Feb 5 2023 Grace > Sin

Lord, help us to represent You. Speak to us through Your word – may we all learn more of You – learn to love you and know you more deeply.

Romans 5: 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. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

This is a familiar passage and you’ve probably memorized parts of it.

Remember 1:18 – Paul used ‘they and them’ only – in Chapter 2 – he switched to YOU language - and now he is saying ‘we and us’

We have a shared identity in this passage. Paul, Jewish Christians, Gentile Christians – ALL CHRISTIANS – share certain things and he is laying it all out. Justified by faith, redemption – these are the things to focus on.

12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.

Romans 5: 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.

So, the word exult means ‘boast’ – and Paul had been talking about how Jewish Christians had been boasting in circumcision, the Law, and circumcision. But Paul says – here is where we are to boast – in the cross of Christ. In Galatians he said he would boast ONLY of the cross.

In their world, they would boast. Good people boasted. But Paul said HERE is what to boast in. What can we do? Nothing. As sinners, we all fall short – so our only boast is the cross.

This grace in which we stand – almost like a picture of standing in a shower of God’s continual grace in our lives. He will build on that as we go through. There is a tremendous amount of theological wording – reconciliation, justification, redemption

But he simplifies – By faith, we have peace with God.

We all know what it is like in our normal lives – when a close relationship has something break in it – spouse, parent, children, friends – other church members – something disturbs the peace – we know what that feels like – and we know what it means to gain that peace back.

We all know that experience of peace with God. Yet, all of us, at times, feel like that peace is gone in our relationship with God.

What causes us to lose that experience? Theologically, we know we have not lost God’s peace. But our experience of that peace can be a struggle. How do we remedy it?

Some common things to help us in our relationship with God.

Peace – Shalom – a wide range of meanings – not as simple as peace, man, or peace out!

It is the ending of hostility between warring parties.

Remember what he said - When you were ENEMIES of God…

In Genesis 3 – we declared war on God – then in Gen. 6 – nuclear war on God – then in Gen. 11 – it continued.

Secretary of State Blinken went to Israel to try to broker peace with Israel and Palestine. It seems like every Secretary of State in our lifetime has tried the same.

Jesus tells the parable of a king who owns a vineyard – and he sends ambassadors to the vineyard – they beat some, ran others off – So the king says, I’ll send my son – they’ll respect him! But they say – he is the heir – we’ll kill him and gain the vineyard! And that is what God did. He does not try to get an agreement, but rather gives himself into the hands of humanity to crucify Him – and by doing that, He defeated the real enemy who was causing the enmity between us and God. He destroys the powers of sin, death,, and the devil on the cross so that the conditions may be set to bring about peace.

The Book of Psalms – I think it is important to read Psalms continually – because it expresses how we can have disconnect with God and ways to get reconnected. I encourage you to read through the Psalms as a regular aspect of your life.

Whatever works for you – Jesus was always quoting from Psalms – because He understood the relationship of that book to our experience of God.

This is a small thing everyone can do to maintain a better relationship with God.

One of the causes of not experiencing peace is unconfessed sin.

1 John 1:9 –

IF there is unconfessed sin – CONFESS! What happens? He is faithful and just to forgive our sins – and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Justice and righteousness lead to forgiveness and cleansing.

Another cause is guilt and shame over our sins that we have confessed thirty times! Anyone? That’s me – it was my upbringing. And that is a problem. And it usually relates to faith and doubt – and not like, lousy doubter – but help my unbelief. I want to believe, but I doubt – I struggle. But it is really believing in the gospel.

Paul understood the need for us to have a full understanding of the gospel. We need to take that theology and bring it into our heart language. It is important to understand salvation and what God did for us on the cross. It is not enough to just ask Christ into your heart – yes, we believe in Christ, we are saved – but we need to understand what that means – and the only way to do that is to do a little work.

Read these theological passages in your heart languages – how it speaks to you.

Ephesians 1 tells you what happened when you got saved. All these blessings we each received when we came to Jesus.

Simple steps –

Meditate and ponder the scriptures that talk about what we have in Christ – forgiveness, redemption, salvation – let it fill your hearts.

Second – Philippians 4:8 – whatever is good, true,… let your mind dwell on these good things – we need to do that with God – to think good about God.

Third – I think we all understand this – we understand things best through narrative – story. All of us have experienced watching a movie or reading a book that has affected us and caused us to be transformed. God is a narrative God. He is a story-teller. From Genesis 1 – continue! Story after story!

One of the best places to go – read, meditate, ponder, think about – The stories of Jesus in the gospels. When we see Jesus, we see God. Want to know what God is like? What did Jesus do?

Then read the stories Jesus told! In those stories – focus on what He is saying about God. Yes, He talks about you and me – but He is also talking about God.

God is going to keep trying to get peace and restore our relationship.

The prodigal son! Am I the older or younger son? Which am I? Both, at different times! But the story is about the FATHER! And there is so much we see about God. Those stories that powerfully impact you – the Scripture has that potential.

Another peace disrupter:

3 And not only this, but we also exult (boast!) in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

I think we allow tribulations, troubles and struggles to disrupt our relationship with God because we think it is a sign that God doesn’t really love us. Jesus said, in this world, you will have tribulations, but take courage, I have overcome the world. We need to gain an understanding of our troubles – rather than a sign He does not care, but more likely proof that He cares.

For us, most of our tribulations tend to be personal. Health, loss, grief, emotional and relational issues – those are real tribulations that God cares about – and wants to prove our character and those in Rome experienced the same troubles.

They also experienced a shared trouble – being a Christian in Rome at the time of Nero. In a few short years, he will be burning Christians as lanterns for their festivals. We experience hostility – but nothing like those in other parts of the world and in the past.

We need to take our tribulations and incorporate them into a ‘we’ – I just wanted to throw that out there.

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult (boast) in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

He goes through and takes all those words – the ungodly, sinners, (last week, when Abraham was ungodly) – sinners were viewed as beyond redemption – but that is all of us, so we can only boast in Jesus.

In v. 12 – there is a shift – but not so much:

Paul uses this to set up chapters 6,7,8 – the big ones!

12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned. for until the Law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses,

When we think of SIN, we think of personal sins – the things we do wrong – and that is part of it. There are three aspects to sin – the second one – corporate sin – that which has been embedded into our cultures. When the prophets talk about the sins of the people – it is usually a corporate sin – sometimes we want to avoid that.

Racism is a corporate sin – it might be individual – but it is also corporate.

Third – sin is a power – a spiritual power – an entity –

Through Adam, sin entered – it is an entity. This spiritual entity – this power of evil – entered into the world.

The Bible Project talks about this – search SIN and you will get a more in-depth version of this.

This is the garden – how did the serpent get there? We have no idea – but you ought to ask that question – HOW did he get there? When we read creation… everything is good – why is there a tree of the knowledge of good and evil there? Why not just GOOD? We don’t know.

But there is stuff in the heavenlies – that is evil – and it is kind of like when Adam sinned, he opened the door and it flooded in.

“Sin is personified by Paul as something that enters and reigns. Later we learn it can be obeyed, pays wages… It is portrayed as a villain. The son of evil, personal and impersonal, that found a portal into the world through Adam and Eve.

Sin became a deadly pathogen – lethal – death, spiritual death, eternal death.

In Romans, in particular, sin is Sin. Not a lowercase transgression – not even a human disposition or flaw in human nature, but a Power that stands in opposition to God.”

12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned. for until the Law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses,

Then he says this in v. 15

Romans 5:15 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.

Grace is so much bigger than SIN. Grace is power that dwarfs the power of Sin.

For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Sin reigned, now who will reign? Us! We will reign – and then this:

Romans 5:21 Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What a way to live!

Jesus reigns as King – His reign as king is a reign of grace. Grace reigns