Romans 4:16-25
by:
Dan Hill, PhD
Pastor, Southwood Bible Church
7655 South Sheridan Avenue
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74113
E-Mail: hill918@aol.com
Romans 4:16
For this reason it is by faith, that it might be in accordance with grace,
in order that the promise may be certain to all the descendants, not only
to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham,
who is the father of us all,
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So the Law system was never the system for obtaining righteousness, only
for demonstrating to man that he was a sinner ... all have sinned and come
short.
And because the Law could not bring in Righteousness, it is Faith that is
effective according to grace, in order that the promise may be to all the
descendants of Abraham, both Jews (those of the Law) and Gentiles (those
of faith).
The model then: OUR FAITH + GOD'S GRACE = THE PROMISE
Then Paul kinda rubs it in by quoting from Genesis...
Romans 4:17
As it is written (Genesis 17:5), A father of many nations have I made
you. In the sight of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the
dead and calls into being that which does not exist.
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Life to the dead here is life to Abraham and Sarah who are sexually dead.
"Calling into being that which does not exist" refers to the birth
of Isaac, the heir who at the time of promise was even less than a gleam
in his father's eye.
Now, Abraham's response to the promise ...
Romans 4:18
In hope against hope he believed, in order that he might become a father
of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall your
descendants be (Genesis 15:5).
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In the opening word of this verse we have the essence of true faith . .
. In hope against hope he believed. But believed in what? In that which
was spoken!
Here are some of the substitutes for faith we have around us today.
Modern Substitutes for Faith
1. Delusion: This is denial of reality which becomes a form of escapism.
Some suppose they have great faith because they refuse to accept reality.
I heard once of an epitaph on a tombstone that read "Not dead, but
sleeping". One of the grounds keepers at the cemetery was fond of saying,
"He ain't foolin' anyone but himself".
We try to fool ourselves, deny reality, escape into a world of our own making.
This is not faith.
Abraham had to face reality, he and Sarah were long past the age of child
bearing, but the greater reality was not in his own mind, but in the Word
of the Lord.
2. The Error: This type of faith runs through a course of logic that
goes something like this: God is perfect (yes), a perfect God cannot create
anything that is not perfect (yes), God created all things did He not (again
yes) ... Therefore all things are perfect and any imperfection, sin, is
just an illusion of the mortal mind (NO!).
But that error forgets one thing. The perfect God gave perfect man free
will. And perfection can do that! Even prior to that God gave a perfect
creature, Lucifer, free will and that free will was misused.
Failure to take into account the entrance of sin and death into creation
and divine judgment at the fall of man will lead to delusion, self deception,
and error.
3. Presumption is a substitute for Faith. Here man has bought into
the lie that the human mind can be so exalted as to touch upon the divine.
Rationalism reigns supreme in this system.
So often in this system of false faith only that which agrees with the rational
mind is believed. So if God's Word agrees with us, then good, it not, it
is archaic and not intended to be applied today.
In Matthew 7:21-23, "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will
enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is
in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy
in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform
many miracles? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart
from Me, you who practice lawlessness."
LAWLESSNESS is ANOMIA which is anti-law or being a law unto self.
4. The fourth false system of Faith is to rely upon the supposed faith
of another. This is called credu-ity. The tendency to believe too rapidly,
without thought. In primitive cultures we see the native buying into and
believing all that the witch doctor has to say.
But even in our sophisticated society we have those who by way of a false
faith just buy into whatever is promoted as being of God. Such claims as
God told me, God visited me, God told me to tell you, seem to abound in
religious thinking today.
This is not faith, this is being a sucker for a showman. Ignoring what is
plainly taught in the Word of God.
Romans 4:19-22
And 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;
Yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but
grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,
And being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform.
Therefore also, it was reckoned to him as righteousness
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Seven Aspects of Abraham's Faith
1. Abraham was not weak in faith: The word "weak"
means to be feeble. He understood that the strength of faith was not in
Him but in the Lord. Hence, there was not inner doubt but outward faith.
True faith originates with God not with us.
2. He did not look at his own personal inability: He was nearly 100 years
old and was sexually dead but that problem was God's problem, not his.
3. He did not look at the difficulties of circumstances: His wife, Sarah,
was also old but the deadness of her womb was a circumstance and God was
greater than circumstances.
4. He did not see God's promise as impossible: With man many things are
impossible. That is part of the reality in which we live. To deny it is
to delude ourselves. But with God, all things are possible.
5. He grew even stronger in faith: He knew that his faith was in something
of great strength, the promise of God and therefore it was a strong faith.
The more he matured as a believer the stronger his faith became because
he knew more of the One his faith rested in.
6. Who whole attitude was that of being fully persuaded as one who knows
something without question.
His name ABRAHAM, meant Father of a Great Multitude. He had that name given
to him by God prior to the birth of Isaac. And it was the name he used with
confidence.
7. Faith, true faith results in action: v 21b, "He was also able to
perform".
Now all the promises of the birth of Isaac would not do any good if they
were just talked about. I could hear Abraham and Sarah now, in the moonlight
of Canaan, by the flickering fire, the tent shades drawn, talking about
having a son . . . folks, they did not talk about it, they did it.
Faith takes the action! "Therefore also it was reckoned to him as righteousness."
Romans 4:23-25 show the application of these teaching to us.
Romans 4:23,24
Now not for his sake only was it written, that it was reckoned to him,
But for our sake also, to whom it will be reckoned, as those who believe
in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
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Here Paul begins to lead into the imputation of divine righteousness in
the Christian life, by introducing the resurrection of Christ.
Out total and ultimate acceptance by God comes in heaven and is a result
of the Father's acceptance of Jesus Christ who endured the Cross.
One could be accepted into heaven, in the presence of the Father, until
the Jesus Christ was accepted in heaven at the right hand of God.
Read 2 Cor. 5:21
Topic: IMPUTATION
The resurrection of Jesus Christ and His accession is important for four
reasons:
1. He is the heir of the Davidic Covenant: David was promised
a descendant who would rule forever and that descendant is the Lord Jesus
Christ.
2. He is the Mediator of a New Covenant: And a mediator must be equal with
both parties, God and man, and the one who sits at God's right hand is fully
God and fully man.
3. He is our High Priest: We need a man to represent us before God and the
Lord Jesus Christ, alive, in heaven right now, is that man, our High Priest.
4. He is our Saviour: He purchased us out of the slave market of sin, but
without a living Saviour we have no place to go. He is our Lord, alive right
now.
Romans 4:25
He who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised
because of our justification.
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Jesus Christ went to the Cross because of our transgressions clearly taught
in the OT Law.
And then He rose again because we were already justified.
The Christian Life is not good without a Living Christ.
Topic: RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
End of Lesson 18
Grace Notes
Warren Doud
1705 Aggie Lane, Austin, Texas 78757
Phone: 512-458-8923
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