“Peace, Hope, and Reconciliation”

(Romans 5:1-11)

Series: Romans – United in the Gospel [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

March 27, 2022

Introductory Comments:

We are continuing our series through the book of Romans and things are really getting good. 

Paul spent the first part of the book pointing out that we know God from Creation, we are guilty before God because of our sin, and we are made right with God through faith. 

Today, as we begin chapter 5, Paul will start to point out some benefits of placing our faith in God through Jesus. 

In fact, Paul starts off in verse 1 by saying, “Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith . . . ” [on screen]

So, Paul has been preparing us for this moment. Since everything he’s already said is true, these implications come from what we’ve learned. 

Let’s pray together and see what God has to say to us in His Word. 

(prayer)

In the previous passages, Paul was making logical arguments and clarifications. However, in this passage, Paul is not doing that. Paul is proclaiming straightforwardly the beauty of the Gospel. 

So, today, let’s look at three benefits that come through faith in God’s promises. I’ll give you a sneak peek: they are peace, hope, and reconciliation. In fact, that’s the title of today’s sermon, “Peace, Hope, and Reconciliation.” [on screen]

So, let’s get started. First, let’s look at . . .

I. Peace through Jesus (1-2) [on screen]

The first benefit that we receive by placing our faith in God is peace with God. Let’s see how that peace with God is made possible. Look at verses 1 and 2:

1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

We’ve learned a lot about being declared righteous by faith in the previous passages we’ve studied in Romans. 

Paul says since we have been declared righteous that we have peace with God. 

However, Paul doesn’t leave us to wonder how we have peace with God; he tells us very clearly: “ . . . through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

If you want to know God and experience peace with God then do so through Jesus!

If you want to move from being an enemy of God to being at peace with God, do so through Jesus!

Paul goes on so beautifully, in verse 2, to note other benefits that come with peace with God through Jesus.

We have access to the grace of God, again by faith. Paul says that we stand in this grace. Through Jesus, we are all up in the middle of God’s grace. We’re not just dipping a toe in it, we are standing in it!

Also, we have hope in the glory of God. God brings us hope because His promises are sure, His grace is deep, His love is amazing, and there is dynamite power in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

There is peace through Jesus! As Acts 4:12 says, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.” [on screen]

Paul says that this hope brings us rejoicing. Praise God for the hope of the glory of God!

So, the first benefit of being declared righteous by faith is that we have peace through Jesus. 

The second benefit is that we have . . .

II. Hope through affliction (3-5) [on screen]

Paul’s not done. I love how he starts verse 3. He says, “And not only that . . .” It’s as if Paul is saying, “Wait, there’s more!” Look at verses 3-5:

3 And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Let’s pause here for just a moment with these words, “ . . . we also rejoice in our af