Stepping Out In Faith part 2

Abrahams Faith and Righteousness

Romans 4:1–25 (NASB95)

1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?

2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

3For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

4Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.

5But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

6just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered.

8“Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”

9Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.”

10How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;

11and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,

12and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.

13For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;

15for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.

16For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

17(as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

18In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

19Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;

20yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,

21and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

22Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness.

23Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,

24but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

25He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

INTRODUCTION

Abraham was a MAN of extreme faith. He trusted God even when it didn’t make sense. God challenged Abraham’s faith by calling him out of what was familiar to go to a place of promise. The result was that God blessed Abraham with favor, wealth and righteousness. God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his own son. Because of his faith and trust in God, God provided.

Today we are going to talk about Abraham’s righteousness and how when we trust God on this faith journey we can experience God in a whole new way.

Understanding the relationship between and righteousness.

Faith is the choice to trust when the rewards are not visible. If we choose to trust only when we can see the end then we cheat ourselves on all that God has for us. When we trust God with exteme faith he credits us with righteousness.

How would you describe your faith level? Would you say you only trust God for the benefits? Share a time when you trusted God and it resulted in God’s favor?

Embracing God’s Grace and Forgiveness through faith.

It takes faith to accept God's forgiveness. Even after we have repented and asked for forgiveness we can often feel like we are still unclean. That is why even when we feel unforgiven we must embrace God's forgiveness, BY FAITH.

Have you embraced God’s forgiveness? If not, what has kept you from walking in that forgiveness?

The example of Abraham’s f as an encouragement for our own faith journey.

We can apply faith to our own situtations. When we step out as Abraham did we will begin to see God working. Abraham was a blessed man even though he didn't feel blessed. We can learn alot from Abraham.

What is one situation right now that you could step out in faith?

Discussion Questions

How does the concept of faith and righteousness intersect in Abraham’s life and in our own lives today?

In what ways do we sometimes struggle to fully embrace God’s grace and forgiveness through faith?

How does Abraham’s faith journey inspire and encourage you in your own faith journey?

How can we support and encourage one another in our walk of faith?

Hebrews 11:8–19 (NASB95)

8By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

9By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;

10for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.

12Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

13All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

15And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;

18it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.”

19He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

The greatness of Abraham’s faith in God’s promise of descendants.

God promised Abraham descendants. Here was a man past the time of being able to provide a seed for conception. Yet God made him able to have children. God's promise didn't stop there. He continued through Isaac and Jacob.

When your bank loans you money they are demonstrating faith and hope. Faith in your character that you will payback what you have borrowed and hope that you will pay back what you borrowed on time. In the same way when we have faith and hope in God our faith is trusting in God’s character to fulfill His promises and hope that He will come through in a timely manner. Yet trusting that God will do what is best for us.

How did Abraham's faith in God's promise of descendants demonstrate great trust and hope? How can we apply this trust and hope in our own lives?

Persevering in faith despite delays and challenges.

Abraham died never seeing the promise of his descendants and the promise that deliverance would come through his loins. Yet Abraham continued to trust God.

The hardest thing to do it to trust someone that we feel has let us down.

Share a time when you faced delays or challenges in your journey of faith. How did you persevere and trust God during those times?

The eternal perspective and hope that sustained Abraham.

Abraham believed God! He didn't waiver in what God said nor did he doubt God.

How can we cultivate an eternal perspective and hope in our own lives? Why is it important to have this perspective in our faith journey?

CONCLUSION

GOd wants our faith and trust to be in Him. As men our natural instinct is to do this alone. As men of faith our natural instinct should be to do this with God.