Ep. 6 - S - Romans 5.1-11 Cross-Trained

"S" stands for Sermon. Jesus made clear that his earthly ministry led to his own cross and subsequent resurrection. He also made clear that all who follow him would also be called to take up a cross and follow him to death and to life thereafter. That is a hard truth to swallow. How can we accept this? Why would we willingly follow someone who leads us into pain? Even more, how could we boast about this? How could we glory in our sufferings? In Romans chapter 5, Paul doesn't pull any punches as he delves deep into this very difficult topic and makes a powerful case why we can and will boast in the glory of God and glory in our sufferings. Tune in! The Text - Romans 5:1-11  Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. This sermon was delivered on February 26, 2024, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Helenville, WI, and preached by Rev. Titus Buelow.