Romans Study Series 10

Has God Declared You Righteous?

Text: Romans 4

Introduction

We are continuing to read an impressive rebuttal against the Jewish religious system.

You might ask, “Why would that be important for me?” Question, “Do religious systems exist today?” YES. You need to understand that every “system” has the common flaw of adding to one’s confidence an outward effort of works in order to be justified before God.

1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

The main obstacle throughout the entirety of the New Testament was the Jewish Religious system and the covenantal mark of circumcision.

In his lawyer genius, the Apostle Paul brings them square with what the scriptures say about their father Abraham. They were about to be cornered in a way they did not anticipate. They probably thought, “Paul knows we know all about the scriptures and Abraham…how could they be used in his favor?” It is amazing how people can use the same scriptures today and yet gloss over the apparent truth of faith and grace.

As one’s person put it, “You can have all kinds of religion without one ounce of salvation.”

Summary of Lesson 9

Abraham was justified before God through his faith in the future promise of blessing the world with a Savior through his lineage.

Abraham was justified before men through the activity of his faith.

God justifies the ungodly through their faith in His Son.

Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

WARRNING — Don’t use baptism as the replacement for circumcision. If the first was deemed powerless, so would its counterpart “baptism.” However, Baptism is a counterpart to what biblical circumcision represented.

Verses 13-23

Verse 13-15

Genesis 17:4–6 “4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.”

Genesis 22:17 “17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;”

Was secured Abraham to be the heir to such a promise from God?

Again, this heir to God’s promise WAS NOT a result of Abraham keeping perfectly the law of God.

If it were not to be through faith, God would not be able to issues such a promise through humanity.

(v14) Law, faith, or both???

Who comes first: Abraham or Christ?

Galatians 3:29 “29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Romans 8:17 “17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

We as believers are called joint-heirs WITH CHRIST.

Define HEIR — heir n. — a person who is entitled by law or by the terms of a will to inherit the estate of another.

Those who preach a WORKS BASED SALVATION is actually leading people to forfeit the very promise of God that comes through faith alone through Christ alone.

Illustration: It would be like me trying to use your car key or fob to start my car.

What was the only thing the law could produce? The reality of sin / it would bring about God’s wrath.

Trying harder to fulfill the demands of the law simply turns you into a conscious sinner.

Galatians 3:10 “10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”

Romans 5:13 “13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.”

(v15) We have to take a step back and answer the question: What was the original intent of the Mosaic law?

Illustration: If there were no speed limit could any police officer have any right to write you a ticket for speeding? NO.

Define transgression n. — the action of going beyond or overstepping some moral boundary or limit.

This is completely COUNTER CULTURAL!

Verses 16-17

“so that it may be by grace”

Faith is the helplessness reaching out in total dependence upon God.

For God to give the very best for those whom He created, grace had to come through faith.

We preach a message of “guarantee” because God’s promise rests on faith.

Romans 3:24 “24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

Galatians 3:22 “22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.”

“those who are of the law” WHAT???

This is referencing the national Jew.

“of the faith of Abraham” WHAT???

The Gentile believer.

(v16-17) It could be said, “The promise is guaranteed in the very sight of God in whom he had faith.”

(v17) Paul gives two descriptors of God:

First — He can bring the dead to life

Abraham experienced that truth both through what God did with Sarah’s womb, and the sparing of Isaac.

Genesis 18:11–14 “11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? 13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? 14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

Second — One who calls into existence things that are not.

Could be the unborn.

Main Point — The Creator brings into existence all that is from that which never was. Anything less than that would be adaptation rather than creation. Robert H. Mounce, Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 128.

Verses 18-25

Paul is speaking to Abrahams faith-filled confidence in God’s promise.

Notice the prepositional phrases “against all hope” and “in hope.”

From a human perspective, Abraham (100 yrs old) was without hope of have any descendants.

Matthew 19:26 “26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

God speaks this to Abraham, Mary, and Jesus himself preaches it.

Quote: His hope was not the invincible human spirit rising to the occasion against all odds but a deep inner confidence that God was absolutely true to his word. Faith is unreasonable only within a restricted worldview that denies God the right to intervene. Robert H. Mounce, Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 129.

(v19) His faith was not weakened on bit!

His or his wife’s age or the condition of their bodies only strengthened his faith, not his self determination.

Illustration: What is required to strengthen a muscle? Continual tension.

If anybody was going to get the glory, it was going to be God.

(v21) “He was also able to perform it.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 “23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”

“Can God?” is never a valid question for a believer!!!

It was this unwavering faith that God reckoned a righteous position to his account.

Verses 24-25

APP — You faith and mine will be regarded by God the same way when it is placed in Christ.

Quote: Without his death there would be no basis for acquittal. Without his resurrection there would be no proof of the redemptive reality of his death. Jesus Christ, crucified and raised to life, is God the Father’s gracious provision for the sins of a fallen race. The simplicity of the message makes it clear for all who will hear. The power of the message is experienced by those who reach out in faith. Robert H. Mounce, Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 132.