"WE ARE FULL OF JOY BECAUSE WE EXPECT TO SHARE IN GOD S GLORY - Romans 5:1-11 NIV

Transcription

1 "WE ARE FULL OF JOY BECAUSE WE EXPECT TO SHARE IN GOD S GLORY - Romans 5:1-11 NIV We have been made right with God because of our faith. Now we have peace with him because of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through faith in Jesus we have received God s grace. In that grace we stand. We are full of joy because we expect to share in God s glory. 3 And that s not all. We are full of joy even when we suffer. We know that our suffering gives us the strength to go on. 4 The strength to go on produces character. Character produces hope. 5 And hope will never let us down. God has poured his love into our hearts. He did it through the Holy Spirit, whom he has given to us. 6 At just the right time Christ died for ungodly people. He died for us when we had no power of our own. 7 It is unusual for anyone to die for a godly person. Maybe someone would be willing to die for a good person. 8 But here is how God has shown his love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 The blood of Christ has made us right with God. So we are even more sure that Jesus will save us from God s anger. 10 Once we were God s enemies. But we have been brought back to him because his Son has died for us. Now that God has brought us back, we are even more secure. We know that we will be saved because Christ lives. 11 And that is not all. We are full of joy in God because of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of him, God has brought us back to himself. Key Verse: 2b WE ARE FULL OF JOY BECAUSE WE EXPECT TO SHARE IN GOD S GLORY Intro: When is the last time you ve given serious consideration, as to how God s elect children through Jesus Christ have been granted access, into the grace of God? To make this access possible, Jesus Christ suffered the violence of the Cross, to ensure our peace and right standing before God. See Ephesians 2:18. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. This access is the privilege of all who are in Christ. Jesus is the one who throws open the door and ushers His brethren into God s presence. Why did Messiah do this? Answer. So that His saints may behold and share in God s glory! What a blessed promise! The Hope for Glory For this message I m going to give serious consideration to Romans 5 verses 1-5. To start us off right, listen very carefully, to this paraphrase of the first 3 verses. Being justified (acquitted), then, on the basis of faith, we are at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have access to this grace that we stand in, glorifying in the promise of God s glory but that s not all. (There is more!) Now let s narrow things down and focus for moment or two on just these words from this paraphrase: GLORIFYING IN THE PROMISE OF GOD S GLORY. What an amazing promise for the saints of God to consider! This will happen with our own eyes, when we will behold the glory of God. In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Paul explains by we ought not to lose heart when life get tough. Page 1 of 7

2 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. In 2 Timothy 2:10 Paul told Timothy that he endured all things for the elect s sake, that they may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus WITH ETERNAL GLORY. This glorious sight, will greatly exceed earth s most wonderful and pleasant experiences. So, Paul is encouraging the saints of God to look beyond their earthly existence. This is what Paul s ministry was all about. This is what your ministry should be all about! I want to ask you? Do you and I desire the salvation which is IN Christ Jesus WITH eternal glory? To answer this question accurately you have to enjoy some basic understanding of this eternal glory of which Paul speaks. So. God s Glory, the promise of God s glory, an eternal weight of glory, what s this glory all about? It s quite simple. God is not without His glory. J.I. Packer said; All serious Christian thinkers acknowledge that glorifying God is at once man s divine calling and his highest joy, both here and hereafter. It s important for God s saints to give glory to Jesus Christ and God. Yet, what exactly is this eternal glory that we will share in through Jesus? The principle word for glory in the Hebrew is Kabod. Literally it means to be heavy. It communicates the idea that the person having glory is heavy with position or power or wealth. (Hey man, God is the heaviest! ) The word Kabod has a very broad range of meaning. E.F. Harrison (a Greek scholar) explains that Kabod denotes the manifestation of light by which God revealed Himself, whether in the lighting flash or in the blinding splendor, which had often accompanied God s appearances to people like Moses and Abraham. Let s see some examples: Turn to Ezekiel 1: (NIV) Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. 27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. Do not miss the importance of verses Here is a picture depicting something more of God s glory. Note that in our quote (from Ezekiel 1:26) it is said that high above this lapis lazuli throne was a figure like that of a man. And what else did Ezekiel see? 27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Page 2 of 7

3 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. Now open to Exodus 24:9-12 for another picture of God s glory.. (NIV) Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up 10 and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky. 11 But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank. What in the world is this pavement made of lap is laz u li? What is this Lapis Lazuli (lap is laz u li)? It is one of the most sought after stones in use since man's history began. Its deep, celestial blue remains the symbol of royalty and honor, gods and power, spirit and vision. It is a universal symbol of wisdom and truth. It is rock formed by multiple minerals, mostly Lazurite, Sodalite, Calcite and Pyrite, and is a rich medium to royal blue with gold flecks (pyrites). It is mistakenly translated as sapphire (unknown in that part of the ancient world). (The ESV gets it wrong every time.) There s another picture in Daniel 7: (NIV) In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. Moses, Daniel and Ezekiel all did see, whether with their own eyes or in a vision, something of God s glory. But there s more. Now turn to Luke 9: (NIV) About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah. (He did not know what he was saying.) 34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him. 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen. Later on Peter speaks of this blessed sight in his second letter. 2 Peter 1: Page 3 of 7

4 NIV) For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. God s glory, the saint s reward. Now when we speak of rejoicing in God s glory, we know God is encouraging you believers to look to enjoying the fulness of God s perfect light. This should be our heart s desire, to behold our Lord s glory in its perfect splendor and magnificence. Jesus, who is the man high above the throne made of lapis lazuli, has himself encouraged us through these words. Open to Matthew 13: (NIV) His disciples came to him and said, Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field. 37 He answered, The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear. Are you still wondering what s going on here? Open to John 17: (NIV) My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one 23 I in them and you in me so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Another passage for you from Song of Songs 5: Page 4 of 7

5 (NIV) My beloved is radiant and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand. 11 His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven. 12 His eyes are like doves by the water streams, washed in milk, mounted like jewels. 13 His cheeks are like beds of spice yielding perfume. His lips are like lilies dripping with myrrh. 14 His arms are rods of gold set with topaz. His body is like polished ivory decorated with lapis lazuli. 15 His legs are pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as its cedars. 16 His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem. If you haven t as yet put it together on your own, then open to Genesis 15:1. (NIV) After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. The Saint s suffering for God s glory. Now that we have looked over some of the snapshots of God s glory from the Old Testament let s return again to once to Romans 5. (NIV) 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. Note that the Spirit of God has moved Paul to add what appears to be a new twist to the conversation. Romans 5:2b-5. At the beginning of verse 3 Paul says, Not only so which in the King James translation reads not only that. In other words there is more to be said about glorying. We would probably say it this way. On top of all that God adds the following. But what exactly can be added to that? Now listen carefully to what the Spirit of God says here in verses 3-6. Page 5 of 7

6 3 We are full of joy even when we suffer. What?!!! Paul, Is this something we should be getting excited about? Thankfully he didn t stop there. He continues. We know : that our suffering gives us the strength to go on. The strength to go on produces character. Character produces hope. And hope will never let us down. God has poured his love into our hearts. He did it through the Holy Spirit, whom he has given to us. Is this some sort of trick? How can Paul make a leap from boasting in the hope of the glory of God to glorying in our sufferings? There is no disconnect here. Paul is speaking of what we are to boast in as God s saints. It is, in and through suffering, where God meets us in a most peculiar way. For the world, adversity drives them to despair. For the saint, adversity drives them into the arms of the Good Shepherd. Why is this? Because He cares deeply for our souls. It s very simple. Paul is simply boasting. Because this boasting in rooted in our identity to Christ Jesus. John Piper, in his biographic work on the life of the author of Pilgrim s Progress, John Bunyan; Piper says: as I come to Bunyan's life and suffering, I see in the Bible that "through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom" (Acts 14:22); and the promise of Jesus, "If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20); and the warning from Peter do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you" (1 Peter 4:12); and the utter realism of Paul that we who "have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body" (Rom. 8:23); and the reminder that "our outer nature is wasting away" (2 Cor. 4:16); and that the whole creation "was subjected to futility" (Rom. 8:20). As I look around me in the world and in the Word, my own sense is that what we need from Bunyan right now is a glimpse into how he suffered and how he learned to "live on God that is invisible." I want that for myself, and I want that for my people, and I want that for you pastors and for your people, because nothing glorifies God more than when we maintain our stability and even our joy having lost everything but God (Hab. 3:17-18). That day is coming for each of us, and we do well to get ready, and help our people get ready. (John Bunyan: Suffering and Service in the Life) Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Page 6 of 7

7 Application: How about you, dear Christian, God s beloved? Are you living to the praise of His glorious grace? Are you full of joy when you suffer? Paul has these encouraging words for you this morning. Ephesians 1: Ephesians 1:11-14 (NIV) In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God s possession to the praise of his glory. For the true believer, their trials, their tribulations, and suffering, becomes purposeful and has meaning. Ask any older saint if God has ever failed them during their seasons of suffering. They know: that their life and welfare are completely under God s watchful eye and care they know that whatever befalls them, whether good or bad, they are used of God for our ultimate good and for His glory. First comes the troubles, then from out of the troubles the saint learns how to patiently wait upon God. And from patiently waiting upon God we gain hope. And all this for our participation into God s glory. John 17:24. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. So now we know why we suffer. Suffer well my dear friends. For God will meet you in your sufferings, and God will richly bless you, on the day when we are gathered before His Holy Throne and behold and share in His glory. As we close let s take a new peek at our key verse. Romans 5:2b We are full of joy because we expect to share in God s glory "My friend, don't you want to share in the glory of God?" You can if you turn from sin and start trusting Christ. He gives justification. He gives peace with God. He gives grace upon grace. And therefore our hope in the glory of God is not built on sand. It is as sure as the character of Jesus Christ. [Those are our first two points: 1) the glory of God is very great, and 2) the glory of God is a sure hope in Jesus Christ. (John Piper's Sermons) Page 7 of 7