Reasons The Justified Can Rejoice

Today was a great day of worship at GSJ. Despite learning of the violent passing of one of our young people prior to our 11am service, God, through the preaching of His Word and the fervent prayers of the righteous gave us strength to persevere. I preached a message entitled “Reasons the Justified Can Rejoice” taken from Romans 5:1-5. It reads:

1) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2) Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3) More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4) and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5) and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5 (ESV)

Here is a brief outline of today’s message:

Title: Reasons the Justified Can Rejoice

Text: Romans 5: 1-5

Thrust: Since we are justified (declared righteous and treated accordingly) by grace through faith apart from works, there are many benefits awaiting our enjoyment and edification.

I. Acceptance By God (v.1)

a) Peace with God (eirēnē) We have peace facing God. We are no longer at war with God. This peace takes care of our past and is both present and permanent. The moment we trust Christ for salvation, we experience peace with God once and for all. Colossians 1:20; 1Timothy 2:5, 6

II. Access to His Grace ( v.2)

a) Access or a way of entrance. This takes care of our present and is also present action and permanent standing. Romans 5:2; 1Peter 3:18; Hebrews 4:16; Ephesians 2:14; 18


A little lad once stood outside the gates of London's Buckingham palace. He wanted to talk to the king but was strongly rebuked by the royal guards. With his grimy little fingers, he wiped the tears from his eyes. At that moment, a well-dressed man asked the little lad what was troubling him. When the man heard the story, he smiled and said, "Take my hand." The boy took the man's hand and noticed that the soldiers jumped to attention when the man walked by them. Past the guards, along carpeted hallways, through wide-flung doors and a throng of people, the boy was led straight to the throne of the King of England himself. The lad had taken the hand of the Prince of Wales, the son of the king. Through the son, the lad had gained access to the throne. This is exactly what Jesus Christ has done for us. We not only have peace with God, we have access to God the Father.

III. Adversity To Grow

Tribulations which means "pressure, pressing together; oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress." This word was used to describe the pressing of olives to get the oil and of grapes to get the juice. John 16:33; Romans 8:28; Romans 8:35-39

a) Produces continuity v.3

b) Produces character v.4

c) Produces confidence v.5

We solicit your continuous prayers this week as we console our members during this trying time.