Just As If I Had Never Sinned

Just if I Had Never Sinned

Romans 5:1-2

The great 16th Century German Reformer, Martin Luther, called it “the article upon which the church stands or falls.”

The article in question is that of justification by faith alone.

To Luther, whether this doctrine was believed and preached or not

was the basis by which we judge if it is a true church! A church ceases to be a church when it ceases to declare that sinners are reconciled to God by no other way than by faith.

The doctrine of justification by faith alone is essential to the gospel. The gospel ceases to be the ‘good news’ if it ceases to declare that Christ alone has accomplished our salvation.

Theologians have always understood that when we say we are justified by faith alone, we are really saying we are justified by the work of Christ alone. That’s why this doctrine is so important. If we contribute anything more to our salvation than simply believing what Christ has already done, we cheapen His work of grace and declare it insufficient.

· It’s not how many pews you jump

· It’s not how many people you feed with the food pantry

· It’s not how emotional you get during a service.

It’s simply the fact that Jesus Christ came and died and sealed the deal.

Eph. 2:8 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

Read Romans 4:1-3 –

Abraham recognized God as his righteous judge. It wasn’t the works of Abraham but the fact that he believed in God.

Justification – the process by which sinful human beings are made acceptable to a holy God. It is when He looks down and sees us as being guilty until the blood of His Son has been applied.

So we realize in verse one of Romans 5 that all this is possible because of what Christ did for us on the cross.

According to these two verses, we have three things that have been given to us because of our faith in Jesus.

1. Peace with God – dealing with our past

Romans 5:10 – “while we were enemies of God”

Sin is the great divider. You do not have the peace of God with sin in your life. There is no way. God hates sin.

Eph. 2:4,5 – “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (v5) even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ.”

How were we dead?

Eph. 1:1 – “you were dead in your trespasses and sins.”

You wander why nothing is going right in your life. Why do you continue to go backwards while everyone else if going forward?

SIN SIN SIN SIN!!!

This world and everyone in it is looking for peace. You might be one who is looking for this peace:

· In the bottle – But your problems are still there

· In the drug – But when come down, it’s the same

· In the world – They can’t offer you this type of peace

· In the church – We can’t give it to you

· In the Pastor – You can like me but I can’t give it to you

a. How do we get this peace? Accept Christ

Eph. 2:14 – “For He himself is our peace…”

Col. 1:20 – “He…having made peace through the blood of His cross…”

· Tell Christ you want that peace He talks about in John’s gospel. John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives…”

· Tell Christ you want the peace that passes all understanding that is talked about in Philippians 4:7

· Tell Christ you will take Him up on His promise of John 16:33 - “These things I have spoken unto you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

The only peace you can get in your life is found through God’s Son who came and died for your sins.

To remove sin – it takes blood! Blood that has already been given on your behalf. All you have to do is accept it!!!

b. How do we keep this peace? Grace

Grace – a reprieve. A favor rendered by one who need not do so.

You are and will always be a sinner. Except now you are considered a sinner saved by grace. You have to continue everyday in asking forgiveness and keeping the fellowship with God pure.

When we sin, we begin to withdraw away from God. As we continue to withdraw we start feeling like we are not a part of God’s family. We are not enjoying the great benefits that we once experienced. (ex. Daddy never kicked me out)