Romans 4: Wk 33

Song: Open the Eyes of My Heart

Greet & Meet: Give Directions

Intro:

Un-Plugged: Bringing More Than a Song

(A 2023 summer series targeting the heart of God—from mine to His)

WELCOME...

The Cornerstone Family is excited that you have taken time to attend our weekend service!

Welcome to this campus or if by Facebook, thanks for capturing our LIVE Stream today.

Cornerstone exists to “Bring Hope to Find and Follow Jesus.”

Thus, you will see us use a hashtag that says #hopeishere.

We believe that together—we can live stronger lives and change the World we live in through Jesus.

Thank you again for joining us today.

Song: Be Enthroned Upon the Praise

Psalm 22:3 (NLT)

3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

Song: Thank You Jesus for the Blood

TODAY WE COME TO CELEBRATE GOD AND HIS WORD: WITH A FOCUS ON ROMANS

WE HAVE ASKED THE QUESTION

What if, what if…

We stripped away cool music?

Would God still be enough for His people to come together?

What creates in You a hunger for God?

Do you feel more hunger when you Maximize God’s attributes? When you maximize Jesus and His Gospel?

Let’s GO Back to the Song and Maximize the Blood of Jesus that has washed over you!!

Song: Thank You Jesus for the Blood

Head Change:

To know that righteousness—right standing with God—comes through faith in the gospel.

NOT WORKS!

Head Change:

To know that suppressing the Truth of the Gospel leads to ungodly and unrighteous living.

Religion is NOT the answer to righteous living.

God’s Grace Changes Everything!

FLOW HOLY SPIRIT

INTRO

In Chapter 1: We found that...

All of humanity is unified in one common problem. Sin.

That we have rejected God’s authority and despise his glory.

We should never be ashamed to speak of the Gospel

Romans 1:16 NLT

16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

In Chapter 2: We found that...

Laws cannot change our hearts only our behavior...

Paul will confront even religion head on, even the Jewish religion

Romans 2:1 NLT

1 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.

In Chapter 3: We found that...

No one is good, No one is righteous

Romans 3:10 NLT

10 As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one.

“We are not sinners because we sin—we sin because we are sinners.”

Romans 3:22 NLT

22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

Romans 3:23–25 NLT

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,

Romans 3:28 NLT

28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.

So, today in Chapter 4: We ask...

What is “Faith”?

Paul connects Abraham’s faith with his very own salvation.

Abraham is our model when it comes to Faith so we ask three questions today:

How was Abraham saved?

When was Abraham saved?

What were the components of Abraham’s faith?

Question 1: How was Abraham saved?

Romans 4:3 NLT

3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”

Genesis 15:6 NLT

6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.

He believed that one of his descendants would deliver the world.

this belief was credited to him righteousness

Romans 4:4 NLT

4 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned.

Faith doesn’t earn salvation, it is a gift!

Example: our wages are earned, but not salvation

Romans 4:5 NLT

5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.

So important to understand.

you believe God’s promise and you receive

God’s Word “credited” unto righteousness is a banking term. Something put into your account…Credited.

When we trust Him as our Savior

Question 2: When was Abraham saved?

Romans 4:10 NLT

10 But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!

Circumcision is shorthand for all the law

Abraham was declared righteous in Gen. 15.6, Circumcision was not introduced until way later

Before all the Law— he was “saved” by his faith.

Obeying the law doesn’t bring salvation. Faith does.

The law prepares us for salvation.

Question 3: what are the components of Abrahams Saving Faith?

Two things

Point 1: Faith’s posture — Surrendered Trust

Romans 4:21–22 NLT

21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.

His Faith was Credited to him as Righteousness

Romans 4:23–24 NLT

23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

This Righteousness is for us too! By Faith.

Abraham looked forward, believing

We look backwards, believing

Faith is Surrendered Trust!

Point 2: Faith’s Boast — To Praise God like Abraham

Romans 4:21–22 NLT

21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.

We will wear His Name on our forehead

Revelation 22:4 NLT

4 And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.

That is the Tattoo I will wear to boast of God

Faith that saves is the Faith that puts all it’s hope in God.

When God follows through in what he said, we will truly understand—but now we are fully surrendered.

CLOSING

As we’ve learned throughout this study...

salvation,

the righteousness of God,

justification, and

redemption — are all granted to us as a gift of God’s grace that we receive through faith.

After we have surrendered to and begun to trust God, we are called to...

live as people of faith—

people who trust God and the promises he’s made and

To be completely surrender to him in all of our decisions and circumstances.

ALTER CALL

Have you “fully, entirely, and completely” lean on Christ—to be fully surrendered, without reservation. What areas of your life have you not fully surrendered to Jesus?

AMEN

NEXT WEEK Chapter 5

Feelings, Faith, Suffering, and Joy

Generosity and updates

Offering:

Generosity is being open-handed, free in giving or sharing.

I believe that we long for intimacy and adventure, but settle for duty and complacency.

Pleasing God has to be by faith—right?

Hebrews 11:1 NLT

1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

Hebrews 11:3–4 (NLT)

3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God...

Give today Believing and acting in faith.

PRAYER

CF UPDATE

10am doors ope with cafe hope (a place to meet a friend, not just wet your whistle)

Worship Wednesday 630ish (MidWeek encouragement looking at the songs we sing)

Back to School Bash hosted by Power of Praise radio broadcast. Sat Aug 19, 6-8pm at DP Lilly

Coming Back to Church Sept 17— a Big Day Event

New series, “Unplugged: More Than a Song”.

Read chapter 5 of Romans.

DISMISS