Four Principles of Stewardship
1. God owns everything, you own nothing.
2. God entrusts you with everything you have.
3. You can either increase or diminish what God has given; He wants you to increase it.
4. God can call you into account at any time, and it may be today.
I. Jesus Made Peace With God Possible (5:1)
Romans 5:1 - Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…
A. Justification = Declared Righteous (5:1)
Justification is the judicial act of God whereby He declares the sinner innocent and imputes the righteousness of Christ to his account.
1. Even when we were sinners (5:8)
Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
2. Even when we were under the wrath of God (5:9)
Romans 5:9 - Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
B. Through our Lord Jesus Christ (5:1)
II. Jesus’ Relationship With Your Heart Is Characterized by Grace (5:2)
Romans 5:2 - …through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
“Paul, along with the rest of the NT so focuses on God’s work in Christ as that act in which God’s grace was decisively and finally realized that he can picture the new status of the believer as one in which grace is characteristic and dominant.” (Doug Moo, Romans, NICNT [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996], 301).
A. We enjoy ongoing access to grace (5:2)
B. With confidence regarding the end result (5:2)
Romans 8:17 - …and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
III. Jesus Cares For Your Heart by Helping You Mature Through Your Challenges (5:3-4)
Romans 5:3-4 - And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope…
A. Challenges → Perseverance/Endurance
B. Endurance → Character
C. Character → Hope
IV. The Father’s Love Has Been Poured Out In Our Hearts By the Holy Spirit (5:5)
Romans 5:5 - …and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
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