AT PEACE WITH GOD. ROMANS CHAPTER 5 P9.
PEACE WITH GOD IS WHAT WE NEED FIRST: ITS IMPORTANT TO REFLECT UPON THIS BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH INADEQUATE CHRISTIAN TEACHING TODAY PROCLAIMING THE BLESSINGS FIRST TO PEOPLE COME TO JESUS - DON’T WORRY ABOUT REPENTANCE - DO YOU WANT A FRIEND A BUDDY ? – DO YOU NEED HELP? DO YOU WANT HAPPINESS? DO YOU WANT PROSPERITY? DO YOU WANT PEACE AND JOY? DO YOU WANT TO BE HEALED? THEN COME TO JESUS.
THE PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF TEACHING IS IT ALL STARTS WITH US AND OUR NEEDS, JESUS BECOMES THE ONE WHO WILL SATISFY THOSE NEEDS - HE BECOMES LIKE A BABIES PACIFIER MEETING THE CHILDS TEMPORAY NEEDS TILL IT SQWAKS AGAIN!
BUT BEFORE WE CAN HAVE OUR NEEDS MEET WE FIRST HAVE THE NEED FOR PEACE WITH GOD. WE CAN HAVE NO BENIFITS FROM GOD UNTIL WE HAVE THE BENIFIT OF PEACE WITH GOD FIRST.
V1 THEREFORE SINCE WE HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED THROUGH FAITH WE HAVE ‘PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.’
THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL IS NOT TO GIVE US BLESSINGS, BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST TO RECONCILE US TO GOD.WHICH THEN PUTS US IN A POSTION TO RECIEVE THOSE BLESSINGS. THE FIRST BENIFIT PEACE WITH GOD AS A RESULT OF OUR PAST FORGIVENESS. V8
2. V2THE SECOND BENEFIT ACCESS TO GOD V2 ..... OUR PRESENT PRIVILEGE
• COULD YOU IMAGINE ANYONE OF US TRYING TO GAIN ACCESS ONTO THE RED CARPET AND INTO THE OSCARS WOULD BE A DIFFICULT TASK FOR ME TO FULFILL - I WOULD HAVE NO CHANCE OF GETTING IN. ON THE OTHER HAND IF I WAS INTRODUCED OR WAS A GUEST OF ANOTHER SAY BRADD PITT THE LIKLEHOOD OF MYSELF GETTING IN WOULD GREATLY INCREASE.
V2 PAUL IS TELLING US HERE THAT CHRISTIANS HAVE NO ACCESS PROBLEM WHEN IT COMES ENTERING INTO THE COURTS OF HEAVEN. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN WE WERE SINNERS AND COULD NOT ACCESS INTO GODS PRESENCE – BUT NOW AS A RESULT OF OUR STANDING BEFORE GOD WE HAVE COMPLETE AUTHORISED ACCESS INTO HIS PRESENCE.
