Confidence And Assurance

IV. (5:1 - 8:39) RESULTS OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH

CHAPTER 5 -- CONFIDENCE AND ASSURANCE

A. (5:1-5) JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IS THE FOUNTAINHEAD FOR CONFIDENT CHRISTIAN LIVING

Context: assuring us that justification by faith is sufficient to carry us through eternity; it will never let us down (the foundation of our salvation will bear the weight of our lives)

1. We Have Peace With God -- RECONCILIATION -- a Healed Relationship

objective peace; present possession; a settled reality

God has ceased His hostilities against us!

2. We Have Access to God's Grace (signif. of perfect tenses)

(illustr.: victim of AIDS has no hope, nowhere to turn for help)

(illustr: curtain in the temple torn -- Matt.27:51)

3. We Are Assured of Future Glory so that our Hearts Have Been Set Free to Truly Rejoice (a bright future that gives us hope in the present)

4. We Have a New Character That is Being Developed and Discovered thru Suffering

sufferings don't shake our confidence or produce doubt; instead they reinforce our hope and help us to keep on rejoicing;

we are not yet perfect, but our character bears the evidence of the fruit of the Holy Spirit

5. We Have God's Loving Spirit Working Within Our Hearts

the certain hope of future glory will never disappoint us because we already possess within us the evidence of the love of God thru the Holy Spirit