The Benefits Of Justification

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). We have peace with God (vs 1)

(2). We stand in grace (vs 2a)

(3). We have hope (vs 2b).

(4). We have daily confidence (vs 3-4).

(5). We rejoice in God (vs 5-11).

SERMON BODY

Ill:

• In his book, ‘Disorder in the American Courts’,

• Marcelle Boren list things the true people actually said in court,

• Here are a few of my favourites.

(1).

• ATTORNEY: What is your date of birth?

• WITNESS: July 18th.

• ATTORNEY: What year?

• WITNESS: Every year.

(b).

• ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?

• WITNESS: A Gucci sweater and Reeboks.

(c).

• ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning?

• WITNESS: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"

• ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you?

• WITNESS: My name is Susan.

(d).

• ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?

• WITNESS: Would you repeat the question?

(e).

• ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?

• WITNESS: All my autopsies are performed on dead people.

(f).

• ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK?

• Now what school did you go to?

• WITNESS: Oral.

• TRANSITION: In case you are wondering why I am telling you this nonsense;

• The word “justify” is borrowed from a court of law,

• So that is my feeble connection (although I hope it made you smile)

• So, now to the serious stuff:

• The apostle Paul ended chapter 4 with the words;

• “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”

• Chapter 5 verse 1 starts with;

• “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith”.

• So “justify” or “justification” in both those verses,

• And they are the foundation to what he shares in verses 1-11.

Note:

• Now as I mentioned earlier, the words “justify” or “justification” is legal jargon,

• In a court of law.

• When someone has been accused of a crime,

• A trial is held and the accused will either be found guilty or innocent.

• If found innocent, the accused is declared justified.

• That person can walk out of the courtroom a free or woman;

• Because they have been declared right before the law;

• And therefore the law has no claim of punishment on them.

Now there is a spiritual parallel to that scenario and it is this:

• God declares or pronounces every true believer to be justified before him;

• That is God sees them, ‘Just as though they had never sinned’

• He can do that, not because they are perfect,

• But because Jesus Christ is perfect and we are made right through him.

Ill:

• To change the illustration:

• Before conversion we were in debt to God;

• And we had no means of ever clearing that debt.

• Jesus who was in credit,

• Willingly took on our debts and paid them,

• But he also transferred his credit into our accounts.

• So that we can never be in debt again!

• Now in these verses of Romans chapter 5;

• The apostle Paul will explain the benefits of justification.

• The benefits of being in credit with God.

(1). We have peace with God (vs 1).

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, WE HAVE peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Ill:

• While Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq are well known conflicts,

• There are more than 40 active conflicts around the world at the moment.

• From Yemen to the Ogaden,

• Question: Anyone know where Ogaden is?

• Answer: Ogaden (Somali: Ogaadeen) is the official name of the Somali Region,

• So from Yemen to the Ogaden, from Kashmir to Western Sahara;

• The horrors of war is devastating for the people who live there.'

• Quote: IRIN says.

“The number of people affected by humanitarian crises has almost doubled over the past decade.”

• Source:

• https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4453666/The-world-war-Interactive-map-reveals-conflicts.html

• TRANSITION: Did you know that the Bible speaks of humanity as a whole,

• Being at war?

• The war is between mankind and God.

• e.g. Verse 10: “…we were God’s enemies…”

• e.g. Colossians chapter 1 verse 21:

• “…alienated and hostile…” towards him.

• People are in a state of militant hostility towards the God of the universe,

• One day we will realise what a mismatch this situation is.

• Mankind might appear to win the battles but God will ultimately win the war!

Yet:

• Every Christian ‘through faith’ in Jesus Christ (i.e. Conversion)

• Has raised the white flag of surrender,

• And ironically when we dropped to our knees in defeat,