Scripture: Rom 5:1-11

¹ 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 (helpless), Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely (hardly) 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.

The CROSS was a symbol of:

• guilt, shame, punishment, pain, despair, death and hopelessness in the past

Today, the CROSS is a symbol of: 

• forgiveness, freedom, hope, new life, new beginning, and new destiny

15 Important and Wonderful Truths

1. We have been justified through faith in Christ (v.1)

• Declared or made righteous in the sight of God when we believe in Christ and put our trust in Him
• God is just and holy and must punish sin

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:21)

2. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (v.1)
3. We have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand through Christ (v.2)

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 (Heb 4:16)

4. We can boast in the hope of the glory of God through Christ (v.2)
5. We can exult (glory) in our sufferings which produces perseverance, character, and hope in us (vs.3-4)
6. We have a hope that does not put us to shame (v.5)
7. We have God’s love in our hearts (v.5)
8. We have the Holy Spirit in us (v.5)
9. We are sinful and ungodly and can’t save ourselves (helpless) but Christ died to save us (vs.6-7)

For indeed Christ died for sins once for all, the Just and Righteous for the unjust and unrighteous [the Innocent for the guilty] so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit. (1 Pe 3:18, AMP)

10. We are loved by God who sent Christ to die for us (v.8)
11. We have been justified by His blood (v.9)
12. We shall be saved from God’s wrath through Christ (v.9)
13. We are reconciled to God through the death of his Son (v.10)
14. We are saved through His life (v.10)
15. We can boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ (v.11)

• He is our Father and we are His children
• He knows us, loves us, cares for us, and wants to help us and bless us

The good news of Good Friday is this:

• Jesus was punished so that we might be forgiven
• Jesus was declared guilty so that we might be declared righteous
• Jesus bore our shame so that we might share His glory
• Jesus was forsaken so that we might be accepted by God
• Jesus was rejected so that we might be reconciled with God
• Jesus died so that we might live – now and forevermore – in heaven and not in hell

For there is one God and *one mediator* between God and mankind, the man *Christ Jesus*, who *gave himself as a ransom* for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. (1 Tim 2:5-6)

Today, God is reaching out to you with this gift of salvation and eternal life.

What must you do?

1. To Unbelievers

ACCEPT His gift graciously and gratefully by faith

How to receive this gift of salvation and eternal life?

• Admit that you are a sinner – Rom. 3:23; 6:23
• Believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sin
• Confess your sins and Repent before Him
• Declare your need of Him by accepting Him as your Lord and Saviour
  

Let Jesus

• 1. Take control of your life
• 2. Destroy the works of the devil in your life (1 Jn 3:8)
• 3. Break the power of sin in your life

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn 1:9)

2. To Believers

Take some time to Thank God: 

• for His love and goodness; forgiveness and mercy; acceptance and restoration; blessing and anointing; power and protection; provision and ability to be a blessing to others
• for giving you the Holy Spirit to teach and guide you; to lead you and direct your path; to watch over you and protect you; to empower you and use you to draw others to Jesus