The Benefits of Being Justified Part 2
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
This morning, we began looking at this chapter, and began preaching on “The Benefits of Being Justified” - I was only able to make it through verse 5, so I want to finish this thought this evening...
We looked at A Peace for our Situation, A Position for our Standing, A Patience for our Struggles, and concluded in verse 5. I didn’t mention this during the morning service, but in verse 5, we have A Promise for our Satisfaction.
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Satisfaction is a great benefit of salvation!
Paul wrote, 1 Tim. 6:6 “6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Got intends for His people to be satisfied.
In verse 5, we see that we will never be disappointed in the Lord, why? Because we are never depleted of His love.
God’s love isn’t given to us in a trickle, it is shed abroad in our hearts. Some Christians live as if it was only a trickle but God wants us to know the outpouring of His love.
Spurgeon writes, “The love of God is like light to a blind eye until the Holy Ghost opens that eye… may the Holy Spirit now be here in each one of us, to shed abroad the love of God in our hearts.”
IV-A Payment For Our Sin
IV-A Payment For Our Sin
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Paul stresses in these verses the depth and magnitude of God’s love for us.
We were helpless!
The phrase without strength in verse 6 carries the idea of being "feeble, weak, and powerless." The idea is that sinful man is utterly helpless when it comes to his salvation. We are sinners before God and we are powerless to change that.
We were horrible!
Verse 6 says Christ died for the ungodly. This word refers to those who, “without reverence for or fear of God.” It literally means to “live your life as if God did not exist.” Because we are helpless to change our sinful nature, we live our lives as we please without regard for God, or for His Law and will.
To be “ungodly” does not mean that one must wallow in sin!
Most people today feel they are good and have done good works in their life, whether it’s helping others or contributing to society in some way, but the Bible says there is none good, no not one. The Bible says in sin, we are ungodly...
The unsaved church member is just as godless as an Adolph Hitler!
Here’s the thing, when a person refuses to bow before the Lord in salvation, he is essentially setting himself up as his own god. Therefore, he does as he pleases, he worships himself without any regard for the true God. Hence, he is “godless”. Even if they seem like a pretty good person on the outside...
We were hopeless!
Talk about a hopeless situation. If we had been righteous, there would at least be some scarce hope. Rom. 5:7 “7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: ”
But the Bible says, Rom. 3:10 “10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”
Even if there were some good found in us we would have had hope, yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. Again, the Bible tells us Rom. 3:12 “12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
These verses describe the miserable condition we were all in when God’s love was shown to us.
We were helpless, horrible, hopeless, but we were helped!
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Notice the contrast!
Instead of leaving us helpless, horrible, and hopeless, Christ stepped in and provided a way of salvation for us!
Why? Because He loved us!
This is a precious love! This is a love that sacrifices for the one who is loved!
The word commendeth means to “declare, demonstrate, or prove.”
Calvary’s cross is the undeniable proof of God’s love to this world.
I challenge you to take a look back at a place called Calvary. There you will see a holy and a sinless God, the Creator, dying for the creature that hates Him.
Watch as the life leaves His body.
Watch as His blood runs down the cross.
Listen as His blood drips in great pools on the ground.
Hear Him as He gasps for His last breath and gives His life a sacrifice for sin.
Look at that broken and bleeding form hanging there lifeless on that cross and tell me that God doesn’t love you!
There never has been, nor will there ever be a greater demonstration of God’s love than that of a broken and dead Savior on a bloody cross.
V-A Prospect For Our Salvation
V-A Prospect For Our Salvation
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
In these verses, Paul tells us what we have become through the selfless sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. Because He loved us when we were unlovable, we have received some blessings from Him that we need to know about this evening. Notice the expression, “Much more then”. We have been completed in Him. Let’s notice what we have because of Jesus.
We have been justified...
It is for certain that our justification was purchased at a great price—the blood of Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. 1:18-19 “18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
God invested the blood of Jesus in our redemption.
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Without the shed blood of Jesus, there is no salvation. Eph. 1:7 “7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
We have been saved from wrath...
It is the future that Paul has in mind here…He is speaking of the finality of our salvation. The word wrath carries the idea of anger in punishment and speaks of the day of judgment.
Because we are in Jesus, we are protected from the wrath of God. Simply stated, no child of God need ever fear dying and going to Hell! Jesus has already paid the price and quenched the wrath of God toward those who believe in Him.
God didn't save us to lose us—He saved us to keep us. There will be no believers at the Great White Throne Judgment. For those who put their faith in Christ, the wrath of God was forever satisfied on Calvary.
We have been reconciled...
The word reconciled in verse 10 means “to change or exchange.”
We’ve changed from enemy to friend!
Sin has caused separation and enmity between God and man. Because of the blood of Christ, the separation has been bridged and we now have fellowship!
As I mentioned this morning, instead of being at war with God, we now have peace with God!
VI-A Praise For Our Savior
VI-A Praise For Our Savior
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
As a result of Christ's reconciling atonement, our hearts are filled and overflowing with joy. At one time we could not come into the presence of God, let alone rejoice in His presence. We were enemies and therefore barred from His presence. Now we can come into the very presence of God—the One Whose wrath was previously focused upon us, but now in His presence, there is joy. We are no longer on the outside, we are part of the family.
Conclusion
Conclusion
When I read these verses, I’m amazed that God would do all this just for us, but He did!
Our blessings are far greater than the mind could ever begin to comprehend.
In light of all this, how is it with you and God?
Are you saved?
Are you as close to Him as you should be?
Are you in love with Jesus?
Maybe you’d like to just come and tell the Lord how much you love Him and thank Him for all the great gifts He has given you...