Abraham Justified by Faith
4 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed [in Yahweh] God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” [Genesis 15:6]
4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”
9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
Introduction
Let’s begin by briefly touching the high points…
[1] All men are sinners, hopelessly depraved
[2] People are not saved by being good/righteous/keeping the law/being a Jew/Circumcision.
[3] People are made right with God {Justified} when they put their faith in Jesus. Romans 3:25...People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.
[4] Salvation is a work of GRACE…something God does for us…We have every right to praise Him and no right to boast…Salvation cannot be earned
NOTE PAUL’S TWO EXAMPLES: Abraham and David
[1] Abraham was not saved by obeying the LAW {morality}, the law came 600 years later. He was not saved by being circumcised{religious ritual}: God gave him credit for being righteous before his circumcision [13 years].
[2] David certainly was not saved by keeping the law. He openly violated the law. God anointed David to write these words…
“Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”
The two brightest stars in the Hebrew heavens were saved by GRACE.
THE JEWS OF JESUS DAY WERE NOTHING LIKE ABRAHAM OR DAVID
John 8:56
Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”
In Matthew 22 Jesus gets in a discussion with the Pharisees over David. Is the Messiah David’s son Jesus asked: they said “yes.” Then Jesus said, “Why did David under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit refer then to the Messiah as LORD?”
The Jews didn’t rejoice to see Jesus nor would they call him LORD. Paul’s argument, “You worship Abraham, claim to be his sons, but you are nothing life him nor are you like David.”
Is your perception of who you are true/accurate. The Jews thought they were like Abraham but they had a false perception of themselves.
EVERY RELIGION IN THE WORLD TEACHES SALVATION BY WORKS
If you were the devil and you wanted to damn as many as possible: what doctrine would you corrupt? Would it not be salvation?
[1] Salvation by works appeals to man’s pride and vanity.
[2] Salvation by works robs God of His glory.
[3] Salvation by works eliminates Faith and mocks Grace.
[4] Salvation by works makes Christ death vain/senseless
Conclusion
For several years we did the FAITH PRESENTATION of the gospel. The KEY question is: “In your personal opinion, what do you understand it takes to go to heaven.” More than 9 out of 10 will give you a works answer.
You can say what you want about the devil but he is good at what he does, which is to deceive people. That is why many will be shocked when judgment comes. Standing before Christ, they will give a works answer…it is recorded in Matthew 7
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’
Did you catch, “Did we not”. They built their assurance on what they did in His name.
Salvation is a gift that receive by faith. It can never be earned.
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