CMLC 2026-03-04 Sermon (Lent 02)

There are decisions we make every day based on

things that we cannot guess. The day before a

hurricane, it can feel almost foolish to prepare.

The sun is out, the air is still, you're hammering

plywood over windows while the neighbors are

grilling in their backyard, which sounds kind

of like yelps. Nothing looks dangerous yet. But

we've seen the models on TV. You've watched the

track. You trust what is coming even if you cannot

yet see it. So you act now according to what

has been promised. A couple finds out that they're

expecting. It's too early to see anything on

the ultrasound. There's no visible proof yet,

but they begin to rearrange the furniture. They

tell a close family, and they start figuring

out... which names for the boy, which names for

the girl. A couple signs a 30 -year mortgage

trusting their income will continue. A student

enrolls in classes trusting or hoping their degree

will matter when they graduate. A farmer plants

seed when the soil looks dry and cracked. There's

no sign of rain, but planting does not wait for

visible harvest. It trusts the seasons. No one

sees the future. But they live today as if a

promise about tomorrow is reliable. Faith is

not fantasy. It is living today according to

a promised future. And in Romans 4, Paul tells

us that that is exactly how Abraham lived. In

verse 18 of our passage today, against all hope,

Abraham in hope believed, and so became the father

of many nations. just as it had been said to

him, so shall your offspring be. Abraham's situation

was not mildly difficult. It was biologically

impossible. His body was as good as dead. Sarah's

womb was barren. There was no visible pathway

from here to there. And Paul says he still believed.

Now we must be clear about this Abraham did not

live this faith out perfect Genesis 16 reminds

us of Hagar and how she bore Ishmael to Abraham

Abraham tried to produce the promise by human

effort which we are still dealing with when we

realize how many people look to Ishmael as her

spiritual father instead of Isaac Abraham attempted

to accomplish in his flesh what God had promised

by grace. See, that was not faith. It was his

own self -solution. Yet Paul says he did not

waver in unbelief. How can that be? Because righteousness

was never based on Abraham's fall as obedience.

It was counted to him, credited, given because

Abraham ultimately had faith. Genesis 15 -6 says,

Abraham believed the Lord and he counted it to

him as righteousness, before Isaiah, before circumcision,

before Sinai, before the law. Grace through faith

has always been the way. The Old Testament was

never a different covenant of earning God's favor.

The promise always came first. Abraham stumbled,

but he returned to the promise. Faith is not

perfection. Faith often looks more like returning

to God after we have won. If faith is living

according to a promised future, then it must

shape how we live now, not just what we say.

What does that look like? When we forgive someone,

even when we still feel the sting. because Christ

has forgiven us and promises justice in His name.

When we respond gently and with humility, when

force and strength might get us what we want,

because we trust that God exalts the humble.

When we remain faithful in marriage, when emotions

fluctuate, because covenant rests on promise,

not mood. When we speak truth kindly, even when

silence would protect our reputation, because

we trust that our identity is secure, Christ.

When we give generously even when the budget

feels tight because we trust that daily bread

ultimately comes from the Father. When we ignore

the self -help books and the new philosophies

that promise to get us the future we want because

we know that ultimately God's Word is where we

find truth and hope. You see, none of those actions,

they're not guaranteed to work in the way we

might look for. You see, forgiveness may not

immediately restore a relationship. Gentleness

may not win the argument. Generosity may not

increase our bank account. But faith behaves

as if God's promises are more stable than visible

outcomes. See faith does not wait for proof it

trusts the character of the one who promises

See verses 24 and 25 Bring this home when it

says it will be counted to us who believe in

him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord Who

is delivered up for our trespasses and raised

for our justification? See our faith is not generic

optimism the kind that we just plug in after

an Instagram video It is faith in the God who

raises the dead. Abraham trusted God to bring

life from a barren womb. We trust God who brought

life from a sealed tomb. Because Christ was raised,

we do not retaliate to secure our future. We

do not panic as if death has the final word.

We do not define ourselves by present weaknesses.

And let me add this. because Christ was raised,

we do not have to cling desperately to status,

success, or image. We do not have to crush others

to preserve our own sense of worth. Resurrection

means loss is not ultimate, and not just loss

in general. Loss of reputation is not ultimate.

Loss of position is not final. Loss of comfort

is not the end result. Even the loss of what

we thought mattered most is not what has the

last word. Resurrection means our vulnerability

is not the end. Resurrection means our struggles

do not get the final word. Resurrection means

even when something dies in our life, God is

not finished. And that changes how boldly we

live. But you see, this is where we have to be

careful. Because this is not be bold because

you are strong and you have nothing to be ashamed

of. It is be bold because Christ is risen. Live

more boldly, but not boldly to prove yourself.

Live boldly without fear that you must somehow

secure what you think is important. Live boldly

without grasp. Live boldly without scrambling

when things feel anxious. Live boldly without

trying to manufacture your own fish meal instead

of ice cream. In a city like Houston, where growth

and success and expansion are constant themes,

where careers rise and fall with markets and

energy prices and development booms, it's easy

to live as if everything depends on us, what

we measure and predict. But you see, faith loosens

that grip. You can pursue excellence. You can

work hard. You can plan wisely. But you don't

have to panic. Because your justification is

not on the line. Your ultimate place is not hanging

in the balance. Your standing before God is not

fluctuating with your performance review. It

was secured when Christ was delivered for your

trespasses and raised. for your justification.

And Paul does not end with Abraham's example.

He brings us back to Jesus. It is not just be

like someone else. It is trust in the one who

gave his all. He was delivered up for our trespasses

and raised for our justification. Your righteousness

is not the reward for strong faith. It is the

gift that was secured by the Savior we have faith

in. Abraham trusted a promise that was not yet

fulfilled. We trust the promise that has already

been accomplished. Even when our faith limps

over, even when we attempt our own ishmels, even

when impatience overtakes us, righteousness is

still counted. Not because we performed perfectly.

but because Christ was raised. So yes, today,

live boldly. Forgive boldly. Give generously.

Speak gently. Remain faithful. Not to earn your

standing, but because your standing is already

secure, against hope, we believe in hope. Because,

my friends, The tomb is it, in the name of Jesus.