Therefore is 

What We're Here For

Luke 3:1-6

"Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 and he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.

5 Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth;

6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 40.3-5

He prepared the way for Jesus to come and fulfill His ministry and purpose.  But what exactly did John do.  Probably the most important thing he did was to point out Jesus and proclaim ““Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” in John 1.29

But for most of his ministry John preached repentance.  He prepared their hearts to know they needed a Savior.

He confronted them on their sinful condition, told them to cut it out, be washed as a symbol in the river and let them know true salvation from sin was on the way!

It’s this salvation I want to talk about.

Romans 5.1-5

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 and not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 5:1 begins with the word ‘Therefore’ which means, all that is said here is the result of what was said before the ‘therefore.’  

I am tired, therefore I sleep.

Romans 4 it speaks of Justification, salvation, all the promises of God are provided by grace through faith.  Some are conditional (If you do this then I will do that) but all are COMPLETELY dependent on the grace of God, through our believing Him. 

It mentions in verse 3 that Abraham was justified by faith.  He was declared righteous by God before he did anything to glorify God.  Before he was circumcised God had made His promise to give Him a son and make him a great nation. 

“and he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” Genesis 15.6 He simply believed God.

David is also mentioned in Romans 4.8, quoting Psalm 32.1-2 “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, having been justified”

Justified being found free from sin because Jesus became our sin. 

2 Corinthians 5:21 ‘For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.’

"Therefore, having been justified by faith by faith,” 

Faith: Pistis: conviction of truth

“we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Colossians 1:21-22

"And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight"

Without Jesus what hope would we have to make peace with God?  If we lived to be 500 years old what could we do to create a perfect clean life?  We could never escape the bad we have already done.  

What could a Perfect Pure, Holy God do?  He cannot ignore sin and take us as we are.  It would be hopeless. 

BUT GOD “who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” Ephesians 2:4-5

Jesus offered us Himself.  His own pure sacrifice, both God and man became that whcih He hated; sin.  He was separated from the life and fellowship of God the Father and God the Son for the very first time ever!

 2 "Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand" 

Stand, to be used by God as His agent and fulfill His purpose.

To be justified- to stand by grace and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Rejoice, to belong to Him and fulfill His call –WHY we live here.

Though we don’t enjoy the full inheritance of being His children today, we can rejoice in all He has promised because He will deliver all His promises to us.  This is where hope is born and becomes strong.  I see trouble but I hope in God, I KNOW He will be there for me!

 3 "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations" 

Glory (in tribulations), a joy in service that goes beyond what’s “good for us” or feels good to us. 

"...Knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 

Tribulation produces perseverance because that’s where we come to know and truly trust Him.  This trust makes a hope that we can anchor our hearts to when the storm is crazy

5 "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God Love (His PERFECT love for us and IN US) has been poured out in our hearts" 

Poured; We will pour just like Jesus was poured out in His life here

"By the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

Given, because of what we’ve been given, We can give – we received freely- we give back freely not expecting reward or thanks from those we serve.

ALL BY GRACE, NOT BY OUR POWER OR GOOD WORKS BUT BY HIM and IN HIM

Don’t “be better” 

Don't “do more” 

Don't “sin less” 

But give God your life each day and let Him activate you.