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.
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​The Tragedy of Rejecting God Part 3
Romans 2:1-11
The Righteous Will Live By Faith!
Humankind naturally rejects faith in God    Romans 1:18-32
-Part 1:  We suppress the truth, worship false gods   vs 18-23
-Part 2:  We worship our heart desires and creation   vs 24-32
 
Rejecting God leads to tragic lives
-We violate God’s natural design for our lives
-We destroy human relationships
-CS Lewis “[They] enjoy forever the horrible freedom they have
  demanded, and are therefore self-enslaved.” 
 
Today, The tragedy of trusting GOOD instead of God
-Read Romans 2:1-11
-note: Paul uses a diatribe literary device- “argument with an imaginary critic”
 
The tragedy of trusting Good instead of God!
1. Good blinds us of our bad  vs 1
-self-righteous people judge others without judging themselves
-“you do the same thing!”   the same sins (maybe 1:29-31)
-Matthew 7:1-5  you see their splinter, don’t see your log!
-note:  Jesus DID say evaluate (Matt 7:15-20)- the fruit of
   someone’s life determines if you can trust him/her spiritually
   -judging character is different than judging to gain moral
     superiority over others.
 
2.  God judges good based on truth  vs 2
-No one is good enough to pass as perfect
-Moral standards don’t save us
-No one can escape the truth!
 
3. Good gives false security  vs 3-5
-Good is generally rewarded in this life (see Proverbs!)
-But temporal blessings don’t erase God’s judgment of sin
   -good people mistake God’s patience for approval
   -good people become hard hearted, don’t see their sin
   -They will receive God’s wrath unless they repent
 
God will repay fairly  vs 6-11
Paul uses a chiastic literary arrangement, the main point is at the beginning and then restated at the end (vs 6 and 11)
1.  Eternal life to those who pursue what is right
-vs 7, 10
 
2.  Wrath and destruction for those who pursue evil
-vs 8, 9
 
3.  Those who “knew better” will be judged first!
-Jews, then Gentiles/Greeks   vs 9, 10
 
 
Stop trusting in GOOD!
1.  Agree with God- good isn’t good enough!
-Romans 3:23
 
2.  Believe in Jesus- He died to pay for our sins
-Everyone will be judged by their works!
   -No one can escape the wrath of God
-Putting our faith in Jesus makes us righteous!
   -A Christ follower is judged by Christ’s works
   -We are made perfect in God’s sight!
-Ephesians 2:8-9-  Trust the gift of God’s grace!
    -Good works don’t save us- that would diminish God’s glory
 
3.  Commit your whole life to Jesus Christ
-knowing is not good enough, we must repent and follow
-Matthew 3:8  “Therefore produce fruit consistent with
   repentance. 
-James 2:17  “In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is
  dead by itself”
-Stop using your own standards of good and evil
-Surrender to God’s truth
-Make Jesus your forever boss