Reformed Baptist Congregation Exaltation | Edification | Evangelism
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance…” (Romans 5:1 – 3)
1. Acceptance with God (vs. 1)
2. Access to God (vs. 2)
3. Afflictions for God (vs. 3)
When our Lord rose from the dead, he was loosed from the pangs of death (Acts 2:24). He entered upon an indestructible life (Rom. 5:10; 6:9, 10; Heb. 7:16). He became a life-giving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45) and he brought life and immortality to light (2 Tim. 1:10).
In other words – TOTAL VICTORY.
We are told to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Pet. 3:18) This refers to growing in likeness and learning. To meditate night and day means consistent learning. Comes through reading and thinking. Knowledge is like interest: it compounds. It multiplies. It grows. So we must read and think in order to grow and learn. The end result that we are aiming at is, of course, – likeness to our Lord Jesus Christ. So, tolle lege!
In 1 Timothy 1:5 Paul tells Timothy that the aim of their charge was 3 things.
1. Pure Heart
2. Good Conscience
3. Sincere Faith
Those words – pure, good and sincere are essential. Calls for constant perusal of our spiritual condition, and should we not have these, then there caan be no love. And no love will guarantee false teaching and wrong thinking. So aim right, right!
Those to whom the Lord has granted faith he enables to persevere by that faith. This means we can never fall away from our salvation, but we will press on to the end. We are thus preserved and kept by and for the Lord. He who began this great salvation will bring it to completion.