Series: The Cure [#8]
WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?
Romans 5:1-11
Introduction:
As good Christians, I know that we aren’t supposed to be selfish; but be honest, don’t you want to know what’s in the Christian life for you? There is so much after salvation. I’m afraid that many people forget that there is more to the Christian life than just being saved. Salvation is just the beginning.
Romans 5:1 (NIV)
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Because you are saved…
1. You have peace with God.
Before a person is saved there is a separation between them and God and there is no way that they can have a relationship with God. A person who is not saved is at war against God. When you are saved, you are no longer at war with God; but a Warrior for God.
Romans 5:2a (NIV)
“Through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”
Because you are saved…
2. You have access to God.
Before you are saved, you can’t just go to God. You don’t have access to God because you are His enemy. The only prayer of an unsaved person that God hears is, “God forgive me because I’m a sinner. Come in my life and change me to be like You.
Once you are saved, you have access to God through Jesus Christ. It is through the grace of God that you can be saved. Through Jesus Christ, you can go to God at any time.
Romans 5:2b (NIV)
“And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”
Because you are saved…
3. You have hope.
Biblical hope is not wishful thinking. Biblical hope is confidence- Knowing that it will work out. Christians, your hope ought to give you joy. No matter what happens, a Christian knows the final outcome. I want you to really think about this, “Regardless of what people do to me or say about me, I know where I’ll be at the end and there is no one or thing that can take that away from me.
Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)
“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
Because you are saved…
4. Your problems have a purpose.
This is one of those verses in Scripture that you think, “Really? I’m supposed to rejoice when I’m having problems?” God uses these things in our lives to make us more like Christ.
God shows us the process to having Christ-like characteristics. These are listed in order. You go from one to the next.
Suffering.
We all go through things. We all suffer different types of problems. It’s never an “if” but a “when”. It is how we go through problems that makes a difference.
Suffering produces…
Perseverance.
Once you learn how to deal with suffering, you then must learn how to endure. Many people can live like Christ for a little while; but after a while they give up. This is something missing from the Churches of today.
Perseverance produces…
Character.
A person who can endure problems and yet still make godly decisions will have a character like Christ. Your character is outward evidence of your heart.
Character produces…
Hope.
We have already discussed hope; but I like what that next verse says.
Romans 5:5 (NIV)
“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”
Because you are saved…
5. The Holy Spirit fills you with God’s love.
You can put your hope in something that will disappoint you. Many people put their hope in something or someone that disappoints and embarrasses them. You can put your hope in the wrong thing; but when you put your hope in God you will never be disappointed. This happens because God has poured out His love into your heart.
Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
This is the picture of God’s love. He died for us. He has changed us. Notice who you were before Christ.
You were…
Powerless.
A sinner.
God’s enemy.
Christ did for us what we couldn't do for ourselves.
Romans 5:9-11 (NIV)
“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
Because you are saved…
6. You are eternally secure.
Once we are saved, it’s permanent. There is nothing that we can do to lose it. With that said, let me caution you- Only you and God know if you are saved. We will all stand before God and be judged. Your spiritual condition will determine which judgment you will go through. If you are saved, your life will go through the refiner’s fire and whatever in your life is of God will last. If you are not saved, you will go through the Great White Throne Judgment and your life will be laid out for all to see and then you will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
Conclusion:
We have much to rejoice about. If someone ask you, “Is it worth it to give your life to Jesus Christ and follow Him each and every day”, I hope your answer is, “Yes”.
