10/27/17

Abraham the father of our Faith by God's promise (Romans 4)

Romans 4
Focus verses:  
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. - Romans 4:23-25

AIM: It's God and his promise we believe, trust and hope in - not ourselves

A) not works
(1-3) Abraham not justified by works, but believed God credited righteous  (gen 15:6)
 - see also Genesis 12:1-9; 13:1-18; 15:1-6, 18; 17:1-10, 23
(4-8) works/wages - trust God who justifies ungodly, their faith credited righteous (David)
 - see Psalm 32:1-2, quoted in Romans 4:7-8 (See 2 Samuel 11-12; Psalms 32; 51)
 - as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.Psalm 103:12
 - that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against...2 Corinthians 5:19

B) not signs
(9-12) Righteous before circumcision (the sign/seal), follow in footsteps of faith
 - Gal 5:6, ...faith expressing itself in love
(13-15) Not through law, promise was righteousness by faith - law brings wrath - no law, no transgression
 - Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather,...Romans 3:20 also (Romans 5:13, Romans 7:7)

C) but God's promise accepted in Faith
(16-17) Promise comes by faith, God's grace guarantee (father of many nations - his faith), God gives life to dead, calls into being things that were not
 - origins is important to consider. Hebrews 11:1-7, by faith we believe ..."he calls into being things that were not"
(18-20) Abraham in hope, believed against all hope, holding God's word, not unbelief but faith strengthened gave glory to God
(21-22) Faith = "fully persuaded God power to do promised", credit righteouness
(23-25) for us to believe him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, for our sins, raised for justification