This Message was preached by John MacArthur, All Rights Reserved
(A copy of this message on cassette tape may be obtained by calling
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(Eternal Security, chapter 2 of 4)
Romans 5:2b-5a
Tape GC 45-41
The message of Romans 5:1-11 is simple: you can't
lose your salvation. It is forever,
eternal, everlasting, and unchanging.
In 1 Peter 1:5 Peter says we "are kept by the power of God." Without question the most comforting, most
assuring, and most joy-producing of all Christian truth is that our
salvation is forever. The believer's
joy and comfort depends on his assurance of his salvation. In Romans 5 Paul affirms that our salvation
is secure in the power of God.
Paul began the epistle of Romans by discussing God's
wrath against sinful men (1:1[en]3:20).
Then he explained how to escape from that wrath (3:21[en]4:25). If one wholeheartedly believes in the person
and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, he is justified (made right with God). There is no work or self-effort
involved--it is simply a matter of believing what God has done in
Christ.
That simple plan of salvation was difficult for the
Jewish people to understand because they were reared in a works-oriented
religious system. It also was difficult
for Gentiles, who adhered to religions based on human achievement (a
description of all false religion). To
hear that all they need do was believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and they would
be made right with God was more than they could have hoped for. Their natural inclination was to think that
kind of salvation was too easy--that it wouldn't be enough to allow
them to survive the Day of Judgment.
That would certainly be the concern of a new convert. So Paul approaches Romans 5 in such a way to
assure them of their salvation.
1. The guarantee of the Spirit
Ephesians 1:13 says, "After ye believed, ye were
sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise."
That means you were stamped permanently as the possession of God. Ephesians 1:14 says the Holy Spirit is the
"earnest" (Gk., arrab[ma]on)--the down payment or
guarantee of your salvation.
2. The glory of the saints
After articulating the gospel of salvation Paul said,
"After I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the
saints, [I] cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my
prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give
unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, the eyes
of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of
his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the
saints" (Eph. 1:15-18). Paul
wanted the Ephesian Christians to comprehend what they had been given in
Christ. What Christ began in their
lives He would ultimately fulfill.
In Romans 5:1-11 Paul gives us six links in a chain
that eternally secures us to the Savior.
When the enemy hits you with doubt about the reality of your salvation,
you can retreat to the promises of this passage.
I. PEACE WITH GOD (v. 1; see pp. xx-xx)
"Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
God is at war with men whether men are consciously at war
with Him. But Christ bore the wrath of
God on the cross and became our substitute, having received the punishment
meant for us. As a result those who
trust in Him have peace with God.
Isaiah 32:l7 says, "The work of righteousness shall be peace; and
the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever."
II. STANDING IN GRACE (v. 2a;
see pp. xx-xx)
"By whom also we have access by faith into this
grace in which we stand."
Is It Possible to Fall from Grace?
People who argue that a believer can fall from grace deny
that salvation is secure. They base
that conclusion on Galatians 5:4: "Christ is become of no effect unto you,
whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." Paul did say it was possible to fall from
grace, but notice to whom he said it.
Paul was addressing people who tried to be saved by law. Verse 2 says, "Behold, I, Paul, say
unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you
nothing." Christ can't do you any
good if you believe you can be saved by some kind of physical operation. Then in verse 4 Paul says, "Christ is
become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the
law." If you think you can be made
right with God by keeping the law or by your own self-righteousness,
Christ is useless to you.
Those kind of people have fallen from grace--from
the grace principle of salvation. So
Galatians 5:4 gives us commentary on the fate of those who attempt to come to
God in some way other than through grace.
A Christian standing in grace cannot fall out of grace. Galatians 5:5 says, "We through the
Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith"--not by
law.
III. HOPE OF GLORY (vv. 2b-5a)
We exult, or actually boast "in hope of the glory of
God" (Rom. 5:2). God has promised
us future glory. Romans 8:28-29
says, "We know that all things work together for good to them that love
God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did
predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son." God didn't just predestine our initiation
into salvation; He predestined the completion of it.
Romans 8:30 says, "Whom he did predestinate, them he
also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified,
them he also glorified." If you're
predestined to begin; you're predestined to end. If you're predestined to be in Christ; you're predestined to be
like Christ. The hope of the believer
and the doctrine of security are based on the hope of glory.
Security--Past, Present,
and Future
The first three links in the chain of security need to be
drawn together. First, the security of
the believer is anchored in the past--Christ made peace with
God. Second, the security of the
believer is anchored and maintained in the present--we stand in
grace and Christ lives to intercede on our behalf. And third, the security of the believer is anchored in the future--our
future glory is guaranteed because we have been redeemed to exult in hope of
ultimate glory. The past, present, and
future work of God unite to secure the believer forever.
A. The Praise of Our Hope (v. 2b)
"[We] rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
1. The gift of God
a) Rejoicing in a secure future
The Greek word translated "rejoice" (kauchaomai)
refers to a confident boast or exultant jubilation. It is a strong word that speaks of rejoicing at the highest
level. We rejoice in a secure
future. We have no fear because Christ
said, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me.... I should lose
nothing, but should raise [them] up again at the last day" (John 6:37,
39).
b) Hoping in a secure future
First Timothy 1:1 says that our Savior, Jesus Christ, is
our hope. First Peter 1:18-21
explains, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible
things, like silver and gold, from your vain manner of life received by
tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a
lamb without blemish and without spot, who verily was foreordained before the
foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by
him do believe in God, who raised him up from the dead and gave him glory, that
your faith and hope might be in God."
Since God raised up Jesus from the grave, we can trust Him to raise us
up by the same promise.
In John 17:22
Jesus prays, "The glory which thou gavest me I have given them." At that time the fulfillment of Christ's
prayer was yet future. It still remains
future for us, but we have the hope of ultimate glorification. Our rejoicing in future glory is not based
on our own worthiness; it is based on the promise and power of God.
2. The glory of God
Romans 5:2 says, "[We] rejoice in hope of the glory
of God." The glory of God is the
expression of God's person--His intrinsic revelation of
Himself. Someday God in the fullest and
purest way will reflect His eternal character through us.
a) The redemption of glory
In Romans 8:18 Paul says, "I reckon that the
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us."
One day God will pour through us His eternal, infinite glory. Verse 19 says, "The earnest expectation
of the creation waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." Right now "we have this treasure in
earthen vessels" (2 Cor. 4:7). We
are limited. But we and all creation
are "waiting for the adoption, that is, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope" (Rom. 8:23-24).
What is our hope?
We hope to lose our humanness--our earthiness--and
become glorified, eternal persons through whom God can reveal His glory. The consummation of our redemption and the
ultimate fulfillment of our salvation is the manifestation of God's glory in
us.
The Flashing Crown of Jewels
There's no need for a lamp in heaven because the Lord is
light (Rev. 21:23; 22:5). Much of
heaven is transparent: the streets are made of sheer gold, and the layers and
foundations are made of jewels through which the glory of God will radiate
(Rev. 21:11-21). Heaven must be
like an incomprehensible flashing crown of jewels as the glory of God radiates
out of every refracted element. We will
be caught up in that incredible display of glory and become eternal reflectors
of the full majesty and glory of our infinite and majestic God.
However, it is impossible for us to glorify God in that
way while we are in our present bodies.
That's why we groan, waiting for the redemption of our bodies. Jesus will return in power and great glory
(Matt. 24:30), and His blazing glory will be radiated through us.
b) The reflection of glory
(1) Romans 8:29--We will "be conformed
to the image of his Son." We're
going to be like Jesus. When He was
transfigured before the disciples, He gave them but a glimpse of God's full
glory, yet they were shaken to the core of their being (Matt. 17:1-8).
(2) 2 Corinthians 3:18--"We all, with
unveiled face beholding as in a mirror
the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to
glory." Even now, as we gaze on
the glory of the Lord, we are being changed.
Moses is the illustration of the passage. In Exodus 34:29-35 God revealed His
glory to Moses and it caused his face to shine. The people were afraid of Him.
So Moses veiled his face because he didn't want the people to see that
the glory was fading (cf. 2 Cor. 3:13).
In our human bodies the glory fades fast. The revelation of God's afterglow didn't last in Moses'
case. But there will come a time when
we will be lifted from one level of glory to another level of glory, until we
reach that ultimate level of glory: when we become the image of Jesus Christ
manifesting the full glory of God.
(3) Philippians 3:20-21--"Our
citizenship is in heaven, from which also we look for the Savior, the Lord
Jesus Christ, who shall change our lowly body, that it may be fashioned like
his glorious body."
(4) Colossians 3:4--"When Christ, who is
our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
(5) Hebrews 2:9-10--Jesus was
"crowned with glory and honor, that he, by the grace of God, should taste
death for every man. For it became him,
for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto
glory." God's purpose in saving us
was to bring us to glory. We were
redeemed to be glorified. Christ is our
salvation captain who brings many sons to glory through what He suffered (Heb.
2:10).
(6) Romans 9:23--"That he might make
known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had before
prepared unto glory." Those of us
who are ordained to glory are ordained through mercy, not because we deserved
it. Any other thought misconstrues the
reality of our redemption.
(7) 1 Corinthians 2:7--"We speak the
wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before
the ages unto our glory."
(8) 2 Corinthians 4:17--"Our light
affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory."
(9) Colossians 1:27--"Christ in you [is]
the hope of glory."
(10) 1 Thessalonians 2:12--"Walk worthy
of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory."
(11) 1 Peter 5:1--"The elders who are
among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of
Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed."
c) The recognition of glory
Does all that mean you can do what you want to do and
still be glorified? Hebrews 3:6 says,
"Christ [is] a Son over his own house, whose house are we, if we hold fast
the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." Our hope is secured by God. We prove we belong to God when we hold firm
our confidence in that hope.
Perseverance is a proof of salvation.
Those who are truly part of the house of God will not depart from the
faith. The one who wanders into sin and
believes he'll be glorified no matter how he lives proves he never belonged to
the household of God.
God not only secures His own, but also implants within
His own the power of the Spirit to keep alive our hope and obedience to the
faith. God will keep His promise for
those who are genuine. Hebrews 3:14
affirms that truth: "We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the
beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end." That doesn't mean you remain saved by
hanging on; it means you reveal you are saved by hanging on.
The Solid Rock of Hope
In "The
Solid Rock" the nineteenth-century hymn writer Edward Mote said:
My hope is built on nothing
less
Than Jesus' blood and
righteousness;
I dare not trust the
sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus'
name.
When darkness veils His
lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging
grace.
In ev'ry high and stormy
gale
My anchor holds within the
veil.
His oath, His covenant, His
blood,
Support me in the whelming
flood;
When all around my soul
gives way,
He then is all my hope and
stay.
On Christ, the solid rock,
I stand,
All other ground is sinking
sand,
All other ground is sinking
sand.
B. The Proof of Our Hope (vv. 3-4)
"We glory [rejoice] in tribulations also, knowing
that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience [character]; and
experience, hope."
1. The purpose of tribulation
The believer rejoices not only in the glory to come, but
also in present tribulation.
Tribulation produces the kind of character that has a greater capacity
to rejoice about the future. Why? Because no matter how severe or devastating
our trials are, they can never take away our promised glory, steal our hope, or
touch our joy. So when we are faced
with tribulation, we don't curse God or question Him like the rest of the
world, but rejoice in the good that comes from it.
2. The products of tribulation
The Greek word translated "tribulation" (thlipsis)
means "pressure." It was used
in reference to squeezing olives for oil, or squeezing grapes for wine. When the pressure is on, the oil and wine of
rejoicing oozes out of us. The words
that follow explain why.
a) "Patience"
Tribulation works patience (Gk., hupomon[ma]e,
"patient endurance"). When
you experience trouble, you learn to endure.
The more troubles you have, the more you learn to endure.
b) "Experience"
Endurance produces "experience" (Gk., dokim[ma]en). The verb form is dokimaz[ma]o, which
means, "to be approved" or "to put to the test for the purpose
of approving." It has the same
sense as testing gold or silver to remove the impurities.
(1) The recognition
A good way to translate dokim[ma]en is
"proven character." Since it
is used of metal, it is similar to the way we use the word sterling, as
in sterling silver. We also say someone
has a sterling character when he has no observable flaws.
(2) The reinforcement
Through tribulation we learn to trust God. It is not a problem for us because it is an
honor to suffer for Christ (1 Pet. 4:14).
It also is a joy to learn to experience His sustaining power in the
midst of suffering (Phil 3:8-10).
Tribulation increases our faith, purges us, sanctifies us, and strengthens
us. It is like spiritual weight-lifting--it builds our
spiritual muscles and raises our level of holiness.
(3) The reward
When we face tribulation we have reason to rejoice. We don't have to wait until we get to heaven
to rejoice. That's because Scripture
says our troubles build proven character.
James 1:12 says, "Blessed is the man that endureth
temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of
life." The stronger we grow
spiritually the richer our hope and the greater our rejoicing becomes. That's because the greater the reward
awaiting us in heaven, the greater joy we will have in receiving it and in turn
casting it before the feet of Jesus.
(4) The refinement
Salvation doesn't instantaneously refine character. If a bitter, angry, cantankerous person
becomes saved, he is a bitter, angry, cantankerous Christian. However, salvation has planted within him
the capacity to be perfected. After
salvation the purging process begins--the Lord uses trials and
tribulations to improve your character.
c) "Hope"
One thing trials can never do is take away your future
hope, because that is secure. No matter
how bad the attacks or how severe the tribulations, they do nothing but
strengthen your spiritual character.
That's why 1 Thessalonians 3:3 says, "No man should be moved by
these afflictions; for ye yourselves know that we are appointed to these
things."
C. The Promise of Our Hope (v. 5a)
"Hope maketh not ashamed."
Hope is never disappointed. You don't have to be ashamed of God. You will never come to the point where you say, "I put all
my faith in Christ and He deceived me."
Hope will not be ashamed when it is in Jesus Christ.
Hope will never be disappointed because it will receive
the promised glory. We are at peace
with God through Christ's death on the cross, we stand in grace, and we have a
promised future glory. I am not ashamed
to tell anyone that one day I will be in glory with Jesus Christ, radiating the
eternal glory of God. That's my
destiny. When you come to Jesus Christ,
and embrace Him, you will never be disappointed--your hope is
secure.
1. According to
Ephesians 1:13, what is the significance of the Holy Spirit in salvation (see
p. 1)?
2. What was
Paul's prayer request for the Ephesians (Eph. 1:15-18; see p. 2)?
3. What kind of
people fall from grace (see pp. 2-3)?
4. What reason
do Christians have for rejoicing (see p. 3)?
5. What should
our rejoicing be based on (see p. 4)?
6. What is the
"glory of God" that Paul refers to in Romans 5:2 (see p. 4)?
7. What is the
Christian's hope (see p. 4)?
8. What was
God's purpose in saving man (Heb. 2:9-10; see p. 5)?
9. How are
believers ordained to glory (see p. 6)?
10. What is one
way a person can prove he is a true believer (Heb. 3:6; see p. 6)?
11. How is the
believer able to do that (see p. 6)?
12. Why is it
important to rejoice in the midst of tribulation (see p. 7)?
13. What does
tribulation do for our character? How
(see p. 8)?
14. Why will our
hope not be disappointed (see p. 9)?
1. In Romans 8:29 Paul says that God had predestined us
to be conformed to the image of His Son.
What does that mean to you? Look
up the following verses: Romans 13:14; 1 Corinthians 15:49; Ephesians 1:4;
4:24; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 John 3:2.
Identify the verses that refer to our present obligations and those that
refer to our future glorification. What
similarities can you find between our present and future? What contrasts? Does the goal of your life need to change? Ask God to confirm in your own heart the
emphasis of your life.
2. According to Hebrews 3:6, 14 we are to hold fast our confidence of future glory to the end. Look up the following verses: Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Colossians 1:21-23; Hebrews 4:9-11; 6:10-11; 10:23. Why is it important for us to endure? How should you respond to that knowledge? Is your confidence in other things besides the hope of future glory? If so, what kind of effect have those things had on your security in your salvation? Put your confidence in God alone. Thank Him for His faithfulness in bringing you to glory.
3. How do you respond to
tribulation? Why? What are some trials you are presently
experiencing? According to Romans 5:3-4 how should you be responding to
them? Ask God to give you the wisdom to
respond in the appropriate manner.
Added to the John MacArthur Collection located at:
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