This sermon from Romans 4 uses Abraham and David as examples and shows that God can also use us for His purposes.
Start Here: Faith Comes First for Abraham (Romans 4:1–12)
- Prototype= pattern & precedent that is repeated
- Wright Flyer @ brothers Kitty (1903), Henry Ford’s Model T (1908 $825), Microsoft’s Lisa ($10k in 1983) I NEED ONE SLIDE W/3 PHOTOS OF THESE
- 3 religions choose Abraham
- John 8:39 “Abraham is our father”
Abraham’s Relationship with God
Romans 4:1-5 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
Faith = internal conviction leading to external action
Abraham –Father multitude, “friend of God” (pop name – Lincoln) –almost 300X Bible
- Knowledge = minimal Faith = massive
- God showed Genesis 12 speaks to LEAVE everything/one
Gen. 11:26-25:11 – Abraham & Promise of Jesus (sermon, notes, devos, guide)
1. God’s Promise (Gen. 12:1-3) Abraham great nation, great name, blessed/blessing nations
-Abraham’s Faith Response (12:4-5) – At 75 w/o children obeyed and started over
2. God’s Promise (12:7) Abraham’s seed given Promised Land by God
-Abraham’s Faith Response (12:7) Abraham built altar to worship God
3. God’s Promise (13:15-17) Abraham would have numerous descendants & a land
-Abraham’s Faith Response (13:18). Abraham moved & built an altar worship God
4. God’s Promise (15:4-5) Abraham would have a son & numerous offspring (15:4-5).
-Abraham’s Faith Response – Abraham believed God (15:6)
5. God’s Promise (17:1-14, 17-22) 99 yrs God repeated Abraham father of many nations. Males circumcised covenant sign. All of this would happen through Sarah w/in 1 year
-Abraham’s Faith Response (17:23-27) – 99 yr old, believed God, circumcised self & household = Genesis 21:1-7. God faithful @ 100 yrs, 25 years after promise, Sarah birthed Isaac “laughter”
- If Abraham saved by works = boast. God covenanted while he slept (Gen. 15)
- Abraham lived 500 yrs before Law given, could not have been saved by obedience
- Hagar & Ishmael
- Gave away wife 2X
- Gave away Promised Land
= 15:6 “believed”/grace – “counted” &“gift” vs earned – wages $$$$$$$$100
David’s Relationship with God
Romans 4:6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
Matt 1:1 Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. [Son God, King Kings]
- David means “beloved” (always popular name almost 1000X Bible )
- King of Israel 40 years – expansion & prosperity through war; “city of David”
- 2 Sam. & 1 Chron. about his reign; author of Scripture (1/2 Ps)
- Shepherd boy – killed lions/bears, & Killed Goliath
- Passionate – harpist musician
1. Polygamy (forbid kings Dt. 17:17) 2. adultery Bathsheeba, 3. murder LOYAL Uriah
- Sons – Amnon incest; Abaslom murdered brother; Solomon idolator
- Absalom – sought to overthrow & died
- Satanic census God forbid pride – 1.5 mill soldiers (more than US active duty)
- God forgave and blessed David by grace, not by works
- On deathbed young virgins, told Solomon put hit on enemy (1 Kings 2)
- David 500 yrs after law Idolatry(1-2) Murder(6) Adultery(7) Steal(8) Lying(9) Covet(10)
Ps 32:1-2 P/U tab “blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin”
Your Relationship with God
Romans 4:9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
1. Signs vs Means covenant relationship w/God (circumcision) Dec. 5-6 baptisms
2. Neh. 9:7; Acts 7:2-3 God called Abram Ur of Chaldeans (capital Babylonian)
Abraham Gentile, saved by grace, 75 circumcised 24 yrs later 99 Isaac (Gen. 17:24-26)
3. Abraham is the Father of faith for Gentiles and Jews as he was both.
Jesus is the Greater Isaac (Genesis 22)
1. Isaac & Jesus were both born in accordance with promises given many years before
2. Isaac & Jesus were both born at the appointed time after years of waiting
3. Isaac & Jesus were both born of miracles
4. Isaac & Jesus were both firstborn sons
5. Isaac & Jesus were both loved by their fathers
6. Isaac & Jesus were both left their fathers home (Beersheba/Heaven)
7. Isaac & Jesus both journeyed three days (Beersheba-Moriah, & cross-empty tomb)
8. Isaac & Jesus were both escorted by two men to their sacrifice- servants & thieves
9. Isaac & Jesus were both young men who carried wood upon their back to their sacrifice
10. Isaac & Jesus both willingly submitted their lives to their father
11. Isaac & Jesus were both laid down as an offering for sin
12. Isaac & Jesus both asked their father a question. “Where is the lamb?”, “Why have you forsaken me?”
13. Jesus is the Angel of the Lord who spared Isaac & died for sin
14. Isaac was promised that God would provide & Jesus was that provision
15. Isaac was raised from death figuratively, & Jesus was raised from death literally
16. Isaac & Jesus went forth to get their bride – Rebekah & Church
Real Faith
- Real faith comes with risk and loss
- Real faith is not perfect faith, but faith in a perfect God
- Real faith struggles to trust both God’s will and timing
- Real faith has always been in Jesus Christ
- They looked forward, we look backward & forward
- Real faith results in obedience
- Real faith grows as God proves faithful
- Real faith sees beyond this life
Heb. 11:10 [Abraham] was looking forward to the city whose designer & builder is God
Our household story (blessed to be blessing) – GRACE close in prayer