There are probably only a handful of reasons for rejecting the Word of God and the Gospel

Most of these reasons are poorly thought out

Amongst them the most serious objection:

The problem of Suffering and in particular the suffering of the innocent:

CS Lewis:

1. If God is good He would desire His creatures to be happy

2. If God is all powerful He would be able to make His creatures happy

3. His creatures are not happy

4. Therefore God is either not good, not all powerful or both

This is the problem of suffering

There are at least 3 possible responses to this problem:

1. To deny the existence / power / benevolence of God

2. To pretend, as do many Christians, that yet suffering happens but bad things only happen to bad people and good things happen to good people! This is really a reflection of personal conceit and pride rather than a reflection of any appreciation of the scriptures and tends only to last so longs as the believer evades suffering!

3. To be honest - to acknowledge the problem is real and to attempt and to draw from it an understanding of the principles and laws that underpin the universe in which we live.

The apostle Paul does not have the luxury of being able to find a solution to the problem of suffering by denying the reality of God!

He does not live in ignorance!

Paul knows that God has revealed Himself in:

1. Creation (Rom 1)

2. Conscience (Rom 2)

3. Covenant (Rom2 + 3)

4. Christ (Rom 3 + 4)

None of these revelations will go away

As much as Saul of Tarsus would at one point have loved to have been able to deny the reality of at least the final of these Divine revelations - the evidence of the reality of God in Christ was so compelling on the Damascus Road that his life was forever changed!

The apostle Paul will approach the problem of suffering not from a position of ignorance but with the very real experience and appreciation of God in creation, conscience, covenant and Christ.

As Paul approaches this problem of suffering in the power of the Spirit rather than with the unbelief of the flesh we will see something completely glorious emerging from this perhaps greatest challenge to the Christian faith

We will see that in the seed plot of Adams sin there is germinating the glory of Christ's Salvation

As we look at the suffering of the innocent:

1. 7 million children murdered in their mothers womb in Britain since 1967

2. Starving children in Africa

3. Children born with HIV infection

Paul will ask : if the suffering of the innocent is real and if God is real what does this tell me about the moral order of the universe and the laws upon which this world is founded?

From this Paul will draw a glorious lesson from this problem of suffering

A lesson that underpins and points to the very means of Gods salvation

A lesson that answers and explains verse 11: 'how is it that we receive the atonement?'

1. Relationship brings results

2. Contact has consequences

From this Paul will turn the problem 180 degrees around from being the biggest challenge of the Christian faith to being the biggest confirmation of the very means of the Christian faith!

Don't miss this!

• If contact with dead man brings death what will contact with a living man bring?

• If contact with an unrighteous man brings condemnation what will contact with a righteous man bring?

• If contact with a sinner brings sin what will contact with a Saviour bring?

The Problem of Suffering brings before us on a daily, powerful and undeniable basis the very spiritual principles upon which our salvation is based!

4 Relationships to explore:

1. Relationship between man and sin

2. Relationship between sin and death

3. Relationship between me and Adam

4. Relationship between Christ and myself

There are 2 main ways over the years which have been used to provide a panoramic view of the bible, an overview of everything in the word of God:

1. Dispensationalism

• Recognises the distinction in Gods dealings with men

• Differences in the way God expresses His grace:

1. Age of Innocence - Eden

2. Age of Conscience – Adam to Moses

3. Age of Law – Moses to Christ

4. Age of Grace – Christ from His birth to His return

5. Age / Day of Wrath – tribulation

6. Age / Day of God – millennium and eternity

• We can see some of these here:

1. Age of Innocence (5:12)

2. Age of Conscience (5:13-14)

3. Age of Law (5:14,20)

4. Age of Grace (5:20-21)

5. Age of Wrath (5:9)

6. Age of God (5:2)

2. Covenant Theology

• Emphasises the consistency of Gods character

• Sadly this had led many to conclude that because the character of God remains the same that there can be no distinction in His dealings with men

• In Romans 5 we can see the consistency of Gods character – for the way men have always been saved is the way they are saved today: by Grace, through faith, in Christ and by relationship with Christ.

1. Relationship between man and sin (5:12)

• Connection has consequences

• One man and one sin – sin enters

• Sin is not simply a practice but sin is:

1. Sin is a principle

2. Sin is a power

3. Sin is a person / personified

• Sin stands with its hand on the handle of the gate ready to enter Eden (5:12)

1. Sin as a motive (5:2)

2. Sin as a man (5:6)

3. Sin as a monarch (5:12)

4. Sin as a master (5:14)

5. Sin as a monster (5:23)

• When sin is dabbled with it “enters” (5:12)

• The action is not the end of sin – it is the beginning – the door is opened to sin.

• I don't understand this I though that sin was an action:

1. Sins of commission – what I do

2. Sins of omission – what I don't do

• 1 John 3 “sin is lawlessness”

• Is sin not simply a breaking of Gods law?

• We all make mistakes don't we?

• So what's the big deal?

• Are you not exaggerating the problem?

• Sin: “hamartia” : missing the mark

• The question is whose mark? Gods mark! Gods standard! Gods law!

• It is natural and tempting for us as human beings to think of sin in terms of what it means for us as human beings: health problems, broken marriages, broken homes, broken bones, disease, death, theft, corruption, injustice etc., all of these things are the human side of sin.

• The bible views sin however primarily from the Divine side – what sin means to God, and how God responds to sin and what the effects of sin are for man before his God!

• “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen 2:17)

• What was so special about the tree? Was it magic fruit?

• Was there some kind of strange chemistry in the fruit that brought spiritual knowledge?

1. I very much doubt it: “that which is of the flesh is flesh and that which is of the spirit is spirit” - I find it very difficult to imagine how the partaking of a particular food can modify a person spiritually.

2. I also find it very difficult to understand how God could create something which is of itself and by its nature evil! “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” (Gen 1:31) – the fruit itself was not inherently evil.

• The problem came in the eating of the fruit rather than the fruit itself!

• In eating the fruit I disobey the creator and in disobeying the creator I drive a wedge between me and He who is the author and sustainer of my life, therefore the consequence of that sin is: “in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen 2:17)

• The only prohibition given to Adam in Eden – if he trusted God on it, he drew near to God if he didn't trust God on it he drove a wedge between him and God.

• “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isa 59:2)

• Our relationship with sin fractures our relationship with God.

• With that sin not only have we lost our link with God but with that sin comes Satan

• Personality is linked with sin in this section and it is more than a figure of speech:

1. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1Pe 5:8)

2. “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”

(2Co 11:14)

3. “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:” (Luk 22:31)

• I don't think that chp 6 deals with sin in a mythical or mystical or magical way but in a clear and down to earth way.

• We need to stop thinking about sin as simply a practice but rather to think of sin with its consequences – even the sin that goes unknown / unnoticed by others – brings the same effect of separation.

2. Relationship between sin and death

• Sin produces death

• Sin is not a private matter of personal practices

• Sin is viewed in scripture relative to God

• “sin is lawlessness” and the law in view is Gods law

• Sin is falling short of the Glory of God (Rom3:23)

• Sin thus separates between me and God (Isa59:2)

• Sin is not a private matter – it impacts on my relationship with God

• Sin is not simply a practice

3. Relationship between me and Adam

• “for that all have sinned...”

• Does this mean:

1. That all die because we have all committed sins? i.e. because we all repeat Adams disaster we all repeat Adams death?

2. Because of Adams sin we all die and are affected by that one sin of Adam?

• Notice:

1. The past tense of “all have sinned” - this is a sin in the past

2. Notice the parallelism and symmetry in v12:

A - “sin entered” - Adams Sin

B - “death by sin” - Adams Death

B - “death passed upon all” - My Death

A - “all have sinned” - My Sin

• Is there not a missing step between B and B? What about the sin of all as the cause of the death of all?

• The point is that it is not the sin of all that causes the death of all but the sin of Adam that guarantees the death of all.

• Personal sin certainly confirms the diagnosis and at times accelerates the outcome:

1. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Gal 6:7-8)

• Adam's sin brings Adams death but Adams sin also brings my death.

3. Death is present even where sin is not imputed (Rom 5:13-14) for death is the result of the presence of the principle of sin rather than the result of the practice of sin. So even in the absence of personally committed sin death still reigns – because death comes not from my sin but from Adams!

4. These verses are the foundation stones which are being laid by the apostle to allow us an understanding of how it is we can receive the “reconciliation” that Christ has achieved for us at Calvary, as we will see the repetition of Adams sin in my life is no more required to bring about my death than is the repetition of Christ's atoning work in my life is required to bring about my salvation and eternal life. The reception of salvation and eternal life is based upon precisely the same principle as the reception of death and condemnation from Adam (Rom 5:18-19). We die first and foremost because we belong to Adam. We live because of our relationship to Christ (Rom 5:18-19).

• Why is it that Adams sin should pass to me with its consequences?

1. He is the federal head of the human race – the representative man

2. All human life was potential in Adam (Gen 2:7)

3. Corruption of humanity spiritually is actually passed down to me today

• So with this comes:

1. Death of the innocent

2. Death of the unborn

3. The suffering of the child

• Notice that in this section the apostle is not trying to explain away these problems he is taking them as accepted facts of life.

• How often have we heard: 'well if there is a God why... do infants die...do the innocent suffer....did my...'

• He is not trying to apologise for them on Gods behalf

• He acknowledges the facts and features of this world and then asks the question: 'well what does this tell me about the way that the moral and spiritual laws of the universe operate?' Do they tell me anything?

• Does this not tell me that: connection has consequences and that relationship brings results?

• This spiritual law, fundamental to the way the universe operates is responsible for so much suffering and death but it is also the route by which my salvation comes!

• For if guilt can be transferred by relationship so can Glory!

• If sin can be transferred by relationship so too can salvation!

• If condemnation can be transferred by relationship so too can justification!

• If relationship with Adam brings death then relationship with Christ brings life!

4. Relationship between Christ and myself

1. Sin (chps 1 to 3) – why I need to be saved

2. Salvation (chps 3 to 4) – How I can be saved

3. Standing (chp 5:1-2) – Now that I am saved

4. Suffering (chp 5:3-5) – Why do I suffer now that I am saved? What God brings from that suffering.

5. Setting (5:6-11) – When God saved me (5:6,8,10)

6. Saviour (5:12-21) – connecting with Gods Grace

• v11 concludes with: “by whom we have now received the atonement”

• How do we actually “receive the reconciliation”

• Not a formality / baptism / practice / sinners prayer

• Receiving salvation comes from a relationship with the Saviour (5:12-21)

• Now that is very interesting because that is what we saw in chps 3 + 4 had been happening for the previous 4000 years:

1. Justification by faith is nothing new

2. Justification by faith is faith in a person

• These OT saints all depended upon Christ for Justification:

1. Moses: “Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.” (Heb 11:26); Deut 32:2-4; 15-18; 1 Co10:1-4 “that rock was Christ” (1Co11:1-4).

2. Abraham: Gal3:8, 16 – the Gospel of the future blessing in Christ; John 8:56.

3. David: Psalm 110:1; Heb 1:13; Matt 22:41-46: David's Lord was Christ! Acts 2:25, 29-32; Psalm 16 & 22.

4. Daniel: Daniel 10:5-18; 8:15; 10:9-10, 16; Rev 1:13-17 – Daniel encountered the same person as did John!

5. Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego in the fiery furnace (Dan 3:25-26) who will protect them in the flames? Surely the God whom they serve, the “Son of God”.

6. Prophets: Moved by the Spirit of Christ (1Peter1:11)

7. Elijah and Moses : present with Christ on the Mount of transfiguration (Mark 9)

• These OT saints all depended upon Christ for Justification!

• Justification then we would conclude from the pattern of the OT scriptures came when these OT believers exerted faith in a Person, the Person of Christ, rather than Faith in a Process or faith in their understanding of a process!

• Some did not understand the process but they benefited from it by faith in the Person!

• The gospel per se was only first spoken of by Christ and the apostles: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;” (Heb 2:3)

• “For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.” (Mat 13:17)

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Romans Chp 5 Vs 12 to 21 – Suffering - My Relationship with Adam www.newcumnock.org

https://graceinchrist.org/romans

What is the point of this section?
Sometimes it is possible to read a section of scripture and get a message, get a few points, get an encouragement, get a help, get a life, get a boost but I often ask myself: did I get the point? Did I get the purpose for which it was written?
What is the point to chapter 5.
A heavy chapter of doctrine, often quoted in the gospel 5:6,8,12.
Great doctrinal subjects such as:

1The sovereignty of God
2The plan of salvation
3The all sufficiency of Gods Grace

See in the 3 sections that Gods Grace is sufficient for and Gods purposes are Sovereign over:

1Life's Problems (5:1-5)
2Salvation's Plan (5:6-11)
3Man's Plight (5:12-21)

Or to put it another way He is enough for the:

1Worries of Life (5:1-5)
2Weakness of Self (5:6-11)
3Wickedness of Man (5:12-21)

I can rest in His all Sufficient Grace in:

1Life's Distresses (5:1-5)
2My Disabilities (5:6-11)
3Worlds Disasters (5:12-21)

Yet Romans 5 is a fascinating chapter, for whilst it deals with so many of the great themes and subjects of the gospel and whilst it fits into the flow of the epistle so far:

1Sin (Chps 1 to 3)
2Salvation (Chps 3 to 4)
3Standing in Grace (5:1-2)


Romans 5 is not written as a chapter in a text book to explain the doctrines of the gospel.
This is not a chapter for the intellectually curious
This is not a chapter written to satisfy our inquisitiveness about how it all works and why the world is as it is, why life's problems are as they are, why the innocent die and how the righteousness of Christ can be transferred to the sinner.
This is a section which really breaks off from the main line of the teaching given so far to develop one particular theme and explain one particular issue:
“... and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we rejoice in tribulations also...” (Rom 5:2-3)
We move from 'rejoicing' in our salvation in the future to 'rejoicing' in the every day problems of life.
The real issue that sparks off this development in the epistle of the Romans lies in this question: did I not put my trust and commit my salvation to:

1A Saviour who is all powerful? - Yes certainly : "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matt28:18)
2A Saviour who is all knowing? - Yes certainly : "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee." (John21:17)
3A Saviour who is all wise? - Yes certainly: "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col2:3)
4A Saviour who is always with me?- Yes certainly: "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matt 28:20)

Well if that is true then how come I am having a hard time?'
We need answers to that kind of a question!
Does Christianity have real power or is it some kind of spiritual homoeopathy? All very nice, not do you any harm but lacking any active ingredient?

• Christ died in chapter 3

• I've just got saved in chapter 4

• Then why am I having trouble in my life in chapter 5?

Can't we just cut the tribulation and get to the triumph? Please??
Is the believers faith just pie in the sky when you die?
If so then herein lies one of the great assurances of the reality of Christian experience, one of the great confirmations of the reality and genuineness of the relationship with God established by justification by faith for if salvation is just pie in the sky when you die then the furnace of affliction ought to produce from the Christian the ashes of Christian crumble.
Actually and amazingly it doesn't!
The apostle who writes in Romans 5 : "we rejoice in tribulations also" (Rom5:3) is the same apostle who recounts his trials and sufferings in 2 Co11:23-28!
How do we reconcile these 2 passages as coming from the pen of the same man?
Either we have here:

1.A man who has been cracked by the trials of life or
2.A man who has cracked the trials of life: a man for whom the veil that separates the purposes of a sovereign God in eternity and the pain of mortal man in time has just split apart, so that with unclouded sight he is able to penetrate the mists of Divine purpose and with the hymn writer he is able to 'trace the rainbow through the rain.'

Has he found a God who is able to triumph in life's tragedies?
Has he found that life's problems are but the prelude to a deeper and richer experience of the presence of God?

In:
1Life's Problems (5:1-5)
2Salvation's Plan (5:6-11)
3Man's Plight (5:12-21)

In the:

1Worries of Life (5:1-5)
2Weakness of Self (5:6-11)
3Wickedness of Man (5:12-21)

In:

1Life's Distresses (5:1-5)
2My Disabilities (5:6-11)
3Worlds Disasters (5:12-21)


Is this not a consistent pattern right the way through the word of God?
Are there not a number of such moments in the Word of God?
Moments when all seems dark, bleak, lost, hopeless and finished, when the darkness of despair comes like a storm cloud over the landscape carved by the love and gracious purposes of God? But is it not the case that even the toil of man's tragedy is used to sow the seeds of Gods triumph?
Are we not so often left asking the question: 'Is nothing too great for our God?'
Consider the 'wow' moments of scripture:

• Daniel 3 - Shadrach, Meschech and Abednigo in the fiery furnace and then "one like unto the Son of God"

• Daniel 6 - Out of the jaws of the lion: "O king live forever"

• Exodus 14 - the people of Israel trapped between the armies of Pharaoh and the Red Sea, they're mad, 300,000 unarmed civilians, what do you think Pharaohs armies are going to do when they reach them? Ask them nicely if they would like to come back home? This nation responsible for the death of every first-born in the land? Caught between the sea and the soldiers: "stand still and see the salvation of the Lord" Praise the Lord that Exodus 14 is followed by Moses Song of triumph in Exodus 15

• Jonah 3 - A great fish washed up onto dry land, vomits and there in the vomit: 'look dad there's a man in the vomit!' Our God is a God who is able even to use vomit for His Glory! He is able to bring Glory out of the flames of Dan 3, out of the lions mouth in Dan 6, through the flood of Exodus 14 and yes even out of vomit! Ever considered why the account of Jonahs experience are recorded in all their stomach churning detail? Because as that man arises out the vomit, God will use Him as instrumental in the conversion of over 1 million people; calculation based on there being 120,000 children under 5 and a fairly even distribution of ages between 0 and 50 years = 1.2 million people! How would we reach 1.2 million people for Christ? 12 million tracts? The God channel? Radio? Power Point? How does God start? With vomit!

Romans 5 deals with some heady theology, deep questions, heavy doctrine but all of it arises from 1 simple question: If God is sovereign how come I'm having a hard time?
The clue is in the crises!
In Romans 5 I trace the total sovereignty of God in all things!
Every aspect of human experience is under His control!
What is the meaning of Romans 5?
What is heavens purpose behind earth's pain?
The opening 2 verses of chapter 5 clearly follow on from the subject of the preceding sections:

1.Sin (chps 1 to 3)
2.Salvation (chps 3 & 4)
3.Standing in Grace (5:1-2)

The opening 2 verses of chapter 5 follow on logically and progressively in the development of the chapter so far
We have already seen that in chapter 4 the great subject of justification by faith is:

1.Justification by faith is nothing new
2.Justification by faith is faith in a person
3.Justification by faith is by faith alone
4.Justification by faith is a full salvation
5.Justification by faith is the beginning not the end

Since Justification by faith is the beginning not the end what could be more reasonable and logical than for chapter 5 to open up with the consequences, the result of this justification, what does it bring me to? It brings me into a relationship with the Lord: into this grace wherein we stand.
From the end of verse 2 the chapter then goes off at something of a tangent from the theme so far and the remainder of the chapter really pick up on the closing words of verse 2 : "we rejoice in hope of the Glory of God"
This them of rejoicing is then pick up on in verse 3: "and not only so but we rejoice in tribulations also...."
This theme of rejoicing which flows from our salvation flows through the whole chapter!
A rejoicing that flows through:

1Life's Problems (5:1-5)
2Salvation's Plan (5:6-11)
3Man's Plight (5:12-21)

1Worries of Life (5:1-5)
2Weakness of Self (5:6-11)
3Wickedness of Man (5:12-21)

1Life's Distresses (5:1-5)
2My Disabilities (5:6-11)
3Worlds Disasters (5:12-21)
How can this be?
For my God is Sovereign and His Grace is sufficient in every trial and difficulty of life.
That joy that flows from our salvation is able to permeate every aspect of our life.
Every aspect of our life?
Is there any limit?
In Romans 5 there is no limit! He is in control of:

1Life's Problems (5:1-5)
2Salvation's Plan (5:6-11)
3Man's Plight (5:12-21)

1Worries of Life (5:1-5)
2Weakness of Self (5:6-11)
3Wickedness of Man (5:12-21)

1Life's Distresses (5:1-5)
2My Disabilities (5:6-11)
3Worlds Disasters (5:12-21)

Working all for His Glory:

In Life's Problems He's there (5:1-5) bringing patience and experience and hope from those experiences
In Salvations Plan He's there, before it starts (5:6, 8, 10)
In Man's Plight He is sovereign (5:12-21) - Adam may have brought the disaster but Christ has brought the deliverance - Adam is the figure but Christ is the fullness

The reason for tribulations lies in 5:6 : " For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly"
God saves:

1.By His Strength
2.In His Season
3.By His Son

The way God Saves is the way God Sanctifies
The way God begins His work is the way God completes His work in us
He molds us in our misery
He transforms me in my trials
It is when my strength is gone that I draw on His strength, when my mind has reached the limits of its understanding that I draw on His wisdom and when my resources have proven insufficient that I draw on His infinite resources: " Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches:" (Jer 9:23) when my:

1.Wisdom
2.Work
3.Wealth

Comes to an end then I draw from the depths of His resources in Christ.
The principles by which God deals with us in Salvation (5:6-11) are the same as the principles by which He deals with me in tribulation and sanctification (5:1-5)
So I can see:

1.The Results of Tribulation (5:1-5) - Fruit - 'patience,' 'experience,' 'hope,' 'faith'
2.The Reason for Tribulations (5:6-11)
3.The Resources in Tribulations (5:6-11) - God (5:5), The Holy Spirit (5:5), The Person of Christ (5:6-11)
4.The Reassurance from Tribulations

The Resources in Tribulations (5:6-11) -
God (5:5)
The Holy Spirit (5:5)
The Person of Christ (5:6-11)

1.By His Strength
2.In His Season
3.By His Son

A trinitarian section:

1.The Spirit (v5)
2.God the Father (v5)
3.The Son (v6-11)


6 verses from 5:6 to 5:11 - all of Christ:

4/6 verses Christ is named - v6, v8, v10, v11
1/6 verses has a personal pronoun for Christ (v9)
The remaining verse is all about the work of Christ (v7)

When God works in Salvation and when God works in Sanctification it is all of Christ
Notice what these verses do not say:

1.Christ died for those without strength
2.Christ died for sinners
3.Christ died for His enemies

All of that would be true and that is often what we take from those verses but that is not quite what these verses are saying
These verses go beyond that
The subject of these verse is not so much about my standing before God in my:

1.Strength (lack of it) (5:6)
2.Sin (5:8)
3.Status as an enemy (5:10)

Rather these verses are really about the setting of His redemptive plan, notice the difference:

1."when we were yet without strength"
2."while we were yet sinners"
3."when we were enemies"

These verses are not simply describing my status or standing before God but rather they are describing the setting or season of His redemptive work in Christ!
These verses not only point out my weakness but they point out His sufficiency
These verses don't preach half a gospel message!
Here is:

Despair that leads to deliverance
Crises that leads to Christ

These verses not only record my trouble but more than that they record Gods timing
The glorious subject of these verses is His:

1.Substitutionary Death (v6, v8, v10)
2.Sufficiency of His Resurrection Life (v8, v10)

The Reassurance from Tribulations:

Notice again how the chapter is building up:

1Life's Problems (5:1-5)
2Salvation's Plan (5:6-11)
3Man's Plight (5:12-21)

1Worries of Life (5:1-5)
2Weakness of Self (5:6-11)
3Wickedness of Man (5:12-21)

1Life's Distresses (5:1-5)
2My Disabilities (5:6-11)
3Worlds Disasters (5:12-21)

Do you see the pattern?
Do you see how we move from:

My personal experience (5:1-5) to
Gods plan expounded and explained in scripture (5:6-11) to
The expectation of Christ's triumph over all of man's sin and suffering and sorrow (5:12-21)

We move from:

what we have experienced in our own private and personal trials and tragedies to
an understanding of what is unfolded in scripture in Christ and the onto
what is yet unseen and not yet fulfilled but expected of Christ's triumph in the depth of man's sin and failure

Each step leads us deeper and deeper into an understanding of Gods purposes and into a deeper and deeper faith in His sovereign power and ability
How far does His power and authority go?
How broad are His Shoulders?
Is he able to bring opportunity out of all trials of life - yes and more than that!

God does not only bring opportunity out of the tribulations but He brings the trial with its opportunity!
Where are the boundaries of my rejoicing in the midst of adversity?
Romans 5 - says there are none!
We need not wonder - is there a solution to every problem
We can rest in this - that was there no solution - there would be no problem!
He is Sovereign over all - if He is not sovereign over all, He is not Sovereign at all!
Consider how the Roman Emperor Hadrian had to build his wall - to stop the Scots; a wild and barbaric bunch, especially round about dinner time! Hadrian knew if he was to be ruler of Britain he had to be ruler of all
There is no Hadrian's wall in Gods sovereignty! There are no no go areas, there are no cul-de-sac out with His authority!
I can rejoice in every circumstance of life!
Betsy Ten Boom: "There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still"

Listen online to: Romans Chp 5 Verses 6 to 11: 'Rejoicing in Vomit'

www.newcumnock.org

God is Sovereign over:

1. Life's Problems (5:1-5)

2. Salvations Plan (5:6-11)

3. Man's Plight (5:12-21)

• We have seen that in Life's Problems a Grace that is Sovereign (5:21) is a Grace that is Sufficient: allowing the believer to “glory in tribulations also” (Rom 5:3)

• In those verses we:

1. First narrowed / focused down the ministry and we saw that for us to find good to glory in the problems of life we must first know Gods Salvation (5:1) for it is God by His Spirit (5:5) who turns these situations around. These promises can only really belong to the believer since it is Gods purpose in these problems to deepen my relationship with Him and to bring about in me a likeness to Christ by creating in me “faith” (5:1), “hope” (5:5) and “love” (5:4)

2. Then we broadened out these verses and we suggested that whilst they only apply to the circumstances of a believers life they surely apply to all of the circumstances of a believers life; eg Jonah, who was in the belly of the whale because of his disobedience and sin but God was able to turn that situation around for his good, Ninevehs blessing and the Glory of God, and by the way just consider how in those circumstances Jonah was drawn closer to the person of Christ!

3. Noted a condition: “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace” (5:2) – Gods treasure chest of grace is accessed by the key of faith. How often we cut ourselves off / lock ourselves out of grace and try to get in with a crow bar! Such a believer approaches the trial in faith, not simply the faith that 'it will all work out in the end' or the faith that says 'what's fur ye will no go bye ye' but rather the faith to rest in Him and to draw our resources from Him! We go into the trial in faith, we come out of the trial in faith. If we go into the trial in hope we come out of the trial in hope. If we go into that trial in unbelief we will either come out in unbelief or not come out at all. In those trials and tests we need to be “exercised thereby”. If you are a believer who in the trials and tests of life, does not pray, does not feed upon His Word, does not seek the “rainbow through the rain”, does not meditate upon His Word you run the very real risk of wasting your suffering. He gives us grace for every trial – we must take that grace to ourselves!

• There are resources for those trials:

1. The Sword of the Spirit: “the Word of God” - Emphasised in Luke 4

2. Prayer (5:2) – to the fore in Romans 5:1-5

• As we approach the trial in “faith” (5:2) and drawing from those wells, that sufficiency in Him, I can profit from those trials.

• The “tribulation” worked “patience” - not just patience as a general characteristic or feature of life but patience with a prospect, patience in a person, the one whom I have experienced in the problems of life I can wait patiently on! I wait patiently for Him, at the place I met Him, a place of suffering and a path of suffering stained first by His own blood!

• “and patience experience” - “experience” or “proof” of the reality of our salvation.

• Hope expected in trust becomes hope experienced in trial!

• Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo – the reality of their salvation was proven in the furnace.

• The life of the believer is lived out with the same perspective, our life, our hope, our expectation is lived out waiting for our Lords return by a pool of His blood. Our life is lived out in the shadow of Calvary and I must interpret my life in the reality of His cross. Life is not a fun fare it is a furnace, not a picnic but a battle field! It is His cross and His work that brings sense and sheds its light on all of my life!

• “For” (v6) – these 2 sections are connected by the same idea / thought

• These are not 2 unrelated or unconnected sections

• What is the connection between the 2 sections?

• We have just found that it is in the extremities of life that we have enjoyed the experiences of God

• Is this a surprising discovery?

• Is this an unexpected finding?

• Why should it work like this? That when I come to the trials and tribulations of life and find that in these trials I am pushed beyond:

1. Mind and its wisdom - wisdom

2. Body and its strength - work

3. Wealth and its riches - wealth

• That instead of crumbling in the crises of life, in Him I can find triumph in the tragedy?

• Is Christianity just pie in the sky when you die? If it is then the crises and problems of life are a recipe for Christian Crumble!

• Instead we have found that when these trials are approached in faith we have seen that these ovens of adversity become a furnace which forges faith in the God who reveals Himself in your trials and tests and tribulations, as the God who is all sufficient for our problems!

• Pity the believer who when faced with any: opposition, trial, discouragement, challenge, any fight for the faith gets up and hides, runs away, goes off in the huff – such a believer will never grow!

• At the end of verse 5 we ask the question: “why” either :

1. 'Why' in a negative way: 'But why does it have to be this way?' / 'Why can't I have an easier life?'

2. 'Why' in a positive way: 'Why is it that I keep finding Christ in the Crises of life' / 'Why is it that when I come to the end of my resources I find that the cup that I thought was so empty, so useless, so hopeless, so desperate has just suddenly been gloriously filled by Him?'

• Why is it this way?

• Recently when my son decided to take up fishing the first reaction of my wife was to purchase him a life jacket, amongst the instructions on the life jacket:

1. Not a substitute for a baby sitter

2. This life jacket will keep your body floating on the surface of the water – providing you don't struggle!

• The life vest will save you – if you let it!

• Upon this principle God saves

• Upon this principle – the same salvation principle I enjoy His salvation!

• This simple principle of the life vest underpins Gods dealings with me in :

1. Tribulation (5:1-5)

2. Salvation (5:6-11)

• The Principles by which God works in:

  Life's Problems

• Are the same principles by which He works in:

  Salvations Plan

1. The Conditions in which God saves (v6)

1. By His Strength “when we were yet without strength”

2. In His Season “in due time”

3. By His Son “Christ died for the ungodly”

1. The Character of Gods when He acts (v6-9)

1. Grace (v6-7)

2. Love (v8)

3. Mercy (v9)

2. The Consequences of God Acting (v9-10)

1. Justified (v9) – Right Relationship

2. Reconciled (v10,11)

3. Salvation (v10)

4. Rejoicing (v11)

The Conditions in which God saves (v6)

1. By His Strength “when we were yet without strength”

• Not our strength

• We come to our weakness – I can't cope anymore, I can't manage it any more!

• God takes me beyond my:

1. Mind and its wisdom

2. Body and its strength

3. Wealth and its riches

• God takes me beyond my:

1. Intellectual ability

2. Physical Strength

3. Financial Resources

• “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” (Jer 9:23-24)

2. In His Season “in due time”

• In “due time”: “καιρός” : in fullness of time

• Gods plan of salvation was not a:

1. Reaction

2. Reflex

3. Response

• To the need of man but rather Gods solution precedes mans problems!

• “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,” (Gal 4:4)

• Gods perfect timing in Salvations Plan is paralleled by His perfect timing in Life's Problems – saw last week the testing of Christ in the wilderness: lasting 40 days – God was in control, a set time, Satan may buffet and test but God is in control:

• 40 days, often linked in scripture with:

1. Division – 40 days of trial effectively separate what come before from what comes after that trial, eg the 40 days of rain in the time of Noah – separated the old and the new world, Josephs mourning for Jacob 40 days in Gen 50 marks a water shed experience in his life!

2. Provision – the 40 years in the wilderness for the nations of Israel were a time of Gods gracious provision (Ex 16:35; Deut 8:2,4) when they learned dependence on Him.

3. Decision – Caleb at 40 years of age spied out the land of Canaan (Josh 14:7) and Elijah after 40 days in the wilderness (1Kings 19:8) had a life changing experience and decision to make!

4. Preparation – for 40 days at Sinai Moses prepared himself to receive the law from God! (Deut 9:11-25)

5. Limitation – Deut 25:3 – punishment by whipping, within the nation of Israel was limited by God to 40 strips, a trial with set limits, under Gods control: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1Co 10:13) – Gods judgement is tempered with Gods Grace.

• Satan may be on the attack but God is in control of the trial, it lasted 40 days , God had set the bounds and the limits to this testing.

• Every testing and every trial has its perfect completion and conclusion in the purposes of God.

• “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1Co 10:13)

3. By His Son “Christ died for the ungodly”

• Our salvation begins with Gods provision in His Son

• Our salvation is sustained by Gods provision in His Son:

  “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” (Luk 4:4)

  “And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.” (Deu 8:3)

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (Joh 6:35)

2. The Character of Gods when He acts (v6-9)

1. Grace (v6-7)

• We get what we don't deserve

2. Love (v8)

• Underpinning Gods plan of salvation and yes revealed in all His dealings with us even in those trials and tribulations; this is the great discovery that beckons, the eye of faith at the end of all of life's trials (Rom5:5).

3. Mercy (v9)

• We don't get what we do deserve!

• In His salvation and in His tribulation God seeks to steer me away from His wrath, His anger, His displeasure: cf. Jonah in the belly of the whale, it may well have taken him down to the depths of hell: “And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.” (Jon 2:2) – that same fish which also in Gods purpose took him down to hell also took him back to the path of service and fruitfulness from which he had strayed!

3. The Consequences of God Acting (v9-10)

1. Justified (v9) – Right Relationship

2. Reconciled (v10,11)

• Opportunity for salvation

• It is not we but God who brings us into Grace

• His Grace needs to be “received” (v11), this opportunity requires a response

3. Salvation (v10)

4. Rejoicing (v11)

Believers 190

O Christ, he is the fountain, the deep, sweet well of love! the streams of earth I've tasted more deep I'll drink above: there to an ocean fullness his mercy doth expand, and glory, glory dwelleth in Emmanuel's land. With mercy and with judgment my web of time he wove, and aye, the dews of sorrow were lustered with his love; I'll bless the hand that guided, I'll bless the heart that planned when throned where glory dwelleth in Emmanuel's land.

Believers 181:

verse 4 – Salvation that lies in the eternal counsels of God

verse 5 – Salvation that is realised in the circumstances of every day life

Click here to listen online to: 'Life's Problems and Salvations Plan'

https://graceinchrist.org/romans

Notes on Romans from a message preached by J Stewart Gillespie:


Romans Chapter 5 Verses 1 to 5 & Luke Chp 4 Vs 1 to 22: 'Triumphs in Testing'



A friend who has recently been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemo, a young man, said to me 'people say I am brave and standing up well, but I'm not, when I was in the police and I was faced with an opponent with a knife or a gang and I chose to stay rather than run away, then I was brave, but now I have nowhere to run to, I'm not brave, I'm terrified but I've got no choice.'
My friend correctly identified that the essence of any test is the presence of a choice – to continue or to capitulate, to go on or to give up, to fight or to surrender.

• Circumstances may provide the test
• Choice provides the temptation

There is no age barrier to testing, remarkable examples exist of those presented with a real test at the extremes of age: Josiah the child King, Samuel the child Priest, John the child Prophet, and Caleb 85 years old and still gaining ground for God, still choosing to press forward (Josh 14:9)
There are these times in the Christian life, times of testing, times when:

• The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
• When the mind lies perilously exposed to the questions unanswered by human intelligence
• Life's experiences are unyielding to natural explanation
• Physical demands exceed our personal resources to deliver

At such times the:

1. Test lies in the DEMANDS
2. Temptation lies in the DECISION

The temptation consists of this: wither or not to persevere with the seemingly impossible, the unclear, the unexplained, the apparently unachievable and in so doing to cast myself wholly and completely upon His resources, His supply, His sufficiency or under the weight of the mental anguish from unanswered questions, experiences unexplained and of demands that seem to crush my physical frame under their sheer weight, I capitulate, I resign, I renege on my commitment, I choose the easier path, more often trod but leading to another destination.
Only one resource will suffice to maintain the believer in testing and before such temptation that is the resource that draws deep from the well of living water, that draws deep from the relationship I have with Him alone.

The Divine purpose of all testing is to bring me to precisely this point!
Each trial is designed in the purposes of God, a God who is sovereign over:

1. Life's Problems (Rom 5:1-5)
2. Salvations Plan (Rom 5:6-11)
3. Man's Plight (Rom 5:12-21)

To exceed my:

1. Mind and its wisdom
2. Body and its strength
3. Wealth and its riches

How tragic it is when a soul in testing turns in the midst of lifes problems to resource other than Christ with the cry: I can't cope anymore, that is precisely the purpose of the trial, but not to stop there, but to then bring us on to draw upon our resources in Him, not in anyone else or in anything else, not to look for the answers in a bag of heroin, a bottle of whiskey, a session of psychotherapy or a handful of homeopathy, but to look for and find those answers in Him.

“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” (Jer 9:23-24)

Each trial designed to exceed my:

1. Mind and its wisdom: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,”
2. Body and its strength “ neither let the mighty man glory in his might”
3. Wealth and its riches “ let not the rich man glory in his riches”

Each trial intended to bring me to those rich resources of relationship to Christ: “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me,”
As we face the adversary, He alone has the answers.

1. I cannot answer it – do I trust Him?
2. I cannot bear it – do I rest in Him?
3. I cannot manage it – do I depend on Him?

In His will and in my willingness these trials will bring me to this: “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2Co 12:9)

To survive the test I must go beyond the the resources of my own:

1. Wisdom : “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,”
2. Work: “ neither let the mighty man glory in his might”
3. Wealth “ let not the rich man glory in his riches”

Everyone who has been used and who has been useful to God has had to learn these lessons!
God can only use those to build His Kingdom and advance His cause who draw on His resources!

1. Not a Saul who depended upon his armour but a David who rested on His God
2. Not a man with his chariots but a woman Jael who would drive a tent peg through the temple of Sisera
3. Not a general to deliver His people from the Midianites but a farmer boy, least amongst the tribes of Manasseh : Gideon

There were those who came with natural strength and ability – they had to learn to draw from resources deeper than that:

1. Jacob – came with his cunning and wisdom – he must first walk with a limp
2. Samson – came with his strength – needed first to be humbled and broken
3. Peter – self confidence

In Luke 4: all natural resources are removed: wilderness testing, a fast for 40 days, but a time determined by God and into which He was led by the Spirit of God; the endurance was possible.

The temptation for us is one of:

1. Resources: To draw on resources other than Him (4:3-4)
2. Reasons: To pursue other goals, or other reasons for going on
3. Relationship: To doubt and challenge our relationship with Him (4:5-11)

Resources: To draw on resources other than Him (4:3-4)

The temptation to draw on other resources: “And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.” (Luk 4:3)

1. To draw on our own WISDOM
2. To draw on our own WORK
3. To draw on our own WEALTH

To draw from His resources: “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” (Luk 4:4)

Reasons: To pursue other goals, or other reasons for going on

“And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.” (Luk 4:6)
“And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:” (Luk 4:9)
To go on for His Glory alone brings opposition, easier at times to pursue a more congenial goal
His Glory to be put to the side, His Kingdom no more paramount in our purposes
When holiness is too hard, compromise comes calling!
Temptation to drop the standards, any Kingdom will do!Promotion of self rather than Christ!

1. Promote Self (III John)
2. Please Men (2 Tim 4:3)
3. Pursue Prosperity (1 Tim 6:9-10)
4. Power and Place (Luke 4:6)

Relationship: To doubt and challenge our relationship with Him (4:5-11)

No longer simple trusting faith in the tender mercies of God, day by day, nor in the undeniable progress of Divine purpose in my life
I become bold, arrogant and showy, demanding of God and seeking proofs and evidences of His care and concern for me.
But why should I trust Him?

1. I Desire it (v4) – I desire Him and His Word, “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” (Joh 6:68). “All the way the Saviour leads me what have I to ask besides...” What brought Naomi back from Moab? There was the negative: her husband and boys died, but what of the positive: “The Lord had visited His people in giving them bread” (Ruth1:6). What brought Josephs brethren to him again? There was famine in Canaan – the negative but Gen 42:2 “Behold I have heard that there is corn in Egypt” - the positive pull of bread!
2. God Demands It (v8) – God is God!! God demands my worship! I know He is God: OT prophecies, OT pictures, OT patterns, answered prayer, the power of His word! In the OT people never worshipped God because things were easy or because they had all the answer or because they had no problems, and no obstacles in the way, they worshipped God because He was God and they knew He was God because:
   He had brought them out of Egypt by a might y hand
   He had performed miracles in their midst
   He had met their need
   He had spoken by Moses in the law
   He had refreshed their souls with water from the rock and with manna from heaven
   He had fulfilled and kept His word, His promises to Abraham and to Moses and to the prophets!
   God is God! Illust: Howdoes a baby breath in its mothers tummy? Answer: it doesn't! What goes into its mouth and nose? But it would drown! The maternal – fetal circulation!
3. Christ Deserves It – His tender mercies, sustaining grace, grace for every trial, a Saviour who pursued Glory by the way of the cross, God did not present to me a gospel of works, of self effort, of self improvement but of salvation by grace, through faith.

Consider also:

1. Reason for the Trial
2. Result of the Trial
3. Resources in the Trial

Reason for the Trial

In this testing we easily recognise that Christ was “tempted of the Devil” (4:2)
There is in this testing: Satanic Confrontation
We may well have anticipated Satanic Confrontation – after all we have just heard Divine Commendation of Christ from heaven (3:22)
Hell does does not ignore the man that heaven commends!
But whilst there is Satanic Confrontation there is Divine Control
Satan may confront Christ in the trial but God is in control of the trial
The Spirit of God takes the initiative, the Spirit of God “led” Christ into the wilderness (4:1). Everything had not gone wrong!
God is in control of the trial, it lasted 40 days - a time of testing

40 days, often linked in scripture with:

1. Division – 40 days of trial effectively separate what come before from what comes after that trial, eg the 40 days of rain in the time of Noah – separated the old and the new world, Josephs mourning for Jacob 40 days in Gen 50 marks a water shed experience in his life!
2. Provision – the 40 years in the wilderness for the nations of Israel were a time of Gods gracious provision (Ex 16:35; Deut 8:2,4) when they learned dependance on Him.
3. Decision – Caleb at 40 years of age spied out the land of Canaan (Josh 14:7) and Elijah after 40 days in the wilderness (1Kings 19:8) had a life changing experience and decision to make!
4. Preparation – for 40 days at Sinai Moses prepared himself to receive the law from God! (Deut 9:11-25)
5. Limitation – Deut 25:3 – punishment by whipping, within the nation of Israel was limited by God to 40 strips, a trial with set limits, under Gods control: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1Co 10:13) – Gods judgement is tempered with Gods Grace.

Satan may be on the attack but God is in control of the trial, it lasted 40 days , God had set the bounds and the limits to this testing.

Result of the Trial
Gods control of the trial can be particularly seen in the results that flow from that trial.
Prior to the trial Christ is “Led of the Spirit” and “full of the Spirit” (4:1) and after the trial He “returned in the power of the Spirit” (4:14)
This trial was part and parcel of the ministry and life of the person of Christ
Practically we can have the Spirit and be led by the Spirit but not necessarily move out in the power of the Spirit.
We can have a car, filled with petrol, with a Sat Nav telling us the way and yet never switch on the ignition and put our foot to the floor and move forward with power and with confidence.
So often it is in trial and testing in our life that this transition is made from potential to practical from theory to practice, from knowing to doing from considering to committing, from possession to power!
Trial and testing can so often mark a water shed in our spiritual pilgrimage
We can discern a water shed here in the life of Christ: this trial marks the division between the private years and the public years (3:20-23).
God will always PROVE those of whom He APPROVES!
This is a water shed experience linked with a Jordan crossing (4:1)
Here we have a Jordan crossing, linked with 40 days, linked with a wilderness experience and linked with the NT Joshua, and linked with a 3 X quotation from the book of Deuteronomy (Lk4:4,8,12)

The Jordan was a river that divided:

1. Victims in the wilderness from victors in the land
2. Slaves out of Egypt from Soldiers in Canaan
3. Egypts rejects from Canans rulers
4. Those whose only inheritance so far had been the graves they had dug in the wilderness from those who possessed the Glory of the promised land!
5. Those who had drunk water from the rock from those who would now enjoy the land flowing with milk and honey!
6. The Jordan divided between those who were content with mediocrity – out of Egypt but not in possession of the promises of God from those who were like Caleb and Joshua determined to possess there inheritance and claim their rights!

First a Jordan to cross, and whenever a Jordan is crossed in our spiritual life thre is opposition looming on the horizon!
They had not “gone this way heretofore” (Josh 3:4)
The ark would go before and Christ would lead the way
Here in Luke 4 He goes before, He leads the way!
Having crossed the Jordan of spiritual experience we move into a period of spiritual progress and expansion (4:16ff).
Resources in the Trial
It is the use of Divine resources in trial that so often bring us to that place of expansion
Rom 5:1-5 – what is Promised in Trust is Proven in Trial, the Glory Expected (Rom5:2) becomes the Glory Experienced (Rom5:4,5) in trial and testing.
When faced with spiritual opposition and satanic opposition we are forced to draw from the only resources that are fit for the task, to dig deep and to draw from those deep wells in Christ (Gen 28, John 4).
It is the digging of these deep wells and the drawing from His resources that truly constitute the purpose of the trial and the test.

Consider the resources the Lord draws on:

1. Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God (4:4,8,12)
2. Breast plate of Righteousness (4:12)
3. Girdle of Truth (4:8,9-12)
4. Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel (4:18) – the best plan of defence is attack!
   Satans opposition forces us to draw deep from the wells of Divine resources

The only kind of men can use to advance His Kingdom is men who draw their resources from Him and from Him alone:

“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” (Jer 9:23-24)

It is so easy at times for us to depend upon our own:

1. Wisdom “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,”
2. Work “neither let the mighty man glory in his might.”
3. Wealth “let not the rich man glory in his riches.”

God needs men who relinquish there own resources in favour of His

1. Wisdom “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:” (1Co 2:4)
2. Work : Samson at his strongest when at his weakest, Gideon the farmer who was least in the house of Manasseh
3. Wealth : the rich young ruler would have to learn that he could not buy his way to heaven!

The kind of men whom God uses to enlarge His kingdom are men who draw their resources from Christ!
We begin so often to truly use these resources in trial and in testing!
Consider the spiritual progress made by Gods people in 1 John 2:12-14 – the child who knows his sins forgiven and who knows the Father and the young men who have overcome the wicked one by the Word of God (v14) – tey have matured spiritually by virtue of the fact that they are drawing from those spiritual resources that are theirs in Christ!
Beware these resources are under attack in the trial!
One of the deadliest viruses in the world: HIV – it is so deadly because it attacks the immune system – the T Cells that are needed to kill it!

Satan attacks the resources needed to defeat him!

1. Word of God (4:4)
2. Worship of God (4:8)
3. Ways of God (4:9-12)

Satan attacks:

1. Person of Christ (4:3) - Christ
2. Priority of the Kingdom (4:5ff) - Crown
3. Plans of God (4:9ff) - Cross

Word of God (4:4)
One thing about a 40 day fast – it gives you an appetite!
An appetite for the true bread and for no substitute (4:3)
These stones will do as no substitute for the Word of God!
We need the real stuff!
Amidst all of the questions and grumblings in the wilderness from the people of Israel: where are we going to? How will we be fed? Where will we get water from? Whatever will happen to our children? They received 1 answer from God!
It must have been a big answer to answer all of those questions!
It was: that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.” (Deu 8:3)
God is all sufficient!
There is nothing like famine conditions to make us appreciate the sweetness of the bread of life!
Worship of God (4:8)
Ways of God (4:9-12)