Oh Glorious Day - Part 2 Series

Dying He Saved Me Romans 5:1-11

Sermon by Don Emmitte, Grace Restoration Ministries

Today we come to our second in a series titled Oh, Glorious Day! Each of these messages is built around the theology expressed in the chorus of the song sung by Casting Crowns:

Living He loved me,

Dying He saved me,

And buried He carried my sins far away,

Rising He justified freely forever,

One day He's coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day!

Last week we look at “Living He Loved Me.” Today, we see Dying He Saved Me.”

TAKE YOUR BIBLES, PLEASE…

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:1-11 ESV).

Many years ago I saw an article in Look Magazine quoting some famous people and how they had found “peace of mind.” There were sixteen prominent Americans quoted in the article. The following stood out in my mind:

 James A. Michener, who wrote over forty novels, among them South Pacific, The Bridges at Toko-Ri, Texas, and Hawaii, said: “That which brings me the most peace is taking my two dogs for a walk along old streams and fields that haven’t been plowed for half a century.”

 Barry Goldwater, former five term senator from Arizona and champion of conservatism launching a revolution within the Republican Party with his candidacy for president of the United States in 1964, said: “I am most at peace through my hobbies – photography, boating, flying, and camping. Most of all, I am at peace when I am hiking in the Grand Canyon.”

 Walter Cronkite, television news pioneer and CBS Legend, said: I am most at peace in my solitude. I can truly be at peace going to the sea alone by small boat.”

 Sammy Davis, Jr., actor, singer, comedian, who played with Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra as a part of “The Rat Pack,” said: I am at peace looking for the good in other people.”

 Bill Moyers, journalist for PBS and White House Press Secretary for LBJ, said, “I find peace in a family reunion, usually in some remote, quiet retreat.”

All of these answers, and usually the answers we hear from others, are dependent upon favorable circumstances. It is interesting to me that though we live in a free nation that which seems to elude most Americans is a feeling of freedom. Peace of mind and heart is truly elusive for many.

Let me begin to unpack some of our text today. Peace with God is by definition a peaceful relationship with God. The establishment of this relationship is our first and deepest need. Man’s greatest need is not peace with other men. It is not even peace with himself. Man’s greatest need is peace with God. The declaration of the Apostle Paul is that we have the answer to our deepest need. This peace with God should be distinguished from the peace of God. Those who know peace with God may enjoy the peace of God as an inner benefit of the spiritual tranquility that is conveyed, but the peace with God is basically a reconciled relationship with God, not an inner peace. It is not a subjective feeling. THAT’S THE BASIS FOR OUR SINGING OH, GLORIOUS DAY! So, with that in mind there are three principles to understand.

First, the Peace With God Is the Fruit of Justification.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Don’t miss the first word of this passage. Therefore is the word on which the entire passage turns. It indicates a direct relationship between what is here stated and what has gone before. Beginning in Romans 3:20 up to this verse, the Apostle Paul has presented the great theme of justification by faith. So, he says, Therefore, since we have had faith which produces justification, we have peace. It is important to understand the use of the particular verb translated “since we have faith” has being a past perfect. That is to say it represents a completed work. The better translation is “having already been justified.” This reconciled relationship with God is the direct result of the justification.