Isaiah 9:6 n For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; n and the government shall be upon his shoulders n and his name shall be called: –WONDERFUL ! –COUNSELLOR ! –The Mighty God ! –The Everlasting Father ! –The Prince of Peace.

Xenos Christian Fellowship “Offering Freedom through the Love of Christ” Justification and Faith Romans 5:1-11

Faith is Important to God n Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith…” n Romans 4:5 “But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness” –Faith is not a work.

Is There Life After Faith? n “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, [2] through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2)

But There’s MORE… n “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations…” n “...knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope…’ n “...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.” Romans 5:3-5

n James 1:2 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials” n 1 Peter 4:12-13 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.” n Philip. 1:29 “For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake…” n Acts 14:22 “[Paul was] strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.’” A Pervasive Teaching in the Bible:

Please Remember This: “The ground of spiritual power begins where the ground of self-adequacy leaves off.” “To the extent we can control the situation ourselves, we exclude God.”

Do you “Wait” on God? Or do you Wait on God? Can you rejoice in trials?

Consider Abraham… n Romans 4:18 “In hope against hope he believed, in order that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, ‘So shall your descendants be.’” n Romans 4:20-21 “Yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform.”

Isaiah 40:28-31 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”

Proven Character: Refined n 1 Peter 1:7 “that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

Hope: An Outcome of Character n Eyes on God, and our future with Him. –“and we exult in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:2 n Hope is a certainty, not a wish. –Romans 5:5 “and hope does not disappoint…” –A Faith aimed at our future. n A Connection: –Faith: “having been justified by faith…” v.1 –Hope: “and proven character, hope;” v.4 –Love: “the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit” v.5

The Faith  Hope  Love Connection: n 1 Cor. 13:13 “But now these remain: faith, hope, love; but the greatest of these is love.” n Col. 1:4-5 “…since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven…”

Love: the Outcome of Hope n For Others (Col.1:5). –“the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you.” n To the extent you have hope in your future, you’ll give to others.

Hope: Love From God, Too! v.6-10 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

From Handle’s Messiah: n Isaiah 53:5 And with his stripes we are healed. n Isaiah 53:6 All we, like sheep, have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.