THE JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING
ROMANS 15:1-14
Key verse: v. 13, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Introduction:
Paul writes in chapter 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” So many Christians do not have joy and peace in their life. The Apostle reminds us in verse 13 of our text that God wants us to have these things in our lives as believers.
Consider what the Scripture says about The Joy of God’s Mercy and The Peace of God in Believing.
I. THE JOY OF GOD’S MERCY
A. We were guilty sinners before God, Romans 5:19, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
B. We were without Christ, Ephesians 2:12, “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:”
1. That means that we were aliens from God’s chosen people, Ephesians 4:18, “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”
2. We had no hope because we knew not Christ who is the hope of glory, Colossians 1:27, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”
3. We were without God, Romans 1:28-32, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
C. But now in Jesus Christ we are made near, Ephesians 2:13, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
1. Formerly unbelieving gentiles, Ephesians 2:11, “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;”
2. Formerly far away, Ephesians 2:17, “And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.”
B. Now have been brought near through the blood of Christ, Ephesians 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
II. THE PEACE OF GOD IN BELIEVING
A. We abound in God’s grace, 2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”
1. Life has meaning, 2 Corinthians 9:11,“Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.”
2. Life has purpose, 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
a. We can be steadfast and unmovable in the work of God, Psalm 62:2, 6, “He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.”
b. We can abound in the work of God, 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13, “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”
B. We are full of God’s GOODNESS, v. 14; Philippians 1:11, “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”
1. The Lord prunes our lives that we might bring more fruit, John 15:2, 8, 16, “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
2. And bring glory and praise to God, Ephesians 1:12, 14, “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
CONCLUSION
We have joy and peace when we are bringing glory and praise to our Savior. The Palmist said in Psalm 5:11, “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” Psalm 16:11, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
With that joy comes hope in the Lord, Psalm 30:5, “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”