Sermon Tone Analysis

*Rejoice in God, b~/c of the Benefits of Justification*

 

*Introduction*:

1.

If I gave you something how would you respond?

a.

You would probably say that it depends on what it was.

2.      What if I were to perform and act of love towards you?

a.       Probably about the same response

3.

You see when someone performs and “act of love” (does something for you) we tend to qualify the service into four areas.

a.       First, the /costliness/ of the act of love.

i.

How much inconvenience or sacrifice did it cost them?

ii.

The greater the sacrifice the deeper the love.

1.

If it cost an afternoon of time and sweat, it is one thing.

2.      But if it cost his life, that is another thing.

b.

Second, how undeserving are you of the act of love.

i.

Jesus said, “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others?

Do not even pagans do that?”

(Matt.

5:46-47)

                                                            ii.

In other words the depth of our love is shown not just in how much we sacrifice, but in whether we will give it to people who don't return it—and who may not deserve it at all.

                                                          iii.

The love that overwhelms us is the love that comes to us authentically from those we have deeply hurt.

c.       Third, /how great is the benefit/ of that act of love.

i.

If a person claims to love us with sacrifice, but we are not really helped by their love, we might begin to wonder if this kind of love really means anything.

ii.

Love is not just making a sacrifice.

Love is making a contribution to someone's life—at least that's the intention.

iii.

And the greater the gift, the more amazing the love.

John wrote,

1.      “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1)

2.      The greatness of God's love is seen in the incredible benefit of being made children of God.

d.      Fourth, was the act of love done willingly?

i.

If, for ten or fifteen years, you tell your son to get his brother a birthday present, and even sometimes buy it for him so he'll have something to give, that is one degree of love between brothers.

ii.

But if, in his first year away from home at college, he calls, without you reminding him, the week before his brother's birthday and tells you he knows of a store where there is a special knife sharpener his little brother really wants, and asks you to take the money from his account and buy it for him, then love is manifest in a whole new way.

4.      Jesus has loved us in all these ways to a degree that is beyond human comprehension.

5.

You see the sacrifice of his Son and the gift of eternal life is far beyond our comprehension.

6.

Because of this God Justifies us

7.

But what is Justification?

a.       Webster’s defines Justify as:

                                                              i.

To prove or to show to be just, right, or reasonable

                                                            ii.

To show to have a significant legal reason,

                                                          iii.

To show a sufficient lawful reason for an act done

b.

In our Christian circles we usually say it this way:

                                                              i.

Just as If I’d Never sinned!

8.

You see when God justifies us He takes the blood of Jesus Christ and uses it as a filter that he look through at us.

a.       Before that filter he would look at us and see wicked sinful men and women.

b.

But now once you are Born Again he sees “Perfect” men and women.

c.

What an awesome God we have to do something for us that was out of our control.

It was all up to His own plan and preformed solely by God.

9.

But that is not where it stops the benefits of Justification go further.

10.

And that is what we are going to look at this morning.

Please turn with me in your Bibles to *Romans 5:1-11*

 

*Outline*:

First off we have …

I         *The Benefits of Justification: Eternal* (5:1-5)

A      *Peace with God* (5:1-2a)

1        What does peace mean:

a         Webster’s defines it as:

1)      A state of tranquility or quiet as freedom from civil disturbances

2)      A pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity

b        How much of our history has been recorded as “Peace Time”

·         *Peace In 8% of History *Only eight percent of the time since the beginning of recorded history has the world been entirely at peace.

In over 3,100 years, only 286 have been warless and 8,000 treaties have been broken in this time.

—Christian Victory—7700 Illustration

c         I am sure that you have all at least heard about this next illustration but…

·         *Nest over Waterfall* Two artists set out to make a picture representing perfect peace.

The first painted a canvas depicting a carefree lad sitting in a boat on a little placid lake without a ripple to disturb the surface.

The other painted a raging waterfall with winds whipping the spray about.

On a limb, overhanging the swirling water, a bird had built its nest, and sat peacefully brooding her eggs.

Here she was safe from her predatory enemies, shielded and protected by the roaring falls.

Real peace is the result of remaining CALM and COOL in the midst of trial.

d        What a beautiful picture that they painted for us.

The peace that we have is not only good when we are in the midst of a calm pond but is also just as good and reassuring when we are in the midst of a raging waterfall.

e         This Christian life is not a calm pond it is the raging waterfall.

2        You see an unsaved person does not have any chance at “Real Peace” with God.

Because they are his enemies.

a         Isa.

48:22 “There is no peace, says the Lord, for the wicked.”

b        Condemnation means that God declares us /sinners,/ which is a declaration of /war./

c         Justification means that God declares us /righteous,/ which is a declaration of /peace,/ made possible by Christ’s death on the cross.

3        So true Peace is having a right relationship with God and being on his side of the battle line.

4        In having this peace we also have…

B       *A Sure Hope* (5:2b-5)

1        We use the word hope in many different ways, i.e.…

a         “I hope I will see you again.”