s20050109m_The Gift Of Righteousness
The Gift Of Righteousness—Genesis 15:1-6
“By faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land,
living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.” Hebrews 11:9
“…Those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness
will reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17b
God Considers My Faith As Righteousness: Verses 1-6
1. Even If I Am [AFRAID] My Commitment Is Worthless.
“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” Verse 1
”7Hearken to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not… 8 … my deliverance will be for ever, and my salvation to all generations.” Isaiah 51:7-8
2. When I’ve [QUESTIONED] That My Commitment Is Unrewarded.
“2 But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, thou hast given me no offspring; and a slave born in my house will be my heir.” Verses 2-3
“1 Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my supplications! In thy faithfulness answer me, in thy righteousness! 2 Enter not into judgment with thy servant; for no man living is righteous before thee.” Psalms 143:1-2
3. By [SENDING] His Word In Response To My Faltering Commitment.
“4And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; your own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” Verses 4-5
God’s Word Steadies My Commitment By:
¨ CORRECTING MY FAULTY LOGIC: “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Proverbs 14:12
¨ POINTING ME TO HIS GREATNESS: “It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. Jeremiah 51:15
¨ GIVING ME HOPE: “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4
4. And Not My [DEFICIENT] Commitment.
“And he believed the Lord; and he reckoned it to him as righteousness”. Verse 6
WHY MY FAITH IS RECKONED AS RIGHTEOUSNESS BY GOD
Ú Because My Works Cannot Merit My Justification
“And to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly,
his faith is reckoned as righteousness”. Romans 4:5
Ú Because Through My Faith I Am Born Of Abraham’s Seed
“6 Thus Abraham “believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.”
7 So you see that it is men of faith who are the sons of Abraham.” Galatians 3:6-7
Ú Because Commitment Along With Active Faith Makes Me God’s Friend.
“22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works,
23 and the scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned
to him as righteousness”; and he was called the friend of God.” James 2:22-23
Closing Prayer
Please pray with me. Thank you Heavenly Father for the gift of righteousness, because my faith is not what it should be, and my commitment is deficient. You have challenged me to be like you holy and righteous. Holiness and righteousness are mountains I cannot climb by myself. I am asking you to help me because I trust that your hand will pull me all the way up. Father I admit I feel worthless to climb up to the top of your mountains. Help me to look to the top of them by lifting up my head with your grace. I sometimes question the path you are leading me on, and I ask you to hear my request for help. And Father when you help me by sending your word I will believe it so you can save me. Thank you for the gift of righteousness and acceptance. In Jesus name amen.