Romans 4:1-7

There isn't a topic under more question and attack than that of salvation.

See, all the enemy has to do is not confront it head on.

! That would be ridiculous.

That would be...

It just wouldn't work for him.

Just put it that way.

Just wouldn't work.

But what he does do is he attacks the details.

He attacks the little things.

The things that maybe from our vantage point,

from our viewpoint, isn't that big of a deal.

For example,

liberal evangelicals pleading with conservatives

to drop the harshness and vulgarity of the cross.

The blood.

Get rid of the blood.

Because it's hard to hear.

People don't want to listen to that.

It's harsh.

The problem is if you get rid of the blood,

you get rid of the atonement.

If you get rid of the atonement,

you get rid of Christ's death,

meaning anything.

Then you get rid of salvation altogether.

It's a horrible, slippery slope.

Or the enemy will get us fighting ourselves

instead of the enemy himself.

Like maybe a theological debate

over Calvinism versus Arminianism.

Where we become more for what we're against

than what we're for.

Or he can use the seeker-sensitive modernists

who have turned salvation

into a walk down the aisle.

Some of you have come from a church like that.

Where the line is so vague

and so skewed together

that you can't tell

if they're talking about walking down the aisle

or saying a prayer

or knowing Jesus himself

or being reborn.

Regenerate.

Nathan last week,

or two weeks ago,

I'm sorry,

used a great illustration

to open up his sermon.

He talked about the crux

of mountain climbing.

The hardest part of mountain climbing.

The hardest move.

The hardest problem

that he faces

or you face

in a climb.

Everything works up to it

and then once you get it,

the rest is cakewalk.

The rest is celebrating

what you've accomplished.

And this morning,

we're still on the crux

of the book of Romans

and of all Christianity.

We are still there

with the biggest problem

that we have to get right.

Christianity differentiates itself

from any other religion

by this doctrine of salvation.

any religion,

pagan or Catholic,

Muslim or Jehovah's Witness,

Mormon,

cult,

Hindu,

Buddhist,

all other religions

have a works-based salvation.

I will do this

and I will achieve glory.

I will achieve a salvation.

Christianity sits firmly,

or at least it's supposed

to sit firmly,

on the doctrine of salvation

by faith alone,

by grace alone,

without works.

See,

the enemy has

even brought that

into question.

Now,

it's one thing to say it.

It's one thing to say,

I believe in the justification

by faith alone,

by grace alone.

It's,

you may know it in your head,

but I think sometimes

there's a disconnect

between the head

and the feet.

You may know it,

but you don't do anything about it.

You may know it,

but you don't know the details.

You don't know the ins and outs.

Whatever the case may be.

So this morning,

I want to help.

I want to help the college student,

the teacher,

the nurse,

the firefighter,

the lawyer.

I want to help this morning

so we're all rooted

and grounded

in the truth of God's Word.

So that we can all ask

the question that Paul does

in verse 3 of chapter 4,

what does the Scripture say?

And we can answer it.

That's what I want to happen

this morning

over this topic.

So we must let the Scripture

be our foundation.

Let it be our authority.

So let us learn

what Scripture says.

Romans chapter 4,

Romans 4:1–8

verses 1 through 8.

God's Word says,

What then shall we say

was gained by Abraham,

our forefather,

according to the flesh?

For if Abraham

was justified by works,

he has something

to boast about,

but not before God.

For what does the Scripture say?

Abraham believed God

and it was counted to him

as righteousness.

Now to the one who works,

his wages are not counted

as a gift,

but as his due.

And to the one

who does not work,

but believes in him

who justifies the ungodly,

his faith is counted

as righteousness.

Just as David

also speaks of the blessing

of the one to whom

God counts righteousness

apart from works,

blessed are those

whose lawless deeds

are forgiven

and whose sins

are covered.

Blessed is the man

against whom the Lord

will not count

his sin.

I ask you to pray

with me now.

Great God,

Almighty God,

our Father,

this is your Word.

we pray God

that your Word

speaks this morning.

I pray God

that you use me,

that you hide me

behind your cross

and the work on the cross

by your Son Jesus,

that His name

will be proclaimed,

that He will receive

all the glory.

Spirit,

I ask that you would move

in our hearts,

that we would be able

to respond

to what we hear

this morning

by and from you.

we trust

in what you're going

to do this morning.

We are excited

about what you're going

to do

and the lives

that you're going

to change.

In Jesus' name

I pray.

Amen.

I have three points

this morning

and they're straight

from the text.

They're nothing,

no fancy alliteration

or anything like that.

In fact,

John MacArthur

uses these too

and there's nothing

special about them.

the first point

is Abraham

was not justified

by works.

Abraham was not

justified by works.

Verses 1 and 2.

What then shall we say

was gained by Abraham

our forefather

according to the flesh?

For if Abraham

was justified by works,

he has something

to boast about,

but not before God.

Paul,

like he does

in other writings,

uses logic.

He's using logic

here for his argument.

What shall we say

was gained by Abraham?

The faithful,

obedient patriarch

of the Jewish people.

If Abraham

was justified

by works,

he would have

something to boast about.

Clear logic,

nothing fancy,

nothing hidden there.

True words.

We would,

if we would be

justified by works,

we would fall

right there with him.

Meaning,

if we obey God

perfectly,

if we were good

and loving

to all people,

if we did all

the religious activities,

attended all the church

things going on,

if we spoke

Christianese,

if we said the right

things,

if we get baptized,

if we act good

in front of certain people,

maybe the pastor

or other people,

if we followed

every rule

and every law,

every written,

we then would have

something to boast about.

if, of course,

our salvation

resulted in

those activities.

It would be

centered on us.

We would have

received the praise

for what we accomplished

and what we did.

We accomplished

something great

by getting to heaven.

The problem is

we can't.

It is impossible.

This is the point

that Paul

is making here

in this letter

to the Romans.

See, without God,

we have no hope.

See, Abraham

was called

by God.

Abraham was called

and didn't know

where he was going.

He just went.

God didn't say

to Abraham,

Abraham,

why don't you

go to Birmingham?

Jump on I-20,

head west,

you'll be there

in two hours.

It wasn't that way.

God said,

go,

and I'll show you

where you're going to go.

Abraham needed God

to lead him.

Likewise,

for us,

we need God

to lead us.

Now,

we've all used maps.

We've all used

Google Maps

or MapQuest

or whatever.

Now,

mind-blowing statement here.

A map is only helpful

if it's accurate,

right?

It's only helpful

if it tells you

where you are

and where you're

trying to go.

Otherwise,

it's useless.

For our map

this morning

and our map

as a Christian

is the Word of God

and is Christ Jesus Himself.

See,

other religions

are maps

that are inaccurate.

Other religions

are maps

that take you nowhere.

But this morning,

we have a map.

We have the Word of God

sitting in your lap,

on your phone,

on your iPad,

whatever it is.

Sitting on your shelf.

And we're able

to follow God

and know

where we're going.

So see,

it's God's action

on our life.

See,

so if

we have something

to boast about,

if we

receive salvation

by our works,

justification

by works,

if that was possible,

the end of verse 2,

Paul clearly says

it's not going to happen.

Abraham cannot boast

before God.

Can't do it.

It's not possible.

Which means,

stop playing the game.

Stop pretending

you're somebody

that you're not.

Stop being in bondage

to a set of rules

and laws

that you cannot keep.

You are enslaved

to those laws

and to your hard work

to do right.

Stop.

I've used this

illustration before

and I'm going to use it again

because it works so well

for this application.

You guys know

in mythology,

in Greek and Roman mythology,

the king named Sisyphus,

great name,

Sisyphus,

his eternal punishment

was to push

a giant boulder

up a hill.

When the boulder

got almost to the top,

the boulder would roll

all the way back down

and he would have to repeat

over and over

and over

throughout eternity.

This is what you

and me,

you and I,

proper grammar,

do

when we try

to achieve salvation

by works.

When we try

to do things,

when we pretend

to be something

we're not.

When we,

I've given you

the list of works.

When we do

those things

and we try

to do those things,

we are pushing

a rock up a hill

for it just to

roll back down

and not get anywhere.

It is all pointless

and it leads to death.

Don't be fooled.

Don't be fooled

into believing

that you just need

to be good.

Don't be fooled

into believing

that you just have

to do a certain thing

or pray a certain prayer.

You need God

to call you.

You need God.

Do not be fooled.

If you are trying

to be someone you're not,

if you're trying

to be moral

and be good,

if you're trying

to gain your salvation

through works,

you are condemned.

But there's good news.

Romans 8.1

There is therefore

now no condemnation

for those who are

in Christ Jesus.

Which means

because of what

we were enslaved to,

what we were condemned

by,

what we tried to achieve,

we were sentenced

to death for,

has been removed

and can be removed

by Christ

and His life,

death,

and resurrection.

Then,

there is no condemnation.

There is life,

life eternal

with Jesus Christ

because of His work

on the cross

and His death

and resurrection.

Now,

I would have to imagine

that no one

would come out

and say that they

were trying to

ascend to heaven

by works.

I'm pretty sure

that nobody would say that.

But you would say

something like,

I'm just trying

to be a good person.

Or people around you

would say,

I'm just trying

to be good.

I'm just trying

to love those people

around me.

I'm just trying

to live a good,

balanced life.

But see,

we do

when we try

to gain salvation

by works.

I'm going to answer,

I'm going to ask you

a question.

One,

if you're 100% honest,

are you humble

towards God?

Another way to ask,

are you repentant?

Are you repentant

for the things

that you have done?

Is God,

is Jesus Christ

your Lord?

Or is He just

your parole officer

where you check in

and tell Him

how many good things

you've done for Him?

Because I'm afraid

that that's a lot

of what we,

we won't say it,

but that's the picture

we have.

Is Jesus,

think of all these

things I've done

for you.

Look at God,

look at how good I am

and the prayers I've prayed

and the people I've loved.

Jesus says,

whoever follows me

must deny himself,

must die to himself

and take up his cross.

Luke 9.

Notice which is first.

Deny yourself

and then take up your cross.

See,

if you deny yourself,

if you die to yourself,

you will not boast

about what you've done

for Him.

Instead,

you'll say,

have mercy on me,

a sinner.

Let me,

let me please you today.

This is the day

that you have made.

It's a big difference.

Big,

big difference.

So,

we know the,

we know the religious activities

here in,

in,

in our churches.

We,

we,

we can name them all.

How about some religious activities

in two other religions?

Hindu.

A Hindu religion.

Live a life

that has a growing awareness

of God.

Learn about God.

He's around everywhere.

Sounds okay.

Worship an icon

of your choosing.

Okay?

Pick a statue

and worship it.

Pray with chants

and songs

so that the gods

can hear you.

Hindu is where we get

the word karma from

or where the word karma

comes from

and the definition

of karma

is the path

of right action.

So,

it's a work,

it's a do,

do,

do religion

that leads to nowhere.

Islam.

Islam's big.

Five pillars

of Islam.

Do you know what they are?

I'm going to

pronounce these incorrect

so don't judge me.

Shahada,

there is no God

but Allah

and Muhammad

is his messenger.

Okay?

Number one.

Salat,

the practice of praying

five times a day

at times set

by Allah.

Zarkat,

giving up,

giving of a set amount

to charity.

Psalm,

fasting during Ramadan

and haji.

Muslims from all

ethnic groups

stand together

in front of the

Kaaba,

I think,

the cube-shaped

building in Saudi Arabia.

You've seen it.

It's supposed to be

the holiest place

for Muslims.

works-based religion.

Do, do, do, do, do,

and it leads to nothing.

It's all works

and it doesn't work.

We have nothing

to boast about

before God

and ourselves.

If, however,

you are a Christian,

if you are born again,

regenerate believer,

and you believe

that Jesus Christ

came, died,

and resurrected

for your sins,

then you can boast.

But you boast

about Christ

and you boast

in Christ.

Galatians 6, 14.

But Paul says,

but far be it

from me to boast

except in the cross

of our Lord Jesus Christ,

by which the world

has been crucified

to me

and I

to the world.

So,

Abraham was not

justified

by works.

Paul clearly

communicates that.

So, second point,

Abraham was justified

by faith.

And this we find

in verses 3-5.

It says,

For what does

the Scripture say?

Abraham believed God

and it was counted

to him as righteousness.

Now, to the one

who works,

his wages are not

counted as a gift,

but as his due.

And to the one

who does not work,

but believes in him

who justifies the ungodly,

his faith

is counted

as righteousness.

See,

Paul uses

the patriarch

of the Jewish people.

The father of them.

They would all claim him.

He uses him

to make his argument.

A man who lived

2,000 years

before Christ,

which means he lived

2,000 years

plus some

before Paul

is writing

this letter.

He chooses

Abraham

because what we do

so often by

we tend

to elevate guys

and put them

on pedestals,

don't we?

John Piper,

Billy Graham,

David Platt,

Bono.

Come on,

you're laughing,

but it's true.

That is

an odd collection

of people,

but

throw Bono in there.

But we do it.

We lift up people

and we say,

sometimes we lift up

our pastors.

I did.

And now I'm a pastor.

I'm like,

please don't lift me up.

I lifted up my pastor

and I thought,

man,

this guy,

he's got it.

He looks perfect like it.

And we lift him up.

See,

the Jewish people

lifted and elevated

Abraham.

The perfect,

faithful patriarch.

And because of that,

let's dig a little deeper.

Abraham was called

by God

out of Ur,

land of the Chaldeans.

Okay?

It was an evil,

pagan,

worshiping country.

Evil.

Abraham

was his name

before Abraham.

He was a pagan.

He

did not know

who this God was

when God called him.

Out of the millions

of people

that God could have chosen,

He chose Abram

and God had no idea

or Abram had no idea

who this God was.

But God called him

and he followed.

He went where he didn't know.

He obeyed without understanding.

This is where the story ends

for a lot of people.

See,

we pick out

this story

and we pick out

Abraham with Isaac

where he obeys God

and he takes Isaac up

to sacrifice Isaac

and God provides

a goat for him.

So we say,

oh,

Abraham,

he's so faithful.

Hebrews 11

talks about Abraham

being faithful,

but

there's more to the story.

How about the story

in Genesis 12

where Abraham

tells Sarah,

his wife,

to lie and say

she's his sister

because he feared his life.

Not so honest.

So we have

Abraham who is faithful

and we have Abraham

who's sinful.

What about

later on?

God has given

Abraham the covenant.

I'm going to bless

you.

I'm going to bless

generations after you.

Your people,

your children's

children's children

will be blessed.

Abraham didn't believe

God

or didn't trust

completely

because what did he do?

He had

an adulterous affair

with Hagar.

Coming,

his wife's idea,

Sarah's idea,

you need to have a son

because you don't have one yet

and you're getting old.

the luster is

being removed.

The shine

from Abraham

is being

removed.

The elevated

Jewish

leader

is just a man

and a man

in need

of salvation.

And this salvation

comes

to the conduit

called faith.

Faith is the conduit.

Now,

some people will teach

that my faith,

I give Jesus,

I give God my faith

and I receive righteousness.

That it's an exchange.

That I have so much faith

that God saves me.

That is incorrect.

Faith is the conduit

by which we receive

salvation.

And I'll explain

in just a minute.

Verse 3 says,

For what does the Scripture say?

Abraham believed God

and it was counted to him

as righteousness.

Counted.

This word is a credit,

a transaction,

an exchange.

See,

Abraham believed

the conduit

and our Lord's

righteousness

came on him.

Transaction,

exchange,

credit.

Here's why faith

is a conduit

and not

an exchange.

Okay?

There's an exchange

that happens

but faith

is not that

trade.

I hope I'm not

confusing you.

If our faith

wasn't

a conduit

but the payment

for the price

then we would have

all room to boast.

And then what Paul

is saying here

would not mean anything

because

we would be able

to boast.

Verse 4 says,

Now to the one

who works

his wages

are not counted

as a gift

but as his due.

Okay?

Clear.

God makes

perfect sense.

Which

then

is works-based

salvation

which Paul

is proving

impossible.

If this happens

then the person

who worked

and received

salvation,

justification

through his works

receives glory

and steals

the glory

reserved

for God

Almighty.

All creation

was created

for God's glory.

Romans 11

36

For from him

and through him

and to him

are all things.

To him

be glory

forever.

Amen.

Now this is not

just a conclusion

to a thought.

This is a proclamation.

To him

be glory

forever and ever.

Amen.

John MacArthur

says the primary

purpose of the

gospel is not

to save men

but to glorify

God.

Now let's

John MacArthur

said it

but it's rooted

in Scripture.

Ephesians 3

20 and 21

Now to him

who is able

to do far

more abundantly

than all that we

ask or think

according to the

power at work

within us

to him

be glory

in the church

and in Christ

Jesus

throughout all

generations

forever and ever.

All generations

forever and ever.

Amen.

It is an act

by God

on our lives

and not

the reverse.

Now we do

have responsibility.

We do have

we do respond

but not after

or not until

God has

worked.

Verse 5

And to the

one who does

not work

but believes

in him

who justifies

the ungodly

his faith

is counted

as righteousness.

Praise God

for verse 5.

For the ungodly

is you

and it is me.

That's the

Muslim.

That's the

Hindu man.

That's the

pagan

atheist.

All of us

before Christ

with a need

greater than

any other

need.

with a debt

we could

not pay.

I'm going to

read a story

to you

called

A Great

Debt

Who Can

Pay.

I hope I

don't bore

you.

Harry

Ironside

used to

tell about

a young

Russian

soldier

because his

father was

a friend

of Tsar

Nicholas I.

The young

man had

been made

paymaster

in one

of the

barracks.

The young

man meant

well but

his character

was not up

to his

responsibility.

He took

to gambling

and eventually

gambling away

a great deal

of the

government's

money as

well as

all of

his own.

In due

course the

man received

notice that

a representative

of the Tsar

was coming

to check

accounts and

he knew

he was in

trouble.

That evening

he got out

the books

and totaled

the funds

he owed.

Then he

went to

the safe

and got

out his

own

pitifully

small

amount

of

money.

As he

sat and

looked at

the two

he was

overwhelmed

at the

astronomical

debt

versus his

own

small

change.

He was

ruined.

He knew

he would

be disgraced.

At last

the young

soldier

edit that

for me

John.

at last

the young

soldier

determined

to take

his

life.

He

pulled

out

his

revolver

placed

it

on

the

table

before

him

and

wrote

a

summation

of

his

misdeeds.

At

the

bottom

of

the

ledger

where

he

had

totaled

up

his

illegal

borrowings

he

wrote

a

great

debt

who

can

pay.

He

decided

that

at

the

stroke

of

midnight

he

would

die.

As

the

evening

wore

on

the

young

soldier

drew

drowsy

sleep.

That

night

Tsar

Nicholas

I

as

was

sometimes

his

custom

made

the

rounds

of

the

barracks.

Seeing

a

light

he

stopped

looked

in

and

saw

the

young

man

asleep.

He

recognized

him

immediately

and

looking

over

his

shoulder

saw

the

ledger

and

realized

all

that

had

taken

place.

He

was

about

to

awaken

him

and

put

him

under

a

rest

when

his

eyes

fastened

on

the

young

man's

message

a

who

can

pay.

Suddenly

with a

surge

of

magnanimity

he

reached

over

wrote

one

word

at

the

bottom

of

the

ledger

and

slipped

out.

When

the

young

man

awoke

he

glanced

at

the

clock

and

saw

that

it

was

long

after

midnight

he

reached

for

his

revolver

to

shoot

himself

but

his

eyes

stood

upon

the

ledger

and

he

saw

something

that

he

had

not

seen

!

before

there

beneath

his

writing

a

great

debt

who

can

pay

was

written

Nicholas

he

was

dumbfounded

it

was

the

tsar's

signature

he

said

to

himself

the

tsar

must

have

come

by

when

I

was

asleep

he

has

seen

the

book

he

knows

all

still

he

is

willing

to

forgive

me

the

young

soldier

then

rested

on

the

word

of

the

tsar

and

the

next

morning

a

messenger

came

from

the

palace

and

with

exactly

the amount

of

the

tsar

could

pay

and

the

tsar

did

pay

now

we

compare

God's

righteousness

with

our

own

tawdry

performance

we

asked

the

question

a

great

debt

to

God

who

can

pay

but

then

the

Lord

Jesus

Christ

says

for

the

signs

his

name

Jesus

Christ

only

he

can

pay

Jesus

paid

the

debt

that

we

could

not

pay

remember

that I

said

that

faith

is the

conduit

by which

the

righteousness

of our

Lord

Jesus

was

was

imputed

or

exchanged

or counted

to us

there was

another

exchange

used

by the

same

God

conduit

our

sin

was

imputed

or counted

on him

he

bore

the wrath

of the

Father

intended

for us

Isaiah

Isaiah 53:4

53

verse

4 and

5

surely

surely

he

has

borne

our

griefs

and

carried

our

sorrows

yet

we

esteemed

him

stricken

smitten

by

God

and

afflicted

but

he

was

wounded

for

our

transgressions

he

was

crushed

for

our

iniquities

upon

him

the

chastisement

that

brought

us

peace

and

with

his

stripes

we

are

healed

2nd

Corinthians

5

21

some

of you

have

this

memorized

for

our

sake

he

made

him

to

be

sin

who

knew

no

sin

so

that

in

him

we

might

become

the

righteousness

of

God

Abraham

was justified

by faith

not

by works

the third

point

this

morning

justification

is a

blessing

verse

6

through

8

says

just as

David

also speaks

of the

blessing

of the

one

to whom

God

counts

righteousness

apart

from

works

blessed

are

those

who

lawless

deeds

are

forgiven

and

whose

sins

are

covered

blessed

is

the

man

against

whom

the

Lord

will

not

count

his

sin

now

Paul

used

Abraham

for his

argument

and now

he brings

in

David

whom

God

the

king

whom

God

chose

a

man

after

God's

own

heart

to

make

his

argument

a

man

who

clearly

understood

God's

grace

turn to

Psalm 51

and we

have

referenced

this

a few

times

throughout

the book

of Romans

so far

Psalm 51

is the

psalm

that

David

wrote

after

Nathan

calls him

out

with his

adulterous

act

with Bathsheba

and the

murderous

act

of killing

her husband

Uriah

David

understood

God's

grace

verse 1

have

mercy

on me

O

God

according

to

your

steadfast

love

according

to

your

abundant

mercy

blot

out

my

transgressions

verse 2

wash

me

thoroughly

from

my

iniquity

and

cleanse

me

from

my

sin

for

I

know

my

transgressions

and my

sin

is ever

before

me

against

you

you

only

have

I

sinned

and

done

what

is

evil

in

your

sight

so

that

you

may

be

justified

in

your

words

and

blameless

in

your

judgment

skip

over

to

verse

10

created

me

a

clean

heart

oh

God

and

renew

a

right

spirit

within

me

cast

me

not

away

from

your

presence

and

take

not

your

Holy

Spirit

from

me

restore

to

me

the

joy

of

your

salvation

and

uphold

me

with

a

willing

spirit

that

I

will

teach

transgressors

your

ways

and

sinners

will

turn

to

you

deliver

me

for

blood

guilt

ness

oh

God

oh

God

of

my

salvation

and

my

tongue

will

sing

aloud

for

your

righteousness

David

understood

God's

grace

the

person

of

genuine

faith

is

blessed

another

word

for

blessed

is

privileged

or

fortunate

blessed

are

those

whose

lawless

deeds

are