Bill Acton :: Romans 5:3-5 - The Certainty of Salvation

Sermon Outline for Romans 5:3-5

The Certainty of Salvation

1. Review – Rom 5:1-2
   1. We are justified by faith
   2. We have peace with God
   3. We stand in grace
   4. We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God
2. Further Proof of How Faith Enables Us Through –
   1. Trials, troubles, problems, and tribulations of life – giving further assurance
   2. Paul’s personal experience – 2Co 11:22-28
   3. The teaching of Christ – Jhn 16:33
   4. The early Church – Act 4:1-3; 5:17-19; 7:57-60; 8:1
3. The Test – Rom 5:3-5
   1. The way to test between the true and the false is to observe what happens in the hour of crisis, in the time of real need
   2. The teaching of Christ – Mat 13:21
   3. The Christian response to tribulation
      1. Not negative
         1. Not just to keep from complaining
         2. Not just “putting up” with them
         3. Not just resignation – stoicism
      2. Position
         1. To glory in them
            1. Not in spite of them
            2. Not in the midst of them
         2. We glory in them
            1. On account of them
            2. Because of them
4. The Teaching of the New Testament
   1. The Gospels – Mat 5:10-12
   2. Act 5:41
   3. The Letters
      1. Paul – 2Co 4:17; 12:9-10; Phl 1:19
      2. James – Jas 1:2, 12
      3. Peter – 1Pe 4:12-14
5. The Practical Application
   1. Not happy to have them
   2. Do not go out seeking them
   3. Praise, thanksgiving, rejoicing, glorying – over time – Heb 12:11
   4. How does it work?
      1. Through the application of our faith
      2. Our faith enables us to view them in proper perspective
         1. Not as working against our hope
         2. But as actually promoting hope – Rom 5:3-5
      3. Our faith enables us to deal with our tribulations
         1. Through knowledge – God’s revelation “knowing that…” Rom 5:3
         2. We know that tribulation worketh patience
            1. The work is the process
            2. Results: patience, endurance, steadfastness
      4. What is the process?
         1. Tribulations come
         2. We realize our need
         3. True faith turns to Christ
         4. We receive a fresh supply of grace and strength
            1. Increase of time – with the Lord
            2. Increased dependence upon Him
            3. Proper knowledge of ourselves
               1. Not overestimating
               2. Sense of dependence
6. Patience Works Assurance – through experience
   1. Experience that is the result of an experiment
   2. It is passing the test – Jas 1:2, 12 – 1Pe 1:6-8
   3. Result
      1. We are God’s children
      2. Faith is victorious – Job 13:15
7. Assurance Through Experience Leads to Hope
   1. Trials do not lead away
   2. Trials lead to hope
   3. Trials make hope stronger
8. Hope Does Not Bring Shame – 2Ti 1:12