PRECEPT STUDY

ROMANS PART 1 - LECTURE 14

Exulting in Hope and in Tribulation!

Introduction. In our lesson today we want to talk about exulting in the permanence of our salvation. Now if that permanence of your salvation grabs you because you don’t think that salvation is permanent, would you please just come to the Lord and just listen with an open heart because Paul has a truth that he wants us to understand in Romans 5 and that is that the justification that we have received through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just a justification that saves us from the penalty of sin but it such a thorough justification, it is such a thorough salvation that saves us not only from the penalty of sin but from the power of sin and also, also without a shadow of doubt from the presence of sin. It guarantees the hope of glory. And that’s what we want to look at today.

Overview Romans 5. And what I want to do is review very quickly Romans 5. And I want to share with you once again what we have seen in Romans 5 just so it will stick.

  • We have seen in Romans 5:1-11 we have seen the thoroughness of our salvation. It is a salvation that takes us from justification to glorification with (what in between?) and you answer me—with what in between? Tribulation in between. With tribulation in between and that tribulation brings your sanctification.
  • In Romans 5:12-21 we see the Mediator of our salvation. And as we look at the Mediator of our salvation—the One—the One—we see the assurance of our salvation. Why? Because we go from death’s reign to the reign of life—to life’s reign. We go from death’s reign to life’s reign (how?) who takes us from death to life? Jesus Christ—so it comes through Jesus Christ. So this is an overview of Romans 5.
  • We have also seen that Romans 5 shows us a much more salvation. “Much more” is used over and over and over again. It is a much more salvation that stands in trials—we saw this last week—it stands in trials. It is secure in love. It stands in trials. All these statements just have so much depth and I pray that today in the lesson that God will begin to plumb the depths of it. It stands in trials. It’s secure in love. So it is sure because it was wrought when we were enemies of God.
  • And finally it is total—it is a total much more salvationbecause of one Man’s obedience—because of one Man’s obedience. And who was that Man? Jesus Christ—the God/Man Jesus Christ. And it’s total because of one Man’s obedience that results in life. What kind of life? Eternal life.

Exult. So we want to look at the thoroughness of this salvation. We want to see that this is (and this is what we are going to see this week) that it is a justification that we can exult in. Now you see the word “exult” used three times in Romans 5.

  1. You see it in 5:2where it says that we exult in hope of the glory of God. Now this is all going to get interesting in just a few minutes—we’ll get our basic facts down.
  2. You see it in 5:3we also exult in (what?) do you know the next thing we are to exult in? We are to exult in our tribulations.
  3. And then finally he says that we exult5:11in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

And what I want to do is look at this word “exult.” It’s a word that literally in the Greek means “to boast.” You and I have something to boast in and that as Isaiah says, we can boast in the fact that we know the Lord (Jer. 9:24)—but we boast in the fact in these things that we know.

Justification. So first of all what I want to do is I want to begin and I’m going to move through the chapter verse by verse but I want to begin in chapter 5:1-2. And I want to look at our justification—our justification that takes us to the hope of glory. 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. Now he’s talked about justification and what he wants to show us—he’s shown us so far in Romans 3 and 4 is that that justification takes care of our sins—past, present and future. So he has established that we are justified, that we are declared righteous because Jesus Christ has become the propitiation for our sins; He has redeemed us with His blood and therefore, God can declare us justified—not guilty. Now what he wants to show us is that this justification brings all sorts of benefitswith it.

  1. Our justification brings peace with God. It brings peace with God and this is so wonderful. It brings peace with God. What were we before we believed in Jesus Christ? What were we when Christ died for us? We were enemies. And therefore we were separated from God. Therefore we were opposed to God. Therefore we were antagonistic towards God. You say, “I never really was an enemy of God.” If you are not for Him; you are(what?) you against Him (Mt. 12:30 and Luke 11:23). And you cannot be for Him unless Jesus Christ is in you. So there was enmity between you and God. You were enemies—not because God moved—not because He changed—but because you and I chose sin above righteous. You and I chose disobedience above obedience. You and I chose to be our own masters or thought we were our own masters—we were really slaves to sin—rather than allowing God to be the Master. We forgot that he was the Potter and we are the clay—that He is the Creator and we are the created. So we were enemies. Now through this justification God has taken us who were enemies against Him and has brought us back into friendship. He has brought us into reconciliation with God. So now I am no longer an enemy of God, but I am (what?) at peace with God. Now I want you to write this down because if you meditate on it, it will be beautiful. Our justification brings peace through Christ’s death—let’s just put it this way—through Christ’s death—and there cannot be any peace unless Christ dies to reconcile us. So through Christ’s death while we were enemies. I want to look at two Scriptures in connection with this. I want to take you first of all to Isaiah 48:22. And I just want to establish the fact that 22 “There is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord. So justification has taken care of our wickedness. It has taken care of our sin; therefore, we can have peace. Contrast this with Isaiah 32:17. 17 And the work of righteousness will be (what?) peace. Remember God is a righteous God. God is a just God. God is a holy God. There can beno peace between me and Him when wickedness is the tenor of my life—when sin is the tenor of my life. But, when I, a sinner,am justified by God, declared righteous, then that righteousness can bring peace with God. Watch what he says. 17 And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and (what?) confidence forever. And I want to tell you something. See—that’s what I have in my life. Everyone that really understands their relationship with Jesus Christ once they get saved, there is a confidence. You know, I know God as my Father. And I have an awesome respect and a reverential trust for God—it’s called fear. But it’s not the kind of fear that cowers—it is not the kind of fear that runs away. It is a respectful fear—it is a respectful trust. And I know this—I know this—that no matter how much I stumble—no matter how much I fall—no matter how much I blow it--my Father is always there with arms open wide. Someone has come up with this saying: I asked God, “God how much do you love me?” And it says, and He stretched out His arms and said, “That much.” He stretched out His arms and allowed them to nail Him to Calvary’s tree to show us how very much He loves us. And that love is going to come across in Romans. But that love brings peace—the knowledge of that love—the knowledge of the thoroughness of our salvation brings peace. It brings quietness. It brings confidence in your life. You see, my daddy used to say to me, “Honey, no matter what you do—no matter what you do—(and he taught me to be a good girl)—no matter what you do I want you to know you can always come home—you can always come home.” And see that’s what peace with God brings. I can always go home. I can always tell my Father and I don’t have to hide from Him—I’m so glad that I know that He knows everything so what’s the sense of hiding anyway? But there is peace and that peace brings quietness and it brings confidence. As a matter of fact, you’ll see people whose lives are very harried, who are always panicked, and always worried. And then they come to know Jesus Christ and all of a sudden what is there? There’s a quietness and there’s a confidence in their life. They are at peace with God.
  2. Our justification gives grace. As a matter of fact, we have our introduction into (what?) the grace of God in which we stand. In Romans 5:1. 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,2 through whom (through Jesus) also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this (what?) intothis grace (now watch). Out here I’m outside in a sense of the grace of God because the judgment of God has to come upon me—the wrath of God has to come upon me—but I look up here and see salvation. I see life in Christ Jesus. So when I turn to Him, when I repent and turn from walking my own way to God—when I turn from running my own life—when I see that I am wrong—when I see that that is sin—when I turn and I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ—I receive the Lord Jesus Christ—I commit my life to Him—then all of a sudden I move into the grace of God in which I (what?) stand. Stand like just I am anchored in cement and I can walk all over the grace of God and no matter what happens grace is always there—unmerited favor—everything that Jesus Christ is, is made available to me. I stand in the grace of God and no matter what comes my way His grace is (what?) always, totally completely absolutely sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9). When do I experience that grace though? Not only in salvation and getting saved, but I stand in it—perfect tense—past completed action with a (what?) present and (what?) continuing result for (how long?) forever and ever and ever. Now, when do you experience the grace of God? You experience the grace of God through tribulation or in tribulation. So our justification brings peace—it gives grace and that grace is experienced through tribulation.
  3. We have Access to God. Now what do we have? We have access—access to God. Now listen, what kept the Jews away from the very presence of God—away from the very throne of God? What was it? Say it. It was the veil. So the veil shut the Jews out from God. So how did they gain access to the very throne of God when Jesus Christ died on the cross? The veil in the temple was (what? we talked about it) ripped in two from top to bottom—so through the ripped veil of the flesh of Jesus Christ they were given (what?) access to God. Look at Hebrew 10:19-20. 19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place (now it’s talking about the Holy of Holies) (how?) by the blood of Jesus, (remember they only could go in there on one day—what day was that? the Day of Atonement—what did the Jews call it? Yom Kippur. When he went in there what did he have to go in with? Blood.) It says,since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh. So the Jews were kept out by the veil. Now what were the Gentiles kept out by? They were kept out by a wall. The Gentiles were kept out by a wall. And what happened to that wall? That wall was torn down. How? Through the death of Jesus Christ. I want to take you to Ephesians 2:14. But I’m going to start at verse 11. 11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” (You understand that so well now after Romans don’t you? Nod your head “yes.” Nod your head “yes” out there.) He says, you who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands—(he’s talking about a physical circumcision versus the circumcision of the heart)12 remember that you (Gentiles) were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near (how?) by the blood of Christ.Do you see why it’s got to be the blood of Christ? Do you see why His life cannot save us? Only His death can? And then having His death take care of our sins we are saved in His life—where does it say that? Romans 5 that’s right. Verse 14. 14 For He Himself is our (what?) peace, (Romans 5:1 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God)14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups (What groups? Jew and Gentile) into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, (now you’re going to understand that barrier of the dividing walleven more so as you study Romans)15 by abolishing in His flesh the(what?) enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two (Jew and Gentile)into one new man, thus establishing(what?) peace,16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. Now what was the enmity? What was it? It was the Law of commandments.It was that Law that kept us out from God. So Jesus took care of it and therefore we have (what?) our justification brings peace, gives grace, gives access to God and also—
  4. Assures us of Glory. Assures us—assures us (and this is so important) of glory. Assures us of glory. Now when he says it assures us of glory how can it assure us of glory? It assures us of glory because we being reconciled were saved from (what?) from the wrath of God. And therefore if I’m saved from the wrath of God, all I can get is (what?) the glory of God because you’re either going to know the wrath of God or you’re going to know (what?) the glory of God. So it assures us of glory, because it reconciles us and therefore justification brings reconciliation and it saves us from wrath. Go to Titus 2:13-14. He says, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,Now the glory and the (what?) appearing? of our Lord Jesus Christ? There are some people that say He’s not coming back. You know? That He doesn’t have to come back to establish His kingdom. Listen, He’s coming back—we can never do it. Go to Matthew 24. Now we see the glory and the appearing of Jesus Christ. Matthew 24:30.30 “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Mancoming on the clouds of the sky with (what?)power and great glory.Now this is the glory that we are headed for and I believe that before that even happens when Christ comes that I am caught up to be with Him—that I meet Him—that I put together my robes of righteousnesses which are the righteousnesses of the saints. I put on my beautiful bridal gown and then I come with Him. And He’s riding on His white horse and on His thigh is King of kings and Lord of lords. And He comes in all of His power and His armies come with Him. And I believe those are armies—that’s why I like war movies so much—I can always envision us as victors—we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us, etc. (Romans 8:37) we’re on the winning team. And we’re going to come back with Him in His glory. He will set up His kingdom. He will rule and reign for 1,000 years. And we will rule and reign with Him. And then we will move into the new heaven and the new earth. This is the hope of glory. It’s all involved in that. So Titus 2:13 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,14 who gave Himself for us to redeem (now boy when you read ‘redeem’ now you know what it means don’t you? You understand it in a greater depth.) 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, (Why am I His own possession?Because He redeemed me—because He bought me. What did He pay to get me? He paid His very blood.) It says, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession,(now catch this) zealous for good deeds. Are you zealous for good deeds? If you are not zealous for good deeds—I hate to say this but I have to—if you are not zealous for good deeds you’ve got to see if He is really inside of you because when He’s inside of you He provokes you to do good deeds. So if there’s no desire to do good deeds I’d examine myself. Now this “hope of glory” Paul is going to develop later in Romans 8—but if you’ll go to Romans 8:1818 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Now doesn’t that sound like Romans 5?)19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.(revealing of the sons of God what does that mean? Well you’re going to study it in Romans 8.) 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope (there’s that word—for the hope in the glory of God)21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (You say, “What does that mean? Have you ever heard of the lion and the lamb lying down together? [Isa. 65:25] You’re going to study it.)22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, (Oh where did you pick up the Holy Spirit for the first time? In chapter 5.) even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?(What’s he saying? Well take Romans 8 and you’ll understand it.) 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.(In other words, we persevere—we wait.) So here is the hope of glory. He mentions it in Romans 5. He’s going to develop it for you in Romans 8. Romans 5:1-2 we’ve seen it.

Exult in Tribulation. Now let’s look at Romans 5:3-5. Not only am I to exult in the hope of glory but I’m to exult in tribulation. Now why would anyone want to exult in tribulation? Well you want to exult in tribulation I’m sure you’ve already discussed this—didn’t you have a good time in class? If they didn’t have a good time in class, leaders, take Betsy’s advanced leadership training. Why do I exult in tribulation?