Romans Part Five
III. God’s provision for Justification and Sanctification
a. Justification
1. By faith alone 3:21- 31
2. Illustrated in the Old Testament 4:1-25
3. Brings blessings to its recipients 5:1-11
4. Is a gift from God 5:12-21
b. Sanctification
1. Sanctification and principle of sin 6:1-14
2. Sanctification and the practice of sin 6:15-23
3. Sanctification and the law 7:1-14
4. Sanctification and the conflict within 7:15-25
We learned last time that “we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of the Lord” regardless of who we are and what we have done….
In 3:28 “therefore we conclude that man is justified by faith…”
What exactly is this church term “justified --- justification” all about?
Simply put, “justification is a process by which an individual in brought into an unmerited, right relationship with God.”
So, we are brought into an unmerited right relationship by our faith. If of course, our faith is genuine.
Paul’s point to the church in Rome was that in times past, Old Testament history, it was the faith of people such as Abraham that brought him into a right relationship with God --- thereby justified by faith.
Genesis 15:6 captures the essence of this, “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness (NIV). This right relationship is not something Abram possessed that prompted a reward from God.
Abram was a sinner just like the rest of us --- but God demonstrate His love for Abram is response to his faith --- and declared him righteous. Abram’s works were because of his faith ---
God’s grace (unmerited mercy and love) are poured out because of faith. It is His gift to us.
What are the benefits of having been justified by God?
1. 5:1 teaches us we have peace…. This is not the peace of God but peace with God. According to James 4:4 sinners are God’s enemy, “…Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
2. 5:2 we have access to God………….we stand in His presences…
3. we can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God….we can rejoice in the hope that not matter what we are like today we shall be like him.
4. we glory in tribulation…..
5. our hope makes us not ashamed as the Holy Spirit fills us and directs our hearts………
6 just as unrighteousness is imputed to us because of our sin --- justification is imputed to us because of our faith…..
Chapter 6 verse 1-2 asks this question, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
If justification is the process of by which a person is brought into a right relationship with God, then what is “Sanctification”.
Sanctification is the process of being made holy resulting in a changed life-style for the believer.
6:5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.
6:12 therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
6:22 but now having been set free from sin, having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
6:23 FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD!!!!
Our faith in Jesus Christ leads us to the gift He has prepared for us. Because of our faith in Him as God, Lord and Savior we confess and repent of our sins against Him. Because of His love for us, He gives us the gift of salvation --- reconciliation --- and justifies us by declaring the penalty of our sins paid in full. If we truly believe we separate ourselves for our sinful past and that of the world by living a change life-style --- and we become sanctified.
Let us pray……