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Finding Peace With God Through Christ
Today we will be considering Paul’s words in Romans 5:12-21 where he tells us how we can find peace with God. Many people desire to live peaceful lives without trouble and strife. Some are willing to do anything just to have peace in their home, relationships and workplaces. However, peace with God is not a common concern, but it should be a universal one. Many who have a sincere trust in Christ struggle with doubts as to whether they are truly forgiven and whether they have peace with God.
Please pray that those with true faith will know, with greater clarity and certainty, that they are right with God because of the grace of God to them and the work of Christ for them. This text is also very evangelistic so please do pray for those who don’t know Christ that they might see their sin in all its wickedness, but also see Christ is all his preciousness and so desire reconciliation with God.
David’s Incomparable Prayer to the Incomparable God
Why is prayer so hard? We have difficulty setting aside to pray. Once we start to pray we get distracted far too easily. Sometimes we aren’t sure how we should pray. Why should we pray if the LORD has already determined what will happen?
As we come to the end of 2 Samuel 7, the LORD, through the prophet Nathan has just revealed the promises of the Davidic covenant, that David’s house will endure forever. David, overwhelmed by God’s grace, gives thanks and praise to the LORD and asks that all of God’s promises would be fulfilled just as He said.
Our prayers also should be in response to God’s glorious revelation to us. We are participants in a better covenant, in Jesus Christ the Son of David. Our praise is fueled by our gratitude for God’s grace in choosing us in spite of our unworthiness. His promises inform us as we pray for This Kingdom to come and His will to be done.
David’s prayer gives us a pattern for prayer:
- Confessing our unworthiness and God’s grace. v. 18-21
- Praising the LORD for His Person and work. v. 22-24
- Praying His promises. V. 25-29
Bless the LORD, O My Soul
Psalm 103:1-4 - Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
The Davidic Covenant
Throughout the Bible the LORD deals with His people through covenants. Through the covenants God progressively reveals His plan for redemption which was first promised to Adam (Gen. 3:15) then given in further detail to Abraham (Gen. 12,15,17) and in type through Moses (Exodus, Deuteronomy). In the Davidic Covenant the LORD focuses the hope of His people upon David’s descendants.
The fulfillment of God’s promises to David is experienced in part in his own life, and through his dynasty, especially through his son Solomon (1 Ki. 8:20). Even in the dark days when God’s people were under foreign dominion, they looked forward to the day when a Davidic king would reign in glory (Isa. 11:1f Amos 9:11 Ezek. 37:24ff).
The ultimate fulfillment of a son of David who is also Son of God who reigns forever is through Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:5 Luke 1:31ff). It is astounding to see how Jesus fulfills God’s promises to David.
We will also be reminded of why the Davidic covenant still matters to us today. We share in the covenant blessings with the assurance that the LORD will keep His promises to us. The remarkable fulfillment of God’s promises through Christ is yet one more reason that all people should turn to Jesus, the King Whom the LORD has established to reign universally and forever.
Recent Sermons
Satisfaction for the Thirsty
Spurgeon called Isaiah 55 a chapter of gospel invitation. He preached from this passage at least eighteen times.
Isaiah 55 pleads with the lost to abandon their worthless idols. The Lord offers abundant pardon and rich kingdom blessings to those who turn to Him.
Isaiah 55 also speaks to believers who sometimes waste their time and money seeking to find joy and satisfaction in worldly things instead of finding their fulfillment in Christ.
Isaiah 55 also points to Christ who offers Himself as our spiritual food and drink.
Liberty and Love
Are you strong?
Last week Paul began his discussion of the issues over which Christians differ by encouraging all of us to accept one another without judging in these difficult matters.
In this week’s text Paul focuses upon those who consider themselves strong - because they believe they have liberty to do things in which the weak cannot participate without violating his conscience.
Rather than looking down on the weak, the strong should forego the use of his freedom for the sake of those who don’t enjoy the same sense of freedom.
In so doing he is living out the gospel by imitating Christ who gave up His rights for us.