TRUSTING GOD FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE
Romans 4:1-12
Larry Moyers tells the story of an immigrant in WWII who had trouble with English. One day, as the troops prepared for inspection, some of the men realized that unless they helped him, the immigrant was going to be in trouble. One of the men suggested, “When the general comes by, he always asks three questions.”
The 1st question he’ll undoubtedly ask is, “How long have you been in the army?” When he asks that, answer “2 years.” 2nd question: “How old are you?” When he asks that, answer, “22.” 3rd question: you been receiving good food and good treatment?” When he asks that, tell him, “Both.” 2, 22, both. If you remember those 3 answers you should be fine. Don’t forget: 2, 22, both.
Inspection day came and sure enough, the general asked 3 questions. The problem was, he didn’t ask them in the same order. 1st he asked, “How old are you?” The soldier answered: “2 years.” The general looked at him and asked, “Well, how long have you been in the army?” The soldier answered, “22 years.” Then the general looked at him and said, “What do you take me for—an idiot, or a fool? . . .
We’re grateful we aren’t in his shoes. Yet we’ll face a more important inspection. Heb 9:27: man is destined to die once, and after that, to face judgment. Most people dread the thought of standing before God; our life will be an open book before Him.
Rom. 3– While God has given us eternal life as a gift—without cost to us, . . .
It wasn’t FREE — It was costly!
God gave His Own Son.
Jesus, the eternal God, became a man.
Jesus died to pay penalty we deserved to pay.
PRINCIPLE OF SALVATION BY FAITH DECLARED 3:21-31
PRINCIPLE OF SALVATION BY FAITH ILLUSTRATED 4
FAITH AND THE OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
People say O.T. salvation based on law; N.T. based on faith. Is that true?
Abraham and David demonstrate salvation has always been by faith.
Doctrine of salvation by faith isn't new. O.T. follows same path.
Abraham 1-5 —ideal man as far as Jews were concerned.
All their hopes for the future were based on God’s promise to him.
If anyone had enough merit to earn God's favor, it would be Abraham.
What does O.T. say about him? 1-3
Salvation has always been by faith.
Not even Abraham earned his salvation on the basis of works.
Even Abraham wasn’t good enough to boast before God about his accomplishments!
He was counted righteous because of faith, not because of works:
4-5 contrast wages with a gift.
When you receive your pay check, you don’t fall down before your employer and cry out, “Thank you. Thank you so much!”
Paying our salary isn’t a gracious act—you’ve earned that salary! He owes it to you!
He’d better pay it, or you’ll take him to the NLRB!
He doesn’t really pay you what you’re really worth anyway! He owes it to you!
But salvation is a gift! We could never earn it!
God sees our hopeless condition.
We could never make it!
He makes a declaration:
“I’m going to give it to people who don’t work, but who trust me!
As if your boss threw in $10,000 bonus! Because he cares about you!
LEXUS Gift
David 6-8 —Another respected leader God made great promises to.
What does David say? 6-8
David shows happiness a person gets when he knows God’s going to count him righteous, without taking into account his works.
The one who is content is NOT the one who never sins;
No one finds contentment by never sinning <= we all sin.
He’s content because God does not hold him guilty for his sin; his sins are forgiven.
He’s content because he’s forgiven!
David is speaking from personal experience!
Scripture lays his shortcomings out for all to see.
He wasn’t sinless! He wasn’t perfect! But he WAS forgiven!
He wasn’t justified by being perfect.
He was declared righteous because God, in His great mercy, forgave his sin.
Justification is by faith; it’s not based on works.
What about the law? HOW DOES CIRCUMCISION RELATE TO FAITH? 4:9-12
Abraham was declared righteous BEFORE he was circumcised,
It couldn’t be a prerequisite for salvation.
He was circumcised AFTER God declared him righteous.
Gen demonstrates that God declared him righteous at least 14 years (29 ??!) BEFORE
Circumcision was a sign; a seal which confirmed the righteousness God had already credited to him because of his faith
He was saved by faith, so he might become spiritual father of all believers, both circumcised and uncircumcised.
Indispensable prerequisite for anyone who wishes to become a spiritual descendant of Abraham: faith
[ Beginning at 4:13, Paul begins to focus on God’s promise to Abraham . . . . ]
HOW DOES GOD’S PROMISE FIT THIS DISCUSSION?
Wasn’t that promise based on condition that Abraham keep the law? 4:13-15
Promise God gave Abraham was based on FAITH rather than LAW
Law and faith contradict each other. If one is true, the other has to be eliminated.
If promised blessing depended on the law, the law would condemn
and the promise would be useless
because no one fulfills everything the law demands.
Law only serves to condemn, not to bless; promise would be meaningless!
4:16-17 Abraham was saved by faith and by God's grace, without law.
He could be sure blessing God promised would be fulfilled, both for him and his descendants.
In that way he became father of all believers, both those under law and those who are not under the law
Importance of trusting the right object.
V. 17–Abraham believed in “the God who gives life to the dead, and who calls things that haven’t even happened yet, as though they were already true!”
It’s not faith itself that saves us. It’s the object of our faith.
Danger of having faith in a weak chair. We may sit down and relax. We’ll still fall!
By trusting in thin ice, some people have actually “died by faith!”
If I trust my car, but the brakes are bad, I may “die by faith.”
You have to have faith in the right object.
Trusting Christ brings salvation; NOT trusting ourselves!
Abraham trusted the right Object!
He trusted the God who gives life to dead things (like us!).
He trusted the God who sees realities that haven’t yet come to pass.
He wasn’t trusting his own abilities. He was trusting God’s promises!
FAITH AND OBSTACLES 4:18-22
Abraham's faith is presented as example of the way God saves. 18-22
Against all the physical evidence, Abraham believed God's promise.
Thus he became father of many and God counted His faith as righteousness.
Abraham's circumstances gave plenty of cause to DOUBT promise.
He didn't concentrate on OBSTACLES, but on God's FAITHFULNESS.
When he believed God, against all reasonable basis to hope, God responded to Abraham’s faith by:
(1) giving him what He had promised,
(2) crediting his faith as righteousness.
Although evidence was against God's promise, Abraham was convinced God keeps His promise.
Therefore, His faith was counted as righteousness.
FAITH AND OUR DESTINY 4:23-25
You think Abraham's case was hopeless?!! Look at ours!
We too are faced with an impossible situation.
There’s no way that we can save ourselves. Not a chance!
We’re as dead spiritually as Sarah's womb, before God intervened.
However, God has promised to give us eternal life, if we trust Him.
Because He died and rose again, we can receive life.
When we trust Christ, God credits our faith as righteousness
—He looks at us and sees us dressed in Christ’s righteousness.
It was faith alone for Abraham It was faith alone for David
It’s faith alone for pagan gentiles
It was faith alone before, during, and after, the law.
It’s always been faith alone!
Horatius Bonar:
Not what these hands have done Can save this guilty soul.
Not what this toiling flesh has borne Can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do Can give me peace with God.
Not all my prayers and sighs and tears Can bear my awful load.
Thy work alone, O Christ, Can ease this weight of sin.
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God, Can give me peace within.
Thy grace alone, O God, To me can pardon speak.
Thy power alone, O Son of God, Can this sore bondage break.
I bless the Christ of God. I rest on love divine.
And, with unfalt’ring lip and heart, I call this Savior mine.