Sharper Iron — The Righteousness of God for You: Justification’s Past, Present, and Future

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Rev. Andrew Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Guttenberg, IA and St. Paul Lutheran Church in McGregor, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 5:1-11.

St. Paul begins to expound upon the fruit of justification through faith in the life of the Christian. Because God has declared sinners righteous through faith in Jesus Christ, we have peace with God. This present reality is grounded in the objective truth of what God has done in the past and gives us hope for the future. Right now, we boast in the hope that God has given us, even in the midst of our sufferings. Through these sufferings, God works out patience and tested character through which He brings us hope as we experience the anticipation of faith in God’s promise. This hope does not put us to shame because of the outpouring of God’s love in the shed blood of His Son Jesus, delivered to us in His Holy Supper. This revelation of God’s love in the giving of His Son into death for sinners is the basis for justification. This is all God’s doing; His love to save was for His ungodly enemies. These past and present realities of the reconciliation God has accomplished bring us hope for the future salvation God has promised in the resurrection of His Son.

“The Righteousness of God for You” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. Human righteousness cannot save, because all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Only the righteousness of God can bring life and forgiveness to sinners. This is the righteousness that He has fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the righteousness that is revealed in the Gospel, the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. This is the righteousness that is not earned, but is freely given by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Romans 5:1-11

Peace with God Through Faith

5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith[b] into this grace in which we stand, and we[c] rejoice[d] in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but 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.

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Footnotes:

Romans 5:1 Some manuscripts let us

Romans 5:2 Some manuscripts omit by faith

Romans 5:2 Or let us; also verse 3

Romans 5:2 Or boast; also verses 3, 11

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.