I. What Faith In The Gospel Gains For You Vs. 1, 2
A. Justification1Therefore, having been justified by faith…
1. Therefore- Paul had established that justification didn’t come by good works, religious ceremony, or by obeying religious laws. Since those options were ruled out, and since it
was firmly established that man is justified through faith in Jesus Christ, then the following benefits and blessings would follow, and could be experienced by every
saved person.
a. NOTE- Salvation is received by faith, nothing else.
b. In the same way, the blessings Paul enumerates are also experienced through faith.
c. The experiential blessings of the Christian life can never be found by doing good works, religious ceremonies, or obey the laws of God. Only by faith.
d. Though these blessings are available to every Christian, not every Christian experiences them.
e. Why?- It could be an unwillingness to believe, a sinful love of the world, indifference in God, giving up in the face of trials, etc.
f. Others have struggled through the fear of trusting God, and discovered that He is trustworthy, and that His promises are true. By experience, they agree with Paul.
2. Justified- This is the first thing that happens when a person puts their faith in Jesus.
3. By faith- Faith is the door we walk through, that we choose to walk through.
a. Faith is the hand that takes hold of the promises of God.
B. Peace With God- we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
1. Peace– to bind together that which has been separated (due to our sins separating us)
2. with God- facing, as in face to face.
3. Through our Lord Jesus Christ– all of this happens because of what Jesus did.
C. A Standing In Grace-2-through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand,
1. Through whom- Jesus is the access point, the door.
2. By faith– Faith is how we walk through the access point
3. Access- to bring one face to face with another; the privilege of approach.
a. Moulton & Mulligan- approach to a harbor, approach to a safe landing place.
b. Wuest- When a friend properly clothes another, in order to bring him into the presence of the king. The friend gains access through the help of another.
4. We stand in grace- grace is unmerited favor, divine friendship and help
D. A Rejoicing Because Of Hope- and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Yet future.
II. What Faith In The Gospel Produces In You Vs. 3-5
A. The Ability To Glory In Tribulations3And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations,
1. Glory- To exult because of something
2. Tribulations- pressing, pressing together, pressure, oppression, affliction, distress.
3. Not just “when we are in them”, but “because we are in them”.
4. The Christian must grow into realizing the tribulations are a means whereby the Christian grows in their character and faith.
5. We do not rejoice because of the pain, but because of what the pain will produce.
6. No suffering is wasted if the Christian will view it through eyes of faith.
7. It is possible for a Christian to pass through suffering, but never mature because of it.
a. We can pass through trials with resentment, anger, etc., and never employ faith.
b. We try to pass through trials by “staying busy”, but we never face the trial in faith.
c. If we go through trials without faith, we never grow in faith and character.
d. If we go through trials with faith, we can learn to rejoice because of our growth.
B. How We Can Glory In Tribulations
1. knowing that tribulation produces perseverance- steadfastness, constancy, endurance.
a. We become people that don’t “change our course” when tribulations come.
2. 4and perseverance, character- “approved-ness”. Tried integrity. A person who has been approved regarding their integrity. A state of mind which has stood the test.
a. NOTE- A Christian must be willing to go through trials in faith, if they hope to become people of integrity.
3. and character, hope.- A confident expectation of what God can and will do, according to His will.
C. Hope Doesn’t Disappoint
1. 5Now hope does not disappoint- to not be left ashamed.
a. A Christian may suffer a terrible tragedy, and others may judge them as having had a useless faith, an unrewarding faith, and a faith that brought no stability or reality
into their lives.
b. The critic thinks, “What a pity. That poor Christian put their faith in God, and look what God let happen to them. How can they ever recover? They say that they are
OK, but they are trying to put on their best face and tough it out. Surely, that cannot really be worshipping their God, and trusting Him. Surely they don’t believe that
‘all things work together for good for those who love God’.
c. Think about those who have given their lives for their faith in Jesus. The world looks on and mocks, shakes their heads, and thinks it a pitiful thing.
d. The Apostle Paul wrote that that was/is how the world views many Christians.
e. Romans 8:36, 37 36 As it is written: For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
2. because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts- to flood the heart
3. by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.- John 14:16-18 16And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—17the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
18I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
Horatio Spafford- Author of “It Is Well With My Soul”
This hymn was written after several traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871 at the age of four, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer). Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the SS Ville du Havre, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the now famous telegram, “Saved alone . . .”. Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving
wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.