Peace with God

Romans 5:1-11

Intro

Romans 1:7

To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (use)

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (use)

Romans 1:17

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." (use)

Habakkuk 2:4

Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith. (use)

Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (use)

even in the minor things of being disingenuous with friends of your partner, squandering resource on unaffordable luxury vehicle or stealing a mattress.

We have been extraordinarily lucky so far. But luck is not a strategy.

Guterres A., 2022. Secretary-General's remarks to the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
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Humanity is doomed - Yes 5566 (55·7%) The future is frightening - Yes 7549 (75·5%)

Hickman, C., Marks, E., Pihkala, P., Clayton, S., Lewandowski, R.E., Mayall, E.E., Wray, B., Mellor, C. and van Susteren, L., 2021. Climate anxiety in children and young people and their beliefs about government responses to climate change: a global survey. The Lancet Planetary Health, 5(12), pp.e863-e873.
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Nahum 2:2

For the LORD is restoring the majesty of Jacob as the majesty of Israel, for plunderers have plundered them and ruined their branches. (use)

Romans 5:1

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (use)

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (use)

Romans 5:2

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. (use)

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (use)

Hebrews 11:28

By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. (use)

1 Corinthians 13:12

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (use)

What is essential is that people know the way of salvation: peace with God, true life today and forevermore - so we must share the gospel. What is ideal is that people have connection points from this truth to their life today - so we would be wise & loving to share our faith.

Jack, B., 2022. What is essential.
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Psalm 32:1

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. (use)

John 5:24

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (use)

Romans 5:5

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. (use)

Romans 5:6

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (use)

The object of the Bible is not to tell how good men are, but how bad men can become good.

Moody, D.L., . .
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Nahum 1:15

Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace!... (use)

Romans 10:15

And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" (use)

Seven out of ten adults (69%) believe that "people are basically good."

American Worldview Inventory. 2020. At a Glance AWVI 2020 Results.
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Romans 5:8

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (use)

In a society that desperately wants to believe humans are perfect just the way we are, the outrage culture pulls the curtain back, unveiling that “the way we are” isn’t only imperfect; it’s actually a horror show.

Gorman, A.M., 2019. Let the Outrage Culture Help You Share the Good News.
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The eternal and immutable law of God still stands, like the proverbial elephant in the room, as it has since the beginning of human existence.

Tompsett, D., 2015. Religion and Spirituality: Paul: The Man at the Intersection
tompsett-2015-religion~a1

Ultimately, however, justification by faith alone means justification by Christ alone. It’s by His meritorious life and His substitutionary death that we can stand in the presence of a holy God. [ch. 6]

Sproul, R.C., 2007. The Truth of the Cross.
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Romans 5:9

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (use)

Nahum 1:15

...for never again shall the worthless pass through you; he is utterly cut off. (use)

Romans 1:18

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (use)

Nahum 1:14

The LORD has given commandment about you: “No more shall your name be perpetuated; from the house of your gods I will cut off the carved image and the metal image. I will make your grave, for you are vile.” (use)

Romans 1:25

because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (use)

Romans 5:10

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (use)

John 5:22

For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, (use)

John 5:28–29

Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (use)

Nahum 2:13

Behold, I am against you, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard. (use)

Fallen humans, whether Jews or Gentiles, lacked all capacity to fulfil the law. All it could ever do was remind them, night and day, that they were sinners.

MacLeod, D., 2016. A Faith to Live By: Understanding Christian Doctrine, Reprint edition. ed. Christian Focus Adult Catalogue. pg.155
macleod-2016-a-faith~a10

Isaiah 64:6

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. (use)

Jude 1:5

Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. (use)

Numbers 16:32

And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. (use)

Jude insists that the Saviour can also be the Destroyer.

Sidebottom, E.M., 1982. James, Jude, 2 Peter. New Century Bible Commentary series. pg.85
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Revelation 1:17

When I saw him{Jesus}, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last," (use)

Romans 5:11

More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (use)

What is our hope in life and death? Christ alone, Christ alone. What is our only confidence? That our souls to Him belong.

Getty, K., 2020. Christ Our Hope in Life and Death
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Ephesians 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (use)

Romans 5:3

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, (use)