- Call to Worship – Psalm 46:1-7
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
- Hymn # 410 Take me, O my Father, Take Me
Words of Assurance: (Romans 8:1-2 ESV)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
God's Will for our Lives – 2 Peter 3:8-14
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
Hymn # 421 Rock of Ages
Scripture: Romans 5:1-11
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 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. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 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. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Sermon: Therefore, Since we Have Been Justified
Sermon Notes
Intro: people will often say they trust God but they don't always truly understand what that really means. (By the things they say such as I hope I will go to heaven).
Therefore means. In the light of all we have just talked about this thing I now say is true.
The facts are: none of us deserves God's mercy. We all deserve Hus wrath.
But!!!!! God changed that. God opened a way through his son Jesus Christ even before we knew God truly. God has justified us through our faith in him.
This is a finished act.
Through Jesus we have peace with God. We can safely stand in the presence of God.
We now stand inside grace.
Hope in the bible is a surety. Not like in the world when it is more of a wish. The hope we have is the certainty of knowing Christ.
We shall experience the glory of God.
We have unending peace that rests in God.
We have a surety of hope of the coming of God.
This doesn't mean of life of smooth sailing. This doesn't mean that having a life of trouble doesn't mean that God isn't real or sure.
Suffering produces so much in our lives...suffering, perseverance, character, hope.
It is merely God at work in your life. God making us into his people of character. That tested character ensures our hope.
Our suffering faced in faith builds our hope in him. The love of God floods through us.
God had Christ die for us while we were still sinners. This is the love that God has for us. God acted for me even before I even slightly acknowledged him.
So unlike us as people who qualify the worth of the one we might die for. God didn't do that. He knew we were his enemies and died for us none-the-less.
We have peace with him. Reconciled to him. It is all on God.
This should be what pushes us to talk about God. He has done amazing things for us.
This is our certainty. This is our hope. This is our surety of faith.
- Hymn # 95 How Vast the Benefits Divine
- Hymn # 672 He Lifted Me
- Hymn # 319-2 Thank we Give and Adoration