1. “ Living the Happy Life” Romans 5:1-11 Sonny Naz/Minister February 28, 2010

2. What is “living your life” mean to you? Is it just work, eat, sleep, and be merry? What is “living the happy life” looks like? How do we attain it? Can we live a happy life in a world that seems so unfair?

3. Our text (Romans 5:1-11) for today will teach us lots of reasons to be happy as a believer . Let’s find it out and enjoy this kind of life;

4. 1 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 rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:1-11

5. 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 man, though for a good man 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. Romans 5:1-11

6. Romans 5:1-11 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, when 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 rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

7. This passage Romans (5:1-11) is an “ Assurance of Hope” . Those who are justified by faith have an unshakable hope, knowing that they will be saved from God's wrath on the day of judgment by virtue of Christ's substitutionary death on their behalf.

8. This is a good reason for us to be happy. Charles H. Spurgeon once said, “ It is not how much we have but how much we enjoy that makes happiness. ”

9. John Luther said that, “ Happiness is not a matter of good fortune or worldly possessions. It’s a mental attitude. It comes from appreciating what we have, instead of being miserable about what we don’t have. It’s so simple – yet so hard for the human mind to comprehend. No matter what your situation, things could be worse. Count your blessings and enjoy a little happiness while you may .”

10. Matthew Perry, popular star of the TV show Friends, said, “ I had all this money and fancy cars and beautiful girlfriends, but it wasn’t making me happy .”

11. The first three chapters (1-3) of the book of Romans tell us about our faults and failures, and about God’s answer – justification by grace through faith.

12. Chapter 4 explains faith more fully (Abraham justified by faith) and then Romans 5:1-11 gives the benefits of being saved by grace through faith.

18. “ The best way to cheer up yourself up is to cheer up someone else up .” Mark Twain

19. FINAL THOUGHT “ The joy of the Lord is our strength” – and this is why we should rejoice. May God give us the heart overflowing with His joy today! Joy in his grace, joy in the midst of suffering, joy in his love, in his deliverance and the Joy to be in Christ.

20. NOW WHAT? For believers: Cheer up. Be happy. Be joyful. You are justified and saved by God’s grace. You are loved by God, you are forgiven and been delivered and redeemed through the blood of Christ. And because of all these, you can rejoice even if you go through suffering because you have God with you always. Feeling down, think about His goodness. Think about His love. Think about God and experience His mighty power and presence.

21. NOW WHAT? For not believers yet: It is good to know that it is possible to live a happy life. It is by being justified by grace through faith. It is by trusting in Christ and accepting the sacrifice he did for us to make it effective in our life. Ask for forgiveness of your past and present sins and you will be forgiven. Along with the forgiveness is his promise of eternal life with him. You can pray a prayer of repentance and receive his forgiveness, make Him your Lord and Savior and that will lead you to a joyful life, which is much more than just being happy. You can then sing, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”