Bible Readings:
Romans 5:1 – 6:23
Sermon Outline:
Romans 5:1–2 (NKJV)
1Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
I Result of justification – assurance, certainty
Romans 8:1 (NKJV)
1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:31–39 (NKJV)
31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
33Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
34Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
38For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
II Impute or infuse
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 33. What is justification?
Justification is an act of God’s free grace,
wherein He pardoneth all our sins,
and accepteth us as righteous in His sight,
only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us,
and received by faith alone.
Westminster Confession of Faith – Ch. 11 Of Justification
11.1. Those whom God effectually calls, He also freely justifies;
not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins,
and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous;
not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them,
but for Christ’s sake alone;
nor by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other
evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness;
but by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them,
they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith;
which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God.
III Abuse
IV Clarification
Our faith is never perfect … we are partly unbelievers.
John Calvin
Unless our faith be now and then raised up, it will lie prostrate;
unless it is warmed, it will be frozen;
unless it be roused, it will grow torpid.
John Calvin