Faith Starts It All!
Romans 4:1-12
Intro:  The Righteous Live By Faith
-Everyone can know God
-We must come to God by faith
-No one is good enough to be with God
-Jesus came to bring us to God
-We become righteous through faith in Jesus Christ
 
 
Faith started it all!    Romans 4:1-12
1.  Abraham believed God
-He had nothing to boast about to God
-Ephesians 2:9  “not from works so that no one can boast”
 
2.  God credited Abraham’s faith with righteousness
-Genesis 15:6
-God saved Abraham out of a pagan culture that did not have
  faith in Him
 
3.  David trusted in God’s unconditional forgiveness
-Psalm 32:1-2
 
 
4.  Abraham was declared righteous before he obeyed God
-Circumcised 14 years AFTER he was declared righteous
-Circumcision was the “seal” or mark that set Abraham apart
-Today: Baptism is the “seal” that sets us apart with God
-In the same way, faith and salvation occur BEFORE baptism
-Illust:  the thief on the cross was saved by faith, never worked!
 
5.  Abraham is the spiritual father of Jews and Gentiles
-vs 12 “who also follow in the footsteps of the faith” of Abraham
-Every Christian is a fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham!
   -descendants as numerous as the stars, as sand
-Abraham’s faith began a personal relationship with God that set apart the nation of Israel as God’s chosen people
-God continues to set apart a chosen people today—us!   
 
We must Start with faith!
1. Place our faith in Jesus Christ
-Stop trying to earn God’s salvation by works
-Stop boasting in self, thinking good works earns salvation
    -We may be able to boast in front of other people
    -We aren’t good enough to boast in front of God!
 
 
2.  Obey God to prove our faith
-John 14:15  If you love me, you will keep my commandments
-Matthew 22:37, 39  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind… love your neighbor as yourself!
-Matthew 28:19-20  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.
-James 2:26  …faith without works is dead.
-Work comes after our faith
-But faith is always followed by works!
 
 
3.  Help others start with faith!
-Show them you trust God by faith alone, not your works
-Don’t make people obey before they trust
-Don’t mislead people to think obedience earns right standing
-Be REAL!  Let others know you aren’t boasting in front of God
   -Don’t hide your sin, pretend you are perfect
   -show them how to grow spiritually
   -show them how to keep asking forgiveness, continuing on!
 
 
What is your next right step today?
1 Corinthians 5:15    And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for the one who died for them and was raised.
​

Stop Trying!
Romans 3:9-31
The righteous will live by faith   Romans 1:17
 
 
 
Stop Trying To Be Good Enough!
1.  No one is good enough  (Romans 3:9-18)
-Actions and attitudes condemn us all
 
-Paul quotes the OT, aiming at self-righteous Jews
   -knowing the law didn’t make them perfect
 
-Today, we are told people are born with a  blank slate
   -Society/Government/Religion makes good children go bad
   -vs 10-18 says we by nature do bad, everyone!
 
-Any solution to world/society problems that rejects God, His Word, and Jesus Christ, will fall short!
   -Rules cannot cure the human heart
   -Good people may spring up, but they still aren’t good enough
 
-A Judeo-Christian worldview has led to the most moral, benevolent and just societies and governments- but they still fall short of perfection!
-Abolition of slavery, human rights, elevation of women legally, sanctity of human life, all have sprung up from the soil of a Christian worldview.
-However, a worldview isn’t enough- America still falls short of the glory of God!  We are still sinful, still unjust, still destroying human life in the womb, still corrupt
-Government rules and rulers won’t fix our hearts!
 
2.  We have no defense   (Romans 3:19-20)
-Illustration:  have you ever been caught doing wrong? 
   -unable to talk, you willingly accept judgment
-“every mouth” will “be shut” in front of God!
-The Law will condemn us!  (whether external or internal)
 
Stop trying to be good enough!
3.  Jesus removed our guilt    (Romans 3:21-26)
-God announced His plan through the Law and Prophets!
 
-vs 22  “The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ”  
   -John 14:6  Jesus is the only way, truth, life!
 
-vs 23-24  A compare and contrast analysis
   -We all sinned, we all fall short of God’s glory  (vs 23)
   -HOWEVER, God justifies us freely, by his grace (unmerited
     Favor)  through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
-Heb 10:10 “sanctified…through Jesus Christ once for all”
 
    -received through faith-  trust, surrender
 
-God remains righteous-  not a corrupt judge overlooking sin
 
-God declares righteous the one who has faith in Jesus!
   -Give up
 
 
Christian, Stop trying to be good enough!
4.  We cannot boast in ourselves   (Romans 3:27-31)
-Stop trying to steal God’s glory!
-Hebrews 10:14  For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.
-Ephesians 2:8-9  saved by grace through faith….not from works, so than one can boast
-Luther:  by grace alone, through faith alone, to God alone be the glory
 
Stop Trying And Start Trusting!
1.  Trust what Jesus did for you- place your faith in Him
 
2.  Keep trusting what Jesus did for you- live for Him
​

​Stop Trusting Rules and Rituals
Romans 2:17-29
Introduction
 

 
Knowing the rules (the Law) isn’t enough  vs 17-24
Knowledge can make us arrogant
-we think we are a guide, a light, instructor, teacher
-we look down on others who don’t know what we know
-we feel morally superior,
 
Knowledge can blind us to our own sin
 
No one cares about what we know!
 
 
Ritual isn’t enough  vs 25-29
Outward obedience cannot replace inward faith
-Jews expected circumcision to give them salvation
 
-Today, someone might think baptism saves them
 
 
God examines our hearts
-Have I fully admitted my wrongdoings to God
-Am I trusting completely in Jesus Christ to forgive?
-Have I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ completely?
 

Our failure doesn’t stop God’s plan
The Jews had it made!
-They knew God’s plan before anyone else
 
-God chose them to be a guide, light, instructor, teacher!
 
 
The end does not justify the means
-God does not need my failure to make Him look good!
 
-Example:  Adam and Eve brought God glory before they sinned
   -They lived in perfect relationship with God
   -They were completely obedient to God in the Garden
       (until they ate the forbidden fruit)
 
My past sin was never God’s plan for my life!
-My sin…
            -reminds me of how much I need Jesus
            -teaches me that wrong living has consequences
            -negatively affects other people
            -was never God’s plan for my life!
 
 
Stop Trusting Rules and Rituals!
Place your whole faith in Jesus Christ!
-Romans 1:17  The righteous will live by faith
 
Repent and be baptized to declare your faith!
-don’t depend on outward works to save you
-illust:  wedding rings don’t make us married
 
Thank God for how much you know about Him!
-Be a true guide, light, instructor and teacher!
-Stay humble: knowing you needed someone just like you to lead you to Jesus Christ

​The Tragedy of Rejecting God Part 4
Romans 2:12-16
The righteous will live by faith
Our problem- we want to save ourselves!
-Self-made gods can’t save us
-Fulfilling our lusts can’t save us
-Self-focused living can’t save us
-Comparing ourselves to others can’t save us
-We just become even more enslaved to whatever we worship
 
Today:  The Law Can’t Help Us!
Read Romans 2:12-16
 
We know what is right and still do wrong
The Jewish Law exposes wrong
-they will be judged for what they have been told is wrong
 
The “law on our hearts” exposes wrong
-Gentile behavior reveals they know right from wrong
-they will be judged according to what they know is true
 
God will excuse or accuse us on the day of judgment!
-How good is good enough?
 
 
The tragedy of trusting the Law
Faith in the law results in condemnation!
-no one perfectly observes God’s law!
-the law was designed to make us give up and give in to God
 
Faith in the Good News of Jesus Christ results in salvation!
-We must admit that we fall short of fulfilling the entire law
-we must reject the law as our savior!
 
Will you be excused or accused?
Stop trusting in God’s rules to save you
-you can’t impress a perfect God- He isn’t asking you to!
 
Trust in what Jesus did to save you today!
The Lord’s Supper reminds us…
Of what Jesus did to erase our sins
 
 
Of our need to continually trust Him to save and change us
-don’t participate in an “unworthy manner”
   -we must confess and turn from anything we are doing wrong
   -we must be in right relationship with others
 
Of Christ’s promise to come again
-this world is heading towards a final destination
-God’s kingdom is more important than any earthly kingdom
-We can trust that God will accomplish His purposes
    -stop worrying about what is going on around us
    -stop fighting in ungodly ways to get your way with others
 
The Lord’s Supper is a church family practice
Only believers can participate
-Someone who has openly professed Jesus Christ as Lord
-the Lord’s Supper cannot save an unbeliever!
-Visitors who are followers of Christ may participate
 
Believers practice the Lord’s Supper by faith alone
-a believer can’t get any more saved through the Lord’s Supper
-The bread and the cup symbolize the price Jesus paid for sin
   -they don’t help us pay the price- that would diminish Jesus
-Do not turn the Lord’s Supper into a new “law” that saves you
 
 
The righteous live by faith in Jesus Christ!