VICTORY OVER SHAME

Series: Victorious

Romans 8:37 (ESV)

37 …in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Paul describes a VICTORIOUS LIFE!

Romans 5:1–11 (ESV)

5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 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. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 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. 

My past is part of my story, but His story determines who I am.

But we are more than the stories of our past.

They still identify with what was.

When I allow my past to define my identity, I spend my life living under the weight of something Jesus redeemed.

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1, ESV)

JUSTIFIED—To declare righteous, to acquit, to put right with God.

JUSTIFICATION is God’s declaration that a guilty sinner is righteous before Him through faith in Jesus Christ.

My past hasn’t been erased from my story. My past is no longer writing my story!

1. SEPARATION IS NO LONGER MY SENTENCE

“since we have been justified by faith… we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1, ESV)

“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—” (Romans 5:12, ESV)

“Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.” (Romans 5:18, ESV)

Adam’s disobedience brought condemnation. Christ’s obedience brings justification.

WHAT IS TRUE PEACE? 

Peace— The absence of hostility and the presence of harmony.

Wholeness— A life no longer fractured or divided.

Well-being— Flourishing in life and relationships.

Restoration— What was broken being made right.

Jesus is the peacemaker between God and man, not you!

2. SHAME IS NO LONGER MY STANDING

“since we have been justified by faith… we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand” (Romans 5:2, ESV)

Jesus came to both rescue sinners and heal the sick!

THE GRACE IN WHICH WE STAND!

3. SUFFERING IS NO LONGER THE END OF MY STORY

since we have been justified by faith… we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 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)

SUFFERING → ENDURANCE → CHARACTER → 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 5:5, ESV)

“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (ESV)

How do I let him start writing that victorious story in my life?

1. RECEIVE HIS PEACE.

since we have been justified by faith… we have peace with God (vs 1)

2. REMAIN IN HIS GRACE.

since we have been justified by faith… we have…this grace in which we stand (vs 2)

3. REST IN HIS LOVE.

since we have been justified by faith… God’s love has been poured into our hearts (vs 5)