The Certainty of Salvation Part 1

About this sermon

Introduction: We like things neat and packaged; simple and streamlined. Unfortunately, when it comes to the handling of God’s Word that almost always leads to an artificial and superficial understanding of it. I agree with Martin Lloyd-Jones when he said that the common way that people outline the book of Romans represents an artificial and superficial understanding of the book. A common way that the book of Romans is outlined is as follows: Chapters 1-4 deal with justification Chapters 5-8 deal with sanctification Chapters 9-11 the problem of the Jews Chapters 12-16 practical applications and exhortations. That is a neat and tidy breakdown of the book, but it doesn’t do justice to what is actually here in chapters 5-8. Even in the chapter we are in there is a tendency to oversimplify. Some see the theme of this chapter as being the privileges of justification — what we have in Christ now that we have been justified. And there is no doubt that we see some of our privileges here. But that isn’t the main thought, or the case that the apostle is making here. The main point of chapter 5 is the ABSOLUTE NATURE of this salvation that comes by faith. Having made his case that justification is by faith alone, he now shows that once someone has been justified by faith their salvation is absolutely sure. What he is addressing here is the SURENESS, the SECURITY of the salvation received by faith. 1. HE STATES THIS THEME IN VERSES (VS.1-2) 2. THEN HE SHOWS THAT NOTHING CAN SHAKE US OUT OF IT, THE GREATEST TRIBULATIONS CANNOT ROB US OF IT (VS.3-5) 3. THEN HE SHOWS THE REASON WHY IT IS UNSHAKABLE, BECAUSE IT IS ALL OF GOD, ALL BASED ON GOD’S LOVE AND GOD’S CHARACTER (VS.6-11) 4. THEN HE SHOWS THAT THE GREATEST PROOF OF OUR FINAL SALVATION IS OUR UNION WITH JESUS CHRIST (VS.12-21) At the end of all this, he will then take up the number one objection against the security of the believer. What is that? It is that this teaching would lead to sin. And that is where he goes in chapter 6. In fact, what he is dealing with are the objections that would be raised by 5:20-21. Does grace encourage sinning? Does the idea of eternal security lead to a sinful lifestyle? – Chapter 6 Is the law unnecessary – Chapter 7? And notice a great proof of all of this. In chapter 8:30 he does the same thing he does in 5:1-2. He goes straight from justification to glorification. Those who believe that what Paul is most concerned about, as he defends the gospel, is sanctification, isn’t it interesting that he doesn’t even mention sanctification per se. Why? Is it because sanctification won’t happen? No. It is because salvation is certain, and that is what he is stressing. So, he begins in verses 1-2 with the certainty of this salvation, and he does this by showing what justification results in. I. JUSTIFICATION GIVES US PEACE WITH GOD (vs.1) Charles Hodge, I believe it was, said that this might be better translated, “peace with reference to God.” What can be said about this peace that Paul refers to in verse 1? A. THIS IS A SETTLED PEACE This has to do, as we have said, with the FINALITY of salvation. This statement, “we have peace with God” speaks of something that has been done once and forever. It is accomplished; it was done in the past. Those who have been justified by faith, are no longer looking for this peace with God, they HAVE IT RIGHT NOW.

Topics

• Salvation