Sermon Tone Analysis

/Sermon Type/*:  Expository*

/Title/*:   Benefits of Justification*

/Passage/*:  Romans 5:1-11 *

* *

/Subject Compliment:/*  Justification’s benefits are only obtainable through Jesus Christ.*

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/Proposition/*:  We must live righteously because of the benefits of justification.*

!! *Introduction*

Illustration:  Most everyone has been through the process of finding a new job.

Sometimes you are just looking for some work during the summers between college semesters, other times you are looking for a job that will provide for the family and keep you secure for a while.

When you go to the interview, you get asked some questions.

Then you have some questions when you are there as well, such as, how much is the pay, what are the days and hours, and what are the benefits.

The benefits that you are looking for are health and dental insurance, holidays, paid vacation time, ect.

Most of the time, job is considered “good” when the benefits are good.

When a person comes to know Christ as their savior, they receive some benefits.

These benefits are incomparable!

No job can have as good benefits as the ones Christ gives.

In chapters 1-4 Paul explains the truth about salvation: salvation is only received through faith.

Paul’s main argument in these chapters was that man must be justified by faith.

Because of God’s righteousness, anyone, Jew and Gentile could be justified by faith.

Not only could anyone be justified, but they would also experience the blessings of justification.

These blessings of justification are described in Roman 5:1-11.

These blessings are crucial to understanding the full effects of justification.

The importance of understanding this passage is best described in the words of D. M. Lloyd- Jones, “This fifth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans not only introduces a new section, but is in many ways the key to understanding the remainder of the letter.”[1]

!!!  /Introductory Issues: Placement/

Much debate has been had concerning the placement of Romans 5.

The debate is centered on placing this chapter with either 1:18-4:25 or 6-8; both sides present good arguments.

Some have even argued that chapter 5 is a transitional chapter that is connects one section to the other.

John Murray writes, “At the beginning of this chapter [5] we have the intimations of climatic and triumphant conclusion.”[2]

He places chapter 5 with the prior section making it the climax and conclusion of 1:18-4:25.

This is especially attractive for those that see the theme of justification prominent in chapters 1-5 with sanctification prominent in 6-8.

Chapter 5 does fit in with the previous chapters.

It sums up the thoughts on justification and gives the results of being a justified person.

“A more convincing analysis establishes the major break between chapters 4 and 5, so that chapters 1-4 are one major section and chapters 5-8 are another.”[3]

Much of Schreiner’s conclusion rests on the idea of a major shift in themes taking place.

There is an obvious shift indeed in the themes that Paul addresses.

The theme shifts from “justification by faith to anyone who believes” to “hope of the believer.”

Even the language that Paul used changes, Paul begins in 5:1 to use the first person plural, “we.”

The evidence for making a transition at 5:1 is very convincing.

There is no doubt that there is a major transition taking place.

“Actually it makes relatively little difference which course we follow, because these verses are essentially a transitional passage containing ideas from the previous part of the argument…as well as those which pave the way for what is to follow.”[4]

Some have concluded that Romans 5:1-11 is a bridge connecting the two sections.[5]

The passage does seem to be transitional in nature.

It is obvious with οὖν (therefore) that Paul is connecting 5:1-11 with the prior passage.

Romans 5:1-11 is the summation and conclusion to 1:18-4:25, but as well, it is the introduction to the following section.

Viewing 5:1-11 as a transitional section may seem like a weak stance, but it makes the most sense.

Paul is writing a letter that explains theme of the Gospel to the Romans, not a highly systematic theology.

To make the divisions so ridged does not give Paul the credit of writing an excellent transitional section that bridges the content of 1:18-4:25 and 5:12-8.

!!! /Introductory Issues: Textual Variance/

Before looking at the benefits of justification, one must recognize that there is some debate on the Greek words e[comen (we have) or e[cwmen (let us have) in 5:1.

“Support for the subjunctive e[cwmen (/echomen/, "let us have") among the uncials includes B  aA C D E K L, in addition to cursives, versions, and patristic citations.

Support for the indicative e[comen (/echomen/, "we have") is provided by correctors of B  aFGP, besides cursives, versions, and patristic citations.”[6]

The debate is over one Greek letter: a short “o” (omicron) or a long “o” (omega).

Some have suggested that this could have been a simple dictation error when copied in Greek.[7]

This is very possible.

The subjunctive form has the most external evidence since it is the form used in the two most important Alexandrian uncials.

This would give the passage a tone of exhortation to cease from sin so that one can have “peace with God.”[8]

To fit with the overall context of the passage, many commentators have understood it to be in the indicative case.

This interpretation would encourage believers to enjoy the benefits that they have in justification.

The indicative is not without external support.[9]

For the most part, there is an agreement that the indicative, “we have,” is the stronger position.

!!! /Justification Explained/

To appreciate fully the benefits of justification, justification itself should be understood.

/Wayne Grudem’s definition of justification is excellent: An instantaneous legal act of God in which he (1) thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us, and (2) declares us to be righteous in his sight.//*[10]*/

God does the work of justification.

Some may think that since it is “by faith,” that they somehow have a roll in the justification process, but that is false.

Romans 3:24 clearly teaches that men are justified freely by God’s grace.

It is a gift.

No man can obtain or experience justification aside from the marvelous power of God.

Justification in and of itself is a gift and a benefit, but God, because of his amazing grace, gives the justified even more benefits.

!! *I.

Peace with God**  v.

1*

Having peace with God is the first benefit of justification seen in chapter 5.

This peace is not the feeling of peace or tranquility in life, but it is peace that is linked to reconciliation.

The peace that is described here can be understood better if seen through the eyes of the Old Testament prophets.

Isaiah, Ezekiel, Micah, and Haggai all wrote about having peace with God or of the peace that God brings.[11]

Peace is the way God describes his goodness to his people.

This peace is not an inward feeling of the peace of God (Phil.

4:7), but an outward state of ones relationship with God.

This peace is available to both Jew and Gentile equally.

Anyone that is justified by faith in Jesus Christ has peace with God.

/ /

/Ill~/App/: The world will never have peace.

There will always be wars and rumors of wars.

Even as recently as this last week, we see that North Korea wants no part of peace.

They have an objective in mind.

Fortunately for a believe we can have peace with our God.

We don’t have to worry about being enemies with Christ after we have been Justified.

He is our ally; we can trust him to be true to us in every matter.

!! *II.

Access to Grace**   v.

2*

Through Christ, those who are justified have the benefit of access to grace.

Some of the confusion associated with this benefit is in the word προσαγωγὴν.

There are only a few references to this word in the New Testament so the meaning of this word is difficult to determine.

Leon Morris believes that προσαγωγὴν should be translated as “introduction” rather than access.

“Introduction” more accurately depicts Christ’s action as the “introducer” of man to salvation.

Morris sees the translation, “access,” as putting too much emphasis on the strength of man.[12]

Moo on the other hand, believes that “the attention is more on the believer’s continuing ability to enjoy the presence of Christ.”[13]

It makes more sense to understand “access” that ability Christ gives to the justified to come intimately close to him and his grace.

For most Jews and Gentiles, access directly to God was unheard of; only the High Priest could enter Holy of Holies once a year and access God directly.

Now, through Christ, all those that have been justified have unlimited access to standing in grace.

This grace that all the justified have through Christ is different from normal grace.

This grace is closely related to God.