Sermon Central
-
A Power That Is Stronger Than Sin Series
Contributed by Alan Braun on Mar 22, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: A study on the Book of Romans
A Power That Is Stronger Than Sin
Romans 4:24-25 - Raised for our justification
The primary business of the gospel is to reconcile man to God. To put us in the place where we can again just ask God to take care of us. It puts us back in the garden of Eden.
Where you COULD buy a ticket to freedom. And you could be ABSOLUTELY SURE it was going to pay off.
$$$$$$$$$GRAND LOTTO$$$$$$$$$$
You Are guaranteed To Win $100,000,000,000
Plus we will, because of new technology,
also guarantee that we will extend your life
until you reach 140 years old! You will be in
perfect health until the day you die.
Cost of this ticket $100,000
$$$$$$$$$$LIMITED TIME OFFER!$$$$$$$$$$
How would you be? If you buy a ticket, and KNOW FOR A FACT you were going to win.
Well, okay. But I was talking to someone the other day who’s going through some pretty tough times. Husband’s unemployed, hardly enough money on the dole to keep food on the table. Arguing all the time cause they’re under financial pressure. And it just doesn’t look like it’s going to get any better. And she said to me, well, we can’t fix the marriage till we fix up the money problems. And we can’t do anything about that, cause of this. And we can’t do that cause of something else. So life’s just one misery after another.
Which is a funny thing, cause I’ve known other people who’ve got absolutely nothing. And are just FULL OF JOY.
WE CAN REJOICE IN OUR COMPLETE ASSURANCE (5:1).
We have a new spiritual position before God.
We have been justified by faith.
Paul restates the great truth of Romans chapters three and four. “Therefore having been justified by faith . . .” (5:1).
It is a once and for all act of God whereby He declares us righteous in His sight.
In Galatians 2:16 Paul makes the greatest statement of salvation by grace through faith as opposed to a salvation by works. He writes, “a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”
How do we become a child of God? “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26).
Justification by faith illustrated
We have “peace with God” (v. 1).
Since we have been justified by faith, the first result Paul says is we have peace with God. If you have really believed on Christ, you will have peace with God. If you are justified you are a member of His family. There is no longer any hostility between you and God. You are at peace with Him. We are no longer held in fear of God. We don’ t have to worry about dying and facing God.
Why do Christians have this deep inner peace with God?
What can you do when you lose that sense of peace? The way to get back on track is not by working on your feelings. Open your Bible and review your justification. Go back over the facts from God’s Word. Remind yourself of what God has declared about you. God is able to perform what He has promised. Satan will always accuse you and try to destroy your peace with God. Talk to yourself. Remind yourself of this great truth in God’s Word. “My acceptance with God does not depend upon me. It all depends upon Him. My sin does not cancel out my justification. God has dealt with all my sins in Christ’s death and resurrection. Jesus died for me on the Cross. I rest upon that great fact. God has reckoned or imputed His righteousness to me because I believe He has death with my sin in the work of Jesus Christ. God has acquitted me. The Bible says, ‘There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).” Reckon upon God’s promises and the fellowship will be restored. That experience of peace will be restored, as you trust Him.
How do you restore the fellowship? God has provided us a bar of soap and He wants us to use it daily. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us” (I Jn. 1:9–10). Keep short agendas with God. Deal with sin daily. Don’t let sinful behavior, thoughts or attitudes rob you of that sense of peace. Cultivate that sense of peace. Unconfessed sin, unrepented sinful behavior, bad attitudes will rob you of experiencing peace with God. Keep your heart tender toward God and you will experience His deep peace. We can rejoice because we have complete assurance.
