"When Faith Counts”

Romans 4:1–5 CSB

1 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. 4 Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.

Hook

Illustration: “The Performance Review That Doesn’t Count” Imagine showing up to your annual performance review and your boss says:

“We’re not counting any of your work. You’re being rewarded purely based on how much you trust me and the company.”

That’s NOT how our world works—but it IS how GRACE works.

We are so naturally prone to our own “LEGAL” way, and so ready to IMAGINE that there is something IN US and our own rules to MANIPULATE and obtain the favor of God…but there is NOTHING.

Grace is this: GOD’S UNMERITED FAVOR

There is NOTHING in us that causes God to bestow His favor on us more than someone else…

IF THERE IS, it is NOT BY GRACE THAT WE ARE SAVED, it is by our “bright idea” of somehow impressing God more than our neighbor…

WE ARE NOT SAVED BY ANY WORKS OF OUR OWN!!

Transition: Paul brings us to the story of Abraham—not just as a hero of faith, but as “Exhibit A” in the case for grace.

Book

Romans 4:2 CSB

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

Abraham Had Nothing to Brag About (v.1–2)

“If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God.”

Paul is anticipating Jewish pride in Abraham’s works.

Even Abraham wasn’t justified by OBEDIENCE but by BELIEF.

“A dead man cannot assist in his own resurrection.”

William Greenough Thayer Shedd (American Systematic Theologian)

Works will never nor can they ever BUY Justification.

No amount of work on our part will EVER add up.

Our PAYCHECKS are death.

“The wages of sin is death”

ONLY the works of Jesus add up in perfect righteousness and holiness

On our behalf

IN OUR PLACE

We need HIS paycheck and so He has already provided it for us through His:

Life

Suffering

Death

Descension

Resurrection

Ascension

“We bring nothing to our salvation except our sin that made it necessary.”

Jerry Bridges

Verse 3 – The Quoting of Genesis 15:6

Genesis 15:6 CSB

6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Credited = financial term; a deposit, not a wage.

There was absolutely no reason for Abraham to believe God.

He was a rich pagan.

Living his best life.

From the land of Ur.

Region of Sumer

Wealthy

Important City in Mesopatamia

BIG Culture.

So, it wasn’t like Abraham was walking around in the desert, twidling his thumbs with nothing to do…

YHWH came to Abram, NOT vice versa, and new life entered him.

He believed God.

Romans 4:2–3 CSB

2 If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.

“Credited” = to be or become attributed or reckoned as an assete in someone’s (financial) account.

calculated

considered

conclusion

to take inventory

esteemed as such

The Gospel of God: Romans Abraham Was Justified by Faith (4:1–22)

“It is one thing for us to believe that God exists, it is another thing for us to

The justification of Abraham by faith is the pattern of how God justifies all sinners.

Verse 4–5 – Faith vs. Wages

Romans 4:4–5 CSB

4 Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.

Work earns; faith receives.

If you have doen some sort of work, your pay is NOT a GIFT…

Gifts are given when no work or service has been rendered…

DON’T YOU REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE NOTHING TO GIVE GOD, EXCEPT WHAT HE GIVES YOU TO GIVE TO HIM??

ILL: My dad used to give me money to put in the offering plate.

This is what Jesus has done on our behalf, he has given us a gift by which to reciprocate and give back to Him..

God justifies the ungodly—this is the scandal of grace.

There is no other description.

The GOSPEL IS SCANDALOUS…

A scandal to God, but a sincere GIFT to us…

“Faith is not something we bring to God but something we receive from Him.” — Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Look – What Does It Mean for Us?

1. The Gospel is Not a Performance-Based System

God isn’t grading your résumé. He graded JESUS!

your resume was death and coveting God’s throne.

If Abraham couldn’t earn it, neither can we…

2. God Declares the Ungodly Righteous

This is not divine blindness—it’s divine mercy.

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy. I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

This is the heart of justification by faith alone.

There is nothing else your justification is based on…

God does not love us because we are lovely; He loves us because He loves us.

1 John 4:19 CSB

19 We love because he first loved us.

3. Faith Is Trust, Not Your Achievement

Stop treating faith like a spiritual transaction.

It’s not the strength of faith but the object of faith that saves.

Took – Application & Challenge

Personal Challenge:

Are you trying to earn what God is offering freely?

Do you believe God’s promise like Abraham did—or are you trying to help God out?

Call to Action:

to the born again believer:

Stop stressing.

Start trusting.

To the lost and wandering:

Stop Sinning.

Surrender to the Savior…

CHRISTIAN:

Rest in the righteousness that is credited by grace, through faith, apart from works.

YHWH has crowned us with the righteousness of CHRIST, when we have:

NOTHING TO GIVE.

NOTHING TO BRAG ON.

Salvation is BY GRACE, THROUGH FAITH…and that is accounted to us as righteousness in CHRIST.

Those who are born again are Abraham’s children.

We are crowned with NEW ETERNAL LIFE, by HIS GRACE

We are crowned as His children by Grace, His UNMERITED favor…

We are crowned as His children THROUGH faith

AND these crowns were NEVER our own, but we are given them and we can not claim any glory from their GIFTING…we can ONLY praise and worship HIM for it ALL!!

Revelation 4:9–11 CSB

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say, 11 Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.

PRAYER