S218-040608 Ro 5a
Alêtheia Christian Fellowship ~ 040608 ~ Romans 5a
Romans 5:1 ~ Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore - being justified, not by works (1–8), not by ritual (9–12), not by affiliation (13–25), but by faith, we have peace.
The first three never give peace to the soul.
Faith does.
Justified, i.e. having been legally exonerated/declared good, we posses peace toward (pro>v) God; not by our initiative or work, but through the active agency (dia>) of Jesus.
That is great! I want to explore something tedious and I believe if you will indulge me we can come to an even greater understanding of this verse, but for an important purpose.
First, IF we will concentrate for a moment, we can better understand how to apply this verse in our life. Second, you will understand the Bible a little better and realize how truly amazing it really is and how you can rely on it.
We start with a Dutchman from Rotterdam named Desiderius Erasmus simply called Erasmus.
Erasmus was born in 1466, his parents died of plague when he was young, but he was well educated throughout Europe including England where he was friends of Sir Thomas More the once powerful friend of Henry VIII.
More who was beheaded over Anne Boleyn - He had burned 6 Tyndale followers and led the hunt for Tyndale himself.
Tyndale created an English Bible from Erasmus’ Greek as Luther did in German both of whom Erasmus admired, but did not support.
MSS – Textus Receptus is derived from no more than 25 Late Greek texts available to Erasmus. We now have more than 5,000 mostly earlier as well as more than 20,000 shedding light on the N.T.
You see in modern translations notes: The earliest and best MSS…
Here’s our problem – TR says, e]comen, but our earliest and best read, e]cwmen.
Indicative, e]comen = we have peace
Subjunctive, e]cwmen = possibility = we can have peace
Your Bible will say, “We have peace,” the indicative omicron.
Why, when we have the best evidence for omega do the translators refuse to use it?
Context is King! He saves men vs. man or man vs. a man
[6 verbal moods: Participle = gerund, Infinitive = verbal noun, Imperative = command, Indicative = fact, Subjunctive = possibility & Optative = wish]
Is it possible something else is going on here?
Advance Greek syntax demonstrates the use of a
Hortatory or Volitive Subjunctive, which functions as a first person imperative = let us have peace.
Within the context the volitive subjunctive would be, “Let us posses the peace we have.”
Here’s the point – finally… Because of what God has accomplished through Jesus we have peace that is the plain unvarnished truth!
While that’s true, Paul tells Christians, including himself, not to just comprehend it, but to experience it – to enter in to it from our side.
It is like salvation – it’s been given and is a done deal from God’s side, but people must accept it from their side.
God has done it for you through Jesus Christ – you have peace, but will you accept it and live daily in it?
Romans 5:1&2 ~ 1Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
Introduction is prosagwgh>, toward – lead/bring – place (sunagwgh>, is together – lead/bring – place). Christ brings us over to where God is and presents us toward Him thereby giving us access to God.
We get the introduction and resultant access by faith.
Into this Grace – an unmerited gift – in which we stand
To stand is a permanent standing, if we will grasp it – take ownership of it and stand!
Now, the first of 3 exultations/reasons to brag (kauca>omai) related to our new found peace and subsequent access.
You cannot brag about these 3 things unless you actually use what has already been given to you.
Key to Christian life is to enter in and we cannot do that unless we really believe to the core of our being!
Everything is about faith – life is a test of faith!
1st Boast: hope of the glory of God.
This is the first because it is foundational the other two; belief that we will be with God forever.
Romans 5:3-5 ~ 3And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
PROBLEM – If I have peace with God, i.e. I’m saved, why do I still have so many problems – since I’m suffering, maybe I’m not really saved?
2nd reason to brag: is our tribulations, i.e. qli~yiv, meaning extreme pressure – it will change the object into a different figure, conforming it to the shape of the mold.
How can we exult/boast in our difficulties, stress, pain, trials, temptations, and sickness?
Only with an eternal perspective!
We can know God loves us and cares for us when we experience severe pressure if we have the correct attitude born of faith.
Trouble is not the sign God has abandoned us – It’s the proof He hasn’t!
It is for our good and His purposes - If we know God we know He appoints suffering.
Control – Will to Power – that’s the point of wealth, position, fame, prestige and power.
For God’s Purpose and our growth, tribulation is linked to: Perseverance, uJpomonh>, meaning to remain under great pressure to leave.
Most people cannot wait for the trial to run its course.
We are surprised, freak out and run all over to bring pressure to a quick end.
Bob Travis in Turkey twice!
1 Peter 4:12 ~ Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
James 1:2-4 ~ 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Maturity, what a novel idea…
Character is dokimh>, is evidence that proves something obtained through testing; it is proven character.
Blood at a crime scene is tested to prove it was from the suspect and becomes evidence.
Character is completely theoretical until the person is tested – just as faith is only theoretical until tested.
Abraham had it in him to obey, but it was not proven until he made the downward thrust.
Hope is ejlpi>v, to anticipate and is therefore a confident expectation, not the type of uncertain hope we normally think of related to this word. We HOPE the sun will rise in the morning – really we expect it because of our experience
The reason hope does not disappoint is because through the process we realize God loves us and we love Him, therefore it proves our faith is true and correct just as it proved our faith and grew it within us.
The love is poured all the way out until empty causing an overflow of the new vessel – nothing is held back!
It is accomplished by the Holy Spirit who has been given to every Christian, period!
If the Holy Spirit is in you, you are filled with agapê, first for God and then to others. This love changes your perspective.
If you love God you want to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus and you rejoice that the pressure comes to shape you - it’s all about faith.
TREADMILL – Past performance is the best indicator of future action! We hope that we will die?
I hate running, I endure, I have a runner’s character…
Romans 5:6-11 ~ 6For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Verse 6 states the beginning of an, a fortiori argument, but also lets us know that Jesus came at precisely the right time on behalf of/for the sake of/instead of.
Verse 7 is a parenthesis answering the obvious objection and is similar to the grenade story.
Verse 8 picks up the first part of the argument again. God proves His love for mankind by giving what was most precious while we were sinners, i.e. enemies.
Verse 9 gives the second part of the argument – how much more then, will God save us now that we are His friends through Christ?
Verse 10 explains further using different words for the same a fortiori argument.
Reconciled is toward us where propitiation is toward God
We are saved in His life
We exult because God’s love for us is utterly realistic – He already knows who you are and who you’ll be – so there is zero chance that He will abandon you!
Stop trying to be something you’re not and rest in Him.
Teal’c – the least you can do…
Hebrews 7:23-27 ~ 23Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because He did this once for all when He offered up himself.
Verse 11 gives us our 3rd thing in which to exult/boast. We boast in God Himself because of His perfect plan and will giving us relationship through the completed work of Christ.
If you will accept it God has saved you forever and nothing can change that fact.
You are eternally secure in Christ IF you want to be eternally secure.
Everyone wants to be eternally secure as they would define it, but we are talking about the eternal security of Biblical Christianity.
To genuinely desire this specific eternal security implies that you have accepted God’s plan by faith and continue to accept that reality.