Romans 4 Part 1

1) Romans - The law can only reveal sin not take away sin.

Paul knew that the Jews reading this letter would question justification by faith alone. So they would want proof. So he brings up Abraham. To the Jews Abraham was one of the most righteous on earth and to them thats why God picked him. He was there rock star. He was their VIP of the Jewish religion because he was the founder of Judaism. Think of the VIP’s of Christianity: Any of the 12 Apostles like Peter, James, and John or the Apostle Paul.

So Paul calls on Abraham as a witness.

Abrahams Faith

God took Abraham and said hey look up Abram. I will make your decedents as numerous as those stars. Abraham said Amen to God’s promise which was considered righteousness in God’s eyes. Be careful not to brush off God’s promises. Lets say amen to God’s promises.

Most believe in a works based righteousness.

Most Jews believed that,

many people in ancient pagan religions thought you have to work hard to do it

most people today believe that way today

that it's sort of like a frog that fell into a bucket of milk couldn't jump out because the size. too steep to get out so little frog is in there trying to get out by paddling until the milk turns into butter. so he was able to on a firm stance jump out and save himself by working so hard

According to LifeWay research 3/4 of Americans 77 percent say people must contribute their own effort for personal salvation half of Americans 52% believe that good deeds help them earn a spot in heaven

A majority of Americans, according to another survey finds, no longer believe that Jesus Christ is the way to eternal salvation. Faith (generally) and good works, they say, will do the trick.

Newly-released findings from Dr. George Barna and the Cultural Research Center’s inaugural American Worldview Inventory reveal that almost two out of every three adults (63%) believe that having some type of religious faith is more important than which type of faith a person aligns with.

Shockingly, the research reveals that a large majority (68%) of those that embrace the idea are those who describe themselves as Christians, including those who attend evangelical (56%) and Pentecostal (62%) churches. The percentages are even higher among those attending mainline Protestant (67%) and Catholic (77%) churches.

Equally as startling, it was found that a majority of people who describe themselves as Christian (52%) believe that a person can gain eternal salvation by “being or doing good.” That includes close to half of all adults associated with Pentecostal (46%), mainline Protestant (44%), and evangelical (41%) churches. As expected, a much larger share of Catholics (70%) embrace that point of view.

Those have included:

• There is no absolute moral truth (58%) • Basis of truth are factors or sources other than God (58%) • Right/wrong determined by factors other than the Bible (77%) • The Bible is not the authoritative and true word of God (59%) • People are basically good (69%)

Is it Christ alone for salvation, works alone, or Christ plus works that make us justified and right with God?

If we think that salvation and being justified is works based then we believe that God owes us something.

There was a survey done for people over 95 of age:

If you could live your life over again what would you do differently?

Top 3 Answers:

I’d reflect more

Risk more

Do more things that live on after I’m dead

One take away from these answers : I would live a more purposeful intentional life. Were I live out my faith without regret. You will never regret

Never get to the end of your life say I trusted God way to much in my lifetime. Or I wish I would have held back in trusting the Lord.

George Muller :

on one occasion all the kids were tucked into bed at night he and his wife were going to bed and he turned to his wife said honey a little FYI here we have no milk for tomorrow's oatmeal for breakfast he

grabbed her hand said let's pray they prayed not long afterwards a knock on the door a baker in town said I don't know what it is the Lord laid you on my heart and I baked a bunch of bread for

the kids for breakfast tomorrow morning and brought it in that next day the oatmeal had been made but again there's no milk for the oatmeal they get ready to eat bread they sit down and pray and thank God for the meal another

knock comes at the door it is a milkman whose milk truck had broken down a block away who said it's gonna spoil can you use the milk so he had story

after story he wrote in his journals to talk about God's faithfulness and how he

said if you walk with God and look to him he will never fail you