Peace with God

Let's open the word to Romans chapter 5, verse 1 to 5.

Romans 5:1–5

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,

we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Through him we have also obtained access by faith

into this grace in which we stand,

and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings,

knowing that suffering produces endurance,

and endurance produces character,

and character produces hope.

And hope does not put us to shame,

because God's love has been poured into our hearts

through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Okay, so we're going to jump into Romans chapter 5,

Romans 5 · chapter mention

the first five verses this morning.

I do so by way of just illustration from the election.

We're two months out from a federal election,

and you'd have to be something really wrong

if you've missed the huge election roadshow

that rumbles on every single day.

Switch on the radio, the TV, it's there.

It's just in front of us all the time.

But here's the problem with it.

In spite of a really punishing schedule of visits to electorates

all around the countryside,

in spite of the ongoing handshaking and baby kissing,

in spite of the big promises,

and equally big funding packages

that seem to be tossed around at this time of the year,

all of which we're told will build our nation,

will create jobs, will increase our prosperity,

in spite of all of that,

scepticism is really widespread.

In fact, many voters, I think it would be fair to say,

regardless of which party wins the election,

many voters believe there'll be no lasting or real change,

no lasting benefits.

It's just more words.

It's just a performance.

Now, there's a similar concern that Paul, I think,

is addressing as we move into chapter 5.

He's working systematically through the gospel, what it is.

And as we move into chapter 5,

Paul asks the question,

what does the gospel actually do?

What does it actually achieve?

What are the benefits of it?

Now, we've got to backtrack a little bit

and put that in context.

So, at the start, Paul, from the start,

Paul has been really excited about God's gospel.

He said it early on,

that God's gospel is God's powerful way of saving people.

That's Romans chapter 1, verse 16.

Romans 1:16

And then, in chapter,

they're bound to chapter 1 and chapter 2 and chapter 3,

he made it clear that unrighteousness

or failure to live in the light of what we know about God

means that every single person who's ever lived

actually needs the gospel,

desperately needs the gospel.

There's God's righteousness or holiness,

and against that,

our unrighteousness or rebellion or sinfulness.

We need the gospel.

The picture gets bigger and bigger and bigger.

And then, in chapter 3 and chapter 4,

he's spelled out in detail what the gospel is.

We fall short of God's glory

and we're overcome with God's glory

as we're saved in Christ.

And he tends to spell out in chapter 4

exactly how individual believers receive the gospel,

the benefits of the gospel,

or receive God's salvation.

And now, in chapter 5 through to 8,

he moves into the next section,

which is a really positive section,

and he's going to spell out one by one

the benefits of the gospel,

what it actually achieves,

what the results of it are,

what it actually does.

And it's like building blocks,

just putting them one on top of the other

to step up and up and up

just to see how amazing

these benefits are

that come to us in the gospel.

So we're going to jump into it this morning

just in five verses.

In short, as I want to introduce

these three chapters,

then in short,

what does the gospel achieve?

Well, the gospel means

a radical change

in the way God views us,

in the way God treats us.

I'll say that again.

The gospel means a radical change

in the way God views us and treats us.

So in Jesus,

as we move into verse 1 of chapter 5 here,

in Jesus,

the first radical change

in the way God views us and treats us

is that we have a new standing.

A new standing

in which peace

defines relationship with God.

Now those of you who know history

or were old enough to remember,

World War II

ended formally

with a very, very simple

radio announcement.

and it said this,

hostilities are over

and we are now at peace.

It sort of,

in one sense,

jars

against the five years

that led to that,

the millions

that died,

the destruction.

but there it was.

Hostilities are over

and we are now

at peace.

Folk had known

the awfulness of war

for so long.

Indeed,

folk had known

that the war

was unavoidable.

but still,

they longed for peace.

And can I say

that they've longed for peace

as only those

who've experienced war

can long for it.

It's something that

probably my generation,

well maybe

because I come from Ireland

is a little bit different,

but generally speaking,

people my age

have not experienced

anything except peace.

So we don't know

what it is

to long for peace.

How do you think

Ukrainians

or many in Russia

would be thinking

this morning

as they long for peace?

Or many other parts

around the world.

But here it is.

They've longed for it

and here it is at last

as they heard

that radio announcement.

And of course,

it brought

such tremendous joy

to people

that countless

tens of thousands

of people

just went into the streets

dancing and singing

and hugging and kissing.

That's what peace does

in contrast to war.

And now you can understand

people thinking

well now

relationships

will be defined

and governed by peace

rather than war.

the horror of war

being replaced

by peace.

I think that's what

Paul's talking about here.

I'm trying to build up

the picture

so we can actually

feel it emotionally.

In verse 1,

therefore,

since we have been

justified by faith,

we have peace

with God

through our Lord

Jesus Christ.

friends,

the immediate benefit,

the first tab

off the rank

in terms of what

the gospel achieves

is peace

with God.

Hostility

from God

is a thing

of the past

in respect

of his people.

But we actually

need to do

a little bit of work

so we're clear

about what

peace with God

means

because the whole

concept of peace

with God

has been pretty well

sabotaged

in our day and age.

When you talk

about peace

or peace

with God,

I think for many

it would simply

be reduced

to how they

feel about God.

and the process

would work

therefore

something like this.

I don't actually

feel any

animosity

towards God.

I've never

ever felt

any animosity

towards God

and I even

have an inner

sense of calm

when I think

about God.

And so therefore,

what are you

talking about?

I don't believe

there's ever been

a problem

in the relationship.

In fact,

I would venture

to say that I've

always been at

peace with God.

You see the danger

of that thing?

It's about how

I feel

towards God.

But you see,

our own experiences

in life

should make us

a little bit

cautious.

I think most of us

will experience

the shock

of discovering

that a relationship

we thought

was peaceful

and working

well

was actually

seriously broken.

It's just that we

didn't know about it

and that the other

party in the relationship

was actually really

hostile to us,

was at war with us.

Have you been there,

discovered that sort

of thing?

It's a shocking

thing to discover.

No amount

of pretending

a relationship

is peaceful

and functioning

well matters

if the other

person,

the other party

to the relationship

is not of the same

mind.

I can feel

really warm

and fuzzy

towards them,

but if they're

not warm

and fuzzy

towards me,

then the relationship

doesn't work.

So,

verse 1.

The focus here

for Paul

is not on how

I feel about God,

but far more

importantly,

it's about how

God feels about me.

That's what we

want to know about.

And the verse

then says,

therefore,

since we have

been justified

by faith,

we have peace

with God

through our

Lord Jesus

Christ.

In Jesus,

hostility

has been

brought to an

end.

There is no

more hostility

from God

towards me

in my

unrighteousness,

my sin,

my rebellion.

He spoke about

in chapters 1

and 2.

Why not?

Because of

what Jesus

has done

for me.

peace with

God

is tied

to the

death of

Christ

and is the

direct result

of being

justified

by grace

alone

through faith

alone.

So,

my friends,

the gospel

actually changes

the standing

or the way

God views

his special

people.

The gospel

means that God

is reconciled

to me.

Where once

I was pushed

away to

arm's length,

alienated from

God,

and God

alienated from

me because

of my

unrighteousness,

he's now

brought me

back.

He's now

reconciled

himself to

me through

the death

of the

Lord Jesus

Christ.

Again,

let me just

try an

illustration.

I'm just

keen to

try and get

us to feel

this, the

power of

this.

It's

familiar

words,

but I

deal with

it every

day of

the week

where people

can't just

grasp it

practically.

Three weeks

ago,

Russia began

hostilities

in Ukraine.

Now,

as we

ponder

that,

we know

that Ukrainians

don't want

hostility

and war

with Russia.

And what

do we have

to say?

Well, that

matters

little.

It matters

little that

Ukrainians don't

want hostilities

because superpower

Russia has

declared war.

So what's the

only hope of

peace,

realistically?

Well, it

will be if

superpower Russia

decides at some

point that the

graviences or

whatever the

issues were that

caused the

hostilities in

the first

place,

have been

satisfied.

My friends,

the superpower,

whether we like

it or not,

holds the

key to

peace.

So go back

to my

Second World

War

illustration.

Christ's death,

as it were,

then,

is God's

radio

announcement

that the

state of

war,

which is

holiness or

righteousness,

caused him to

declare in

response to our

unrighteousness,

our unholiness,

our sinful

rebellion,

is now over.

The superpower,

God,

the righteous

God,

declared war,

as it were,

declared hostility

against our

unrighteousness,

and he now

has declared

peace.

Why can he now

declare peace?

Because we are

justified, we are

put right with him

through the death of

the Lord Jesus

Christ.

The righteous

God is

reconciled to his

people.

The cause of

alienation and war

is gone completely

and forever.

no longer

are God's

people the

target of his

anger,

but peace

means we are

the recipients

of his love

and blessing.

No longer

is there

tension and

alienation in

the relationship

between God

and people.

Now there is

only peace

and closeness

and enjoyment

and stability.

Now friends,

this might seem

to be an

understated

application,

but I think

it's really

important.

Increasingly,

I think it's

really important.

We so often

fail to

appreciate

what a great

benefit we get

from Christ's

death at a

practical level.

Yes, we can

work through

the theological

theory,

but when it

comes to being

on the ground,

living with

our sin,

living with

ourselves on

a daily basis,

so often we

fail to

appreciate the

benefit we

have in

Christ.

Often we're

ho-hum and

matter-of-fact

rather than

amazed and

full of praise

and secure.

Why?

Why might

that be?

Well, because

the notion of

personally

recognizing and

owning my sin

or unrighteousness

or rebellion

against God

and the

severe consequences

this brings in

terms of God's

just condemnation

is not something

I or we find

pleasant or easy,

especially in

our world where

constantly we're

being told,

actually,

people are really

good at heart.

so if I

fudge that part

of the equation,

then it

makes sense

that the other

part of the

equation,

what God has

done for me

in Jesus

is no big

deal.

So,

God's holy

or just

or righteous

character

is too

hard for us

to bear

and so we

try to dumb

it down

and we

rob ourselves

therefore

of

the joy

and the

praise

that

should flow

to us

when we

see the

massive gap,

opening up

the massive

gap and then

see how that

massive gap

is bridged

an incredible

cost to the

Lord in

the death

of his

son.

So,

on the one

hand,

you see,

either we

tend to view

God as

sort of that

heavenly

grandfather

whose job

is to spoil

us,

giving us

whatever we

want regardless

of our most

obnoxious

behavior.

That's what

I think

grandfathers

are sometimes

expected to

do.

Or,

alternatively,

we think

of God as

constantly

cranky

and unpleasant

to be around.

Maybe he's still

a grandfather

figure,

maybe that's

coming closer

to home for

me.

We tend

to think

of God

as being

constantly

cranky

and unpleasant

to be

around.

And so

we try

to have

as little

to do

with God

as possible.

again,

it just

dumbs

down and

blurs

that which

should be

really sharp.

Advertisers,

for example,

know the

power of

before and

after.

It's used

constantly in

advertising.

So you've

got the

drab person

with drab

hair,

dandruff.

Why is this

drab person

so bad?

Because they

haven't used

Pantene

Pro-V.

And three

days worth

of using

that and

this person

is totally

renewed.

The pitch,

and it works,

we can laugh

at it,

but it really

works,

is the

before and

after.

Friends,

as Christians,

we must

keep reminding

ourselves of

the before

and after

picture.

Before,

hostility.

Wrath,

righteous

condemnation

for our

unrighteousness.

Now,

peace,

joy,

stability.

The connection

with the two

in Christ.

If we forget

this contrast

and this

great blessing

of peace

with God,

we won't

be stirred

to praise

and thankful

obedience.

It's that

simple.

The second

thing then

is,

the second

benefit is

a new

intimacy

and privilege,

what I'm

calling

unrestricted

access

to God.

Now,

peace was

declared by

God.

That's a

legal process.

God

declared

peace,

a judicial

process.

peace.

Now,

when a judge

acquits

a criminal

in our

justice

system,

there's

absolutely

no

expectation

of

ongoing

relationship

between the

judge

and the

person

acquitted.

God

acquits

his people,

not only

does he

change his

view of

us

judicially,

but there's

actually

ongoing

personal

benefit,

the benefit

of intimate

personal

relationship

and immense

privilege.

Look at

verse 2.

Do you see

that?

We have

peace with

God through

our Lord

Jesus Christ.

Through him,

we have

also obtained

access by

faith into

this grace in

which we

stand.

We have

also obtained

access by

faith into

this grace in

which we

stand.

Now,

what does

that mean?

Well,

I think it

means this.

We're all

familiar with

the notion

of security

clearances.

Well,

I think

what it's

saying here

is that

we,

in Christ,

we are

issued with

the highest

level security

clearance in

terms of

rock concerts.

It's an

access all

areas past.

It means

when you

flash that

thing that

hangs around

your neck on

a lanyard,

it tells

people that

you have a

right to

be there.

You belong

there.

In the

presence of

God himself,

displaying our

right now

in Christ

to be in

God's presence

for all

eternity.

God's

God's presence.

So again,

an illustration,

I think this

might do it,

but if not,

try and come up

with your own

illustration.

Don't trip over

my failures.

In days past,

when a person

was,

and I'm talking

many generations

ago,

when a person

was invited

to a party,

put on by

some dignitary,

you'd be

brought into

the ballroom

and you

would stop

and somebody

would formally

announce you.

They would

call out your

name so as

everybody would

hear that

Mr. and

Mrs. Calderwood

were here

by invitation

of the host

and by that

invitation

are entitled

to all

household

privileges.

as I

came to

Christ,

as I was

brought to

Christ by

God's grace,

I was brought

into the

throne room

of God

by Christ

and formally

announced

to the

Heavenly

Father

as one

being the

recipient

of the

benefits

of his

death

and therefore

entitled

to all

the blessings

of God's

grace.

Imagine that.

Imagine being

entitled to

all the

blessings

of God's

grace

and having

the confidence

to look

for them.

See,

that's much

more than

just permission

to be in

God's

presence.

God's

presence.

That's the

invitation to

come into

God's

presence and

fill the

space that's

been given

you and

enjoy the

space that's

been given

you in

God's

presence.

Dare I

say,

it's to

act as if

you ought

to be

there.

Some years

ago I was

down in

Adelaide and

kids,

our four

children had

a choice of

going with

Alison

shopping or

coming with

me to try

and get into

the South

Australian

cricket ground.

We didn't

have tickets and

I said,

look, just

follow me,

kids, don't

look up, just

look as if you

own the

place.

And that

got us in

through the

first couple

of gates,

but then

finally a

security guard

accosted us.

But by then it

was too late

because there

was actually no

way out, we

were stuck.

And at that

point I

used my

I'm Irish,

that didn't

work.

I even

used my

I'm Irish

and from

the country

and that

didn't

work.

We were

escorted out

of the

ground and

my kids

were still

laughing at

me weeks

later.

The point

is I

pretended at

that point

to look as

if I should

have been

there.

It didn't

work, not

for very

long.

But in

Christ, as

it were, if

you can just

picture this and

it'll come with

me in the

picture, in

Christ I can

wander around

the courts

of heaven in

the presence of

God himself,

knowing I

have the

right to be

there, not

by my own

merit, but

by Christ.

And I can

claim those

benefits every

single day in

my daily work

with Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

Christ.

That's some

blessing, isn't

it?

Being treated

in grace is

generously receiving

the opposite of

what I deserve.

What a great

blessing that you

and me as sinful

people have,

through Christ,

been brought to

God who

declared that we

will forever share

the blessings of

his grace and

favor fully and

without reserve.

During the Vietnam War, there were hundreds of little children who had no families.

They used to follow the soldiers around and beg to be taken home with them.

And it's a great joy to read history that many American soldiers and Australian soldiers did just that.

These little children were lost.

They had no place to belong, nobody to care for them.

And many of these GIs took them home and adopted them into their families.

Adopted hopeless children and gave them a new home and security.

My friends, being given access into grace is being adopted into God's own family.

And given the security and privileges of that family forever.

Now the question is, again, do you see the privilege that is yours as a Christian?

Do you fill your mind with pictures to help you appreciate what this means?

Do you really believe that in Christ you're God's adopted child and that he will protect you and keep you and love you and provide for your every need and never abandon you?

Do you know yourself to be held firmly and tenderly in your father's arms?

Just like a father embraces his child and calms their fears.

Do you understand that he loves you?

That he'll only do what's good for you.

Do you?

Do you?

Do you?

Do you?

Do you?

Do you?

Do you?

And he'll only keep on doing that for eternity.

Well, the final point, we're almost finished.

New standing, new intimacy and privilege and a new orientation bound for glory.

So I said at the start, these benefits are like just giant building blocks.

The benefits of the benefits of the gospel are piled up one on top of the other.

We climb onto one to access the next one and fully understand the next one.

We have a new standing with God.

And we're actually adopted into God's family and enjoy all its privileges.

But most amazing of all, we're bound for glory.

Which means that we will actually be made like Jesus.

Verse 2 again.

Second half of verse 2.

We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Remember back in chapter 3, verse 23, it said we've all fallen short of the glory of God.

Now we're back in contact with it again.

In Christ.

Now the word hope is not like we use it these days, as Don mentioned in his children's talk.

It's not some vague hope or wish.

Here it's a conviction, a certainty, a reality.

There's nothing uncertain about it.

So it would help us if we change that word.

We rejoice in the certainty of experiencing the glory of God.

What is that?

Well, I've already said in chapter 3, verse 23, sin meant we fall short of God's glory or character of righteousness.

That's what Bo talked about a few weeks ago.

God's glory is God's character of righteousness.

We fall miserably short of that in our own abilities.

And the gospel means we regain that which was lost.

Hope of glory is that we will be with God and that we will be like him.

Paul mentions this in Philippians chapter 3.

Philippians 3 · chapter mention

Just listen to Philippians chapter 3, verse 20 and 21.

Philippians 3:20

Paul says this,

So going back to the adoption idea again, children who are adopted into a family invariably begin to develop the characteristics of the family that they live with.

I remember in time when people laughed at me endlessly because I said this particular little boy was starting to look like his father.

His father was white Anglo-Saxon.

This little boy was Negroed.

But I had just seen them over years.

And I had stopped saying color or anything else.

He just started to look like his father in my eyes.

He was an adopted boy, by the way.

I should have told you that was part of the story, I suppose.

Children who are adopted into a family invariably began to develop the characteristics of that family.

And this is exactly what happens to those who are in Christ's family.

Christ's spirit works in us, renovating us little by little from the inside out to become like Jesus.

You might be saying by this stage,

But what about all the trials and the hard circumstances I experience?

Surely the reality of life as a Christian is that tough circumstances and my own failings and my experiences are more likely to destroy me than to see me become like Christ.

Well, not so, according to Paul in verses 3 and 4.

So he says,

We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

More than that,

Get that?

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings.

Knowing that suffering produces endurance,

And endurance produces character,

And character produces hope,

And hope does not put us to shame,

Because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,

Who has been given to us.

In Christ,

As Christians,

We are bound for glory.

Nothing will stop us from getting there.

So what about these hard circumstances?

What about our experiences?

Well, says Paul,

These very experiences,

Sometimes painful,

Enormously difficult,

Will be the means by which

We become more and more

Like our Lord.

So here's the rub for us.

Glory is certain,

But there's no promise of an easy,

Hassle-free ride.

I like a neat yard at home.

But to achieve that neat yard,

I have to mow the lawn,

I have to dig out weeds,

And I have to keep the edges trimmed,

And I have to keep the fences in tight.

Which interestingly,

All of which I hate doing.

But I do them,

Because of what it produces.

It's the same here with Paul.

Being like Christ is the end point.

But the process involves dealing with

All sorts of painful and frustrating

And disappointing circumstances along the way.

And when we can see this link,

Then we can actually find a place

And a way to view our circumstances,

Painful and difficult as they are,

As a means to an end.

The end which we long for,

Therefore we can find a way to joy

In our sufferings.

So it's not that we enjoy suffering

For suffering's sake.

That's masochism.

That's unbiblical.

We rejoice in what suffering produces.

Nobody thinks an illness

Or a broken relationship is wonderful.

But,

I've heard repeatedly over my years,

And I've said it myself,

If this is the means by which

I am brought

To a more Christ-likeness,

Then it's been a worthwhile,

Though painful,

Process.

Friends,

Friends,

Again,

Too often our desire for relief

From our circumstances

Has a greater priority

Than our desire

To grow to be like Christ.

Put simply,

We would choose a hassle-free life.

This is what I've found myself doing

So many times over my years.

I would prefer to choose a hassle-free life

Than to choose circumstances

That I know

Will push me into new levels of godliness.

How short-sighted am I?

Hopefully you're not that short-sighted.

And so often that very thing

Is reflected in our prayers,

Isn't it?

Give me relief,

Lord.

Brown,

Give me an ability to trust you.

Friends,

What great blessing,

We'll see more over the next two weeks,

What great blessings come to us in the gospel.

But behind those great blessings,

Then we have to say,

What a great God.

The God of the gospel.

So I'll just leave you with this thought,

Asking that,

And hoping and praying

That his honour and glory

Will be your desire.

Your whole desire

In this coming week.

If we have any understanding

Of the significance of peace

And the price at which it was purchased for us,

If we have any concept of the intimacy

And privilege that we now have in Christ,

And if we have any longing

For the glory that's developing in us now,

And will one be completed,

Then,

Surely we live every day for the Lord.

Surely,

If we understand what he's done for us

And is doing in us,

Then we will be people

Who reflect his righteousness

And who want to honour his name.

Join me in prayer.

Lord, these are so lofty,

These blessings,

So amazing,

And yet,

We struggle, Lord,

At least I struggle,

To speak about them in a way

That just takes our breath away.

I pray, Lord,

That your spirit might

Take us into your word

Again,

In our minds,

And help us just to see

What blessing it is to say,

Since we have been justified by faith,

We have peace with you.

Help us to live, Lord,

As those who enjoy peace,

And help us, Lord,

To live, therefore,

As those who want to be

Peacemakers,

As we'll see more of next week.

I pray this in Jesus' name.

Amen.