Gtcotr/ss010823
Romans 4 NLT
1 ¶ Abraham was, humanly
speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being
made right with God?
2 If his good deeds had made
him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was
not God’s way.
3 For the Scriptures tell us,
“Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
4 When people work, their
wages are not a gift, but something they have earned.
5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.
The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Church in Rome while he was living in Corinth, one of the most sinful cities in the world at that time. Paul is attempting to teach the difference between trying to impress God, and trying to please Him. A person cannot please God without faith. Good works might make us feel better about ourselves, but good works cannot purchase forgiveness.
Paul uses Abraham as an example of someone who discovered how to be made right with God. Blessings are a gift given to those who are right with God. Blessings go along with being right with God. Blessings are a reward from God when we please Him. So, what pleases God? Our faith in Him.
We may not always get things right, Abraham didn’t. But God wants us to know that Abraham shined in the one area where it counted most … Abraham believed God! Let’s look back to the account to which Paul was referring.
Genesis 15 NLT
1 ¶ Some time later, the LORD
spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I
will protect you, and your reward will be great.”
2 ¶ But Abram replied, “O
Sovereign LORD, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son?
Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my
household, will inherit all my wealth.
3 You have given me no
descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.”
4 Then the LORD said to him,
“No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own
who will be your heir.”
5 Then the LORD took Abram
outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can.
That’s how many descendants you will have!”
6 And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith.
Abraham was 85 years old at this point and had been living in the promise land for 10 years. Up unto this point, he and his wife, Sarah, had been married for 35 years and as yet, she had not conceived.
It was at this time, just after the God visited Abraham, that Sarah and Abraham decided to take matters into their own hands and see if they could fulfill the promise of God on their own.
Blessing ourselves instead of waiting on God to bless us never works out like we imagine.
Genesis 16 NLT
1 ¶ Now Sarai, Abram’s wife,
had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant
named Hagar.
2 So Sarai said to Abram, “The LORD has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal.
Perhaps you have read or heard the story. Instead of waiting on God, Abraham had a son with Sarah’s handmaid, Hagar, and named him Ismael. 13 years later, in God’s time, Sarah conceived, and Isaac was born. Ever since that moment, the descendants of Ishmael have been fighting with the descendants of Isaac over which one is the rightful heir to the covenant and especially to the land God gave to Abraham.
Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich and adds no sorrow.
2000 years later the angel Gabriel told Mary that she was going to have a Son … but not just any son … she was going to give birth to the Son of Almighty God! I am so glad she didn’t act in haste or get worried, or take matters into her own hands because she couldn’t believe what she had been told by the angel.
Mary was told something that seemed impossible … yet she believed God!
That’s the same message the Holy Spirit is trying to get across to us today. That’s why Paul chose Abraham as an example and calls him our father of faith.
Now, back to Romans 4 for the conclusion of our message today.
Romans 4 NLT
18 Even when there was no
reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping — believing that he would become
the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many
descendants you will have!”
19 And Abraham’s faith did
not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as
good as dead — and so was Sarah’s womb.
20 Abraham never wavered in
believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he
brought glory to God.
21 He was fully convinced that
God is able to do whatever he promises.
22 And because of Abraham’s
faith, God counted him as righteous.
23 ¶ And when God counted him
as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded
24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
The
things we most desperately need are only available through faith. You can take
a step of faith this morning by trusting God right now.
·
Are
you saved?
·
Are
you right with God?
·
Are
you patiently trusting Him to do what only He can do?
