Simple Trusting Faith
2003023
Topic # 0279 (grace)
Introduction:
A.
Review of lessons
thus far…
1.
Can there be any
hope for me? What does God want
from me? God has Spoken; Under
Grace or Law?
B.
What is faith?
1.
First there must
be a fact. Something has to happen.
2.
Next…there must
be a witness.
3.
Then…there has to
be a testimony.
4.
Then…there comes
faith.
C.
A person believes
the fact – but it is because one accepts the testimony.
1.
Rom. 10:17; Heb.
11:1; 6
2.
Faith is
something you do. You believe.
3.
One accepts the
testimony and on the basis of testimony one agrees to a fact he has not
witnessed.
4.
example: One does
not know – but there are capable and qualified witnesses who have
testified that heaven exists.
a)
we accept
testimony which was confirmed w/signs following.
D.
So faith = based
on testimony of credible witnesses to a fact we do not know but accept as true.
E.
Just how
important is faith?
I. We are
saved by faith. Romans 4
A.
Rom 1-3 –
Paul indicts all men has having sinned and thus worthy of condemnation. Jew/Gentile!
B.
Rom 4 –
Paul explodes the myth that salvation can be obtained on basis of works alone.
1.
4:1-4 –
context demands “justification by works” means one is free of guilt on basis of
ones own deeds.
a)
remember
“justified” means to be declared free of
guilt.
b)
If justified by
works alone – means one has not sinned.
2.
impossible! 1 John 1:5-10; Rom. 3:9-18; 23; 6:23-24
3.
since all have
sinned – how can one be made free of guilt?
a)
forgiveness
through Jesus! This is grace!
C.
4:3 – faith
credited to Abraham as righteousness.
1.
Greek: logizomai. This = accounting term. Means “to record or count.” (Thayer)
a)
to take into
account; to make account of.
2.
what is counted
here? Faith! 4:3.
D.
4:4-5 – if
accounted free of sin by works – then a person never sinned.
1.
salvation would
be earned; the reward would be given because God owes it.
2.
4:5 – “one
who does not work.”
a)
nullify obedience? Not hardly! This never implied in
any passage!
b)
Remember..subject
here = justification. Not by
law/works but by faith!
3.
4:5 – God
is the one who justifies. (counts
free of guilt.)
a)
God can count
someone who has been ungodly as “not guilty” of sin.
b)
4:5 –
what’s being credited here? Faith!
4.
4:6-8 –
These verses explain how God could count as free from sin someone who had been
ungodly.
a)
Abraham did not
earn his salvation – he was not sin free.
b)
He sinned –
but there was something credited to him as righteousness – His faith!
c)
His salvation was
based on the fact of his faith in God’s ability to forgive him of sin.
II. Why
did God forgive Abraham of his sins?
A.
Gen. 12:4 –
Abraham = 75. Leaves Haran –
goes to land of promise.
1.
16:16 – 86
when Ishmael born.
2.
Between 75 &
86 his faith first counted for righteousness. (Gen. 15:6)
B.
Next occasion
where he told faith accounted for righteousness Rom 4:16-22.
1.
not the same
occasion as in Gen. 15. Rom.
4:16-22 refers to Gen. 17:1-19 & the promise of a son through Sarah.
a)
fulfilled in
21:1-8.
2.
Gen. 17:1 –
Abraham = 99 years old. Rom. 4:22
says his faith accounted to him as righteousness.
C.
Next…righteousness
is seen in Gen. 22 w/offering of Isaac on altar.
1.
bound his son
– intended to take his life as sacrifice for God.
2.
Compare to Js.
2:21-23. These were works of faith.
a)
how old Abraham
at this occasion? Isaac prob.
15-16 years old.
b)
So Abraham
probably 115-120 years old.
D.
What the point?
III. Faith is not a one-time event.
A.
Rom. 4:1-4
– is not an “experience of faith.” Not a 1 time thing.
1.
Faith of Romans
4:1-4 started many years earlier. How? Heb. 11:8-10.
2.
Abraham believed
God in Gen. 12 or else he would have never left Haran. Each time Abraham believed God. We’re not just talking about faith at one particular pt in his life.
3.
It was a life of faith that was imputed to Him
for righteousness.
4.
Abraham’s entire life was based on obedience through faith.
B.
So when Paul
teaches we are justified by faith – he does not speak of “faith only.”
C.
Justification
only possible through a life of
faithfulness to Jesus Christ!
IV. This
involves simple, trusting faith.
A.
We must have a
“saving faith” as Abraham did.
1.
We believe in
Jesus as the Savior of mankind.
2.
We recognize we
are sinners in need of forgiveness.
3.
We are justified
(made free of guilt) on the basis of blood of Christ – Rom. 5:6-10
4.
Jesus – as
our substitute – died for our sins.
B.
Think about this
principle as expressed by Robert Turner:
1.
When we forgive
someone – we have to take the punishment.
a)
someone does you
wrong. If you take ideal that you
must be paid for whatever lost before the record is settled – this is not
forgiveness.
b)
True forgiveness
is when one willing to “bear the cost” and say “I will just take the hurt.”
c)
“You have hurt me
– but I will take it; I forgive you.”
2.
Isn’t this what
God has done for us? We have
sinned against heaven!
3.
Lk. 15:18, 21;
Psa. 51:4; Gen. 39:9
a)
final
analysis: ALL sin is against God
– our Creator!
C.
Sin is against
God but God takes the beating in that He sent Jesus to die to pay the price for
OUR sin.
1.
When we begin to
put our trust in Him – and submissively serve Him as best we can –
we can begin to appreciate what it means to be saved by grace!
D.
Think! Saved by Grace!
1.
God in His mercy
gave Jesus to die on our behalf – through Him we receive forgiveness of
sin.
2.
Now read Rom.
4:6-8 again.
Conclusion:
A.
If we want to
understand justification look to the scriptures telling us what we must do for
remission of sin.
1.
When we find out
God’s plan – then can one see God’s grace.
B.
God calls upon
you to submit (truly give yourself) to Him.
1.
starts
w/repentance.
2.
Continues
w/confession
3.
God calls upon
you to humbly & penitently come to be buried w/Him in Baptism for remission
of sin.
4.
righteousness
becomes ours when sin is removed.
5.
After baptism our
former sins have been removed.
C.
What about after
this – never sin again? Certainly not!
1.
approach God;
acknowledge sin; plead for mercy
2.
ask sins to be
forgiven in Jesus’ name.
D.
What about you? Wished to be saved by grace of
God? Obey the gospel!
E.
If you once
trusted in Christ – but have allowed love to grow cold – repent
& pray & ask God to help you.
F.
I N V I T A T I O
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