Jesus Christ Saves Sinners

Romans 5:1-11

 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

This is palm Sunday. Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a young donkey and the people shout “Hosanna.”  What does Hosanna mean?

“O save!”  It is a cry for mercy! It is a cry of expectation! It is a cry that recognizes a need of one sort or another.

 

But most of those people did not receive salvation. Why? Because they sought a salvation that was of their own will rather than the salvation presented by God through Christ. But, to those who received Christ’s salvation, God gave them the right to be called the children of God who were of His own will and plan.

 

That salvation that Christ provides is one of my favorite things to talk about, so that’s what I am going to preach on today. Jesus Christ saves Sinners!!

This morning’s sermon comes from Romans 3, 5, 6 and 8.

 

  1. I am Accountable to God for My Sin

 

  1. All have sinned

        Romans 3

        19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

 

  1. Sin produces death

 

In describing the reason why people who are completely forgiven by God do not go on sinning because we cannot out sin God’s grace, Paul says, in Romans 6:

 

20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Physical death : Resurrection of the body

Spiritual death : Indwelling Holy Spirit

Psychological death : Renewing of the mind

Social death : Relationships managed in sacrifice, service and    love.

Emotional death : Given a new heart

Volitional death : God is at work in me to will to do His will

Death to freedom : Who the Son sets free is free indeed

Death to love : Love comes from God, we know the love of        Christ that is beyond knowledge.

 

  1. Jesus’ Death Gives Me Life Power

 

  1. Jesus and Adam

 

        Romans 5:

17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

 

18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

        One sin and one righteous act: Tremendous impacts that         continue across time!

 

        One trespass resulted in condemnation for all people.

 

  1. One righteous act resulted in life for all people

 

        Justification: back to chapter 3: “declared righteous” It is a       verdict pronounced on a life lived.

 

        And life! “Reign in life” from chapter 5.

        “Eternal life” from chapter 6.

        And the law of the spirit of life in Christ sets us free from   the law of sin and death. Chapter 8

 

        Satan wants to destroy your hope so you will not expect much     from yourself relative to your personal righteousness.

 

He wants you to think it is sin that is fun and righteousness is a   burden.

 

He is a liar. The truth is you have all that you need to live    righteously. Now, you will have to learn to submit to the control     of righteousness, but if there is life in it, how is that a burden?

 

III. The Greatness of Saving Grace

 

  1. We have peace with God

        5:1

        Since we know that Jesus has the ability to provide salvation for all men by His one act of righteousness, we know He can provide salvation for me. My sin is the ace of hearts. Jesus is every spade. His grace trumps my sin and wins life for me!

 

  1. We have the hope of the glory of God

        5:2

        Not only am I forgiven and declared righteous, God is making that glory that I was created for a reality in my life. I am becoming a more Godly husband, father, son and pastor. I am a more Godly American, Arkansan and Russellvillian. I am a more Godly disc golf club president.

 

 

  1. We have life in our suffering

        5:3-5

        3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

        Romans 8:28. Hebrews 12:7,10

 

  1. We personally know the love of God

        5:5, 8

        God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 8 God Demonstrates His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

I John 4:10 And this is love, not that we loved God, but that God loved us and sent His Son to be an atoning sacrifice for sin!

 

        When we understand the greatness of our need and the lengths that God is willing to go to meet that need, then we begin to see His love, which surpasses knowledge. We can know the height, depth width and breadth of His love that surpasses knowledge. It’s not something we read in a book, it’s something that God speaks to us personally. I know that I am a sinner. If I am not in hell, I know it is only because of the love and grace of God.

 

  1. We are safe from God’s wrath

        5:9-10

        9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

 

        There is no fear of the future, because of the complete nature of the gift of Jesus’ righteousness. The Ark carried Noah above the water.

 

  1. We boast in God!

        That is what this sermon is!!

 

We are not afraid of Him! We are proud of Him! We love Him! We         celebrate His character! We boast in God!!

 

We receive communion today. Let us do it in the light of Hebrews 4: 14-16

 

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

 

Jesus knows your weaknesses very well. He suffered terribly for them. But, He also suffered completely for them. Come to Him for grace and mercy today so that you might have life. Come for healing, physical, emotional, mental, and volitional. Come for relationship, to know His love. Come for wisdom, pursuing His way of life that embraces sacrifice and service as conduits for the power of the Holy Spirit. But most of all, come for communion. Jesus died to bring you to God in relationship. Press in. Press in. Press in. In knowing God is true life! And Jesus is the way.