SF436 - MAN'S FORMULA FOR SALVATION (Romans 4 1-15)
SF436
MAN'S FORMULA FOR SALVATION
ROMANS 4:1-15
INTRODUCTION
Theme: Salvation by faith alone
Key: "alone" it is not faith plus anything
Phillips - Two Crutches
Most people lean on two crutches for salvation - their own imagined goodness and some kind of religious observation.
Man is constantly trying to gain salvation.
Most men will tell you that you must have "faith".
However, they want to add to their faith one or both of the following...
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1A. PERSONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS
Trying to be good enough.
Most believe that men are basically good.
This is unscriptural
Paul illustrates with two great OT characters...
1B. The Case Of Abraham (vv. 1-5)
1C. The appeal to Abraham's case
Imperfect righteousness (vv.1-2)
Man can do nothing perfectly!
Imputed righteousness (v.3)
"credited" = to impute
God transfers sin from our account and righteousness to it.
2C. The application of Abraham's case (vv. 4-5)
Works everything depends on the sinner
Faith everything depends on the Savior.
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2B. The Case Of David
Quotes Psalm 32
Two Truths about salvation
1C. Salvation is freely bestowed (v.6)
David and Bathsheba - great sin
No hope of restoration to Bathsheba or Uriah.
Only hope was God's forgiveness!
2 Samuel 12:13 "Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die."
2C. Sin is forever banished (vv.7-8)
Isaiah 43:25 ""I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more."
Forgiven
Covered - Never
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2A. THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION
1B. The Folly of... Trusting In The Rites Of Religion
Jew = circumcision most important
1C. When he was circumcised (vv.9-10)
After he was justified
He was called at age 75
He was circumcised at age 99
2C. Why he was circumcised (vv.11-12)
It was a sign - evidence that he belonged to God and believed God's promise.
It was a seal - it was a reminder that God had given the promise and would keep it.
Ephesians 1:13-14 "...Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory."
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2B. The Folly of ... Trusting In The Rules Of Religion
He contrast the promise of God with the precepts of the law.
1C. The promise of the Lord... (v.13)
Was not connected to the Law of Moses.
Was not contingent upon Abraham's keeping the law.
2C. The precepts of the law... (vv14-15)
The law undermines faith (v.14)
If salvation is based on our works - it cannot be based on God's grace.
The law underlines failure (v.15)
It brings God's wrath!
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APPLICATION
Man's Formula
Faith + Works = HELL