REBC Adult Bible Study - Romans 4
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Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Text Reading:
Text Reading:
Text Reading: Romans 3:1-8
Text Reading: Romans 3:1-8
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Text Reading:
MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary
Paul uses the model of Abraham to prove justification by faith alone because the Jews held him up as the supreme example of a righteous man (Jn 8:39), and because it clearly showed that Judaism with its works-righteousness had deviated from the faith of the Jews’ patriarchal ancestors. In a spiritual sense, Abraham was the forerunner of the primarily Gentile church in Rome as well
Background to Chapter 4
Paul uses the model of Abraham to prove justification by faith alone
John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .
Because the Jews held him up as the supreme example of a righteous man
And because it clearly showed that Judaism with its works-righteousness had deviated from the faith of the Jews’ patriarchal ancestors.
In a spiritual sense, Abraham was the forerunner of the primarily Gentile church in Rome as well
Verse 1: Then what advantage has the Jew? Paul is having a conversation with our natural human objection to God’s truth Also viewed as a typical response from an unbelieverOr a person with an unregenerate mindVerse 2: Entrusted with the oracles of God.One of those advantages is the oracles of GodOracles of God is also known as the Old Testament or ScriptureSo, let’s rephrase this again: We, Christians, are entrusted with the Holy Bible.Verse 3: Their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?Paul anticipated that Jewish readers would disagree with his statements that God has not guaranteed to fulfill His promises to every physical descendant of Abraham. Another way we can look at it from a Christian perspective, is not all who say “Lord, Lord” are actually saved.Jesus on Judgement day will say “Get away for I do not know you” for they don’t have saving faithBefore any Jew or Christian, regardless of the purity of his lineage or saying a sinners prayer or walking down an aisle, can inherit the promises God made without first coming to repentance and faith God is always faithfulness even if man does not believeVerse 4: May it never be!Strongest objection in the Greek Paul usesEquivalent to “A Thousand Times, NO”Verse 4: Let God be found true, though every man be found a liarIf all mankind were to agree that God had been unfaithful to His promises, it would only prove that all are liars and God is trueVerse 5: But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He?God’s good ends do not justify mankind’s evil meansGod is always just, even with the fact that our unrighteousness showcases His righteousnessOur darkness reveals His light, like a diamond with a black cloth background (Steve Lawson example)God raised up Pharaoh and hardened his heart to showcase His glory and fulfill His purposeVerse 7: But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?Then Paul, speaking in the place yet again of an unbeliever, says can a sinner be judged if God uses a sinner to show His glory?Is that fair?Can God really condemn Pharaoh if He is the one who hardened his heart?Is this justice?We must continue on to find out what Paul has to say to our natural objections to God’s truth Questions or Comments?
Verse 2: If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about
Verse 1: Then what advantage has the Jew? Paul is having a conversation with our natural human objection to God’s truth Also viewed as a typical response from an unbelieverOr a person with an unregenerate mindVerse 2: Entrusted with the oracles of God.One of those advantages is the oracles of GodOracles of God is also known as the Old Testament or ScriptureSo, let’s rephrase this again: We, Christians, are entrusted with the Holy Bible.Verse 3: Their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?Paul anticipated that Jewish readers would disagree with his statements that God has not guaranteed to fulfill His promises to every physical descendant of Abraham. Another way we can look at it from a Christian perspective, is not all who say “Lord, Lord” are actually saved.Jesus on Judgement day will say “Get away for I do not know you” for they don’t have saving faithBefore any Jew or Christian, regardless of the purity of his lineage or saying a sinners prayer or walking down an aisle, can inherit the promises God made without first coming to repentance and faith God is always faithfulness even if man does not believeVerse 4: May it never be!Strongest objection in the Greek Paul usesEquivalent to “A Thousand Times, NO”Verse 4: Let God be found true, though every man be found a liarIf all mankind were to agree that God had been unfaithful to His promises, it would only prove that all are liars and God is trueVerse 5: But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He?God’s good ends do not justify mankind’s evil meansGod is always just, even with the fact that our unrighteousness showcases His righteousnessOur darkness reveals His light, like a diamond with a black cloth background (Steve Lawson example)God raised up Pharaoh and hardened his heart to showcase His glory and fulfill His purposeVerse 7: But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?Then Paul, speaking in the place yet again of an unbeliever, says can a sinner be judged if God uses a sinner to show His glory?Is that fair?Can God really condemn Pharaoh if He is the one who hardened his heart?Is this justice?We must continue on to find out what Paul has to say to our natural objections to God’s truth Questions or Comments?
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
Text Reading:
Text Reading:
Text Reading: Romans 3:9-20
Text Reading: Romans 3:9-20
Any credit you give yourself for being saved is something you would be able to boast about
You did not seek God
You did not love God
You did not choose God
If even one of these points is true, you could boast
I sought God
I loved God
I choose God
destroys this false narrative
God sought you out first
God loved you first
God chose you first
We have nothing to boast in
Verse 9: Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;Are we any better than an unbeliever?Can we boast in our good deeds?As Paul says, “Not at all”We all start off, believer and unbeliever, under the curse of sinThen Paul, the expert theologian builds his argument and builds his case with ScriptureVerse 10-12: THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.Paul is quoting and Psalms 53How many are righteous? None. Man is universally evil Not even oneNone understand. Man is unable to comprehend the truth of God or grasp His standard of righteousnessNot even oneNo one seeks God. Man’s natural tendency is to seek his own interests and desiresNot even oneNo one does good. No one is good but God alone (, ) Not even oneNine times he uses words such as “none” and “all” to show the universality of human sin and rebellionWhy?Verse 18: THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYESThe reason why, is that there is no one who fears GodProper attitude to God is “fear,” or devout reverenceNot even oneMan’s true spiritual condition is nowhere more clearly seen than in the absence of a proper submission to and reverence for GodWithout God’s mercy, we are totally depraved and not a single one of us would be counted as righteousWhat about Job? Abraham? David?Just like you and me, they where only counted as righteous after God sought them out first.Remember Abraham was credited as righteous through his faith (, , )It is only as a result of God’s work in the heart that anyone seeks HimVerse 19: Whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the LawVerse 19: All the world may become accountable to GodNotice the verse reads “says” which is a further indication that Paul sees Scripture as the living voice of GodWe are all subject to the lawWe are all accountableNone can claim to be free from guilt before GodAll are lostAs a Holy God, every sin, every breaking of the law must be paidThe penalty that is deserving of the high treason and open rebellion we commit when we sin is DEATHVerse 20: By the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sightOn our own, we are not justified at allWe simply stand in front of a Holy God as criminals We are not victims. We are criminals, guilty in the eyes of a just GodAny objection to this is simple proof of our rebellious nature against an All Good and Just GodBut thank God for the last part of Chapter 3Questions or Comments?
Verse 9: Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;Are we any better than an unbeliever?Can we boast in our good deeds?As Paul says, “Not at all”We all start off, believer and unbeliever, under the curse of sinThen Paul, the expert theologian builds his argument and builds his case with ScriptureVerse 10-12: THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.Paul is quoting Psalms 14 and Psalms 53How many are righteous? None. Man is universally evil Not even oneNone understand. Man is unable to comprehend the truth of God or grasp His standard of righteousnessNot even oneNo one seeks God. Man’s natural tendency is to seek his own interests and desiresNot even oneNo one does good. No one is good but God alone (Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19) Not even oneNine times he uses words such as “none” and “all” to show the universality of human sin and rebellionWhy?Verse 18: THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYESThe reason why, is that there is no one who fears GodProper attitude to God is “fear,” or devout reverenceNot even oneMan’s true spiritual condition is nowhere more clearly seen than in the absence of a proper submission to and reverence for GodWithout God’s mercy, we are totally depraved and not a single one of us would be counted as righteousWhat about Job? Abraham? David?Just like you and me, they where only counted as righteous after God sought them out first.Remember Abraham was credited as righteous through his faith (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3, Romans 4:9)It is only as a result of God’s work in the heart that anyone seeks HimVerse 19: Whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the LawVerse 19: All the world may become accountable to GodNotice the verse reads “says” which is a further indication that Paul sees Scripture as the living voice of GodWe are all subject to the lawWe are all accountableNone can claim to be free from guilt before GodAll are lostAs a Holy God, every sin, every breaking of the law must be paidThe penalty that is deserving of the high treason and open rebellion we commit when we sin is DEATHVerse 20: By the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sightOn our own, we are not justified at allWe simply stand in front of a Holy God as criminals We are not victims. We are criminals, guilty in the eyes of a just GodAny objection to this is simple proof of our rebellious nature against an All Good and Just GodBut thank God for the last part of Chapter 3Questions or Comments?
Verse 3: For what does the Scripture say?
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
May this be our tagline for all our life in every circumstance
Verse 3: ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
6 Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
How did Abraham receive the status of Righteous?
He believed…Believed in what?
Verse 4:
The promise of the future Messiah…He believed in Jesus
And it was credited to Him until Jesus paid it all on the cross
It is a one-sided transaction—Abraham did nothing to accumulate it
God simply credited it to him
God took His own righteousness and credited it to Abraham as if it were actually his
John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .
John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .
Verse 4: To the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
If works are a part of salvation, then it is what is due to you
But salvation is by God’s free grace
If salvation were on the basis of one’s own effort...
God would owe salvation as a debt
But salvation is always a sovereignly given gift of God’s grace to those who believe
Although faith was Abraham’s action...
John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .
It contributed nothing to Abraham’s resultant righteousness before God....
R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 1985.
Which was God’s own gift
Verse 5: To the one who...believes in Him
For all who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior
Verse 5: Who justifies the ungodly
Jesus’ perfect and complete work on the cross justifies believers
Note that all believers originally were ungodly (again Romans 3)
Verse 5: His faith is credited as righteousness
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
Verse 6:
Verse 7:
Again, what contributes to our righteousness?
Faith in Him
Any merit of our own...
Even the good that redeemed people do...
R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 1985.
Is by the power of the Holy Spirit...
And therefore it is excluded
By God’s Grace Alone in Christ Alone through Faith Alone for the Glory to God Alone as revealed in Scripture Alone
Verse 8: BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT
Quoting Psalms
1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered!
2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!
This was a penitential psalm written by David after his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband
In spite of the enormity of his sin and the utter absence of personal merit...
John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .
David knew the blessing of imputed righteousness
John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .
Jesus’ work on the cross means a believers sins: past, present and future will not be counted toward them
There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
You are in Christ when you surrender to His Lordship, when you genuinely believe
Questions or Comments?
Text Reading:
Text Reading:
Text Reading: Romans 3:21-31
Text Reading: Romans 3:21-31
Text Reading:
Text Reading:
Verse 21: But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifestedWe have hope apart from the lawVerse 22-23: Righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God We may now be viewed as righteous in the eyes of God through faith in ChristThis is nothing to boast aboutEveryone of us falls short of God’s gloryEveryone of us falls short of the perfection that is required by GodBut if you believe in Jesus as Lord of your life, God the Father doesn’t see your sinful nature anymore, He sees His SonVerse 24: Being justified as a gift You earn a pay check, a gift is freely given Verse 24: By His grace Unmerited favorNot by your past works, not by your present works and not but your future worksYou are now saved by His mercy and graceCan I get an amen!Verse 24: Through the redemption which is in Christ JesusWhat about the cost of our sin that we committed against God?All sin must be paidAnd Jesus took our place Verse 25: Whom God displayed publicly Jesus paid it all in full and paid it publicity so we would all know that we don’t have to stand on judgement day aloneWe now have a Mediator, our High Priest and AdvocateHere is the heart of the Christian faith, for at the cross God’s justice and love meetVerse 25: As a propitiation in His blood through faith. Jesus’ blood “propitiated” or satisfied God’s wrath, so that his holiness was not compromised in forgiving sinners.Jesus took on our curse, the full measure of God’s wrathEvery sin you have committed and will commit Jesus suffered for us in our placeJesus paid it in full with His precious bloodVerse 25: This was to demonstrate His righteousnessThis was the ultimate act of loveThrough this, we see God’s righteousness, holiness and justiceVerse 27: Where then is boasting? ....Of works? No, but by a law of faith.What can we really boast about?All we did is add to the sin payment that Jesus had to payMay we never again mock a sinner or unbeliever for who are we to boast!Who in this room can look down at another sinner when it was us who drove the nails in our Savior’s hands and feet?Who here will throw the first stone when it was us who ripped the flesh off our King’s back when we scorghed Him nearly to death?Who here is ready to pronounce judgement on an unbeliever when we as a whole spit on, mocked and drove a crown of thorns on the head of the innocent Lamb of God?Verse 28: For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.Hallelujah and Amen!Verse 31: Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.The law is not nullifiedWe are to follow God’s moral commandsHowever, we are no longer a slave to sin and incapable of following the lawJesus, as Lord of our life, sets us freeThe Holy Spirit that now lives in us as believers will help us to follow God’s moral law and commandsQuestions or Comments?
Verse 21: But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifestedWe have hope apart from the lawVerse 22-23: Righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God We may now be viewed as righteous in the eyes of God through faith in ChristThis is nothing to boast aboutEveryone of us falls short of God’s gloryEveryone of us falls short of the perfection that is required by GodBut if you believe in Jesus as Lord of your life, God the Father doesn’t see your sinful nature anymore, He sees His SonVerse 24: Being justified as a gift You earn a pay check, a gift is freely given Verse 24: By His grace Unmerited favorNot by your past works, not by your present works and not but your future worksYou are now saved by His mercy and graceCan I get an amen!Verse 24: Through the redemption which is in Christ JesusWhat about the cost of our sin that we committed against God?All sin must be paidAnd Jesus took our place Verse 25: Whom God displayed publicly Jesus paid it all in full and paid it publicity so we would all know that we don’t have to stand on judgement day aloneWe now have a Mediator, our High Priest and AdvocateHere is the heart of the Christian faith, for at the cross God’s justice and love meetVerse 25: As a propitiation in His blood through faith. Jesus’ blood “propitiated” or satisfied God’s wrath, so that his holiness was not compromised in forgiving sinners.Jesus took on our curse, the full measure of God’s wrathEvery sin you have committed and will commit Jesus suffered for us in our placeJesus paid it in full with His precious bloodVerse 25: This was to demonstrate His righteousnessThis was the ultimate act of loveThrough this, we see God’s righteousness, holiness and justiceVerse 27: Where then is boasting? ....Of works? No, but by a law of faith.What can we really boast about?All we did is add to the sin payment that Jesus had to payMay we never again mock a sinner or unbeliever for who are we to boast!Who in this room can look down at another sinner when it was us who drove the nails in our Savior’s hands and feet?Who here will throw the first stone when it was us who ripped the flesh off our King’s back when we scorghed Him nearly to death?Who here is ready to pronounce judgement on an unbeliever when we as a whole spit on, mocked and drove a crown of thorns on the head of the innocent Lamb of God?Verse 28: For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.Hallelujah and Amen!Verse 31: Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.The law is not nullifiedWe are to follow God’s moral commandsHowever, we are no longer a slave to sin and incapable of following the lawJesus, as Lord of our life, sets us freeThe Holy Spirit that now lives in us as believers will help us to follow God’s moral law and commandsQuestions or Comments?
Verse 4:
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer
Questions or Comments?
Text Reading:
Text Reading:
Verse 9: Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also?
Did Abraham’s circumcision have anything to do with his righteousness?
Verse 9: FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
Paul again used this Scripture (2nd time using ) and uses this in his letter to the Galatians
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
6 Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.
Again it was Abraham’s faith
Verse 10: Was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
Note that Scripture makes it very clear that before circumcision, Abraham was saved
The chronology of Genesis proves Paul’s case.
Abraham was 86 when Ishmael was born ()
John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .
And Abraham was 99 when he was circumcised.
But God declared him righteous before Ishmael had even been conceived (; )...
at least 14 years before Abraham’s circumcision
Scripture also makes clear we are saved before Baptism
Works come about after salvation
Verse 11: He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised
Just as circumcision was an act of obedience that was symbolic, Baptism is also an act of obedience and is symbolic
Verse 11: Father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
Abraham is not just the father to those related to him by blood.
Abraham’s true children are by faith
We as Believers are true sons of Abraham, even more so than some related by blood
Faith also is credited as righteousness for us the believers
Verse 12: The faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
Again Scripture is clear, Abraham was saved by faith before even being circumcised
This is so important this is immediately repeated
Questions or Comments?
Text Reading:
Text Reading:
Verse 13: The promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
The promises for Abraham and us is through faith
Not the Law
Not by any works
No reason to boast
God’s original intention for Israel was that they would be faithful and reflect God’s presence from the temple throughout the world...
And thus, God’s presence in the Promised Land was to be extended throughout the world
R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 1985.
Consequently, the world was to become dominated by God’s tabernacling presence...
And the Promised Land would become equal to the new earth
Verse 14: If those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
Text Reading:
Text Reading:
If salvation was by the Law or any works, we would fail
Verse 16:
Faith and works are fundamentally opposed...
for faith means trusting in or relying on a promise of God’s work...
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2164.
And not depending in any way on human performance
Verse 15: The Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
Why? Because as great as the law is, wrath is part of the law because it exposes man’s sinfulness
But thank God we are in Christ for we will not suffer any condemnation
Verse 16: That the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
The promises of God is for all the descendants of Abraham
Not by blood line but by hid decedents of Faith, Followers of Chirst
Blood does not connect us
Our true brothers and sisters are those that are in fellowship in Christ
Verse 17: A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU
5 “No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.
5 And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
,
5 And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
13 “Surely My hand founded the earth, And My right hand spread out the heavens; When I call to them, they stand together.
2 “Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; When he was but one I called him, Then I blessed him and multiplied him.”
Although, the Jewish people thought they are saved by bloodline, being physical descendants of Abraham...
God makes it clear from back in the Old Testament, Abraham is a father of many nations
Abraham is our, the Christian believers, spiritual father
Verse 17: God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
We all start off dead
Lost and away from God
Every true believer was at one point before they knew Christ, the lost sheep from the parable of the 1 and the 99
But Jesus calls us
He call our dead bones to have life
He calls what was not there to come into existence
Questions or Comments?
Questions or Comments?
Text Reading:
Text Reading:
Verse 19: Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
Verse 19:
Weak in Faith means when doubt erodes one’s confidence in God’s Word
John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .
When meet with life's challenges, can we say we do not become weak in our faith?
You may be on fire for the Lord when you are walking on water, but where is your faith when the waves start coming at you?
Where is our faith in the midst of the raging storm?
Abraham had faith in God, ever doubting anything was impossible for God...
And trusted in His promises 100% due to God’s past perfect faithfulness
Verse 20: With respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
The storms in life, the impossible situations is not meant to weaken our faith...
God is not finding out what you are made of…
He already knows you
When believers go through hard testing, God is showing us we never need to worry…
howing us we never need to worry…We just need to lean on Him
We just need to lean on Him
In the midst of the raging storm, our faith should grow…
And we should be glorifying God
Giving glory to God is a hallmark of faith...
Since it is dependence on God’s power and trust in His word of promise
R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 1986.
Verse 21: Being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
We are to look forward to the promises of God
He reveals His promises to encourage us and help us get through the tough times
Even Jesus, while on the cross, looked forward to the prize set before Him
Verse 23-24: Not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also
but for our sake also
Verse 23:
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
This was not just for Abraham
This is the same for anyone who believes
Anyone from the beginning of creation until the last day of this old earth
Salvation has always been, continues to be and will always be about having genuine saving faith in Jesus...
Before, it was those that believed in the promised Messiah...
Now, it was those who put their trust in Jesus
Verse 24: Those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
Notice the same essential truths that must be believed in both the mind and the heart as
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
Belief in the Resurrection
Belief in the Father
Belief in Jesus
Belief Jesus is Lord
Verse 25: Delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
Jesus paid for our transgressions but His resurrection and conquering of death was for our justification
In His death...
Christ bore the legal penalty for our guilt
R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 1986.
In raising Jesus from the dead...
The Father vindicated Jesus, nullifying the sentence of death, and declaring Him to be righteous...
This vindication grounds our justification through our union with Christ
Christians as united with Christ in his death and resurrection...
God’s approval of Christ at the resurrection results in God’s approval...
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2165.
Also of all who are united to Christ...
And in this way results in our justification
Questions or Comments?
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer