Sermon Central
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The Blessings Of Believing In Jesus Christ Series
Contributed by Rick Crandall on Nov 12, 2020 (message contributor)
Summary: Believing in Jesus gives us: 1. peace with God (vs. 1). 2. a pathway to God (vs. 1-2). 3. praise for God (vs. 2). 4. progress from God (vs. 2-4). 5. an out-pouring of God's love (vs. 5).
The Blessings of Believing in Jesus Christ
The Book of Romans
Sermon by Rick Crandall
Grayson Baptist Church - May 15, 2016
(Revised November 12, 2020)
BACKGROUND:
*Please open your Bibles to Romans 5. Back in chapter 3, God's Word clearly established the truth that, other than Jesus Christ, everyone on earth is guilty of sin. Everyone on earth deserves the righteous wrath of Almighty God.
*In order to prove this truth, Paul compiled verses from several places in the Old Testament, places like Psalm 14, Psalm 53, and Isaiah 59. In Romans 3:10, Paul summed it up by saying, "There is none righteous, no, not one."
*Then in Romans 3:19-20, Paul said:
19. Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
*On some level, all of us are guilty of sin. But thank God that before the end of chapter 3, God's Word takes us from our guilt to His amazing grace. And it all centers on the cross of Jesus Christ. God's total forgiveness, righteousness and everlasting life are freely available to everyone who will believe in our crucified and risen Lord and Savior.
*So, for example, Romans 3:21-24 says:
21. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22. even the righteousness of God which is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
23. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24. being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
*Next in Romans 4, Paul used the Old Testament example of Abraham to establish that salvation has always been by God's grace through faith in the Lord. Old Testament saving faith was in the promise of the coming Savior who would be a descendant of Abraham.
*We can see this truth in Romans 4:1-3, where Paul began with this question:
1. What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?
2. For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something of which to boast, but not before God.
3. For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.''
*Old Testament saving faith was in the promise of the coming Messiah Jesus Christ. New Testament saving faith is in the fulfillment of God's promise through the cross of our risen Savior!
*Romans 4 went on to explain some of the amazing blessings that come through our faith in the Lord. Now in chapter 5, Paul continued to talk about the blessings of believing in Jesus. Let's begin by reading vs. 1-5.
MESSAGE:
*When the Apostle Paul wrote this letter, he longed to go to Rome. Paul wanted to meet and strengthen the Christians who were already there. He also wanted to preach the good news about Jesus everywhere he possibly could, including the capital city of the Empire.
*We know this because in Romans 1:9-16 Paul wrote:
9. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,
10. making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you.
11. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established
12. that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
13. Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.
14. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.
15. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
*About 4 years later, Paul did make it to Rome. But he got there as a prisoner of the Roman Empire, even though his only crime was telling the truth about Jesus. Paul was in the city to appeal his case to Caesar. (1)
