Unveiling the Greatest News on EarthGreetings and welcome to all present and online, in America and abroad. Today, as we continue our study in Paul’s letter to the Romans, in the fifth chapter, we shall continue our examination of the great doctrine of justification and consider the proper effects that one who is justified should experience as a result. Last Lord’s Day, we learned how going through trouble in this life has a purpose in God’s refining process to help us grow spiritually and have peace as we develop. This week Pastor Landis Fisher shall take us deeper down the path of peace with a message he calls: “Unveiling the Greatest News on Earth”
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Daniel 9:20 – 27 (NASB)
Dan 9:20 Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God,
Dan 9:21 while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering.
Dan 9:22 And he gave me instruction and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding.
Dan 9:23 “At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.
Dan 9:24 “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place.
Dan 9:25 “So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.
Dan 9:26 “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
Dan 9:27 “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”
New Testament Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1 – 11 (NASB)
Rom 5:1 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Rom 5:2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
Rom 5:3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
Rom 5:4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
Rom 5:5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Rom 5:6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
Rom 5:10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Rom 5:11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Transforming Power Statements:
#1) In the times of the Older Testament there were many things veiled in prophecy that were unknown by most people who sought a right relationship with God and much was the distortion of God’s plan for salvation as man degraded God’s standards and substituted tainted good works in place of divine pardon mostly due to a lack of revelation.
#2) Looking back after having a full blown open statement from God through the Christ and the Apostles, under girded by the Law and the Prophets, the Gospel of peace which boldly proclaims man’s incompetence and God’s never changing perfect love, is made plain for all mankind to see and for the Church to boldly proclaim to all the Earth.
#3) Although there still remain elements of prophecy that are yet veiled for future times, we know that right now is the time allotted for extraneous proclamation of God’s position i.e. He is at peace and offers peace to all His enemies who approach Him by faith alone in the shed blood and righteousness of His Son Jesus which was demonstrated by His resurrection from the dead.
