Feb. 26, 2023

“DOING THE RIGHT THING”

“JUSTIFICATION ILLUSTRATED”

ROMANS 4:1-15

1.   Abraham

*Abraham was justified or saved by faith: Romans 4:1-5

Romans 4:1-2 “What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.”

1 Corinthians 1:31 “That, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

*Rather than dwell on the preposterous notion that anyone even Abraham the father of the Hebrew people could earn his or her own righteousness Paul quotes the Old Testament.

Romans 4:3 “For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Genesis 15:6 “And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”

Genesis 12:1-3

The Lord wanted something more than an obedience-in-exchange-for-blessing. He wanted a relationship, and relationships require intimacy and trust in equal portions.

Abraham believed that God was willing and able to fulfill His promises despite the obvious natural difficulties. And the Lord responded the Abraham’s trust by declaring him just. “He accounted it to him for righteousness.” vs.3

vs.3 “accounted”- is a term that describes the process of analyzing and squaring accounts.

The Lord entered a credit, as it were, to Abrahams account because of his belief and then stamped his account “paid.”

Romans 4:4-5 “Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”

*Paul extended his accounting analogy to underscore the unconditional nature of grace and to demonstrate how this grace principle applies to all.

What then is the role of faith? Faith is believing and trusting in Jesus Christ, reaching out to accept His wonderful gift of salvation.

Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”

2.   David

What can we do to get rid of guilt?

King David was guilty of terrible sins-adultery, murder, lies-yet he experienced the joy of forgiveness.

Romans 4:6-8 “Just as David also describes the blessedness of

the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

When one receives God’s grace through faith, he or she is considered righteous and treated as such despite his or her current behavior.

By the sovereign act of God, the unjust person receives His grace through belief and is declared “just.”

King David celebrated this truth:

Psalm 32:1-5

After being confronted with his sin David admitted that he had sinned:

2 Samuel 12:13 “So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.”

We can have our joy restored just like David; 1. Quit denying your guilt and recognize you sinned. 2. Admit your guilt to God and ask for forgiveness. 3. Let go of your guilt and believe God has forgiven you. 

1 John 1:9

3.   Justified By Grace

*The Rite of Circumcision

Romans 4:9-12

The rite of circumcision did nothing to save a man from sin or credit him with righteousness. Paul called it a “seal” vs.11 

The seal serves as a legal protection or guarantee.

Circumcision was given: As a sign and a seal vs.11. As a sign it was evidence that you belong to God and believe His promises. As a seal, it is a reminder to you that God has given the promise and would keep it. 

Romans 4:21 

Believer today are sealed by the Holy Spirit of God.

Ephesians 1:13-14

Believers have also experienced a spiritual circumcision of the heart:

Colossians 2:11-12

Circumcision did not add to Abraham’s salvation, it merely attested to it.

It is by God’s grace, Abraham is justified before the Law was even given:

Romans 4:13-15 “For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

God’s way is not a do-it-yourself-kit. His kit is labeled “Grace.”