A case study of faith

Do you ever worry you don’t have enough faith?

Land divers: It’s called land driving, and for centuries, Islanders ofVanuatu have believed that the more dangerous the jump, the more bountiful the harvest. The only safety precaution is a tree vine tied around the jumpers’ ankles

How ever crazy we think this might be, have to be impresse by level of faith to follow through for hoped reward. What should faith look like for the Christian?

Impressive faith intimidating. Find ourselves struggling. Maybe feel like hard work for little reward?

KEEP CLINGING TO CHRIST

Reading: repeating theme that keeps coming up?

Romans 4:1–25 NIV

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Paul building on idea of righteousness, how we can enjoy a right relationship with God, when reality is that our sin seperates us from him. Shown that we can’t save ourselves, not even by keeping God’s law, but rather we are saved through faith alone. But what does this faith look like?

True Faith..

Paul gives case study - hero of faith - Abraham, that we can learn what true faith looks like.

4 things we see about Abrahams faith, and we’ll see how Paul applies it to us.

SAVES

Why Paul goes to Abraham. - For Jews Father of their faith. Righteous man, a model of obedience. So Paul goes back to Abraham to show that he is perfect example not of works - righteousness, but faith - righteousness.

Read v1-4

How is Abraham justified? How is Abraham righteous? What did he contribute - simply believed God. Repeated phrase - CREDITED to HIm. (10 times) Counted to him. - God out of his grace.

Paul contrasts the one who works and one who trusts. Heart of the gospel is this. A God who justifies the ungoldy. Later in chapter 6, P will pick up contrast again.

Romans 6:23 NIV

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul quickly goes to David - another key figure and hero of Jewish faith. - but a King guilty of adultary and murder. - and see what he says.

Romans 4:6–8 NIV

David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

By our works we deserve death - judgement - but in his goodness counts us as righteous through faith. As we trust in him, instead of our sin being counted against us, we are given righteousness.

CREDITED TO US.

usually use word in context of receivng credit. Maybe store credit on a refund. account topped up. But here, Abaraham contribute nothing - but simply believed God - and God out of his goodness, credited Abraham. Spiritual top up. Account is permenantly full. (imputed - assigned righteousness).

What is saving faith then. It’s not about rigod church attendance, or impressive discipline regimes, or positive thinking - those are all ways in which we trust in our selves. Saving faith is a transfer of trust - that we stop looking to ourselves, and look soley to God who justifies the ungodly. Faith that Abraham - he simply beleived God - trusted him.

UNITES

Romans 4:9–10 NIV

Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!

What does this grace of God bring - this undeserved gift, this faith- righteousness.

OPEN ACCESS.

False understand of role of circumcision exposed by question v10.

Circumcised 29 years after . - simply a sign of what God has already done.

Huge implications - Jew and Gentile divide.

Implication:

“Father Abraham had many sons (and daughters) you are one of them and so am I. So lets all clap our hands!

v11. Spiritual Father of ALL who believe. Jew and gentile. male female, black white, rich poor, slave, free, - We all recieve righteousness the same way - by being children of faith. so important Paul spends 8 verses on it, desperate for this church that faces so much division to be united.

Romans 4:16 NIV

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

Real faith brings unity between all believers - who are one family of sinners counted as righteous through faith.

ENDURES

Read v19-20a

Abraham never had doubts? Isn’t this the one who laughed at God? What does it mean that faith did not waver? Meant that despite doubts, in face of human hopelessness, he had hope

single minded decision to trust God at his word.

HOW EASY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TO FALL INTO UNBELIEF. - LOOK AT THEMSELVES. PROMISE DEAD HUMANLY

How Abarham kept faith - continually looking outside of himself to character and word of God and promise of God.

“Faith cannot stand unless founded on the promises of God”.

Romans 4:20 NIV

Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,

How often does doubt and unbelief creep in because we look at ourselves and own inability or human limitation.

John Calvin

“Let us also remember, that the condition of us all is the same with that if Abraham. All things around us are in opposition to the promises of God: He promises immortality, we are surrounded by mortality and corruption: he declares that he counts us just; we are covered with sins: He testifies that he is propitious and kind to us; outward judgments threaten his wrath. What then is to be done? We must with closed eyes pass by ourselves and all things connected with us, that nothing may hinder or prevent us from believing that God is true.”

Where do you need to look outside of yourself and hold to promise of God today?

Notice that growing faith does not come without trails, but is strengthened through them

Abarham believed from state of hopelessness. Dead

but through trial faith strengthened.

just like in weight lifting muscles grow as the stress upon them is increased with more weight, and they overcome.

Not absence of trials or doubts that defines a growing faith but single minded trust in God through them.

Faith is the ability to trusrt God while not being able to make sense of everything”

As we are pursuaded that God has power to do what he has promised

GLORIFIES GOD

Read v20

What sort of faith does God delight in - brings him glory

impressive leaping of structure faith? no doubts? blind optimism?

NO Sort of faith God delights in, that brings him glory - is faith that Abraham showed,

sort of faith that holds onto him when all the odds are stacked against us,

and feel like can’t keep going, when we’ve got nothing left, but trust him anyway.

v18. When all human hope gone, but we hope in God. When we trust in him alone. Looks weak to all around - but this is faith that God delights in. As we single minded trust in his character and word.

Faith that Abraham showed.

Saving, united, unwavering, God glorifying faith. But what does it looks like for us? Abstract trust in God?

TRUE FAITH - KEEP CLINGING TO CHRIST.

Romans 4:23–25 NIV

The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Abraham trusted God at his word - trusting in the promises. as Son was born, partially fulfilled, but only beginning - where does God fulfill all promises he made to Abraham and to everyone since.

In Christ at the cross.

Jesus is the child of the promsie - who secures our eternal inheritance.

He is the one who brings blessings - eternal life.

He is the one who justifies the ungodly.

Romans 5:8 NIV

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus is one who lives out righteousness on our behalf, that through faith in him it might be counted to us.

What does Faith of Abraham look like for us?

John 6:29 NIV

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Trust in Jesus. Single minded decision to trust Jesus at his word

Single minded decision to trust in his death and ressurection.

This is saving faith - look soley to the cross where Jesus died for our sins, and was raised to life for our justification.

This is uniting faith - as Christ breaks down all the barriers that divide - as we are one family, brothers and sisters in blood, bound together - may nothing divide. It’s uniting as together we trust - helping each other to look to Jesus.

This become unwavering faith - on those hard days, when our faith perhaps seems all but dead. When things seem impossible, future looks bleak - we cling to Christ - who beat death itself, - and so keep trusting that God has power to do what he promised. Like toddler who when uncertain will cling to parent - so we cling to Christ - together getting to know Glory of God and his faithfulness in all that he promises, and trust that they are being fulfilled in Christ, and as we cling to him, knowing he will strengthen us, and bring great Glory to his name.

My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness I dare not trust the sweetest frame But wholly lean on Jesus' name

When darkness veils His lovely face I'll rest on His unchanging grace In every high and stormy day My anchor holds within the veil

On Christ the solid rock I stand All other ground is sinking sand All other ground is sinking sand