Romans 4:Working Out Faith

Announcements:

-Women's retreat (WELCOME BACK)

-Student Ministry Starting on 5/8

-Baptisms 3/19

-Wednesday Night Bible Study (at the building and on zoom @7pm)-Gospel Of John

-Thursday Night Prayer @6:45

-Offering/Giving, Online or in the black box.

Read Psalm 32:10–11 “Many pains come to the wicked, but the one who trusts in the Lord will have faithful love surrounding him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.”

PRAY!

Section 1: Faith Not Works

Read Romans 4:1-5. (IN BIBLE)

NLT VERSION:

“Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.”

-Abraham, in other words, started where we all start; in particular, Abraham started where pagans, non-Jews, start.

-That was where God met him. It wasn’t where God left him; God did not say that Abraham was fine as he was; his initial trust in God’s promise of a large family was simply the beginning of a process of testing, leading and transformation.

- Paul refers to that later in the chapter. But his main point is that Gentiles, non-Jews, come in, by faith, to covenant membership exactly as Abraham did himself

Like i said last week we are going to talk about faith quite a bit.. First i really want us to grasp what faith is not:

-Faith is not some magical thing we have in our pocket to use whenever we want to get something from God.

-Faith is not crossing of your fingers and hoping for the best

-Faith is not some mindless stabbing in the dark trying to figure things out.

-faith is not merely believing in God. It is believing God Taking God at his word, living in obedience to his revelation whatever the cost because you know down deep in your bones that God will always do what he says, that his speaking is his doing

-Faith is simply trusting God, and believing Him for who He says He is and What He has done. And from that faith means we align ourselves with God and His ways.

Paul is really tackling here we not saved and considered righteous based on our works and what we can do. Salvation is a beautiful gift.. Plain and simple. It is not earned and it surely not deserved. If you reach your hand out and take this beautiful gift from God, its yours!

Many people will stand before God and list off all their credentials/works thinking that will be what saves them…I gave financially, I went to church, I helped the poor, i did this or that..Yet they never had a beautiful relationship and placed jesus at the center of their lives and had complete faith in Him.

Paul is really tackling The faith vs. works debate. which often comes up in discussions of salvation. There are many who say that a person is saved based on some mixture of faith and works. Biblical Christianity teaches salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, apart from any works we do.

If we have faith, we are convinced that what we believe is real, true, and reliable. The biblical object of faith is the person and work of Jesus Christ. True faith has always been the identifying mark of the people of God.

-What are works? Works are a person’s actions or deeds. Work is that which we perform for some kind of reward. We work at our jobs and expect to receive a paycheck for it. Even working on a voluntary basis has its own reward—praise from others, a feeling of good will, etc. In the context of salvation, works refers to good deeds we do, especially religious or charitable acts or the observance of the Old Testament law.

In the faith vs. works debate, the two sides maintain that either we are saved by faith (and faith alone), or we are saved by works (or, more commonly, works added to faith). Which side is correct? What is the biblical relationship between faith and works?

• Works are required for salvation—but Scripture is clear that those works are Christ’s, not ours. Jesus fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17). In fact, “the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24). Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross reconciled us to God , and as He died, Jesus proclaimed that the work was finished. Now we are invited to enter into God’s rest by faith: “Anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works” (Hebrews 4:10).

• Our works do nothing to earn or maintain salvation. It was the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ that justifies sinners. “Know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, . . . because by the works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16). We begin by faith, and we continue in faith: Galatians 3:2–3 says “Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh?”

• Salvation is by grace, which precludes works.Grace is, by definition, unearned, and Scripture makes it clear that God’s grace in salvation destroys the argument for human effort: “If by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace” (Romans 11:6). “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9).

• God’s requirement for salvation is faith in His Son.One of the grand themes of the Bible is that we are justified, or declared righteous, by faith (Genesis 15:6). Faith is the only means of making sinful human beings able to stand before a holy God. No amount of law-keeping or good works can accomplish it (Titus 3:5). If our works could save us, then Christ died for nothing (Galatians 2:21).

• Works are the product of faith. Those who have true faith in Jesus Christ will be “eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14). John the Baptist called for “fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8). The book of James emphasizes the nature of true saving faith as that which results in good works: “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” and “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:17, 26). Grace through faith saves, and that faith is manifest in works. If someone claims to have faith yet exhibits no good works, his or her faith is “dead,” or nonexistent.

The faith vs. works debate, then, is really no debate at all. Both faith and works are integral parts of the Christian life. Biblically, faith is the cause of salvation, while works are the evidence of it.

Section 2:A Meaningful Relationship W/God Matters

Read Romans 4:6-16.

-I want us to also read Hebrews 11 into 12 beauce that brings some clarity to all of this as well!

Faith is more than a belief; it's a living, dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ.Romans 4:6-16 and Hebrews 11 provide a framework for understanding genuine faith as it pertains to our relationship with Jesus.

Rooted in God's Grace (Romans 4:6-8): Our faith begins with an understanding of God's grace. It's not about our works but about His unmerited favor.Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. This sets a precedent for us. Our righteousness comes from faith, not works.

Faith Rooted in Relationship (Romans 4:6-16): Abraham is cited as an example of genuine faith.His faith was counted as righteousness not because of works but because of his belief in God's promises.Genuine faith, like Abraham's, is rooted in a relationship with God.It's about trusting in God's character and His promises, even when circumstances seem impossible.

Active Obedience (Hebrews 11:8-10):Faith is not passive but active. Abraham obeyed when he was called to go to a place he would later receive as an inheritance.Genuine faith manifests in obedience to God's leading, even when it seems uncertain or challenging.

Hope Against Hope (Hebrews 11:17-19):Abraham's faith was tested when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac, his promised son.Genuine faith perseveres even in the face of trials. Abraham believed that God could raise Isaac from the dead if necessary, demonstrating his unwavering trust in God's faithfulness.

Living by Faith (Hebrews 11:32-40):Hebrews 11 provides a hall of fame of faith, showcasing individuals who lived by faith in various circumstances.Genuine faith is not a one-time event but a lifestyle characterized by trust, obedience, and perseverance.

Endurance and Perseverance (Hebrews 11:32-40): Hebrews 11 acknowledges the struggles faced by those who walked by faith.Despite facing persecution, trials, and even death, they held onto their faith.Genuine faith perseveres through difficulties, trusting in God's faithfulness regardless of circumstances.

-Genuine faith is not simply acknowledging the existence of God; it's about cultivating a deep and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

-It's rooted in God's grace, trusts in His promises, is characterized by active obedience, perseveres in trials, and is a way of life.

-Let us strive to cultivate genuine faith by nurturing our relationship with Jesus, trusting in His unfailing love, and walking in obedience to His word.

Section 3: Unwavering Faith

Read Romans 4:17-25.

- When we have complete and unwavering faith in Jesus it can and will carry us through every season of life without being tossed around by life circumstance making us feel helpless and restless and chaotic.

Ephesians 4:13–14 says “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.”

-Works will never truly carry us or bring us any real peace, because we will eventually tire and feel it is all worthless and nothing is working.

-Unwavering faith in Jesus will lead us to having peace. But what is this peace Jesus can offer us and what about Jesus in particular brings us peace and what merits faith….

Trust in God's Promise (Romans 4:13-16):Genuine and unwavering faith involves trust in God's promises. Abraham's faith was not in his circumstances but in the promise of God.God's promises are not dependent on our ability to keep the law but on our faith. This shows that faith transcends legalistic adherence.

There are many, many promises of God in Scripture. In each promise, God pledges that something will (or will not) be done or given or come to pass. These are not flippant, casual promises such as we often make; these promises of God are rock-solid, unequivocal commitments made by God Himself. Because God is faithful, the recipients of the divine promises can have full assurance that what God has pledged will indeed be realized (Numbers 23:19). Here are just a few of the promises that God has made: Promises of God in the Old Testament. God promised to bless Abraham and, through his descendants, the whole world (Genesis 12:2–3). This promise, called the Abrahamic Covenant, pointed to the coming Messiah for whom Abraham looked (John 8:56). God promised Israel to be their God and make them His people (Leviticus 26:12–13). Old Testament history is teeming with examples of God fulfilling this promise. God promised that if we search for Him we will find Him (Deuteronomy 4:29). He is not playing hard-to-get. “Our God is near us whenever we pray to him” (Deuteronomy 4:7). God promised protection for His children (Psalm 121). He was the vigilant watchman over all Israel. God promised that His love will never fail (1 Chronicles 16:34). He is faithful in every way. God promised Israel that their sin could be forgiven, their prosperity restored, and their nation healed (2 Chronicles 7:14). Repentance opened the road to fellowship and blessing. God, under the terms of the Mosaic Covenant, promised prosperity to Israel for obedience and destruction for disobedience (Deuteronomy 30:15–18). Unfortunately, Israel eventually chose to disobey, and the nation was destroyed by Assyria and Babylon. God promised blessing for all who will delight themselves in His Word (Psalm 1:1–3). Simple faith has its rewards. Promises of God in the New Testament. God promised salvation to all who believe in His Son (Romans 1:16–17). There is no greater blessing than the free gift of God’s salvation. God promised that all things will work out for good for His children (Romans 8:28). This is the broader picture that keeps us from being dismayed by present circumstances. God promised comfort in our trials (2 Corinthians 1:3–4). He has a plan, and one day we will be able to share the comfort we receive. God promised new life in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Salvation is the beginning of a brand-new existence. God promised to finish the work He started in us (Philippians 1:6). God does nothing in half measures. He started the work in us, and He will be sure to complete it. God promised peace when we pray (Philippians 4:6–7). His peace is protection. It will “guard your hearts and your minds in Christ.” God promised to supply our needs (Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:19). Not that we get everything we want, but our needs will be taken care of. We are more valuable than the birds, and our Heavenly Father feeds them (Matthew 6:26). Jesus promised rest (Matthew 11:28–30). Burdens are lifted at Calvary. Jesus promised abundant life to those who follow Him (John 10:10). Following Jesus brings us more spiritual fulfillment than we could have anticipated. We leave boring behind. Jesus promised eternal life to those who trust Him (John 4:14). The Good Shepherd also promised to hold us securely: “No one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28). Jesus promised His disciples power from on high (Acts 1:8). In this power, they “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6, ESV). Jesus promised that He will return for us (John 14:2–3). From then on, we will be with Him always.

We have reasons for faith In Jesus! He is good and faithful to us!

Hebrews 12:2 “keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

WEEK 4 Questions:

1.Faith is not merely believing in God but believing God Himself. What does this distinction mean to you?

2.How can we maintain unwavering faith in Jesus amidst life's challenges and uncertainties?

3.Why do you think the Bible emphasizes faith as the means of salvation rather than works?

4.How does Jesus offer us peace, and why is faith in Him crucial for experiencing that peace?