A sermon from Brent Kercheville.
We are turning our attention to Romans 5 and our theme for this chapter is Much More. The reason for this theme is that this idea of “much more” is repeated throughout this chapter. Notice Romans 5:3 begins, “More than that” or “Not only that.” Verse 9 says, “much more” in the middle of that verse. Then in verse 10 we read “much more” again. Then in verse 11, “More than that.” Verses 15 and 17 also say, “much more.” Finally, in verse 20 we read that grace abounded all the more. Romans 5 keeps repeating how much more we have in Christ. The apostle Paul is going to tell us a reality that we have in Christ and then tell us how it is even better or more than we may realize. Open your copies of God’s word to Romans 5 and we are going to learn about the hope of the gospel.
Peace With God (Romans 5:1)
The apostle Paul begins with the result of our justification. Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus our Lord. Now it is important that we appreciate this concept. The problem is that we do not realize that we are at war with God, enemies of God, and separated from God before we come to Jesus. I want to remind you of what the apostle Paul said back in Romans 1:18. Paul told us that the wrath of God has been revealed against all unrighteousness and ungodliness. We might not think this is a problem until we read Romans 3:9-10 that there is no person who is righteous. Paul will directly say this in Romans 5:10, calling us “enemies” before coming to Christ. We cannot appreciate the words of Romans 5:1 until we appreciate the war and hostility that exists between each person and God.
Allow me to provide a simple illustration of this idea. A disobedient child stands in hostility in the presence of the parents. Disobedience creates hostility. Disobedience creates a division. Disobedience creates a fracture. In short, disobedience creates a problem. We have created a problem with God. But Romans 3 told us that God put forward Jesus as a propitiation so that we could be justified by grace (cf. Romans 3:23-25). God wants to be in relationship with us and by putting Jesus forward as a sacrifice for our sins, we are able to be declared righteous and now have peace with God.
Access Into Grace (Romans 5:2)
Notice what this peace means for us in verse 2. Through Christ we have obtained access by faith into this grace. Obtaining access is a marvelous image. Access speaks of something that is off limits except for those who have been granted special privileges. You might have seen such offers or even purchased such offers where you are given VIP access. This card or this ticket grants you access that others do not have. Justification has unlocked special access. This idea of being denied access is found often in the scriptures. When God came to meet his people on Mount Sinai, God made in clear in Exodus 19 that no one would be able to come near the mountain. Everyone needed to stay back and anyone or any animal that came near would die. This teaching continued with the tabernacle. There was no access into the tabernacle. Only the priests could enter into the tabernacle service and only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement. The same was true when the temple was constructed. Access was denied. Only the priests could enter for serving the temple and only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place once a year. But then when Christ died, we are told something amazing. Matthew 27:51 says that the curtain that blocked access to the Most Holy Place was torn in two from top to bottom. Ephesians 2 makes the point that we all have access to the Father (cf. Ephesians 2:18).
But I want us to see what he says about this access. Gaining this access into grace is how we are able to stand. This access into grace is where we stand and we rejoice and glory in the hope of the glory of God. Paul is putting forward an important foundation for Christians for life. Knowing what we have is what gives us the strength to stand. What holds us up no matter what happens is knowing what we have. What do we have? Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God which through Christ has also given us access into this grace. We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God knowing that we stand in this grace. The apostle Paul is to explore this important truth in Romans 5:6-11. Lord willing, we will look closely at this text next week. But for now it is important for us to understand what we have. We are able to stand in the grace of God. We delight and boast in the hope of the glory of God. If you are in Christ, you are standing in the grace of God. Your hope is that you are in Christ and you are standing in grace. Now Paul will address those who would misuse this teaching of grace in chapter 6. But do not miss the hope that is given to us. If you are in Christ, then you have obtained access to this grace in which we stand.
Joy In Suffering (Romans 5:3-4)
But Paul wants to point out what else we are rejoicing in since we are in Christ. Not only are we standing in grace and rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God, but we also rejoice, boast, and glory in our sufferings. At first reading, this does not sound right. We are rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God and we are also rejoicing in our sufferings? This does not seem right or natural. I think the immediate question that comes to mind is, “How?” How are we supposed to glory in our sufferings and why would we do such a thing? I want us to notice that verse 2 and verse 3 are not put into opposition to each other. Paul does not say that we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God while we endure and complain about our suffering in this life. Rather, Paul says we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God and we also rejoice in our sufferings. Paul is saying that we not only rejoice in the hope we have but also in the sufferings we experience. The updated NASB reads that we also celebrate in our tribulations. Paul answers these questions that we have in the rest of verses 3-4.
We glory in our afflictions because we know that our these troubles produce endurance. Then that endurance produces character. Then that character produces hope. Why is this a cause for our joy? Paul is telling us that God is using whatever you are going through to produce endurance which is to produce character, which is to produce hope. In short, we are not ready to go into eternity with God yet. God has more work that needs to be done on our hearts and in our lives. Our hope comes through our sufferings and afflictions because we understand that God is at work. All of our hurts and all of our pains are producing hope within us because we know God is attempting to transform us. Paul says this directly about himself when he wrote to the Corinthians.
So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9 ESV)
Notice that Paul applied this teaching to his own life. God had more work to do on him. So he was given difficulties and troubles to beat on him. Paul pleaded for this to stop but God said no. The grace of God was a sufficient place to stand for him. So does Paul say that he will complain about his troubles? Does Paul say that he will give up because of all of his suffering? No, Paul says he will rejoice, delight, and boast in the weaknesses and the troubles so that the power of Christ can rest on him. Paul says that he will let God do his work on him. Paul will rejoice in his sufferings knowing that it is producing endurance, which is producing character, which is producing hope.
Let me make this point this way. The only way we learn to endure is to endure. We know this if you ever had to do hard things. The only way to run a long way is to endure running a long way. You must first run half a mile. Once you learn to endure that you can run half a mile. Then once you have endured that you can run a mile and so on. We see this in weight lifting. First you might lift 40 pounds. Once you have endured you move to 50 pounds and so on. If you have done cycling or a treadmill or any kind of exercise, you see that the only way to learn endurance is to endure. Suffering produces endurance if we do not give up. Afflictions will develop our perseverance if we do not quit. Troubles produce strength if we continue walking with the Lord. These troubles will then mold us into his will if we allow him to do that work. So when we suffer we rejoice because we know God is at work in us.
Hope Does Not Disappoint (Romans 5:5)
Now the conclusion to this part of our lesson. This hope will not put us to shame. Our hope will not let us down. You will not be let down by rejoicing in your sufferings. Suffering moves us to hope in God and to stop hoping in ourselves. Troubles are to cause us to hope in God and not in our money, possessions, health, families, or anything else in this physical life. Our afflictions are to move us to hope for eternity. Enduring trials gives us great hope.
Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12 CSB)
Friends, we can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Further, we rejoice in our sufferings because these afflictions are leading us to have a deeper hope that does not disappoint. We can celebrate in our troubles because we have the greatest joys and greatest blessings that cannot ever be taken away from us. We have peace with God and are no longer his enemies. We have access to grace in which we stand. We have hope that God is transforming us through our struggles so that we can enjoy this hope that does not disappoint.
Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. (Hebrews 10:35-36 ESV)