Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro: [riding roller coasters (Biggest roller coaster drop in the World - Goliath at Magic Mountain) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aF7dgWvQ6Y]

Here are some safety facts:

1 in 17 billion that you will suffer death by roller coaster!

1 in 302,575,350, that you will win the Mega Millions Jackpot

1 in 41,416,353 that you will win the Super Lotto Jackpot

1 in 700,000 in any given year to be struck by lighting

1 in 3,000 to be struck by lighting in your lifetime

This discussion is very relevant to justification by faith alone.

Because we humans are so focused on what we can sense that the idea of trusting what we cannot see is difficult.

It is much easier for us to think that we have a chance with God if it is up to us keeping His rules.

At least, we think that we have a better chance believing that God will see that we are sincere and overlook our failures.

But our greatest security is with God.

With God there is NO RISK!

This is Paul’s reason to put so much hope in the Good News.

And the benefits are great!!!

Romans 5:1-2

The benefits of justification by faith.

Peace with God

In Christianity God is both a God of love and of justice.

Many people struggle with this.

They believe that a loving God can't be a judging God.

Like most other Christian ministers in our society, I have been asked literally thousands of times, "How can a God of love be also a God of filled with wrath and anger?

If he is loving and perfect, he should forgive and accept everyone.

He shouldn't get angry."

All loving persons are sometimes filled with wrath, not just despite of but because of their love.

If you love a person and you see someone ruining them—even they themselves—you get angry.

The Bible says that God's wrath flows from his love and delight in his creation.

He is angry at evil and injustice because it is destroying its peace and integrity.

In Fleming Rutledge's new book, The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ, she acknowledges the difficulty that modern people have with the concept of God's wrath.

Nevertheless, she writes, "there can be no turning away from this prominent biblical theme."

But forget the Bible for a moment: don't we have wrath, too?

Rutledge writes: “A slogan of our times is "Where's the outrage?"

It has been applied to everything from Big Pharma's market manipulation to CEOs' astronomical wealth to police officers' stonewalling.

"Where the outrage?" inquire many commentators, wondering why congressmen, officials, and ordinary voters seem so indifferent.

“

God is outraged at sin; and while he doesn’t hate the sinner, he does demand justice.

We are at war with God.

Romans 5:10

James 4:4

2. State of Grace

“access” vs. “introduction”

“we stand” (hystami) in the perfect tense means “to stand” or “to be”

We now live in God’s grace.

1 Peter 1:3-5

3. Hope that doesn’t disappoint

“rejoice” (“exult” in NASB) means to “boast in” when someone boasts they are speaking from a place of superiority, confidence.

Earlier Peter (1 Peter 1:3) has call this hope a “living hope”

Hebrews 6:18-19

Romans 5:3-5

Conclusion:

Humans seek after hope like moths seek after light.

It’s intrinsic to who we are.

Neuroscientists Tali Sharot argues hope is so essential to our survival that it is hardwired into our brains, arguing it can be the difference between living a healthier life versus one trapped by despair.

Studies show hopeful college kids get higher GPA’s and are more likely to graduate.Hopeful athletes perform better on the field, cope better with injuries, and have greater mental adjustment when situations change.In one study of the elderly, those who said they felt hopeless were more than twice as likely to die during the study follow-up period than those who were more hopeful.

It’s pretty clear: hope is powerfully catalytic, and why Dr. Shane Lopez, the psychologist (author of Making Hope Happen)who was regarded as the world’s leading researcher on hope, claimed that hope isn’t just an emotion but an essential life tool.