The Gateway to Righteousness

OPENING: Open your Bibles with me to Romans 4. As you find your place...

We are continuing down this Romans Road, discussing what it means to be saved by grace through faith

This has been the focus in Romans for a while, and it will continue to be the focus in the section we are camped out in for now.

Salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone is the battle cry of Christianity

It is a right acknowledgement that we can’t earn salvation

In its right context, it is the truth in our lives that brings God the most glory

Unfortunately, It is also the basis for one of the greatest lies that would be followers of Christ believe.

LISTENING GUIDES OUT- The first thing I would have you to write down this morning is this great lie that many people believe:

THE LIE: If I say “I believe” and get baptized, then I am saved and can live how I please

This lie is not new

We see it discussed over and over again in Scripture

We see it lived out all around us, as people claim Christ that obviously don’t know Him

We believe it ourselves, when we treat Christ and His church like a county club membership

We never think of ourselves in this way because we believe it

However, the reality is that saving faith in Jesus Christ transforms you-

If you truly believe, you will never be the same

TEXT: Romans 4:12-17-Please stand if you can

Romans 4:12–17 NASB95

and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised. For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation. For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

PRAY & Invitation to sit

POINT 1: As we pick up in verse 12, we tie in immediately to the Abraham’s faith credited to him as righteousness;

Romans 4:9–12 NASB95

Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.” How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.

You have heard the children’s song: “Father Abraham had many sons! And many sons had Father Abraham”

We will discuss this more this morning, on what it means to be a son of Abraham

but this idea comes out of these verses

When we left off in Romans, we were talking about these verses, how Abraham acted on what he said he believed

Yes, Abraham believed before he was circumcised

But then he circumcised himself- He acted on what he said that he believed

The children of Abraham, then, are those who act on belief

The lie tells us that our salvation is determined by what we have said

TRUTH: Scripture shows that God’s favor comes with faith

if you’ve got your listening guide, my next point is this that

Faith is not about what I say, but what I do

Tell the Parable of the Two Sons from Matthew 21:28-32

Faith in Christ is the only thing that can save you, but your faith must be genuine

Remember: What you do doesn’t save you, what you do shows that you’re saved or that you’re not

True faith brings about transformation in your life

It will lead you to give generously-your focus shifts to the Kingdom

It will compel you to go regularly-you obey the call to make disciples

It will draw you to pray continuously-You will connect to your source of power

Romans 4:13 NASB95

For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.

POINT 2:

The Jews thought (and still do) that the promise of Abraham came through their blood line

They are descendants of Abraham, so they think they are good

The are the circumcised, so they think they are good

But they missed the boat, and you and I are in danger of doing the same thing if we miss the point in this verse, that

The Kingdom of God is for those that believe and obey

What good is it to say that you believe something if there is no action to follow?

You can believe the you need to exercise, but if you don’t do it, you are no better off!

The Jews leaned on circumcision and blood, we lean on a magic prayer and getting dunked

But when we realize that FAITH is about ACTION, then the point of this verse makes sense to us, that

Look at what Jesus said:

John 14:15 NASB95

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

1 John 5:3 NASB95

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

James 2:18 NASB95

But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

If Christ is truly in you, you will live a transformed life.

You will give joyously, go excitedly, and pray excessivel

People will call you over the top!

Why do I continue to beat this dead horse?-I know some of you think we talk about this too much

Let me ask you-Why, do you think that verse after verse and chapter after chapter is about this?

This is not something that we can miss

This is not something that we can forget

It isn’t enough to say that you love Jesus, you must actually love Him

It isn’t enough to say “I believe;” you must act on it, because acting on belief is what faith is

Romans 4:14–15 NASB95

For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.

POINT 3: Don’t miss the forest for the trees, here, friends

Yes, salvation comes through faith

No, salvation is not something that you can earn

you don’t deserve it! I don’t deserve it! (We deserve death and Hell)

But many misunderstand these verses to say that obedience doesn’t matter

they think that no law=freedom to do whatever because I have forgiveness

What Paul is actually saying is our next point that

Obedience can’t bring salvation, but saving faith will bring obedience

The Jews thought that they could earn their place with God by following His commands

We think the LAW is hard—Rabbinic Law was even harder

(built a hedge to keep them from breaking the actual law)

how many steps you could take on the Sabbath

defined what constituted work

The Law exists to point us to that place where we realize our need for Jesus

Galatians 2:21 NASB95

“I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

James 2:10 NASB95

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

When we speak of obedience, we are not speaking of fulfilling the law-Jesus Christ did that for us

You and I have sinned. All of us have, and the law is meant to point us to this truth

It was also meant to point us to Christ, as the perfect sacrifice to cover our sins

there is no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood!

Obedience is the only right response from someone that says they love Jesus

The transformed life is the proof of your salvation by faith

The transformed will give joyously to the Lord—The giving of others verses Ananias and Sapphira

The transformed will go every chance they get-They can’t keep Jesus inside of themselves

The transformed will pray like they eat and drink-They know how badly they need it

I know that you hear the theme of the things I have been sharing with you about where God is leading us as a church,

That’s because these things are straight out of Scripture

The things that we are keying in on are the things that define a life transformed by Christ

I am excited about these things, because I want us to share in the promise.

Romans 4:16–17 NASB95

For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

These verses say that if we have faith, if we believe God’s promises and obey Him because of it you and I can be children of Abraham

That song, Father Abraham had many sons, and many sons had Father Abraham…the next line says I AM ONE OF THEM, and SO ARE YOU, SO LET’S ALL PRAISE THE LORD!

Our last point this morning is this:

Faith is the gateway to righteousness

We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

It is the gracious gift of God that we can be saved because we don’t deserve it and cannot earn it

It is the work of Jesus Christ, who through His death and resurrection has freed us from sin and given us a pathway to life

But faith is the gateway by which we receive this grace that brings forgiveness and life

Faith is a journey! and journey implies movement/action

Are you ready, this morning, to act on what you believe?

Today, you can be a daughter, today you can be a son, not just of Abraham, but of God

This morning, the gateway is open. It is time for you to act on your belief, and begin to walk into His transforming life!

If He is calling you this morning, I will be here at the altar. Won’t you come talk with me? Let’s walk on this journey of faith together.

PRAY