Never Alone

Phillips Brooks, former minister of Boston's Trinity Episcopal Church, is perhaps best known as the author of "O Little Town of Bethlehem." He was a very busy pastor, yet he always seemed relaxed and unburdened, willing to take time for anyone in need. Shortly before Brooks died, a young friend wrote to him and asked the secret of his strength and serenity. In a heartfelt response, Brooks credited his still-growing relationship with Christ.

He wrote, "The more I have thought it over, the more sure it has seemed to me that these last years have had a peace and fullness which there did not used to be. It is a deeper knowledge and truer love of Christ.....I cannot tell you how personal this grows to me. He is here. He knows me and I know Him. It is the most real thing in the world. And every day makes it more real. And one wonders with delight what it will grow to as the years go on."

As we continue to journey through the book of Romans, we come to chapter 4. Paul is still preaching:

Salvation is by Faith Alone (v. 1-4)

Romans 4:1–4 ESV

What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.

We discussed last week about the fact that faith is by grace alone. In our text today, Paul puts that truth into the context of Abraham. Abraham is the father of the Jewish faith. Abraham, called by God out of Ur of the Chaldeans, and Haran, followed God, accepting his call to go to a land that God would show him.

“If there is no sanctification, it means that there never was any justification.”

Abraham was saved by faith (v. 5-6)

Paul understood that the tendency was to think that Abraham was saved because of who he was, and because of some innate characteristic of the Jewish people. But Paul makes it clear that it was not the heritage of the Jewish bloodline, but rather the faith of Abraham that brought about God’s favor.

“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

This was the primary characteristic of Abraham: His faith.

This is the characteristic of all who are saved by Christ:

Romans 4:5–6 ESV

And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

As R. C. Sproul once noted,

“Nobody was ever saved by a profession of faith. You have to possess faith.”

Salvation is by Faith Alone but Faith is never Alone (v. 11)

Romans 4:11 ESV

He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,

With this being said, salvation that is not accompanied by the works of obedience. For Abraham, this can be seen in circumcision. Circumcision was not the grounding of Abraham’s salvation but was an overflow of his faith to salvation.

Did circumcision save Abraham or anyone? NO!

But a lack of circumcision would have shown a lack of faith in Abraham. When we are saved we are saved to work!

Jesus clearly told his disciples this in Luke 3:8.

Luke 3:8 ESV

Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

So what are fruits in keeping with repentance? What this means is that salvation is not a one time activity that occurs and we can check it off of our list like a honey-do project. Salvation is the on-going process of wrestling with God and our flesh, of striving day by day to be more Christlike. Just as a tree does not produce fruit overnight, a Christian does not fully repent overnight. It is a lifelong process of making changes, and over time we will produce the fruit of the Spirit more consistently than the works of the flesh.

Justification is by faith alone. This is true. It’s by believing in the finished work of Christ in us. As Martin Luther notes,

“We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.” - Martin Luther

True faith must be accompanied with the works of becoming more and more Christlike. This is why the scriptures speak of persevering.

Job 17:9 ESV

Yet the righteous holds to his way, and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger.

Galatians 6:9 ESV

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Revelation 3:11 ESV

I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

“Many in our world today want us to believe that we can except Christ simply as a Savior from sin, but not the Lord of our lives. They teach essentially that a person can perform an act of believing on Christ once, and after this, they can fall away even into total unbelief and yet still supposedly be "saved". Christ does not call men in this way. Christ does not save men in this way. The true Christian is the one continually coming, always believing in Christ. Real Christian faith is an ongoing faith, not a one-time act. If one wishes to be eternally satiated, one meal is not enough. If we wish to feast on the bread of heaven, we must do so all our lives. We will never hunger or thirst if we are always coming and always believing in Christ. He's our sufficiency. Christ the bread from heaven. We must feed on all of Christ, not just the parts we happen to like. Christ is not the Savior of anyone unless He is their Lord as well.” - James R. White

Salvation is not an event, it is a lifetime transformation. I believe there are millions in our communities and churches that believe because they say a prayer they are saved. NO!

Abraham was not saved because he walked down to Canaan just as we walk down the aisle of our church. Abraham was saved because he believed God, he had faith in God and was transformed from a lying pagan to a faith-filled godly man by the Holy Spirit of God.

John 15:1–7 ESV

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Oh man and woman, pray today that you are not one of the branches that bearing no fruit of transformation finds itself cast into the fire when the Savior comes!’

Application

We must put our faith in Christ alone for our salvation.

Today, you must put your faith in Christ.

We must try our hearts to see if “deeds in keeping with repentance” flow from our hearts.

When you look at your life, do you see evidence of the grace of God. Do you Christ transforming you?

Have you been baptized as Scripture commands? Listen, if you refuse to be obedient to Christ through believers baptism it is should be a huge red flag for you.

It’s not that remaining unbaptized means you aren’t saved, but the disobedience and selfwill that says, “I’m scared” or “I’m embarrassed” whatever our excuse shows clearly the rebellion against God that is still operative in our hearts.

If I refuse to follow Jesus in believers baptism then I have not submitted myself to the God. And it’s not just baptism

Are you attending a church regularly with our brothers and sisters in Christ as He commands, or do you make excuses for why you do not attend?

Are you reading your scripture regularly and growing in your faith, or do you say you’re too busy?

Are you seeking him in prayer and petition?

And on and on. It’s not that these things save us, but when we refuse to do as our Lord commands then we bely our lack of faith and faithfulness to the Lord.

We must repent of sin that we are unrepentant over.

Finally, is there sin that you have not repented of?

Are you caught up in pornography, or lust, or lying, or greed, or bitterness?

Are you guilty of gossiping or stirring up dissension, or bring discontent into the body over my preferences or selfish desires?

Are you guilty of not making Christ first in your life, and making God and his church something you attend if you “find the time”?

If so REPENT!

If you have not been changed by the gospel then you have not been saved by the gospel!