2. The present tense of salvation - The power of God's grace

The journey to the cross

24 February 2008

Romans 5:1-11

This is one of those Sundays in the Wesley Theatre, Sydney, when we have an evening celebration which seeks to capture many things at one and the same time: we have acknowledged and dedicated to God the staff and students of Wesley Institute of Theology and the Arts; we have offered in prayer the Elders of this Sunday evening congregation; and we have done all of this in the context of Thanksgiving.

I want to talk to you about the Present Tense of Salvation. Salvation is a profoundly religious word, though it is used in other contexts. Its Old Testament root is quite helpful, because it has something akin to being brought into ‘a wide and spacious place’. It is linked to the purposes of Jesus Christ and could be said to be the central plank of his ministry here on earth. Although it is true to say that there is a body of teaching which talks about salvation at the end of time as we know it, the Christian take on salvation is that God, through what has happened in Jesus Christ, has brought that salvation near to us in the here and now!

Paul had never been to Rome and yet what we know as the Roman Epistle is by common consent the greatest of his letters. Although the Roman Church became the centre of Christendom, we know next to nothing about the circumstances of its founding or its early history. Fourth century writers have suggested that the Roman Church was not established by an apostle, but by unnamed Hebrew Christians. However, by the time Paul wrote this letter, it had become famous far and wide. (Romans 1:8)

The notion of boasting is not really one that we here in Australia consider to be the best quality in life. We even talk about ‘cutting down tall poppies’. There are times in which we indulge the boasting grandparent and even the successful fisherman, though privately we don’t believe him! But the picture that the braggart brings to mind is unhealthy. Given all those connotations of the concept, it is important to explain that when Paul writes at times he moves into a style which appears to be boasting, but the writer would agree that boasting about ourselves is wrong. He argues, “But those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.” (Romans 2:7)

However, when Paul boasts, it is in the context of what Jesus Christ has done for him and for us. And so with this in mind we turn to our text, which is a section of Romans 5:

Text: Romans 5: 1-5

In the first five verses of Romans 5, we find there is much to help us understand what it is that God had done for us and, therefore, pointers as to how we can live the Christian life today.

Too often people think of the Christian faith in terms of a kind of insurance policy. In doing so, they infer that there are no present benefits; simply a pay off for the future. Not so, says Paul in this passage. Our sins and selfishness may put us at enmity with God, but what God does in Jesus Christ is to make the move towards us with an offer and a possibility of peace that the world can never know of itself.

Our present salvation is an assured fact concerning the past – Verse 1

Paul assumes the reality of justification for himself and his readers. We tend to use the word ‘justification’ as meaning something along the lines of ‘here is our argument for proving we are OK’ in a given situation. It can also be used as a way of arguing a specific line of action.

For Paul the whole business is really to do with answering the persistent question of how can God be gracious and how we can have fellowship with him. It has a definite legal background and, for the Apostle, a person cannot be justified merely by what they do themselves or by seeking to fulfil some demands of the Law. God has provided the means by which we are put right with him – and that is through the death of Christ.

It raises all kinds of questions and ethical issues, for this word ‘justification’ means that God declares righteous and goes far further than simply treating a person as though they were righteous. It is all because of Jesus Christ and the person who has this present salvation lives in a new context in which they share the new life of the Spirit.

We cannot earn God’s favour … as Charles Spurgeon put it: “One might better try to sail the Atlantic in a paper boat than to get to heaven on good works.” The recognition of this fact is the beginning of our healing and salvation. God has done for us what we could never achieve for ourselves.

Charles Clayton Morrison wrote, “The love of God is no mere sentimental feeling; it is redemptive power.”

There is no part of your past that cannot be brought to God. I recall as a boy being frightened by a photograph of a child posting a letter at night. The child was alone and there was a long shadow cast across her by some unknown adult outside of the photograph. It was designed to make us concerned about strangers.

Our past often casts a shadow over our lives; we feel like an animal caught in the headlights of a car and unable to move. Thank God for his power which is revealed to us in forgiveness and grace.

Our present salvation means we stand in the grace of God – Verse 2

The words of the Apostle describe the wonderful condition of those who know what it is to live within God’s favour. The very language paints a picture of confidence, which is consistent with our first point. It would be so easy for us to be overwhelmed by our own inadequacies and the things in our lives which run contrary to the gospel. But because of what God has done in Jesus Christ, we are given a new confidence by God which means we can stand in his presence.

The ‘grace in which we now stand’ also explains the privilege of those who belong to Jesus Christ, enjoying all his blessings and possessing his grace. Everett F Harrison writes: “Grace gives a foothold in the door that one day will swing wide to permit the enjoyment of the glorious presence of the Almighty, a privilege to be enjoyed for evermore.”

Matthew Black talked of this verse as “the condition of those who now enjoy the divine favour.”

Grace means the free, unmerited, unexpected love of God and all the consequent joy and comfort that flow from it. It does not deny the past or our sin, but says that God, through his love, treats us differently from that which we deserve.

Paul Tillich wrote: “We cannot bridge the gap between God and ourselves through even the most intensive and frequent prayers; the gap between God and ourselves can only be bridged by God.”

Confidence is most important in life and when we are able to build each other up, we do no greater work. Such encouragement needs to be sensitive and no mere flattery. But even the most encouraging of us cannot even begin to match what God has done, as he has brought us into a place where:-

there need be no shame about what we have been - because of grace.
there need be no pretence, as we offer ourselves in service – because of grace.
there need be no fear, as we seek to live out our life of service – because of grace.

Our present salvation reminds us of the prospect of the glory of God – Verse 3

Because of what Jesus Christ has done for us, we are living in a totally new context. We live ‘in Christ’ against the background of a world that has totally different values and a totally different thought framework. It makes it very difficult at times, but we do not shirk our responsibilities of living in the context of daily life – but with the values that have now been given to us through Jesus Christ.

Peter Richardson, writing on justification, says, “Justification by faith provides the basis on which the Christian, knowing he is accepted by God, relates to others, whether Christian or not, openly and graciously.” Because of this, we can have confidence and know what it is to live in the presence of God.

The concept of the glory of God is an important one. The word is ‘doxa’ which is radically different from the classical Greek interpretation which means ‘opinion’. In biblical Greek it means the divine brightness or ‘glory’, which we see in the Old Testament on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:16), in the Pillar of Cloud (Exodus 16:10), in the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:34) or the Temple (1 Kings 8:11).

In the New Testament a key passage is 2 Corinthians 3:18ff, where ‘glory’ is understood to have been restored to the one who believes by the reflection of the face of Jesus Christ.

Our present salvation holds enormous prospect for us but only because there is a glory that has been gifted to us which is actually his.

In 1828, the Anglican priest, William Broughton, was sent out to Australia as Archdeacon of our Island Continent, which then was part of the Diocese of Calcutta! Eight years later he was made Australia’s first Anglican Bishop, and his work, energy and spiritual leadership in carrying out his vast work were marvellous. There are many stories associated with this great man. I share with you one example:

When the great gold rush came, although he was already an aging man, Bishop Broughton joined himself to an amazing exodus, arriving at the diggings and collected a great crowd of miners for service on Sunday, when he told them that on the following Wednesday at 6 am the building of the church was to begin.

At 6 o’clock precisely, the Bishop, attended by a large crowd, was at the ground. He first delivered a truly great sermon, which concluded by saying that he would set them an example of what it meant that they should dig together for the honour and glory of God. Then, being supplied with a pick, he began to open the ground where the north-east support of the building was to stand. The example was contagious; in a few minutes all who could obtain tools were digging, so that before 8.30 am more than half the holes were dug to the required depth. By midday the carpenters were at work; by evening the church was apparent in outline; and in four days’ time was furnished and ready for consecration.

When God’s glory is our goal, it is amazing what can be achieved.

At the beginning of an academic year, we are faced with the prospect of all that lies before us. For students and staff of Wesley Institute, for our Elders and for all of us gathering in dedication, we lift the great goal of our lives and say this is for God’s glory – and his alone.

Our present salvation does not nullify the fact that we have to face difficulties – Verse 4

It is interesting that in the same text within our five verses, we have all the relational issues that flow from belonging to Christ, alongside the tribulations and challenges that cannot be avoided. There is not a full treatment here on the subject of suffering, but Paul is making clear that those who belong to Christ will experience not only the power of justification, but also identify with the sufferings of Christ.

It is, however, a positive take – because he explains how sufferings can lead to a far better place. “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope” (v.v.3-4). This is not a way of Paul seeking to encourage people to knuckle under and face whatever they have to, but it is a way of understanding how what is ours in Jesus Christ will help us to face the most difficult of circumstances and still stand firm.

A B Simpson wrote these simple words:

Out of the presses of pain
Comes the soul’s best wine;
The eyes that have shed no rain
Can shed but little shine.

At a far simpler level, the Christian life was once anonymously described as being like a teabag – not worth much until it’s been through hot water.

Our present salvation brings us real purpose, meaning and satisfaction – Verse 5

Those wonderful words “and hope does not disappoint us” speak so powerfully into the situation of those who suffer. They are disturbing because they raise the fact it doesn’t always feel like this – and yet they do make it plain that hope is not just a pious wish for the future, but a present experience.

Many aspects of life can disappoint us: human relationships, our own failures, the unfortunate circumstances of life which appear to be out of our control … and so on. But, as one writer put it, “The Holy Spirit produces in the believer an immediate and overflowing consciousness that he is the object of God’s redeeming love, and this is the guarantee that this hope will not disappoint him.”

As we look at what lies before us in the coming year, we are conscious that the importance of each moment must not escape us. We only have one life to live and it is better that we waste not a minute of the opportunity.

Tennessee Williams wrote, “The future is called ‘perhaps’ which is the only possible thing to call the future. And the important thing is not to allow that to scare you.” When we overlay that thought with the template of Christian discipleship, we remind ourselves of God’s abiding presence!

Real purpose is found by grasping a higher vision in Jesus Christ.
Meaning is found as we pursue that vision with both enthusiasm and determination.
Satisfaction is found as we discover that both the vision and the journey are God’s gift to us.

Salvation is not just the theme of Christian testimony about an event in the past; it is a constant experience in the present. When Paul and Silas are in the Philippian jail, singing hymns at midnight, you will remember the doors were flung open and the jailor, fearing he had lost all his prisoners and that he might become one himself, asks, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:31)

This is still the paramount religious question – and it is the question that searches the heart all our days.

Christian Life