'You Are Justified" (part III)

Sermon Preached By Kendrick D. Weaver - February 27, 2005

Romans 5:1-11

After the Jewish-Christians and Gentile-Christians acknowledged their vital similarities, understood that they were unworthy, accepted God’s grace, embraced life in Christ, ceased trusting in works, were released from believing in the law, adopted the faith of Abraham, were transformed into a new identity; Paul says, since we have been justified,

“Now, that we are all on one accord, standing in the same place, and are reconciled with God, what does it mean?  “What are the results, conclusions, repercussions and consequences of this state of justification?” 

I.  We possess Peace with God

Verse 1

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul says, as a result of being justified, we now have peace with God.  Our state of justification allows us to possess tranquility and serenity.

Notice Paul does not say our justification has made our life peaceful, but says we now possess peace with God while we live.  There is a difference between a peaceful life and possessing peace with God.  When someone has a peaceful life, he or she is dependent upon circumstances.

They are dependent on being healthy, the right type of career, a level of financial security, their family staying together, their children and grandchildren becoming successful, living in a safe neighborhood and nice house, having a beautiful marriage.

A peaceful life makes one dependent on circumstances and situations going a certain way, but, when you possess peace with God, your circumstances do not dictate.  You could be healthy or sick, rich or poor, successful or unsuccessful, married or divorced.  You could be in any type of circumstance or situation and still have peace.

Paul is saying because you have been justified you have peace with God, no matter the circumstances and situations around you.  One of the major problems with the mentality of our school systems is that they are solely focused on creating a peaceful environment.  The school system believes if it has enough security guards, metal detectors, computers, segregated classes, uniforms, medication, small class sizes and counseling programs, then it will have peace in the schools.

However, when one of the security guards doesn’t come to work, the mental detectors break down, the budget can no longer support both the counseling program and the new computers, the medication runs out, the class sizes begin to increase, then your peace is gone.  One of the major problems of our school system is that it is trying to create a peaceful environment and not teaching the children how to possess peace.  We are moving as a society to a place where it is acceptable to look for peace in everything else, but God  (and ironically, God) is the only place we can truly find our peace.  Paul is saying, since we are justified, we have been afforded a peace that most are searching for but few will experience.   

II. We experience God’s presence

Verse 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.

The glory of God is the magnificence and overwhelming presence associated with God appearing before a person.  Experiencing the glory of God indicates that a person has entered into a closer proximity of God’s presence.  Paul is saying, since we are justified we celebrate in the hope of experiencing a closer relationship with God; we celebrate in the hope of being near to God.

There are certain characteristics that are associated with God’s glory.

Exodus 33:18-23

First, God’s glory is too much for any of us to handle.

In this passage, Moses is only allowed to see God’s back from a certain point; he is only allowed to experience the hind side of God’s glory.  People always say that God will not give you more trials and tribulations than you can handle.  Well, the same thing is true for blessings.  God will not give us more blessings and goodness than we can handle.  Most of us can only handle the hind side of God’s goodness, the hind side of God’s glory.  Most of us wouldn’t even know what to do with it.  Some of us have not experienced and witnessed any miracles because we have not reached the level of spiritual maturity in order to handle them.  Your faith is so weak that if a miraculous event does occur in your life you would just rationalize it away; therefore, God hasn’t even attempted to expose you to that yet.  God is saying, just look at my back from over there because that is all you are able to handle right now. 

Exodus 34:29-35

Second, exposure to God’s glory will alienate you from other people.

After Moses had spoken with God, his face became so radiant that he had to use a veil when speaking with other people.  Once you begin cultivating a closer relationship with God, you will inadvertently create distance between you and some people.  The nature of an intimate relationship with God necessitates changes within you that will make you look strange to some people on the outside.

 Acts 9:3-8

Third, God’s glory will cause a change in plans.

Saul was going to Damascus with the intent of persecuting and imprisoning Christians.  During this mission, he encountered the glory of God, and it compelled him to become a follower of Jesus Christ instead of a persecutor.  When you start entering the proximity of God’s greatness, what you thought you wanted to do, you will not want to do anymore.  What you thought you would never do, you start doing.  Exposure to God’s presence will change some of your plans.

Since we are justified, we rejoice in the hope of experiencing a closer relationship with God; we rejoice in the hope of encountering God’s glory.

Verse 3-5

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.

Paul is saying, we don’t only rejoice in our mountain top experiences.  We don’t only rejoice when we are in God’s glory and feel inspired, motivated and intimate with God.  We also rejoice when we feel alone, dejected, uninspired and distanced from God.  We also rejoice when we are suffering.

You suffered through a painful situation.  Once you realized that you were suffering through this, you began to endure it.  Once you realized that you endured that situation, you began to develop the character to handle it.  Once you realized that you had developed this character, you began to manifest hope.  Once you realized that you had this hope, you began to see that it was God’s love and presence which had carried you through it all along.

Paul is saying that your joy and sadness, your delight and pain, your success and failure, your capabilities and shortcomings all lead you to the same place:  God’s love and presence.  Since we have been justified by faith, we experience God’s peace and God’s presence everywhere we go.

THE CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER

Living God, whenever your presence is felt, fruits of love, joy, patience, peace and faithfulness abide.  We are a people seeking your fruits.  Our relationships and companions unveil our search for love.  Commitments to global communication and negotiation reveal our desire for peace.  In routine and discipline we look for the essence of faithfulness.  Through long-term goals and planning, we attempt to manifest patience while in our entertainment we try to experience joy.  However, our efforts have yet to yield the intended results.  We have by-passed the foundation of all our wishes and necessities.  Dear Lord, redirect our path and restructure our approach.  May we obtain the fulfillment of our wants and needs through you and service to others.  Amen.