The Blessings Of Being Right With God Series

The Blessings of Being Right with God

Romans 5:1-5 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. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 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.

Intro: Paul has been sharing in the previous chapter how only faith in God can make a person right with God. This idea of being made right with God is called being justified. Justification is a big word that basically means “declared righteous.” Paul took great pains to make it clear that nobody can be declared righteous or justified based on their works. There is nothing we can brag about that would make us righteous. Only by trusting in Jesus can we be made righteous (Jews, Gentiles alike).

-So Paul begins ch.5 by saying, “Now, since we have been made righteous through faith….” The believers at Rome were working out their differences, but Paul doesn’t try to disqualify any of them. If their faith is in Jesus, they have been justified, made right with God.

-Our text today gives several blessings or benefits of being right with God. Let’s go ahead and look at them.

1. Those who are right with God are at peace with Him (1-2a)

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.

-We were enemies of God, but if you have put your trust in Jesus and asked God to forgive you and make you right with Him, then you are now a friend of God – just like Abraham! And it is by faith (trusting God) that you are able to live in His grace. Standing in grace could also be called standing in God’s favor. Someone made an acrostic from the word GRACE (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense).

-The wealth of God replaces the wrath of God! All because of Jesus! No more fighting against God – a war you can never win! The only way to win is to lose. Lose your pride, lose your resistance to God, lose your life without God! Join His team! Those who put their faith in God and receive what Jesus did for them on the cross find peace with God!

2. Those who are right with God find joy in the hope of seeing Him (2b)

Romans 5:2b “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”

-Sometimes when we see phrases like this (“the glory of God”), we tend to pass over them because they sound so churchy or religious. It’s actually a beautiful phrase, but it helps to really look at what it means.

-One day Moses asked the Lord to show him His glory. Exodus 33:17-18 17 And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." 18 Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."

-What was Moses asking here? He wanted to see God! He wanted to see Him in all His majesty and splendor! And God let Him look as He passed by, but wouldn’t let Him look at His face because nobody could do it and live.

-The glory of God is the brightness of His presence. He is so powerful and so life-giving that He radiates an incredible brightness. It is pure existence that flows out of Him! Paul speaks of God as the One who lives in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16). He goes on to say that nobody has or can see Him!

-Yet there are other verses that talk about seeing God. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. King David desired to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD, and spoke often of seeking His face. Why would we seek God’s face if we could never see it? This is the blessing reserved only for those who are right with God! We will see Him! We will look on His face! We will see His glory!

John 14:1-3 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.