God uses Abraham as an example of what true Faith looks like…
Romans 4:1-25
ESV – Dramatized
Faith: What the Gospel Requires…
Romans 4 serves as an illustration for the truth presented in Romans 3, culminating in verse 28:
“A man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.”
To prove his point, Paul calls on the most revered figure in Judaism, Abraham, and demonstrates that Abraham was justified (declared righteous) by God on the basis of faith, not works.
The Example of Abraham’s Faith
Paul now proves that justification comes by faith—not works—by appealing to the famous OT example of Abraham.
If ever a man was righteous, it was Abraham. But how did he become righteous?
Was it by doing good works (like receiving the sacrament of circumcision, for example), or was it by unwavering faith in the promises of God?
The Bible says the patriarch believed God, and righteousness was credited or imputed to him on this basis (vv. 3 5 9 22).
Abraham was declared righteous simply by faith, even before he was circumcised (vv. 10–12).
The same is true for us today: whether we are circumcised or uncircumcised, if we believe in the crucified and risen Christ, God has promised that He will credit to us His righteousness by faith (vv. 23–25).
Abraham is a representative figure—the representative father of faith for all subsequent believers.
The Jews were proud to be descendants of Abraham.
Paul uses Abraham as a good example of someone who was saved by faith.
By emphasizing faith, Paul is not saying that God’s law is unimportant (4:13) but that it is impossible to be saved simply by obeying it.
When some people learn that they are saved by God through faith, they start to worry.
“Do I have enough faith?” they wonder.
“Is my faith strong enough to save me?”
These people miss the point.
It is Jesus Christ who saves us, not our feelings or actions, and He is strong enough to save us no matter how weak our faith is.
Jesus offers us salvation as a gift because He loves us, not because we have earned it through our powerful faith.
What, then, is the role of faith?
Faith is believing and trusting in Jesus Christ and reaching out to accept his wonderful gift of salvation.
What can we do to get rid of guilt?
King David was guilty of terrible sins—adultery, murder, lying—and yet he experienced the joy of forgiveness.
We, too, can have this joy when we…
(1) quit denying our guilt and recognize that we have sinned,
(2) admit our guilt to God and ask for his forgiveness, and
(3) let go of our guilt and believe that God has forgiven us.
This can be difficult when a sin has taken root in our life over many years, when it is very serious, or when it involves others.
We must remember that Jesus is willing and able to forgive every sin.
In view of the tremendous price He paid on the cross, it is arrogant to think that there is any sin too great for Him to forgive.
Even though our faith is weak, our conscience is sensitive, and our memory haunts us, God’s Word declares that sins confessed are sins forgiven (1 John 1:9).
Circumcision was a sign to others and a personal seal or certification for the Jews that they were God’s special people.
Circumcision of all Jewish boys set apart the Jewish people from the nations that worshiped other gods; thus, it was a very important ceremony.
God gave the blessing and the command for this ceremony to Abraham (Genesis 17:9-14).
Paul’s point here is that the ritual of circumcision did not earn Abraham his acceptance by God; he had been blessed long before the circumcision ceremony was introduced.
Abraham found favor with God BY FAITH ALONE, before he was circumcised.
Genesis 12:1-3 tells of God’s call to Abraham when he was 75 years old; the circumcision ceremony was introduced when he was 99 (Genesis 17:1-14).
Ceremonies and rituals serve as reminders of our faith as well as instruct new or young believers, but we should not think that they give us any special merit before God.
They are outward signs and seals that demonstrate inner belief and trust.
The focus of our faith should be on Christ and His saving work, not on our own actions.
Paul explains that Abraham had pleased God through faith alone before he had ever heard about the rituals that would become so important to the Jewish people.
We, too, are saved by faith plus nothing.
It is not by loving God and doing good that we are saved; neither is it by faith plus love or by faith plus good deeds.
We are saved ONLY through faith in Christ, trusting Him to forgive ALL our sins.
The promise (or covenant) God gave Abraham stated that Abraham would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:2-4) and that the entire world would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3).
This promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Jesus was from Abraham’s line, and truly the whole world was blessed through Him.
Abraham never doubted that God would fulfill His promise.
Abraham’s life was marked by mistakes, sins, and failures as well as by wisdom and goodness, but he consistently trusted God.
His faith was strengthened by the obstacles he faced, and his life was an example of faith in action.
If he had looked only at his own resources for subduing Canaan and founding a nation, he would have given up in despair.
But Abraham looked to God, obeyed Him, and waited for God to fulfill His Word.
When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, an exchange takes place.
We give Him our sins, and He forgives us and makes us right with God (see 2 Corinthians 5:21).
There is NOTHING we can do to earn this.
Only through Christ can we be made right in God’s eyes.
What an incredible bargain this is for us!
But sadly, many still choose to pass up this gift to continue “enjoying” their sin.
Listen to what Max Lucado has to say on this subject…
For instance, consider Jesus’ response to Nicodemus in John 3.
Jesus makes no mention of Nicodemus’s VIP status, good intentions, or academic credentials, not because they don’t exist, but because, in Jesus’ algorithm, they don’t matter.
He simply issues this proclamation:
“No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (Jn 3:3).
Behold the Continental Divide of Scripture, the International Date Line of faith.
Nicodemus stands on one side, Jesus on the other, and Christ pulls no punches about their differences.
Nicodemus inhabits a land of good efforts, sincere gestures, and hard work.
Give God your best, his philosophy says, and God does the rest.
Jesus’ response?
Your best won’t do. Your works don’t work. Your finest efforts don’t mean squat.
Unless you are born again, you can’t even see what God is up to.
Nicodemus hesitates on behalf of us all. Born again?
“How can someone be born when they are old?” (Jn 3:4).
You must be kidding.
Put life in reverse? Rewind the tape? Start all over?
We can’t be born again.
Oh, but wouldn’t we like to?
A do-over. A try-again. A reload.
Broken hearts and missed opportunities bob in our wake.
A mulligan would be nice. Who wouldn’t cherish a second shot?
But who can pull it off?
Nicodemus scratches his chin and chuckles.
“Yeah, a graybeard like me gets a maternity-ward recall.”
Jesus doesn’t crack a smile.
“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit” (Jn 3:5).
About this time a gust of wind blows a few leaves through the still-open door.
Jesus picks one off the floor and holds it up.
God’s power works like that wind, Jesus explains.
Newborn hearts are born of heaven.
You can’t wish, earn, or create one.
New birth? Inconceivable. God handles the task, start to finish.
Nicodemus looks around the room at the followers.
Their blank expressions betray equal bewilderment.
Old Nick has no hook upon which to hang such thoughts.
He speaks self-fix. But Jesus speaks—indeed introduces—a different language.
Not works born of men and women, but a work done by God.
Picture yourself at a department store. On the shelf you see something you’ve wanted for years, but the price is still too high.
How would you feel if a caring friend or relative bought the item, wrapped it, and gave it to you?
We should each thank God for giving us a gift we could never afford.
SELAH (let us pause and calmly think about these things)
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Friday, June 6
Faith Freedom in the Word
LIMITING GOD IN THE FAITH WALK
by Kenneth E. Hagin
As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
(Rom. 4:17)
Let me give you some examples of God calling those things that be not as though they were.
Revelation 13:8 says,
“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
The Bible speaks of Jesus as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
And yet, Jesus did not hang on the Cross until thousands of years later.
Ephesians 1:4 says,
“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.”
We were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.
We weren’t even born yet.
Well, was God lying when He said that?
No, He wasn’t.
Sin is disobeying God. And holiness is simply obeying and pleasing God in all things at all times.
One way to obey and to please God is to walk by faith.
Hebrews 11:6 says,
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
God is pleased when you call those things that be not as though they were.
This attitude honors God, because you are believing His Word without any outward evidence.
It also puts you in an attitude of faith to receive great things from God.
PRAYER CONFESSION:
God is pleased when I walk by faith. God is pleased when I call those things that be not as though they were, because I am believing His Word without any outward evidence.
(Source: Health Food Devotions by Kenneth E. Hagin.)
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