God’s Promise and God’s Promise and Our FaithOur Faith

March 20, 2011March 20, 2011

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

Second Sunday in LentSecond Sunday in Lent

A lesson from a broken wind A lesson from a broken wind generatorgenerator

He worked 5 minute He worked 5 minute and submitted a bill and submitted a bill for $2,015for $2,015

$15 to replace 3 bolts$15 to replace 3 bolts $2,000 to know which $2,000 to know which

3 bolts to replace3 bolts to replace

Most religions teachMost religions teach

““It does not matter so much what It does not matter so much what a person believes as what they a person believes as what they do.”do.”

““So if you live a good and moral So if you live a good and moral life, then you are pleasing God.”life, then you are pleasing God.”

There is an essential difference There is an essential difference between knowledge and actionbetween knowledge and action

Action without knowledge is useless!Action without knowledge is useless!

It does not matter how hard you It does not matter how hard you work at it…If you do not know work at it…If you do not know which 3 bolts to replace…the which 3 bolts to replace…the generator will not work!generator will not work!

God’s promise comes by faithGod’s promise comes by faith

Abraham received his promise Abraham received his promise

by FAITHby FAITH The things we work for are an The things we work for are an

obligation and have nothing to do obligation and have nothing to do with faithwith faith

God’s come to us is the same way God’s come to us is the same way as Abraham received them – by as Abraham received them – by faithfaith

Abraham received his promise Abraham received his promise by FAITHby FAITH

““Abraham, humanly speaking, was Abraham, humanly speaking, was the founder of our Jewish nation. the founder of our Jewish nation.

What were his experiences What were his experiences concerning this question of being concerning this question of being saved by faith?   saved by faith?  

Was it because of his good deeds Was it because of his good deeds that God accepted him?that God accepted him? Romans Romans 4:1-34:1-3

Abraham received his promise Abraham received his promise by FAITHby FAITH

If so, he would have had something to If so, he would have had something to boast about. But from God’s point of boast about. But from God’s point of view Abraham had no basis for view Abraham had no basis for pride.   For the Scriptures tell us, pride.   For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, so God “Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous.”declared him to be righteous.”

Romans 4:1-3Romans 4:1-3

God made a promise to God made a promise to AbrahamAbraham

Genesis 12:1Genesis 12:1A sonA sonWealthWealthProminence Prominence

Abraham actedAbraham acted

Genesis 12:4Genesis 12:4Abraham did as God directedAbraham did as God directedAbraham was a pioneer from Abraham was a pioneer from

a civilized land going into a a civilized land going into a wild open unknown worldwild open unknown world

There was a force behind the There was a force behind the actionaction

““Abraham believed God”Abraham believed God”

The reason was faithThe reason was faith

Trusting in God’s promise of care, Trusting in God’s promise of care, Abraham went into a wild landAbraham went into a wild land

We don’t know whom else God We don’t know whom else God may have called, who didn’t may have called, who didn’t believe then gobelieve then go

But Abraham believed!But Abraham believed!

Things we work for are an Things we work for are an obligation; not a giftobligation; not a gift

““For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, so God declared him believed God, so God declared him to be righteous.” to be righteous.”

When people work, their wages are When people work, their wages are not a gift. Workers earn what they not a gift. Workers earn what they receive.  But people are declared receive.  But people are declared righteous because of their faith, righteous because of their faith, not because of their work.”not because of their work.”

Romans 4:3-5Romans 4:3-5

The wages of lifeThe wages of life

StubbornnessStubbornnessSelfishnessSelfishnessGod’s justiceGod’s justicePunishmentPunishmentBroken hearts and shattered Broken hearts and shattered

liveslivesDeath Death

John won big at the races…John won big at the races…

Trying to figure what God owes Trying to figure what God owes us is always a matter of faulty us is always a matter of faulty mathematicsmathematics

A rookie fireman was given a A rookie fireman was given a problem by his captain…problem by his captain…

Trying to save yourself Trying to save yourself makes as much sense makes as much sense as tying a rope around as tying a rope around your waist to be pulled your waist to be pulled down from a fourth down from a fourth story window.story window.

So what we receive from God So what we receive from God Comes to us as His giftComes to us as His gift

““It is clear, then, that God’s It is clear, then, that God’s promise to give the whole earth promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants to Abraham and his descendants was not based on obedience to was not based on obedience to God’s law, but on the new God’s law, but on the new relationship with God that comes relationship with God that comes by faith.”  by faith.”  

Romans 4:13-16Romans 4:13-16

So what we receive from God So what we receive from God Comes to us as His giftComes to us as His gift

““So if you claim that God’s So if you claim that God’s promise is for those who obey promise is for those who obey God’s law and think they are God’s law and think they are “good enough” in God’s sight, “good enough” in God’s sight, then you are saying that faith is then you are saying that faith is useless. And in that case, the useless. And in that case, the promise is also meaningless.   promise is also meaningless.   Romans 4:13-16Romans 4:13-16

So what we receive from God So what we receive from God Comes to us as His giftComes to us as His gift

““For the law brings punishment on For the law brings punishment on those who try to obey it. those who try to obey it.

(The only way to avoid breaking (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to the law is to have no law to break!)”break!)”

Romans 4:13-16Romans 4:13-16

So what we receive from God So what we receive from God Comes to us as His giftComes to us as His gift

““So that’s why faith is the key! So that’s why faith is the key! God’s promise is given to us as a God’s promise is given to us as a free gift. And we are certain to free gift. And we are certain to receive it, whether or not we receive it, whether or not we follow Jewish customs, if we have follow Jewish customs, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who Abraham is the father of all who believe.” believe.”

Romans 4:13-16Romans 4:13-16

So now…So now…We are children of AbrahamWe are children of AbrahamWe are children of faithWe are children of faithWe are children with God’s We are children with God’s

promisepromise

You too can receive when you You too can receive when you believebelieve

Believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. – Jesus is the fulfillment Savior. – Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise God made to of that promise God made to Abraham and to usAbraham and to us

Receive the promise – heaven & Receive the promise – heaven & God’s loving kindness & eternal God’s loving kindness & eternal life & forgiveness with hope and life & forgiveness with hope and joyjoy

God’s promise is received by God’s promise is received by faithfaith

This is the way it always has This is the way it always has beenbeen

The wage we earn is deathThe wage we earn is death

God’s gift is lifeGod’s gift is life

For everyone who believesFor everyone who believes

The peace of God which The peace of God which surpasses all human surpasses all human

understanding will keep understanding will keep your hearts and minds your hearts and minds

in Jesus Christ unto in Jesus Christ unto eternal life.eternal life.

AMEN . . .AMEN . . .