Fringe Benefits

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This is a sermon based on Romans 5:1-11 and it discusses the various blessings and benefits the Christian believer has because of being justified by faith in Jesus Christ.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

Today we are continuing our study in the letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christian believers in Rome.

Start off with just a reminder that this letter contains the general theme of: “The Gospel of Righteousness.”

For those who have been following the outline that we gave out, you will find that we are discussing…

III. God's righteousness is revealed through justification. (3:21-5:21)

A.    The concept of justification is explained. (3:21-31)

B.    The reality of justification is illustrated. (4:1-25)

Today we are moving into chapter five and we will be talking about:

C.    The benefits of justification are described. (5:1-21)

We will only be covering verses 1-11 today, and then, the Lord willing, we will finish chapter 5 next Sunday.

There are a number of analogies that we could employ as we think about the subject of “fringe benefits.”

For most people, they automatically think of the various benefits that people receive from their employer over and above what they receive in wages.

I’m sure that most of us are aware of how much the health insurance issue has been in the news lately as the various stages of nationalized health care takes effect.

People are concerned with their health insurance provided through their employers as many companies have cut hours and have taken other measures to avoid having to pay the high costs resulting from changing health insurance laws.

As you know there are many other benefits that are offered by companies besides just insurance. I did a quick search online and came across this article in an Australian news site.

(news.com.au) “You might think perks like this are only at big technology companies… but they're increasingly common.

“[Information Technology] services company, OBS… has an Xbox room for staff to do some team building, and promises "great coffee, soft drink, juice, wine and lots of beer" on its recruitment page.

“Tech companies have been the pioneers of wacky, fun-friendly workplaces, but other industries are catching up, providing fresh fruit, more training and services for parents.

“Swedish stationary chain kikki.K also made the 2012 BRW list, offering its employees a paid day off work for their birthday.

“Overseas, Chesapeake Energy has an indoor rock-climbing wall, Johnson and Johnson offers a free concierge service to run employees' errands, and Adidas has free language lessons.

“At snowboard company Burton, employees can even bring their dogs to work.”

Well, as wacky as all of these sound, I’m sure that there are companies right here in the U.S.A. that would surpass all of these in the extravagant benefits they offer for their employees.

I couldn’t help but thinking along this vein when I was preparing for this message as we are talking about the benefits of justification that Paul describes in chapter five.

There are a total of five different benefits that he discusses in this chapter.

We are only going to cover the first four today.

i.   It produces peace with God. (5:1)

“Therefore” – conjunction that ties this chapter with the preceding ones, showing a continuation of the discussion regarding justification.

“being justified” – aorist pass. pcpl., lit. having been justified. Showing the action as a completed fact.

“by faith” – thoroughly discussed in the previous chapter. Faith is the only means through which we can be counted righteous before God.

“we have” – present indicative. On ongoing present condition of fact.

“peace” – (Reasoner) … it means that the hostilities have ceased (v 10; 8:7) and that we no longer fear God’s wrath (v 9).

The kind of peace described here is not primarily an emotion or feeling, but it is a condition of fact. However, it is a rather dead and lifeless person who does not experience some emotion over the fact that they are no longer at war with God!

(Reasoner) ...while peace cannot be reduced [merely] to the psychological, it certainly includes the emotions. F. F. Bruce noted that peace and joy are twin blessings of the Gospel…. Bruce then quoted an old Scottish preacher who said, “Peace is joy resting; joy is peace dancing.”

ii.  It procures access to grace. (5:2a)

The next benefit is described in the first part of verse two.

If you pay attention to the structure of this sentence, you will notice that the access into grace that is mentioned here is actually an indirect benefit because it is provided by Jesus Christ who has also provided our justification and our peace.

 “this grace” – probably a reference back to the word “justification.”

(Reasoner) At the time of our justification we have access through Christ into “all the grace and privileges of the new covenant.”

From the moment Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of Eden, we no longer had direct access to God’s presence.

(Barclay) this word describes an introduction into the presence of royalty.

Isn’t it wonderful to think about the fact that this transaction (justification) has not only canceled our past record of offenses but it has given us new standing in the grace of God.

God pours out His blessings on us that we do not deserve, purely because of what Christ has done.

iii. It provides hope in adversity. (5:2b-8)

The next few verses talk about hope.

(Reasoner) While peace refers to our past, hope looks forward to the future.

“rejoice” – literally, boast.

Our rejoicing or boasting is not with ourselves or anything we have done, but it is in hope of the glory of God that we shall behold someday.

It almost seems as though the Apostle digresses a little here when he mentions hope for the future and decides to speak about some other benefits and aspects of hope. (v. 3) “Not only so, but…”

He describes the process God uses to shape us and change us through adversity and affliction.

God accepts us as we are, but He doesn’t intend to leave us in the same condition as we were when He accepted us. He intends to mold us and form us and shape us into the image of His Son.

I don’t know if you realize this or not, but this forming us into the image of Jesus is not possible without some adversity.

Martin Luther explained that tribulation takes from a man everything in which he trusts and leaves him naked, to look away from himself and to seek help from God alone. (Reasoner)

But, through it all, the end result is still hope in God. (v 5)

“maketh not ashamed” – does not disappoint. Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts.

What would you be willing to endure if you knew that the love of God would fill every space in your heart? To have more and more of the love of God would be worth enduring a great deal, wouldn’t it?

In verses 6-8 Paul inserts a description of the kind of love that God has. It is almost as though when he says, “God’s love is shed abroad in our hearts,” he decides to explain what kind of love that is.

It is the kind of love that doesn’t depend on the object loved, but on the character of the One who loves.

It is the kind of love that seeks to save those who are enemies.

It’s not the kind of love that says, “You’re such a nice person with so many wonderful qualities, I just can’t help but love you.”

No, rather, it is the kind of love that reaches out and expends every effort to benefit the person that is not loveable; who doesn’t have irresistible and wonderful qualities, but seeks to save them and redeem them anyway, because He knows the potential that is there.

That quality of love is poured into our hearts until they are full of God’s love.

What an inward change His grace brings to our hearts!

iv. It provides reconciliation with God. (5:9-11)

The final benefit we want to explore here in this passage is the fact that we have reconciliation with God.

In these verses Paul explains…

Because we are justified by His blood (His sacrificial death), we are acquitted of all charges, and this has the effect of turning away the wrath of God that we deserved. (see propitiation in 3:25)

When we are acquitted of all charges and the wrath of God is turned away, then we immediately enjoy a new relationship with God.

Before we were enemies; now we are family. Before we were at war (hostility) with each other, now we are at peace. Now we rejoice in each other.

We are reconciled through His death…and His life.

If His atoning death brought us back into right relationship with God, then how much more will His resurrection (and ongoing intercession for us) give us salvation as well.

cf. Romans 4:24-25 (NKJV) … It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, ²⁵  who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

“We joy in God…”

“joy” (v. 11) is the same Greek word as “rejoice” (v. 2), and “glory” (v. 3).

Paul is emphasizing that there is a reason for us to boast and rejoice and be exultant. It is because of our relationship with God and all that it provides for us.

“atonement” (v. 11) – same word as reconciled / reconcilation.

Again, we stress that not only our record has been changed, but our relationship has been changed.

Conclusion:

Isn’t this salvation that God has provided wonderful?

Talk about “Good News!” That’s what “gospel” means.

You can’t get any better news than this:

Your record is erased; your state of war is changed to peace; your future is as bright as the glory of God; your life and character is being shaped into the image of Christ; and your relationship with God has changed from the status of a stranger/alien/enemy to being a child of God!

Hallelujah!

I know that I may be speaking to someone today that hasn’t experienced what I’m talking about.

If you have not been born again; justified; saved; then you can be before you leave here today!

You can know when you walk out these doors that you are no longer under the wrath of God because of your sins, but now you are enjoying the benefits of His divine favor; His grace.

I have decided to use an invitational song for our closing song today, because I want to urge you to come and pray before you go home if you’re not sure you are saved.

The Savior Is Waiting  # 483