It's nice to be with you this morning. Please open up your copy of God's Word to Romans chapter 4.
Our text for today's study will be Romans chapter 4, verses 1-12.
As we have studied Paul's letter to the Romans, it has been a concern that you all may grow tired of hearing Paul's argument that we are justified by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
Alone? I hope not.
But Paul makes his case in mere minutes in the opening chapters of this book if we were to read it straight through.
But as we slow down to consider it in small bites, the lesson gets drawn out.
Two weeks ago, I preached what I felt was the necessary introduction as we began our study of chapter 4,
and we thought together about the five solas of the Reformation, Latin terms that were used in that day.
The Bible alone is God's final authority, sola scriptura.
And it is on its pages that we learn that we are saved by God's grace alone, sola gratia,
through faith alone, sola fide, in Jesus Christ alone, solus Christus,
and this salvation and all things exist for the glory of God alone, soli Deo Gloria.
We gave particular attention to the doctrine of sola scriptura those two weeks ago because I want you to want to stick to the text,
to really settle into our studies of long books like the book of Romans,
to relish in its teaching and trust that God knew what he was doing as these books were penned
and knows what he was doing as we open them and take them piece by piece together.
As we begin chapter 4, Paul continues to draw out his theme of justification by grace alone,
through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone,
with a particular attention in these first 12 verses to faith alone, sola fide.
Notice the beginning of verse 1, chapter 4.
He then says,
What then shall we say?
Let me draw you back just a little bit to Romans chapter 3, verse 21 and 22.
And in response to the argument he's been making,
this what then shall we say in chapter 4 and verse 1,
Romans 3, 21 and 22,
But now, the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law.
Although the law and the prophets bear witness to it,
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.
For there is no distinction.
So whether Jew or Gentile, just everyone not Jewish,
we are justified, which means to be declared righteous through faith.
We are justified through faith, and through faith alone.
Paul will continue to make this point in the first 12 verses of chapter 4.
Now, normally, we tend to follow a pattern in our preaching,
which is a very old pattern of preaching.
Many of the great Puritan preachers followed this pattern,
and it goes like this.
Exegesis, that is, explain what the text says.
Doctrine, what doctrines does the text teach,
and then application.
So what do we do with these doctrines?
Exegesis, doctrine, application.
They would often title the sections of their sermons in this way,
and they would announce them as they came to them.
They would say, here is the exegesis, and go on to explain.
And then they would say, here is the doctrine, and so forth.
Now, we don't announce the sections like that as we preach,
but we normally follow a very similar pattern.
Now that I've told you about it, you're probably going to notice it quite often.
Exegesis, doctrine, application.
But sometimes that happens for each point of the sermon,
so often it'll go exegesis, doctrine, application, exegesis, doctrine, application,
and so forth for however many points there may be for that day's text.
Now today, though, I'm going to mix the outline up a little bit.
I have already stated the doctrine.
We are justified through faith alone.
That is the doctrine presented in this text, sola fide.
To be justified means that God has declared you morally perfect.
We use that term righteous.
He's declared you morally perfect.
Roman 3.26 states that God is just
and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus Christ.
So it is God who does the declaration.
You cannot declare yourself morally perfect.
And it is moral perfection that we are concerned with here.
This is not physical perfection.
People spend a lot of time pursuing that, whatever that means.
Or professional perfection, or any other way you may define perfection.
Here we are talking about the only thing that will matter in the end.
Moral perfection.
Have you kept God's law?
So this is the doctrine.
We are justified through faith alone.
So I now want to state the application.
And then I promise we will exegete the text.
So in brief, application as we approach these verses together.
Today you find yourself in one of either two categories.
Most simply, one of two categories.
First, today, you are either not justified.
Or, I hope you can guess it, justified.
You have either not been declared by God to be righteous, morally perfect.
Or you have been declared by God to be justified, morally perfect.
If you are not declared righteous by God, then when you pass from this life and stand before him,
he will cast you forever from his presence to a place of eternal punishment.
And the Bible says much about this, and oh, is there so much that could be said here.
But I simply this morning want you to hear.
Your soul is in a desperate state now and will be forever if you do not place saving faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
You are guilty and you will stand in judgment.
You are guilty and you must be forgiven if you will avoid this eternal punishment.
God in his great loving kindness has made it possible for your sins to be forgotten.
For you, excuse me, to be declared righteous.
I believe that as you have gathered with us today, that God is doing a work in your life.
I just say it matter of factly.
There are better places to be if you care nothing about the eternal state of your soul.
If you are living for this life, there are more fun things to be doing.
But I hope that you are concerned about the eternal state of your soul.
And that I believe that God is at work bringing you to this place on this day.
He's either given you parents who love you enough to bring you to church or a friend that has invited you.
Or he has compelled you to come on your own.
Any number of possible other reasons exist.
How it is you found yourself sitting and listening now to God's word.
But you are not here by accident.
Hear God's word to you this day.
Turn from your sin.
Flee to Christ.
Let this be the day of your salvation.
If you are declared righteous,
I believe this represents the majority of people who are here with us today.
If you are declared morally perfect by God,
you also need to heed the words of today's text.
Because perhaps you need to be reminded that if you are justified,
then you are justified by grace alone through faith alone.
We can be declared righteous and heir in two ways as we respond to this declaration.
We can first live as if the way we live doesn't matter at all.
The argument goes something like,
I am saved by faith alone.
So how I live is inconsequential as long as I have faith.
There's a lot of people in our day that live in this way.
Or secondly, and I think this is typically more true of us,
I know can tend to be true of me.
We can live as if we began by faith,
but now we must be continually justified by our works.
I forget sometimes.
And it is subtle and it creeps up
that I'm justified, declared righteous by God.
My salvation, my eternal standing with God,
does not depend on me,
but on Him and the work that He has accomplished.
Now both errors stem from forgetfulness
and a misunderstanding of the difference
between justification and sanctification.
Both justification and sanctification
are brought about by grace alone through faith alone.
God gives to us His Spirit
and declares us righteous in justification.
He removes the guilt of our sin
as He punished it in Christ as He hung on the cross.
He grants us the moral perfection of Christ
that was gained by His sinless life.
I like it when I hear someone say,
we are saved by works but not our own,
the works of another.
And they're talking about Jesus.
Jesus' perfect life.
When we are justified,
we become His.
He makes us His own.
In sanctification,
we are brought degree by degree,
bit by bit,
into conformity with who He has declared us to be
by the power of the Spirit within us.
He has declared that we are something,
and sanctification is bringing us to that reality.
Declared, not made righteous,
declared righteous.
Sanctification is the process by which
we are being made righteous,
which will be fully realized
when the Lord Jesus Christ returns.
We will be finally made perfect
in that very last day,
but we are meant to be moving in degree toward it
in between now and then.
If we rightly understand this,
then we will not live however we see fit,
but we'll want to see our lives
bear witness to our faith in Christ.
Evidence what we believe to be true
of who God has made us.
If we rightly understand this,
then we will,
when we fail to live as God would have us,
we will not lose all hope,
but we'll repent and press on.
I think many good,
God-fearing Christians
think they must have some
long extended time of penitence.
How sad must I feel
over my sin when I sin?
And this gets asked to me fairly regularly,
and here's the answer.
As long as it takes
to get you back to the cross,
back to the reality
that if you are in Christ,
then God has declared you righteous.
Grieve over your sin,
but only as long as it takes
for you to go back to the truth
of what God has accomplished
on your behalf
in the person and work
of Jesus Christ.
We cannot live as if how we live
does not matter.
Neither can we live
as if how we live
is all that matters.
Beloved, let us not forget
that we are saved
by the works
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And that out of wonder,
love, and awe,
by grace alone,
through faith alone,
in the power of the Spirit,
let us press on
in holy endeavors.
because of what God
has done for us,
sola fide,
through faith,
let us press on
to holiness.
holiness.
This is the application.
Now to our text
and the exegesis.
Romans chapter 4,
verses 1 through 12.
Beloved,
this is God's word to us,
written for his glory
and our good,
so we would all do well
to listen to it
in order to believe
its promises
and to obey its commands.
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.
Is this blessing
then only for the circumcised
or also for the uncircumcised?
See there,
Jew and Gentile.
For we say that faith
was counted to Abraham
as righteousness.
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.
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
and to make them
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.
So,
simple outline for you
this morning.
Just three points.
Number one,
sola fide
cries Abraham.
Number two,
sola fide
cries David.
And number three,
sola fide
cries the church.
Number one,
sola fide
cries Abraham.
Paul appeals
to what the scripture
has to say
about Abraham.
What shall we say
was gained by Abraham?
If Abraham was justified
by works,
he has something
to boast about.
But what does
the scripture say?
Verse three,
Abraham believed God
and was counted
to him
as righteousness.
His belief,
his faith
was counted
as righteousness.
This is a quotation
from Genesis chapter 15
and verse six.
Paul's a good preacher.
He is using
the scripture
to help people
understand
the plan
of God.
So I would
like to ask you
to join me
in Genesis
chapter 15.
I think it'll
serve you well
to see those
first six verses
and I'll draw
your attention
to some neighboring
material as well.
So as you're getting there,
Genesis chapter 15,
it's back in
Genesis chapter 12
that God
calls Abraham,
then called
Abram,
and tells him,
Abram,
and I will make
of you
a great nation.
This is the beginning
of verse two
of chapter 12
and this will
be tied together
a bit later
as I read to you
from the book
of Galatians.
He there says,
part of the promise
he makes,
God makes
when he calls
Abram,
I will make of you
a great nation.
You will be the
father
of many
people.
back to
Romans chapter
4.
And a number
of things
come to pass.
If you're not
familiar with the
story,
you should read
the story,
the things that
are happening.
Some significant
things happen
in between
chapter 12
and chapter
15.
There we read,
after these things,
beginning of
chapter 15,
the word of the
Lord came to
Abram in a vision.
Fear not,
Abram,
I am your shield,
your reward
shall be very
great.
But Abram
said,
O Lord God,
what will you
give me?
For I continue
childless,
and the heir of
my house is
Eleazar of
Damascus.
And Abram
said,
Behold,
you have given
me no offspring,
and a member
of my household
will be my
heir.
He's saying,
how am I going
to be the
father of
nations?
How is this
possible?
I don't have
a son.
Verse 4,
And behold,
the word of the
Lord came to
him,
this man shall
not be your
heir,
your very own
son shall be
your heir.
And he brought
him outside
and said,
look toward
heaven and
number the
stars if you
are able to
number them.
Then he said
to him,
so shall your
offspring be.
Now,
Abram is very
old at this
point.
If my memory
is serving me
correct,
someone's going
to come up and
tell me that I'm
wrong at the
end of this,
I'm sure.
I believe he's
87.
Ben.
Something like
that.
He's in his
80s,
to be sure.
His wife,
Sarah,
is yet to be
pregnant.
So,
none of this
has actually
happened yet.
In a vision,
he goes out
and God
says to him,
look toward
heaven and
number the
stars.
If you're
able to
number them,
so shall
your offspring
be.
And then
verse 6,
which is what
Paul is
citing in
Romans chapter
4,
and he
believed
the Lord.
He believed
the promise,
and God
counted it
to him
as
righteousness.
Now,
it is not
until
Genesis chapter
17
when
circumcision
comes up,
and this is
at least
13 years
later.
At least.
Probably more,
but it's at least
13 years
later.
So,
Abram's faith
is counted to
him as
righteousness
long before
the circumcision.
So,
what is it
that Abram
has to boast
in?
Nothing.
There's nothing
to boast in
at all.
Right?
He believed
the promise
of God,
and God
declared him
morally
perfect.
And Paul's
just going on
to explain
that back
in Romans
chapter 4.
Now,
to the one
who works,
he's reasoning
with us.
If you work,
then you're
due your
wages.
It's good
to thank
your boss
for your
paycheck.
It's not a
bad thing
to do,
but I hope
that you
earned
your paycheck.
You traded
labor for
those wages.
They're not
counted as a
gift,
he says in
verse 4,
but as
your due.
Of course.
Typically,
a good boss
will say that,
oh,
no,
thank you
for working.
I appreciate
that.
But the
one who
does not
work,
but believes
in him
who justifies
the ungodly,
his faith
is counted
as righteousness.
So we are
justified
by faith
alone.
The point
is being
pressed.
Paul writes
later in
Ephesians
chapter 2,
verse 8 and
9,
for by grace
you have been
saved through
faith,
and this is
not your
own doing,
it is the
gift of
God,
not a
result of
work,
so that
no one
may boast.
Beloved,
if we have
anything to boast
in at all,
it is what
God has done
on our behalf
in the
personal work
of the
Lord Jesus
Christ.
We are
undeserving
of the
salvation
that is
ours.
Why do
we continue
to act
as if we
must
deserve it?
As if we
must earn
it?
May it
never be.
May we
press on in
holiness because
of who God
has declared
us to be
by grace
through faith.
So Abraham,
the story of
Abraham cries
out to us,
sola
fide.
But also
David,
Paul goes
on in
Romans 4
verse 6,
just as
David also,
he is just
reiterating,
he is driving
his point,
he is piling
up the
argument,
speaks of
the blessing
of the one
to whom God
counts righteous
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.
This is
Psalm 32
verses 1
and the
first half
ish of
verse 2.
David had
committed
egregious
sins.
David had
committed sins
that there
was no
reparation for
in the
law.
David had
no hope
of going
to the
temple
and giving
the forgiveness
of his
sins for
the sins
that he
had
committed.
So what
does he
do?
He throws
himself on
the mercy
of God.
By faith
he believes
that somehow
God's promises
will be true
and his sins
will be forgiven.
Turn to
Psalm 32.
Let's read
it in
its
entirety.
When Paul
cites these
texts it's
most likely
his original
hearers knew
the psalm.
He's pulling
out a piece
of it but
they would
have heard
it in its
entirety as
this letter
was read
to them.
Psalm 32.
Read all
11 verses.
Blessed is
the one
whose
transgression
is forgiven,
whose sin
is covered.
Blessed is
the man
against whom
the Lord
counts no
iniquity and
in whose
spirit
there is
no deceit.
For when
I kept
silent my
bones wasted
away through
my groaning
all day
long.
For day
and night
your hand
was heavy
upon me.
My strength
was dried
up as by
the heat
of summer.
He's under
the conviction
of his
sin.
He's not
crying out
to God
and it's
destroying
him.
I acknowledge
my sin
to you,
verse 5,
and I
did not
cover
my
iniquity.
I
said,
I will
confess
my
transgressions
to the
Lord
and you
forgave
the
iniquity
of my
sin.
Therefore,
let everyone
who is
godly
offer
prayer to
you at
a time
when you
may be
found.
Surely,
in the
rush of
great
waters,
they shall
not
reach him.
He's
talking there
about
judgment.
Water
was
frightening
to these
people.
In judgment
we will
not find
him.
Let us
cry now
while he
is to
be found.
Verse 7,
you are a
hiding place
for me.
You preserve
me from
trouble.
You surround
me with
shouts
of deliverance.
And then the
voice of the
psalm
changes.
It's now
God speaking.
He says,
I will
instruct
you
and teach
you
in the
way
you
should
go.
I will
counsel
you
with
my
eye
upon
you.
Be
not
like
a
horse
or a
mule
without
understanding
which
must
be
curbed
with
bit
and
bridle
or
it
will
not
stay
near
you.
Do
not
be
stubborn
like
a
horse
or
a
mule.
Many
are
the
sorrows
of
the
wicked
but
steadfast
love
surrounds
the
one
who
trusts
in
the
Lord.
Be
glad
in
the
Lord
and
rejoice
O
righteous
and
shout
for
joy
all
you
upright
in
heart.
Right?
So
David
throws
himself
on
the
mercy
of
God
and
understands
that
as
he
does
so
God
will
forgive
his
sins.
It
has
been
repeatedly
stated
that
we
are
justified
by
grace
alone
through
faith
alone
and
Jesus
Christ
alone.
But
how
can
it
be
that
those
people
who
lived
before
Christ
were
justified?
How
is this
true of
Abraham
and of
David
and of
many
other
saints?
The
author of
Hebrews
gives us
some help
in this
matter
beginning
in the
beginning
of chapter
11 of
Hebrews.
There he
says,
now faith
is the
assurance
of things
hoped
for.
The
conviction
of things
not
seen.
Wasn't
this
true of
Abraham
and of
David
and many
others
like them?
Verse 2
he says,
for by
it
the
people
of
old
received
their
commendation.
Then
verses 3
through 12
of
Hebrews
11,
we see
a list
of
people
like
Abel
and
Noah
and
Enoch
and
Abraham.
And
then
in
verse
13
he
says,
these
all
died
in
faith,
not
having
received
the
things
promised,
but
having
seen
them
and
greeted
them
from
afar,
and
having
acknowledged
that
they
were
strangers
and
exiles
on
the
earth.
For
people
who
speak
thus
make
it
clear
that
they
are
seeking
a
homeland.
If
they
had
been
thinking
of
that
land
from
which
they
had
gone
out,
they
would
have
had
opportunity
to
return.
But
as
it
is,
they
desire
a
better
country
that
is
a
heavenly
one.
Therefore
God
is not
ashamed
to be
called
their
God,
for
he
has
prepared
for
them
a
city.
Faith,
future
promise.
Then
in
verses
17
through
38
we
get
more
of
these
people
of
old
listed.
And
in
verse
39
the
author
of
Hebrews
says,
And
all
these
though
commended
through
their
faith
did
not
receive
what
was
promised
since
God
had
provided
something
better
for
us
that
apart
from
us
they
should
not
be
made
perfect.
So
the
people
of
old
awaited
the
promise
of
the
coming
Christ
that
the
church
would
be
gathered
together
that
all
of
us
one
day
will
rejoice
together
in
the
presence
of
God.
Brings
us to
the
third
point.
Sola
fide
cries
the
church.
This
church
that this
letter was
written to
in Rome
and
us
today
is the
blessing
only for
the
circumcised
or also
the
uncircumcised.
Praise
be to
God.
The
answer
is
for
both.
I
think
some
of
you
may
be
ethnically
Jewish.
Most
of
us
are
not.
I'm
so
grateful
that
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
is
for
all
of
us.
And
he
makes
this
argument.
When
was
the
righteousness
counted
to
Abraham?
Before
or
after
he
was
circumcised?
And
it
was
most
certainly
before.
As
I
said,
at
least
13
years
before.
There's
a
great
gap
of
time
from
the
beginning
of
Genesis
chapter
15
to
the
beginning
of
Genesis
chapter
17.
Not
justified
by works
of
the
law.
The
law
bears
witness
to
our
sinful
state
and
our
need
of
a
savior.
It
helps
us
be
aware
of
our
transgression.
Once
counted,
declared
righteous,
it
helps
us
to
know
how
we
ought
to
walk
to
please
our
God.
But
we
are
not
justified
by
works
of
the
law.
Galatians
chapter
3.
Last
text
for
today.
Verse
6
and
following.
There
Paul
says,
Abraham
believed
God
and it
was
counted
to
him
as
righteousness.
Genesis
15
6.
Know
then
that
it
is
those
of
faith
who
are
the
sons
of
Abraham.
And
the
scripture
foreseeing
that
God
would
justify
the
Gentiles
by
faith
preached
the
gospel
beforehand
to
Abraham
saying
in
you
shall
all
the
nations
be
blessed.
Remember
that
back
from
the
beginning
of
chapter
12?
In
you
shall
all
the
nations
be
blessed.
And
here
Paul
says
under
the
inspiration
of
the
spirit
that
this
was
the
scriptures
preaching
the
gospel.
That's
cool.
So cool.
Verse
9
Galatians 3
So then
those
who
are
of
faith
are
blessed
along
with
Abraham
the
man
of
faith.
For
all
who
rely
on
works
of
the
law
are
under
a
curse
for
it
is
written
curse
be
everyone
who
does
not
abide
by
all
things
written
in
the
book
of
the
law
and
do
them.
And
there
what
he's
saying
is
if
you're
!
counting
!
on
your
keeping
of
the
law
to
save
you've
broken
it
and
you're
cursed.
It
will
not
save
you.
Now
it
is
evident
that
no
one
is
justified
before
God
by
the
law
for
the
righteous
shall
live
by
faith.
The
Bible
alone
is
God's
final
authority
sola
scriptura
and
it
is
on
its
pages
that
we
learn
that
we
are
saved
by
God's
grace
alone
sola
gratia
through
faith
alone
sola
!
fide
in
Jesus
Christ
!
alone
solus
Christus
and
this
salvation
and
all
things
exist
for
the
glory
of
God
alone
solely
Deo
Gloria.
Now
in a few
minutes
the band's
going to
come
and
they're
going to
lead us
in
the song
In
Christ
Alone.
So I
just want
you to
take a
few
moments
and let
me
read
these
lyrics
to
you
that
you
might
sit
and
think
and
meditate
on
their
truth
and
then
we'll
sing
the
song
together
In
Christ
alone
my
hope is
found
He
is my
light
my
strength
my
song
this
cornerstone
this
solid
ground
firm
through the
fiercest
drought
and
storm
!
What
heights
of love
what
depths
of
peace
when
fears
are
stilled
when
strivings
cease
my
comforter
my
all
in all
here
in the
love
of
Christ
I
stand
in
Christ
alone
who
took
on
flesh
fullness
of
God
in
helpless
babe
this
gift
of
love
and
righteousness
scorned
by the
ones
he
came
to
save
till
on
that
cross
as
Jesus
died
the
wrath
of
God
was
satisfied
for
every
sin
on
him
was
laid
here
in the
death
of
Christ
I
live
there
in the
ground
his
body
lay
light
of
the
world
by
darkness
slain
then
bursting
forth
in
glorious
day
up
from
the
grave
he
rose
again
and
as
he
stands
in
victory
sin's
cursed
has
lost
its
grip
on
me
for
I
am
his
and
he
is
mine
I
bought
with
the
precious
blood
of
Christ
no
guilt
in
life
no
fear
in
death
this
is
the
power
of
Christ
in
me
from
life's
first
cry
to
final
breath
Jesus
commands
my
destiny
no
power
of
hell
no
scheme
of
man
can
ever
pluck
me
from
his
hand
till
he
returns
or
calls
me
home
here
in
the
power
of
Christ
I'll
stand
let's
pray
together