Finding Peace Through Justification by Faith

 

Summary

In Romans 5:1, Paul writes about the profound peace that comes from being justified through faith in Jesus Christ. This peace is not just a theological concept but a transformative experience that has been echoed throughout history, notably in the life of Martin Luther. Luther's journey from spiritual turmoil to peace with God illustrates the power of the gospel. Initially, Luther struggled with the church's teachings, which suggested that salvation could be earned through works or penance. However, he found no peace in these practices. It was only when he understood the true meaning of justification by faith—being clothed in the righteousness of Christ—that he experienced genuine peace.

Luther's realization was that salvation is not about human effort or sorrow for sins but about trusting in Christ's finished work on the cross. This understanding brought him immense peace, even amidst tribulations, as he realized that his righteousness was not his own but Christ's. This peace is a gift that transforms tribulations into patience, character, and hope, as Paul describes. Luther's life and writings, such as his hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," reflect this profound peace and assurance in God's love and salvation.

The Reformation, sparked by Luther's insights, was not just a doctrinal recovery but a spiritual awakening. It was a movement where ordinary people, empowered by the Holy Spirit, found and were found by Jesus Christ. Today, as we remember the Reformation, we are reminded of the need for a new awakening, a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit to bring the gospel to a world in need. Just as God used Luther and others in the past, we pray for His Spirit to move again, filling us with Christ's peace and love to reach a broken world.

Key Takeaways:

- Justification by Faith: True peace with God comes not from our works or sorrow but through faith in Jesus Christ. This peace is a transformative experience that changes our relationship with God and our understanding of salvation. [06:39]

- Luther's Journey: Martin Luther's struggle and eventual discovery of justification by faith highlight the futility of trying to earn salvation through human effort. His life is a testament to the power of the gospel to bring peace and assurance. [05:26]

- Tribulations and Peace: Tribulations do not destroy our peace with God; instead, they produce patience, character, and hope. This hope is rooted in the certainty of God's glory, which is based on Christ's righteousness, not our own. [08:11]

- Reformation as Awakening: The Reformation was more than a doctrinal shift; it was a spiritual awakening where people encountered Jesus Christ. This historical movement reminds us of the need for a new awakening today, driven by the Holy Spirit. [16:18]

- Prayer for Renewal: As we reflect on the Reformation, we are called to pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Just as God moved in the past, we seek His Spirit to fill us with peace and love, empowering us to share the gospel with a needy world. [17:30]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:31] - Two Types of Reformers
[01:04] - Luther's Struggle with the Gospel
[01:36] - The Ninety-Five Theses
[02:21] - Discovering True Peace
[02:59] - The Futility of Works
[03:39] - Luther's Realization
[04:16] - Incurvatus in Se
[04:53] - The False Gospel of Works
[05:26] - Finding No Peace
[05:55] - The Righteousness of Christ
[06:39] - Justification by Faith
[07:19] - Tribulations and Peace
[08:11] - Certainty of God's Glory
[08:50] - Christ's Love for Sinners
[09:32] - The Love of God Poured Out
[10:11] - Christ's Sacrifice for the Ungodly
[11:21] - Assurance of Salvation
[12:50] - Tetzel and Luther's Contrast
[13:26] - Luther's Final Words
[14:18] - The Need for Salvation
[15:05] - Two False Paths to Salvation
[15:40] - Reformation as Spiritual Awakening
[16:18] - A New Reformation Needed
[16:59] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[17:30] - Prayer for Renewal

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 5:1 - "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
- John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." [13:26]

Observation Questions:
1. According to Romans 5:1, what is the result of being justified through faith?
2. How did Martin Luther's understanding of justification by faith differ from the church's teachings at the time? [01:36]
3. What was the significance of Luther's realization about the righteousness of Christ in his life? [05:55]
4. How does the sermon describe the impact of tribulations on our peace with God? [07:19]

Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, as mentioned in Romans 5:1?
2. How did Luther's journey from spiritual turmoil to peace illustrate the transformative power of the gospel? [02:59]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that tribulations can lead to patience, character, and hope? [08:11]
4. How does the sermon connect the Reformation to a need for a new spiritual awakening today? [16:18]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you tried to earn peace with God through your own efforts. How did that experience compare to the peace described in Romans 5:1? [06:39]
2. Martin Luther found peace when he understood justification by faith. How can you apply this understanding to areas of your life where you feel unrest or anxiety? [05:26]
3. The sermon mentions that tribulations can produce hope. Can you identify a recent challenge in your life that has strengthened your character or hope? [08:11]
4. The Reformation was a spiritual awakening. What steps can you take to seek a personal spiritual awakening in your own life? [16:18]
5. How can you pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your community, as suggested in the sermon? [17:30]
6. Consider the people around you who might be seeking peace and salvation. How can you share the message of justification by faith with them this week? [15:05]
7. Reflect on the hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" by Martin Luther. How does this hymn inspire you to trust in God's strength and peace amidst life's challenges? [07:19]

Devotional

Day 1: True Peace Through Faith in Christ
True peace with God is not achieved through human efforts or sorrow for sins but through faith in Jesus Christ. This peace is a transformative experience that changes our relationship with God and our understanding of salvation. When we trust in Christ's finished work on the cross, we are justified by faith, and this justification brings profound peace. This peace is not merely a theological concept but a lived reality that can sustain us through life's challenges. It is a peace that assures us of our standing before God, clothed in the righteousness of Christ, and not dependent on our own merits. [06:39]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you still trying to earn God's approval through your efforts? How can you begin to rest in the peace that comes from being justified by faith in Christ today?


Day 2: Luther's Journey to Peace
Martin Luther's struggle and eventual discovery of justification by faith highlight the futility of trying to earn salvation through human effort. Initially, Luther was tormented by the belief that he had to earn God's favor through works or penance. However, he found no peace in these practices. It was only when he understood that salvation is a gift received through faith in Christ's righteousness that he experienced true peace. Luther's life is a testament to the power of the gospel to bring peace and assurance, even amidst tribulations. His writings, such as "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," reflect this profound peace and assurance in God's love and salvation. [05:26]

"For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law." (Romans 3:28, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt burdened by the need to earn God's love. How can Luther's journey inspire you to embrace the freedom and peace that come from trusting in Christ's righteousness alone?


Day 3: Tribulations and the Gift of Peace
Tribulations do not destroy our peace with God; instead, they produce patience, character, and hope. This hope is rooted in the certainty of God's glory, which is based on Christ's righteousness, not our own. When we face trials, we can be assured that they are not meaningless but are used by God to shape us into the likeness of Christ. This transformative process deepens our trust in God and strengthens our hope in His promises. The peace we have in Christ enables us to endure hardships with patience and confidence, knowing that our ultimate hope is secure in Him. [08:11]

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 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." (Romans 5:3-5, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a current trial you are facing. How can you allow God's peace to transform this tribulation into an opportunity for growth in patience, character, and hope?


Day 4: Reformation as a Spiritual Awakening
The Reformation was more than a doctrinal shift; it was a spiritual awakening where people encountered Jesus Christ. This historical movement reminds us of the need for a new awakening today, driven by the Holy Spirit. Just as God used Martin Luther and others to bring about a profound change in the church and society, we are called to seek a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our time. This awakening is not just about recovering doctrinal truths but about experiencing a renewed relationship with Christ that transforms our lives and communities. [16:18]

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways do you sense a need for spiritual awakening in your own life and community? How can you actively seek the Holy Spirit's renewal and transformation today?


Day 5: Prayer for Renewal and Empowerment
As we reflect on the Reformation, we are called to pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Just as God moved in the past, we seek His Spirit to fill us with peace and love, empowering us to share the gospel with a needy world. This prayer for renewal is not just about personal transformation but about being equipped to reach others with the message of Christ's love and salvation. We are invited to join in God's mission, relying on His Spirit to guide and empower us as we seek to make a difference in the world around us. [17:30]

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8, ESV)

Reflection: How can you make space in your daily life to pray for the Holy Spirit's renewal and empowerment? What steps can you take to be a more effective witness of Christ's love in your community?

Quotes


Paul writes in Romans chapter 5 and verse 1, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." There are, I think, two kinds of evangelical ministers, as there were two kinds of Reformers. There were those who fairly calmly, consistently, carefully expounded the Scriptures and disclosed very little about their personal lives. [00:00:00]

And it was, of course, only when he discovered the real significance of the saving righteousness of God that he discovered true peace in Jesus Christ and was able to say that he felt himself to be born again and the very doors of heaven opened to him, and he entered into paradise, not only for the future, but paradise here on earth in the assurance of faith and genuine peace with God. [00:02:34]

And Luther, very early on, understood there was no salvation and no peace to be found in such a way. He began to learn that our basic problem is we are incurvatus in se, "turned in upon ourselves," and there is no good in us. There is no power to cooperate with the grace of God, and there is no man or woman who has ever lived, apart from Jesus Christ, who has ever done enough to be justified. [00:04:16]

And then in the grace of God in Jesus Christ, he discovered the righteousness of God, the saving righteousness of God that covers us, cloaks us in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, enables us to stand before God as righteous as Jesus Christ because clothed in His righteousness. And immediately this happened to him. [00:06:09]

And when he came thus to trust in Jesus Christ, the peace of God broke over his life, just as it broke into the life of the Apostle Paul in a marvelous way, as Paul goes on to say. In Luther's life of tribulations you cannot read or sing his Mighty Fortress or his Safe Stronghold our God is Still without understanding this was a man whose peace was threatened by tribulations. [00:07:13]

And like Paul, more and more, contrary to all that had been wrought in his instincts from his earliest childhood when he had seen that portrayal of Jesus Christ seated on the rainbow throne as the judge of sinners and the condemner of sinners, he now discovered in the depth of the gospel and was poured out into the depths of his heart that Jesus Christ came into the world because he loved sinners. [00:08:43]

And because of Christ's dying, he said the love of God is actually poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, and you can hardly read Luther and think about all that Dr. Thomas has told us about what he did, without really feeling this was a man who was filled with the Holy Spirit and constrained by the love of Christ. [00:09:32]

Well, of course she had no assurance of salvation until she looked in faith to Jesus Christ and found, as Martin Luther did, that there is a righteousness in Him that covers all my sins and prepares me for the judgment day and gives me boldness on that great day to stand before Him, clothed in a righteousness that is divine. [00:12:02]

And you contrast that with Martin Luther and those last words of his found written out, "We are beggars, this is true," and discovering that although he was a beggar, he was able to die in the unfailing love of the Lord Jesus Christ, so that three times from the dying lips of Martin Luther came the words, "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. [00:13:06]

But they need salvation, and they believe that there are two ways in which they will find salvation. They will be able to do enough, or they will be able to be sorry enough. But they slowly discover by God's grace, as we pray for them, that they can neither do enough not be sorry enough, but they have nowhere else to look. [00:15:10]

And dear friends, we need to remember as we think about the Reformation and as we glory in the theology and the doctrine of the Reformation and the discovery of these great biblical doctrines, that the Reformation was not simply a recovery of doctrine. It was a spiritual awakening of an extraordinary degree in which men and women were finding Jesus Christ and being found by Him. [00:15:45]

And as we celebrate it tonight and tomorrow and look forward to the future, we need to cry to God that He will send the same Spirit again. We need to pray like Elisha and his companions, not just "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" but "Where is the Lord God of Martin Luther?" You did it once, Lord. In your infinite mercy, do it again. [00:17:09]

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Transcript
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