Road Signs to Rejoicing

June 5, 2016                        NOTES NOT EDITED

Road Signs to Rejoicing

Romans 5:1-11

SIS: If happiness and great joy are your destination, there are three

road signs that will point the way.

The great classical philosopher, Aristotle, taught that the highest good is “happiness.”  Accordingly, it is that goal that drives the actions of mankind more than anything else.  Aristotle devoted more effort to expounding on the idea of happiness than any thinker in history.  By happiness, Aristotle meant more than fleeting moments of blissful feeling or sensual pleasures for pleasure’s sake.

The problem with happiness is not in the pursuit of it so much as in the definition of it.  The Bible, long before Aristotle entered the scene, speaks a great deal about happiness and rejoicing.  The largest Book in the Bible, God’s song book, begins with this admonition:  “How happy is the man” (Psalm 1:1).  This Psalm continues to outline two purposes for life, or two ways of living.  One, leads to happiness.  The other, not so much.

Jesus outlined an “8-Fold Path to Blessedness” in His Sermon On the Mount (Mat. 5:1-10).  God uses the Apostle Paul to both describe what true happiness is and also the pathway to achieving it in Romans 5:1-11.  LET’S READ THAT TOGETHER.

(Rom 5:1-11)  Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith,  we have peace  with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  ² We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, ⁴ endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. ⁵ This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. ⁶ For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. ⁸ But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! ⁹ Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath.  ¹⁰ For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life!  ¹¹ And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have now received this reconciliation through Him.

I trust that you see Paul’s description of what it means to be happy.  He uses the word, “rejoice,” three times in these eleven verses.  Repetition is a key literary device used in Scripture to draw attention to the Holy Spirit’s message. 

The word, “rejoice,” according to a standard dictionary means, “to feel or show great joy or delight.”  Happiness means, “a state of well-being or a pleasurable or satisfying experience.”  If we define “happiness” in the sense of “great joy, well-being, pleasure, or satisfaction,” we would not be defining it in the sense captured by the Biblical word for “rejoicing.”  It includes this to be sure, but implies much more.  The original word in most Greek literature actually had a very negative meaning.  It refers to “self-boasting, or bragging,” generally not considered a virtue in Greek culture, nor even today.  According to this text a person “rejoices” because of a unique relationship with God that means that a feeling of “well-being” is actually an “eternal” well-being, and not merely an earthly pleasure or satisfaction.  Paul makes it clear this is what he intends in using this word for “self-boasting” by what he says in the first verse:

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace  with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

As I said earlier, even Aristotle stumbled upon the truth that the pursuit of pleasure had to be more than simply a self-satisfying sensual gratification.  Paul makes it clear that “happiness and rejoicing” find their source in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ—or “peace with God.” 

So, now that we are clear on what “happiness” means, Paul’s exhortation gives us the path, or highway if you will, we must take in order pursue and possess it.  Our text gives us three “road signs” that will keep us on the right road as we seek to “rejoice” in the peace that we have with God.

Before we look at these three important road signs, I have a couple “real-life” road signs I’d like for us to evaluate.  [SLIDES].

1.  Unless you have a “James Bond Aqua-Car” perhaps you might want to ignore this sign.
2.  Obviously the person painting this sign is directionally challenged.

3.  Not quite sure what to do in this situation!

4.  “Beware of Invisibility.”  Is this possible?

5.  When you see this sign, men, it is time to listen to your wife and ask for directions.

Well, not all road signs are equally helpful, perhaps, but I can assure you that the three road signs Paul provides for us will lead us to the destination of “real” happiness and “true” fulfillment.

The first road sign we pass on the way to rejoicing in God is to:

1.  Remember Our Depraved Past.

Nothing stirs the heart to praise God like a trip down memory lane.  Paul uses at least four ways to describe our life before we met the Savior: 1) helpless and weak (v 6); 2) ungodly (v 6); 3) sinners (v 8); and 4) enemies of God (v 10).  Not a very flattering history for mankind.  Could be very depressing if we dwell too long or give too much emphasis to our past.  But keep this in mind:   Remembering our past does not mean “Reliving our past.”

Many people are tethered to sins that have long since been forgiven, but not forgotten.  Paul’s purpose is not guilt and condemnation but rejoicing.  We can rejoice because we have been forgiven.  As someone has appropriately pointed out: “Those who have lost the joy of their salvation have forgotten the magnitude of God’s grace.”

Christians must remember the pit from which have been rescued to give our life a proper context.  Remembering the depths from which we have come to the heights in which we now stand is certainly an ingredient of praise.

Some people allow there past to become a “detour” sign

instead of allowing it to be a “roadsign to the future.”  Paul was clear that he only looked at his past to remind him of his future.  Read again v2:

(Rom 5:2)   We have also obtained access through Him by faith  into this grace in which we stand.

There is never any danger of a true believer falling back into a lost state.  Faith and grace has broken forever the hold on a believer’s soul.  We know this by the length and breadth of the Bible’s teaching about the “assurance of salvation and perseverance of the saints,” but we also know because of Paul’s grammar.  If the only Greek I can ever teach you is the importance of the Greek perfect tense, then I’ve made great progress in my teaching.  The Greek perfect tense refers to an action that once completed, the effects continue forever.  But the verb, “obtained,” and “stand” are in the perfect tense. 

Our past sins have absolutely no hold on us after we are saved, at least in the sense of removing the eternal nature of our salvation.  We can still receive the temporal consequences of sinful decisions, even to the point of losing our well-being, or even our lives (1Cor. 11:30),   but we can never lose our eternal standing with God.  God’s grace secures that for a believer for all eternity.

Remembering the pit of hell from which we were snatched by God like a “branch from the fire” (Zech. 3:2).  Many people get off on a detour of worldliness because they forget the pit from which they were pulled.  Remembering our past helps us appreciate better our future and perform more successfully in the present.  We will never take for granted what God has done for us if we keep the picture of the horrible, bloody cross upon which Jesus paid the price for “our” sins.  Another roadsign to rejoicing in God is to

2.  Recognizing the depth of God’s continuing love.

(Rom 5:8)   But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The important thing to remember about this verse is that the verb, “demonstrates” and “were still sinners” are both in the present tense. In English we use the present tense to describe action taking place at the present time—for example “he is playing baseball.”  Greek uses verb tenses differently.  The emphasis is not on the time of the action, but on the “kind of action.”  The present tense is used to describe “continuous action.”  Thus, you could translate this verse:

While we continue to fall short of His glory,

God continues to show us love and mercy.

It will bring you great freedom from fear and immense joy in life when you settle in your mind that “God does not love us because we are good, but it is God’s love that makes us good!”  God does not love us based upon our performance—though He delights to see us walk in righteousness—but God loves us based upon the Person of Jesus Christ.  God’s love is founded upon what Jesus DID not what we DO. 

Don’t take the wrong exit off the highway of happiness to pursue a journey of “working for your salvation.”  This will only lead to frustration and dissatisfaction in life.  And, if you trust in your performance, not only will you live a frustrated life in this world, but you will lose the opportunity to spend eternity with the Lord.  Paul clearly points out that salvation is “by faith through grace” (vss 1,2). 

There’s a gospel song I used to sing that has these words of encouragement:

“Though there have been times I’ve stepped out of

His will // I’ve never been out of His care!”

One of the hardest lessons to learn as Christians is that God ALWAYS—ABSOLUTELY ALWAYS–acts towards us with love and grace.  God is always on our side, even when we move away from His!  There is no sin so deep that God’s love cannot reach us.  There is no storm so violent that God’s love cannot calm it.  There is no mountain so high that in God’s love we cannot climb it.

Some saints never find complete victory over their sin because they do not recognize the depth of God’s love. Many Christians allow guilt and shame to melt into shackles of despair and disappointment that keep us from the love God has for us.  God does not love us because we are perfect, but loves us to make us perfect./

Most of us could more readily understand God loving us if we were perfect after He saved us.  Then, we rationalize, we would deserve His love.  But, we cannot be perfect and we cannot deserve His love.  God demonstrates the depth of His love by loving even those who are His enemies, according to this text.

A while back a young man joined the Army. He came from a Christian home where he had been taught the habit of prayer.  He continued that habit while in the service, each night kneeling beside his bunk or bedroll and praying.  This made him the object of mockery and ridicule. One night after a wearisome march he knelt beside his bed as was his custom.  One of his mockers took off his muddy and heavy boots and flung them toward the Christian, each boot smacking the Christian on the side of the head.  The Christian took the boots, laid them beside his bunk and continued to pray while his tormentor drifted off to sleep. The next morning the soldier who had tormented the young Christian found his boots at the end of his bed—polished and shining.  The tormentor was so touched by the Christian’s love that he apologized and later became a Christian himself.

Nothing causes us to rejoice more enthusiastically than reading a road sign that says: “God loves Jack Clegg—this way to heaven!”

We rejoice in God when we remember the sin from which God saved us and we recognize the depth of his continuing love.

3.  Realize the Spiritual Growth that Good Christian living brings. (vv 3-4)

And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions,  because we know that affliction produces endurance,  ⁴ endurance produces proven character,  and proven character produces hope. ⁵ This hope will not disappoint us.

Salvation is not only an event that saves us from the penalty of past sins, nor is salvation only a hope that we will one day be removed from the very presence of sin some day in the future, but salvation means that we can increasingly gain victory over the power of sin in this present world.

Many of you love that little chorus we sing from time to time that says:

O, how I love Jesus // O how I love Jesus
O, how I love Jesus // Because He first loved me.

Our text puts a bit of a different spin on this little chorus.  Paul might have sang it this way:

O, how I love suffering // O how I love suffering //

O how I love suffering // because it changes me!

No, we don’t sing the chorus that way because most of us see very little value in trials and tribulations.   Hardship is much more likely to cause us to whine, than to worship.

But, there is real value in suffering—it builds character if we allow God to use it.  God never wastes a pain as I’ve heard a well-known preacher say.  Pain causes personal growth, if we realize that God can use “every” circumstance in our lives—not just the pleasant and prosperous ones.

There is a verse in the Bible that I both love and hate:  Romans 8:28.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I hate this verse because so many Christians misuse it and abuse others with it.  When a person is going through some great tragedy,

don’t quote Scripture AT THEM–especially, not this verse.

People don’t care what you know until they first

know that you care.

I recall a member of the church that sponsored the mission I was starting at the time we lost our daughter, Amanda. This person quoted that verse and it was like they rubbed salt in the gaping wound of my heart.  First, the person did not understand the verse, and second they quoted it at the wrong time.

The verse does NOT say: “All things are good.” Some things are down-right evil—like the death of a little baby. Second, the verse is not a verse to use when wounds are still open.  At that time, people need love not theology.  That’s why I hate this verse.

But, I love this verse, too.  Because it is absolutely accurate.  God can—and does—use every circumstance in our lives to bring us growth and Himself, glory.  God is able to transform our “scars into stars” if we let Him.  With God’s involvement in our lives difficulties make us BETTER, NOT BITTER! God is infinitely more concerned with our “growth” than our “comfort.”  Comfort is coming for those that love the Lord, but first there will be a few classes in the School of Hard Knocks. 

It takes great heat and high pressureto turn a lump of coal into a diamond–but there is nothing more fascinating and brilliant than a diamond.  Let me warn you—it takes a long time and a lot of heat

to make a diamond.  It also takes a long time and a lot of heat to make a mature disciple.

There is no such thing as “instant perseverence.” There’s no such thing as “instant spiritual maturity.”  Spiritual growth takes time, effort, and a great deal of sacrifice.

Verses 3-4 describe the developmental process of becoming  a shining gem for Jesus.

(Rom 5:3-4)   And not only that,  but we also rejoice in our afflictions,  because we know that affliction produces endurance,  ⁴ endurance produces proven character,  and proven character produces hope. ⁵ This hope will not disappoint us.

Did you catch that last part?  “Will not disappoint.”  You will never be disappointed if you sell-out completely to Jesus Christ and put all your time, talents, and treasures into becoming a “fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ” who is mature and wise.

When you see the road sign:  “This Way to Spiritual Growth,” follow it even if it means you have to go up hill for a ways.  Rejoicing, or happiness, comes when we realize the spiritual growth that good Christian living brings. 

Three times in this text Paul mentions “rejoicing in God.” Rejoicing when we pass the road sign of our depraved past; rejoicing when we pass the road sign pointing to the depth of God’s continuing love; and rejoicing when we pass the road sign pointing out the developmental process that God intends for our life.

These road signs all point to a destination full of joy and praise to God.  Following these signs will lead to “boasting and bragging” about all that God HAS done, IS doing, and WILL do in our lives.

Have you ever noticed the smile on a grandma or grandpa’s face when they show the “brag-book.” The brag-book is a 10 inch thick scrapbook of grandbaby pictures (or a few dozen gigs on an iPhone these days). Bragging about grandbaby’s always puts a smile on the grand parent’s face.

So it is with the Christian.  Nothing puts a smile on our face like praising God and bragging about His goodness in our lives.  Take Paul’s advice and follow the “Road Signs to Rejoicing.”