A Parable Of Rescue

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A Chinese scholar who converted to Christ told this parable. A man fell into a dark, dirty pit and he tried to climb out, but he couldn't. Confucius came along, he saw the man in the pit and said, Poor fella, if he had listened to me, he never would have fallen in. And he left. Buddha came along and saw the man in the pit and said, Poor fella, if he can climb up here, I'll help him. And he too left. Then Christ came and said, Poor fella. And he jumped into the pit and helped him out. Have you ever wondered why Jesus would die for people who rejected him? In Romans 5, 1 to 8, the apostle Paul lets us know that Christ did not wait for us to become righteous before he loved us. In this episode, we will analyze this passage through the lenses of three truths. First, because we are being justified by faith, we are peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Second, our trials and sufferings produce a hope that will never disappoint. Third, all of this is possible because Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Stay with me as we explore this powerful passage together, deepen our understanding of God's word and grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Justified By Faith Brings Peace

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Envision this. You're caught in the middle of a violent personal storm. Everything in your life seems to be crashing down around you. Waves of chaos, fear, and uncertainty pound from every side. Yet suddenly a deep calmness washes over you as you remember the unbreakable truth. Because we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Martin Luther wrote of Romans 5 that in the whole Bible there is hardly another chapter which can equal this triumphant text. Chapter 5 begins with the word therefore, as it builds on chapters 1 to 4 explanation of salvation being by grace. In Romans 5.1, the apostle Paul identified justification as being the product of faith. Justification is a one-time historical event that is enjoyed by Christians immediately, permanently, and continuously. What if I told you that if you were to commit your life to Jesus Christ today, you would be as justified as someone who has been a Christian for 50 years. When we acknowledge that Jesus came, was crucified, and rose from the dead, God then removes the guilt and penalty of our sin and replaces it with righteousness. Now that we are justified, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This peace is not a state of mind or heart. It is a prevailing condition between two who were once alienated. The veil kept even the most pious devout Jew out of the holy of holies except for once a year on the Day of Atonement. A wall in the temple grounds kept the Gentiles from proximity to God. Through his sacrifice, Jesus is able to bind together again God and those who by reason of their standing in the first Adam had been separated from God.

Access To Grace That Holds

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In Romans 5 2, Paul emphatically declares that through faith in Jesus we have gained access to the grace that we are standing on. In Bible times, this was a Greek word used for the right granted someone to enter into the king's presence. One could not just waltz into a king's presence. To do so would invite certain debt. In the Old Testament in Esther chapter 4, we learn that Esther desired to plead with King Ahasurus for the safety of her Jewish countrymen. However, she was aware of the danger of entering into the king's presence without an invitation. Esther risked her life by venturing into the throne room. Fortunately for her, the king granted her grace. Prior to Jesus, we Gentiles stood in God's reveal wrath, and the Jews stood in the law which condemned them. However, both Jew and Gentile, upon belief in the sacrifice of the Lamb of God Jesus, are transported from the kingdom of darkness into the glorious kingdom of God's beloved Son. Paul says we are now standing in the new place in which we are put by grace. This standing gives us the right to boldly approach the throne of grace in prayer. Furthermore, not only has Christ brought us into the state of grace, but no storm of circumstances can move us from where we stand. As a result, we now rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. The believer's hope is a happy certainty. Our hope in the God of all our tomorrows provides optimism for the future and gives strength for today. The glory of God refers to the majesty and greatness of God's presence. In Revelation 1.17, John describes his encounter with the glorious risen Lord Jesus, writing, that when I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Christians look longingly for that day when we shall enjoy heaven in all of its fullness. Let us reflect on the truth that we look for a city with foundations whose architect and builder is God. God is still giving peace through faith in Jesus Christ. In his book Touched by the Savior, Mike Yorkey tells us of Lucky Lawrence, Larry. In the 1960s, Larry was the number one rock and roll rager personality in Phoenix. Despite having fame, money, and success, Larry struggled to find real joy. His family life was a mess and he was on his way to becoming an alcoholic. Fortunately, Larry's wife Sue trusted Jesus as her savior. Larry noticed the peace and joy in her life and the difference in how she treated him. Soon after, he too asked Jesus to forgive him and be his savior. Larry then experienced the joy and peace of Christ. Have we encountered the risen Savior? Jesus Christ?

Suffering That Produces Hope

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Most Christians understand peace with God. Far fewer understand what suffering is accomplishing. This wonderful peace with God does not mean we are exempt from life's storms. Rather, it equips us to face them with a different perspective. In Romans 5.3, the Apostle Paul affirms that we rejoice in our sufferings instead of murmuring and complaining. Undoubtedly, this is what God expects of all Christians. The actual conditions of life, especially for believers in the midst of a hostile society, are not necessarily easy or pleasant. Unfortunately, many of us feel that being a Christian should exempt us from trials and sufferings. However, in this verse, Paul is asking us to rejoice in the midst of suffering because of what suffering can produce in us. Paul is letting us know that the pain that comes to us via suffering is dramatically outweighed by the benefits of joyfully enduring it. A woman in labor enjoys great suffering, but the end product is normally a much-loved child. Paul goes on to state that we know that our suffering will produce perseverance. For the Christian, tribulation is a normal element of our Christian life. The outcome of Christian suffering is perseverance. Perseverance is the ability to continue working in the face of strong opposition and great obstacles. The Greek word that is used here for perseverance is also often translated as patience. This indicates that the Christian will learn the lesson and not attempt to squirm out from under the suffering. The steadfastness and the patience called for in the life of a believer requires God's supernatural strength. Joseph experienced many trials, first at the hand of his brothers and then in his early days in Egypt. These trials were necessary so that the Lord's loving purpose might be fulfilled. The difficulties we encounter in life are intended by God to make us better, not bitter. In Romans 5.4, Paul declares that perseverance leads to character and character results in hope. The Greek word that is used here for character was used to describe metals that had been through a fiery test and been proven to be pure, authentic, and genuine. In those days when a silversmith purified silver, he would place the silver in a pot and heat that pot. Once engulfed in this heat, the impurities in the silver would float to the surface and be removed. When we go through tribulation and our fate is tested, if we persevere, what we receive is proof that our faith is real, for it has been tested and has stood the tests. A missionary couple in India saw their six children killed, so they raised 300 foster children. Suffering produces character. When suffering comes, it is not a mark of God's anger. It is a mark of his love. The suffering we are facing right now is not proof God has abandoned us. Rather, it is proof that he is shaping us. It is our character that God is after. And that is why in love he introduces suffering, tribulations, trials, disappointments, and anguish into our lives. The mark of a Christian who has grown to maturity is that he accepts everything that happens to him without exception. Such a Christian views all events as coming from the hand of the Lord and rejoices in what these are doing to him. Suffering builds Christ-like character, character that has been tested and received God's seal of approval. It is this Christ-like character that gives us a hope that will not be ashamed. The word hope in Scripture is a term of certainty. To say that we hope for the return of the Lord is not to say that we are uncertain about his coming. Rather, it means to anticipate with confident expectation. Having endured suffering and persevered, the believer is freed from illusion and despair. The more a believer pursues holiness, the more he is persecuted and troubled, the greater will be his hope as he is sustained through it all by God's powerful grace. If we were to hope for something, but then later find that we were never going to receive it, our hope would be put to shame or disappointed. However, as believers, the Holy Spirit has come into our lives and has flooded our hearts with God's love. This overflowing love inculcates a hope that cannot and will never ever disappoint. The Christian will live and reign with Christ. Jesus will be with the believer always to the end. Let us reflect on the truth that our hope is built on Jesus' blood and righteousness and will never make us ashamed. Christian history tells us of Sophie, who lived in New York City. She made her living scrubbing floors in the skyscrapers of New York. Through this vocation, she earned thousands of dollars and supported some 20 or 30 missionaries all by herself. On several occasions while she was working, some office worker would say to her, Sophie, I wish I had your faith. I wish I knew God like you know him. Sophie would reply, Well, if you would read your New Testament right, you could know him. She said this one time to a minister who indignantly replied, I read the Bible. I read the Bible in Greek and Hebrew. Sophie said, Well, you don't read it right. The minister replied, What do you mean? Well, she said, when it says G L O R Y in tribulations, you read it G-R-O-W L growl. That is a trouble with you. That is why you don't have joy in your heart. You growl in tribulations. Are we truly glorying in our tribulations? Even in our deepest suffering, we discover the foundation of all our hope, the astonishing love of God who gave everything for us.

Christ Died For The Ungodly

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In Romans 5 6, the apostle Paul declares that just at the right time, when we are absolutely powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. The right time means that the death of Christ occurred at the proper period. There was no accident about it. Christ died for us at the time appointed by God. All throughout Scripture, reference is made to a certain season or hour assigned for the death of Christ. When Adam ate of the forbidden fruit, he incurred the penalty of death, and in that punishment we are all involved. Man was utterly powerless with no way of escaping the effects of the fall. God then determined that the atoning sacrifice of his son was the manner in which he would deal with man's sin. In this verse, ungodly refers to mankind in general and indicates a lack of fear, reverence, or respect for God and the things of God. Christ died in place of, for the benefit of, on behalf of, and instead of mankind. This act of love was extended to the unlovable, ungodly, helpless to help themselves, sinners, God's mortal enemies. Jesus Christ's substitutionary sacrifice, the godly one in place of the ungodly is immeasurable. In Romans 5, 7 to 8, Paul declares that there is almost no one who died for a righteous man. Some might die for a good man. However, God showed the depths of his love towards us by dying for us while we were still sinners. A righteous man is an upright man who has done what is required among other men. A good man alludes to a kind, caring man who acts beneficially towards others. We were neither righteous nor good, but were helpless, ungodly sinners. No merit from our side could have moved Christ to die for us. Yet God so loved us that he gave his only begotten Son to die in our place. Everything Paul has said so far leads to this astonishing truth. It's hard to love the weak and powerless, but when those same people also are ungodly and opposed to all that God stands for, that kind of love is truly amazing. God's love, as revealed in Jesus Christ, is both unprecedented and unparalleled. History provides an exemplary example of someone who gave their lives so that others could live. On January 13, 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed and plunged into the icy waters of the Potomac River. Five people, two men and three women, clung to a broken-off tail section. Another man was treading water nearby. The helicopter crew returned and aimed the line at a balding man named Arlen Williams. He caught it, but instead of wrapping it around himself, he passed the line to flight attendant Kelly Duncan. She took the line and held tight as she was carried safely to shore. Again the helicopter returned. Again they aimed the line at Williams. Once more he caught it and again he passed it on. This time to Joe Stiley, the most severely injured survivor. Stile slipped it around himself and was carried to shore. William's turn had come at last. The chopper turned once more toward the sinking tail. They strained for signs of the hero who had saved two lives, but the balding man was gone. Later, telling his wife about it, Officer Jean Winds wept What if God is calling us to a closer walk with him? We started by asking if we have ever wondered why Jesus would die for people who rejected him. As we analyze Romans 5 1 to 8, we discovered that Christ did not wait for us to become righteous before he loved us. Christ died for us while we were still sinners. As a result of Jesus' loving sacrifice, when we confess Jesus as Lord, we are justified by faith and have peace with God. Furthermore, our trials and sufferings produce a hope that will never disappoint. Jesus did not wait for us to become worthy before He loved us, He loved us at our worst. He died for us while we were still sinners. If Christ loved us then, how much more can we live for him now?

Prayer For Real Change

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Before you go, if this message spoke to you, like this podcast and subscribe so you don't miss what God is doing here at Catch on Fire Podcasts. If you're ready for real change, take a moment right now to pray with me. Jesus, I give you my life. Lead me, forgive me, and make me new. If you pray that, welcome to the family. Follow along, stay connected, and let's walk this walk together. Demystify the Bible using the covenant story that's available at Amazon.com or the online course that can be found at Biblical DiscipleshipAcademy.uscreen.io. Many people know the stories of the Bible, but few see the one story that connects them all. From creation to promise, from kingdom to Christ, scripture reveals one unified narrative of divine redemption. Discover the covenant story through a 10-volume series on Amazon or go deeper with the online course at the Biblical Discipleship Academy.uscreen.io. Start your journey today.

Declarations Psalm 23 Blessing

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Please join me as we confess words of life over all of our lives. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are still holding on to God's unchanging hand. We are still in God's holy plan. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are living holy lives as God requires. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, giving clothes to those in need, ministering to the sick and visiting those in prison, and we are doing so to the least of those among us, as when we do so we are ministering to Jesus. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we have received healing, as by his stripes we are healed. From the crown of our head to the soles of our feet, all of our bodily organs are working correctly. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that God is ordering our steps, that all weapons that are formed against us have been utterly and completely destroyed, and every tongue that is rising against us in judgment is condemned. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that all generational curses are cancelled. Anything that runs in our ancestral bloodline that is not of God has no power over us, our children and our grandchildren, and is eliminated forever right now. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that angels are watching over and keeping our family, our children, our grandchildren, our loved ones safe. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that every negative word that has been and is being spoken over our lives and that of our family, children, grandchildren, and loved ones is cancelled and sent back to the pit from whence it came. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are the head and not the tail. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are not and will never be ashamed. Our enemies have not and never will triumph over us. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that anything that is not of God that has been dispatched to hinder our blessings, our progress, and our well-being is immediately destroyed. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are financially in line with God's word, and as such we are lenders and not borrowers. As a result, all of our debts have been paid and are forgiven. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that the enemy of our souls has no authority over our finances and our funds, and that we are good stewards of the money that God has placed in our keeping. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that in the area of business and our carriers, that just as Isaac reaped a hundredfold, the blessings of Abraham are falling on us, and we are reaping a hundredfold from whatever we put our hands to. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are living under an open heaven in every area of our lives. Blessings are falling on us, our family and our loved ones. These blessings are being manifested in our lives, in the spiritual and in the physical. Let's repeat the 23rd Psalm together. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restored my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Amen.