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11/7/17

Reconciliation to God by Christ, is peace and hope (Romans 5:1-11)

I used to worry a lot about the big questions, who am I? Will people like me? What should I do with my life? I was anxious and would pass it off by being funny. Not in a nice way but with sharp, cutting wit. Essentially at other peoples expense. In short, I was a jerk. Have you ever known someone like that? Someone you could tell right away was really insecure, probably hurting inside. Maybe you are anxious about something big, something overarching and impacting everything in your life. As I've grown in the faith and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I've found the truth of this life-giving passage in Romans 5:1-11. Reconciliation to God by Christ is peace and hope. This is a huge pivot point in Romans that will continue through the end of Romans 8, it all starts with "Therefore."

Therefore, since we have been justified(A) through faith,(B) we[a] have peace(C) with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,(D) Romans 5:1
 - Justified: Romans 4:25 says, "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification."
 - through faith: Romans 3:28 - "For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law."
 - we or "let us" - have peace: Christmas time peace, "Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
 - Isa 9:6; Jesus is our "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
 - Isa 52:7; Beautiful feet bring the good news, proclaim peace, bring good news, proclaim salvation  - Isa 53:5; Jesus took my sin to the Cross, "the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds, we are healed."
 - Mic 5:5; Lk 1:79; Jesus is the one who, "shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace." - Peace with God, Reconciliation, by/through Christ! Jn 14:27; Eph 2:14, 17

Do you have this peace? If you were to know that you had 2 hours left in your life, how would you feel? I was raised in a Missionary christian family, when I had left the faith and gone my own way - this question in my mind was "NOOOO!!" death was terrifying. This is a good question to ask ourselves today. Do you have this peace, have you been reconciled to God, through Jesus Christ?

Romans 5:1-11
Aim: God's love is proven in Christ reconciliation of us to him

A) justified by Christ Grace, through faith, means and peace with God 
(1) justified through faith, peace with God, through Christ 
 - peace with God, soul satisfying peace, then we have peace of God 1 Peter 4:7-11
What do we need to

B) hope of glory in all situations
(2) through Christ gained access by faith grace, hope of glory of God
(3-5) glory also in sufferings ->perseverance->character->hope (not shame) God's love poured out into our hearts through Holy Spirit given to us
 - What is the basis of your hope? Will it last during sufferings? Will it persevere against all hope, like Abraham from Romans 4:18? The hope that Daniels friends had to stand for the Lord instead of bowing to an idol or fighting for their lives. Hope that believes and stands firm in the statement: "our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." - Daniel 3:17-19

C) saved by Christ, perfect timing
(6-8) right time, powerless, Christ died for ungodly, God demonstrated love, while we still sinners Christ died for us.
 - Looking back through world history we can see that 2017 years was the right time. This time goes back to the birth of Jesus, Lord at his birth. Jesus lived for us, to show us the father and talk with us face to face. John 14:8-10; Col 1:15, http://biblehub.com/john/14-9.htm

(9) justified by blood, saved from God's wrath
(10) God's enemies, reconciled to him, through death of his Son, saved his life
 - Hebrews 7:25, saved completely
 - Reconciliation is huge; we reconciled so we have a ministry of reconciliation: 2 Cor 5:18,19, Col 1:20,22
(11) boast in God, through Jesus, received reconciliation