Romans 4_18-25 Dont Blame Me... He Did It

Secular:

Aren’t you glad…

Faith isn’t a feeling…

Bad morning… before coffee… eternal destiny
Fight… anger…

Like Love… isn’t a feeling

Divorce
Abuse
Hostility

Focused on a sure goal ________|>
Faith is anchored in truth… not airy fairy mysticism… truth and belief in it…
Anchored in God

God is a fact

True
Loves
Saves
Creates / Created

Given by his grace

Biblical:

God’s Promise to Abraham…

Romans 4:18 In 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." 19 Without 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; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

Personal:

Faith isn’t about filling the gaps…
Not about believable or not…
It is about trusting… knowing… living and acting… according to the belief in God… supplied by God… realized in us!
Quick Word study…

Baptism… dip, plunge, dunk
Ecclesia… gathering, assembly, people
Faith… anchored in certainty

Bridge:

God gives faith

We can be sure
We can trust
We can live a hope of Faith

Lets look a six aspects of Abraham’s faith in Romans 4:18-25

Body:

Aspects of Faith:

4:18 In 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." 19 Without 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; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

In hope against hope he believed

Hope is desiring something beyond normal human capacity
We often use the phrase… “I hope that works out” Usually referring to a desired but unlikely outcome…
Abraham’s faith under girded his hope… hope against hope… for He knew God’s promise was beyond his capacity… from his vantage point highly unlikely… but it says “hope against hope he believed”
It was not a blind wish or desire…

i. Lottery but didn’t buy a ticket

ii. Roll-up the rim…

But on anchored in God…
What was impossible for Abraham… was possible with God
I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars… Genesis 15:5 And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
The First aspect of Abraham’s faith… was that there was hope… hope anchored in faith… true hope in the Promise of God

i. Do you have hope? Real hope in Faith?

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2. Without becoming weak in faith
He was steadfast… * Sure he wrestled…
Sure he wondered…

i. Likelihood

ii. Magnitude of the promises

1. Possible?

2. In our world… look around

That’s not easy… * Steadfast… want to talk about steadfast? Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son
God promised Abraham’s descendants would be as numerous as the stars… despite the circumstance… Abraham continued to demonstrate… faith… steadfastness in the promises of God
Steadfast… not an emotion… not a roller coaster… The Second aspect of Abraham’s faith… was Steadfastness… to be Steadfast anchored in faith in the Promise of God
Are we steadfast? When are we not… why?
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

3. Not Discouraged…

Abraham contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb * Enough reason to go thanks… but really… who are we trying to kid here?
Not according to our schedule or plan…

i. Heal now

ii. Fix it now

iii. Fleeces

The flesh is weak… * Subject to corruption
It gets old and worn out
The flesh can be discouraging… head scrtaching
But Abraham is not discouraged… grew strong in faith

i. Not lost in the trials of the moments

Being an Optimist… not discourage the third aspect of Abraham’s faith… was to be encouraged… to be encouraged…. optimistic in faith… in the Promise of God * How do we live it?

4. No doubt… Unwavering

Was there reason to doubt… * Again…. Abraham contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb
From my perspective… lots of reasons to doubt…

i. Way past child bearing years…

ii. From the time of the promise to the time of fulfilment… many years had past… Sarah had had her chuckle…

In the face of greatest opportunity for doubt… yet, with respect to the promise of God, Abraham did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, * What God promises he delivers… NO DOUBT
Earlier I said Abraham was steadfast… that is based on the fact God is steadfast… and there is no reason to doubt the promise of God.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
The fourth aspect of Abraham’s faith… was No Doubt… to be sure in the Promise of God
No doubt… what can we do… (know the promises… know God… stay connected)

5. Gave glory to God

he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, i. This is spoken of the time before it came to passs…
The one who gives faith gets all the credit! * So when we trumpet our own horn… support our own faith… live in and for ourselves… we are not living the faith given by God… steadfast in God… enduring… saving…
But Abraham demonstrates…. That it is not in us… but in God… it originates / resides in Him
That is our desire to give God the glory to honour him for what he was done… who he is… for His promises-
Hope is what we have when we desire something beyond our capacity…. Faith is is that which is in God… and something to which God is due the glory!!
Psalm 62:7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
The fifth aspect of Abraham’s faith… was to give God the glory… because He is due the glory… because our faith resides in Him… and in the Promise of God
How are we giving glory to God?

i. Are we there yet…

ii. Celebrating the journey…

6. Hope… Without Weakness… optimistic… without doubt… giving God the Glory and sixth…

· being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. FULL ASSURANCE

God is worthy of our faith…. Completely, wholly, and without stipulation * God is the worthy object of or faith… Faith from Him… through him and in him…
The other 5 aspects all point to the fact that Abraham knows God is Worthy… Job 38:4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding…
Revelation 5:12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing."
FULL ASSURANCE

The Answer to His Faith

22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

The response to the faith given by God, lived by Abraham… * IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS
Righteousness…Accepting God… following his path… living his Faith… is our righteousness…

The Application of His Faith

23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

For us who live this faith… the righteousness of Christ is credited to us… * It is the sure outcome of our faith!

1. Hope…

2. Our Steadfastness…

3. Optimism

4. No Doubt…unwavering

5. Glory to God

6. Full Assurance

Credited to us as righteousness… the Righteousness of Christ… to who all glory, honour, power and blessing are due… to Christ who has redeemed us…to Christ who has given us new life… and life eternal.