Sunday 12th July 2026 // Evening // Romans 5:1-11 // Justification - Accepted by God

Rev. Craig Lynn preaches Romans 5:1-11 at evening worship on Sunday 12th July in First Ards. Over this series, we’re taking time to think about three of the great blessings God gives to everyone who is united to Christ by faith. The Westminster Shorter Catechism helpfully gathers them together as justification, adoption and sanctification. These aren’t just theological ideas to be understood but wonderful gifts of God’s grace to be treasured. Together they show us that in Christ, God accepts the guilty, welcomes us into his family and begins to make us holy. In Romans 5:1–11, Paul explains the great blessing of justification: guilty sinners are pardoned, accepted as righteous and brought into peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Our standing before God doesn’t rest on our performance, feelings or consistency, but on the finished work of Christ, who died for us while we were still powerless, sinful and opposed to God. Because we stand in grace, suffering can’t separate us from his love but is used to deepen perseverance, character and hope. The justified believer is forgiven, secure and reconciled to God. To have Christ is to be accepted by God.