The Webster Bible Church Podcast

The God Of Abraham Praise - Part 2 - Romans 4:13-25

We shall not cease from exploration, And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.

 

THE GOD OF ABRAHAM PRAISE Part Two
Romans 4:13-25

 

 All true believers, like Abraham, trust God no matter what.

 

Our Failure: Why God's promise did not come through the law 
Romans 4:13-15

 

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in [God's] sight, since through the law comes 
knowledge of sin.
Romans 2:20

 

God's Faithfulness: Why God's promise is received through faith
Romans 4:16-25

 

Whereas works depend on human performance, faith depends on God's promise.

 

1. Abraham considered his predicament.

 

2. Abraham was convinced of God's power.

 

By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
Hebrews 11:11-12

The God Of Abraham Praise - Part 1 - Romans 4:1-16

THE GOD OF ABRAHAM PRAISE Part One
Romans 4:1-12

 

For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified [declared righteous] by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God 
put forward as a propitiation [wrath-bearing sacrifice] by his blood, to be received by faith.
Romans 3:22-25

 

God's way of salvation has always been the same.

 

The Trust of Abraham
Romans 4:1-5

 

The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ. 
Galatians 3:16 NIV

 

The Testimony of David 
Romans 4:6-8

 

God's way of salvation has always been the same.

 

The Timing of Circumcision 
Romans 4:9-12

 

God's way of salvation has always been the same.

The Righteousness Of God - Romans 3:21-31

 Title: The Righteousness of God

 Transforming Truth: Right standing with God comes only through faith in Christ

 Intervention

 Justification

An instantaneous legal act of God in which He thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ's righteousness as belonging to us, and declares us to be righteous in His sight.

 Redemption

 Propitiation

 Demonstration

 Implications

Every Mouth Stopped - Romans 3:1-20

The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Genesis 6:5

 

Every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood.
Genesis 8:21

 

 God alone is righteous, and we are accountable to him.

 

 1. God is perfectly righteous (Roman 3:1-8).

 

 Now, therefore, our God, the great God, mighty and awesome, who keeps his covenant of love, ... In all that has happened to us, you have remained righteous; you have acted faithfully, while we have acted wickedly.
Nehemiah 9:32-33

 

 The Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the people with uprightness. Psalm 9:7-8 

 

 2. All people are sinful (Romans 3: 9-18).

 

 Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins. Ecclesiastes 7:20

 

 Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands, and of good use both in themselves and others; yet, because they proceed not from a heart purified by faith; nor are done in a right manner, according to the Word; nor to a right end, the glory of God; they are therefore sinful and cannot please God, or make a man meet [suitable] to receive grace from God. And yet their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing unto God. - Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 16, "Of Good Works," Section 7

 

 3. Everyone must answer to God (Romans 3:19-20).

 

 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Galatians 3:22

 

 Admit

 

 Believe

 

 Confess

 

 God alone is righteous, and we are accountable to him.

 

 

 

 

Real Righteousness - Romans 2:17-29

Real righteousness works from the inside out.

 

1. Unmasking the conceit of the self-righteous Romans 2:17-24

 

Terrifying New Halloween Mask Depicts a Human Face Not Wearing a Mask (with BabylonBee pic)

 a. their privileges   Romans 2:17-18

 Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD."
Jeremiah 9:23-24

 

 b. their perception Romans 2:19-20

 c. their practice Romans 2:21-24

 We are here warned, first, not to flatter ourselves and to despise others, when we have performed only some portions of the law - and, secondly, not to glory in having outward idolatry removed, while we 
care not to drive away and to eradicate the impiety that lieth hid in our hearts.
- John Calvin

 

 Real righteousness works from the inside out.

 

 2. Understanding true conversion by the Spirit
Romans 2:25-29

 

 "Run, John, run!" the Law commands But gives neither feet nor hands. Better news the Gospel brings: It bids me fly and gives me wings.

 

 When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision - the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when 
you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

 

 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges 
against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.
Colossians 2:11-14 NLT

 

 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above. ... Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ...

 

 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry ... put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the 
image of its creator ...

 

 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, ... put on love. Colossians 3:1-2, 5, 10, 12, 14

 

 Real righteousness works from the inside out.

 

”Who, Me?” ”Yes, You Too!” - Romans 2:1-16

Self-righteous critics are also subject to God's wrath.

"Who, me?" "Yes, you too!" Romans 2:1-16

1. You have no excuse.

That's the first point Paul makes in verses 1-5. By condemning others for their sins, knowing that God's judgment rightly falls on them, you thereby condemn yourself, because you're guilty of all sorts of sins too.

GRAPHIC: Show 'Hand_Pointing pic

2. God shows no partiality.

a. two outcomes affirmed Romans 2:6-11

GRAPHIC: show diagram until next highlight

Ephesians 2:8-10 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 works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 
 
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:11-14

b. key objection answered Romans 2:12-16

There is something deep within them that echoes God's yes and no, right and wrong. Their response to God's yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman. The Message from God that I proclaim through Jesus Christ takes into account all these differences. Romans 2:15-16 MSG

3. You can have no fear.

This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"-and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! 1 Timothy 1:15-17a NLT 

To Hell In A Handbasket - Part 2 - Romans 1:24-32

To Hell in a Handbasket: The Catastrophic Course of Humanity Romans 1:24-32

God judges sinners by handing them over to their desires.

1. God gave them up to moral filthiness.

They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more.
Ephesians 4:18-19 CSB

2. God gave them up to homosexual relations.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 
Genesis 1:27

3. God gave them up to a depraved mind.

God judges sinners by handing them over to their desires.

"Until sin is bitter, Christ will not be sweet."

Our worthiness

Our witness

 Our worship

God‘s Righteousness And Wrath Revealed - Part 1 - Romans 1:16-23

God's righteousness is revealed as sinners respond to the gospel in faith.

God's Righteousness Revealed in the Gospel Romans 1:16-17

1. the power of the gospel

This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God's wonderful grace. Colossians 1:6 NLT

2. the provision of the gospel

3. the proffer of the gospel

The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him. John 3:36

4. the purpose of the gospel

a. "God's righteousness" - an attribute of God.

b. "Righteousness from God" - a status given to people by God. 

I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness from God based on faith. Philippians 3:9

c. "Righteousness done by God" - God's saving activity. 

I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. Isaiah 46:13 NIV

My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way.... My salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail. My righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations. Isaiah 51:5, 6, 8

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed - a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith.'" Romans 1:17 NIV

The one who is righteous by faith shall live.

God's righteousness is revealed as sinners respond to the gospel in faith.

God's wrath revealed in human experience Romans 1:18-23

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9

I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to give to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings. Jeremiah 17:10

God's righteousness is revealed as sinners respond to the gospel in faith.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Gospel Identity And Relationship - Part 2 - Romans 1:8-17

The gospel of Christ binds us together.

"I thank my God for you."

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right...
2 Thessalonians 1:3

The gospel of Christ binds us together.

"I constantly pray for you."

Pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.
Ephesians 6:18 NIV

"I long to see you."

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 
1 Peter 4:10-11

"I am eager to preach the gospel to you." 

Gospel Identity And Relationship - Part 1 - Romans 1:1-7

All Scripture is breathed out by God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

1. It tells us the truth about God and ourselves.

2. It shows us the way of salvation - how we can be right with God.

3. It connects the promises of God in the Old Testament to the gospel of Christ in the New Testament.

4. It provides the key to overcoming sin.

5. It puts our present sufferings into perspective.

6. It points believers to our future glory.

7. It fuels our love for God and others.

8. It helps us to live and die well.

9. It highlights the value of every person.

10. It exalts the triune God from whom all blessings flow.

I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum. Romans 15:19 NLT

Gospel Identity and Relationships Part One Romans 1:1-7

God calls every believer to serve his Son, Jesus Christ.

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9

The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let him who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. Revelation 22:17

All people have sinned (Rom. 3:23). The penalty for our sin is death (Rom. 6:23). Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for our sin (Rom. 5:8).

Salvation is a gift to be received by faith (Rom. 3:24-45; 6:23).

Effective calling is an act of God the Father, speaking through the human proclamation of the gospel, in which he summons people to himself in such a way 
that they respond in saving faith. - Wayne Grudem

1. It is a high calling.

God calls every believer to serve his Son, Jesus Christ.

"Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is 
ultimate, not man." - John Piper

2. It is a holy calling.

3. It is a happy calling.