The Formula of Faith

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Salvation has come to us by the grace of the Lord and not from anything we can or will do. Grace came in the from of God's Son, Jesus Christ, as he was offered as a sacrifice for sin in our place. This grace from God is received through faith as we place our trust in Christ alone for salvation. This relieves all the pressure for our performance and allows us to rest in the finished work of Christ as our Lord and Savior.

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Introduction:
What is our mission? “Producing Jesus followers of faith that expand God’s Kingdom.”
What is our method and motto? “Ministry runs on the rails of Relationships.”
Why are we doing it? “that expand God’s Kingdom.”
What is our measure of success? “Relational Reconciliation between God and Man.”
Undercover Boss
The people get emotional because of the life changing gifts that are given by the bosses.
True acts of generosity and kindness.
They always cry because they
The purest definition of a gift: receiving something you could have never gotten on your own and one that you can never repay.
This is what God has done for us in salvation through Christ.
We could never earn it.
We can never repay it.
We are simply to live in the power and pleasure of it.
We receive the gift of salvation through faith.
Faith is not an event in time but a lifestyle to believing.
“The just shall live by faith.”
Galatians 2:20 ESV
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
This morning we will discover the pattern of faith through the life of Abraham found here in Romans Chapter 4.
Bible Story:
Romans 4:1-
Romans 4:1–3 ESV
1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
Romans 4:4–5 ESV
4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
Romans 4:5 ESV
5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
Romans 4:5-6

The Formula of Faith:

Revelation from God + Belief = Faith

Faith is counted as Righteousness

Righteousness produces good works

Faith starts with a word from the Lord.

Abraham’s call to faith.

Genesis 12:1–2 ESV
1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
Gen 12
A call of separation unto God.
A call of miraculous magnitude.
Genesis 15:4–5 ESV
4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very 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 offspring be.”
Genesis 15:4 ESV
4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.”
Gen 15:4

Our call to faith is the same today.

2 Corinthians 6:17–18 ESV
17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 6:14–15 ESV
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
God separates us from the world unto himself.
2 Cor 6:14
God’s plan for your life is always more than you can imagine.

Our revelation from God is his Son, Jesus Christ.

When you witness the facts that Jesus is God everything else is easy to believe.
The miracles of Jesus are not hard to believe if he is God.
The resurrection of Jesus isn’t hard to believe if he is God.
Genesis 15:6 ESV
6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Abraham had to believe that God would bring him a son from a old man and a dead womb.
Genesis 15:6 ESV
6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Romans 4:17 ESV
17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
Rom
Review: Faith starts with a word from the Lord.

Faith continues with a work from the Lord.

We see Abraham’s response to faith.

Romans 1:16–17 ESV
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Faith is the realization that God produces things from nothing.

Abraham had to believe that God would bring him a son from a old man and a dead womb.
Romans 4:17 ESV
17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

Faith is believing in the promises of God when there is no other hope in the World.

Romans 4:18–19 ESV
18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.
Faith is not a hope of wishes. It is not enough that you believe or that you want something.
Faith is trusting in God’s word and direction even when it doesn’t make any sense.
Review: Faith starts with a word from the Lord, continues with the work of the Lord, and....

Faith Ends with a witness to the Lord.

We see Abraham’s Action of Faith.

Romans 4:20–21 ESV
20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
Rom 4:

When you put faith in God’s Word, and join God in His work, you become a witness of God’s Glory.

Faith is joining God in what he is doing no matter how crazy it is to others.

How do you think Noah felt building the ark.
Or the children of Israel walking around Jericho.
Or Jesus calling Peter out of the boat to walk on water.
Or Abraham when God asked him to sacrifice his promised son.
Gen 22:
Genesis 22:1–2 ESV
1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

Tested faith is the only real faith.

Your faith is tested when you must trust God and God alone.
It is in these moments that you know if you are fully convinced.
Hebrews 11:17–19 ESV
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
Hebrews 11:18–19 ESV
18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
Heb 11;

Real faith produces a friend of God.

The only way to have a close relationship to God is to walk by faith and not by sight.
James 2:21 ESV
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
James 2:22–23 ESV
22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.
James 2:21
When you believe God you not only receive his righteousness, but also become a witness of his glory.
Next Steps:

What is God saying to you right now?

Believe In Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Trust him with your life.
God might be saying take that step of faith into the darkness and i will meet you there.

Are you ready to join Him in his work?

God doesn’t call you to your work. He calls you out of your work and into his work.
You can’t do the work of the Lord without him. You must live by faith.

Are you ready to become a witness of his glory?

You’ll never be a friend to God if you don’t walk by faith with God.
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