The Best Navigator Series

Christianity can be the same – you start off in maybe Sunday School and progress right through to adult faith.

Paul also reveals a progression here in Romans chapter 5.

Verse 1 we are justified through faith and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ – this is abc basic Christianity – very simple – Paul goes on - through whom we have gained access by faith into his grace – We come and understand that we are participants in the Christian family saved by God and loved by God – it is a position we attain through the blood of Jesus Christ it involves sacrifice but Jesus is the sacrifice poured out so that we may gain this position.

Then comes the rub – moving up a gear – we are now racing paul says

Philippians 3:14

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

He also says - 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

It is one thing to have gained the position it is quite another thing to actually stand in the faith we confess.

Look! In life hardship is inevitable.

The bible doesn’t change It just whittles things down and says you need the right kind of hardship. Hardship for a profit.

A Drunkard, Prostitute, or liar might come into hardship but it is the wrong sort.

Martin Luther made a stand for Christ and was commanded to appear before the Emporer and said this "Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen."April the second 1522

Stephen in the Bible or Joseph endure hardship for the right reasons. But sometimes we avoid pain

In which we now stand leads to in Romans chapter 5

in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

In a rally there is an adrenalin buzz in having endured each stage and most drivers survive.

We need to understand that being a Christian leads to testing times but many people don’t take a stand and they miss out on the blessing of suffering.

Out of suffering comes fruit – that is why the early church grew so much in the book of Acts.

To take a stand for Christ, “show up” and do what you can do. You don’t have to be a big shot to do that.

Thirdly and finally remember the navigators job is to get you to your destination!

As it says in Romans chapter 5 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.