Romans 4
Boasting
Think about Paul’s words in Romans 4:1,2a
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about —
Abraham had a lot he could have boasted about
Even God saw him as a man above all others He made
The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:1-3
All the people on earth would be under Abraham’s blessing
Abraham had every reason to boast before men
But look at the second part of Romans 4:2
“but not before God.”
Abraham could have boasted of his works to anyone, but not to God
You and I, not even Abraham, can count our works, our accomplishments, as anything compared to God who made us
So…
What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Romans 4:3
Without faith it is impossible to please God
Boasting
God made you and gifted you.
Your abilities, when exercised,
can produce great satisfaction.
Man was made to work and
to enjoy the labor of his hands.
The joy and fulfillment of what we do
gives us initiative to do more.
This independent ability to assess and initiate things
independently is a good feeling.
Some of us can do this very well and
we recognize we stand out from others.
Our work and accomplishments
can give us a sense of power.
Some of us can become boastful as we
see we have done more than others.
Pride in our own accomplishments…
In climbing the heights of human arrogancy.
Being part of a group can also bring out boasting and pride.
The Us verse Them opens the doors
to criticize others who evaluate us.
Paul addresses the Jews in Roman
over this matter of boasting.
One of the greatest boastings among the Jews
was they were children of Abraham.
Abraham’s works are amazing.
He obeyed God.
Abraham went where God told him to go.
He sacrificed what God told him to give up.
Think about Paul’s words in Romans 4:1,2a…
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about —
Abraham had a lot he could have boasted about.
Even God saw him as a man above all others He made.
The LORD had said to Abram,
"Leave your country, your people and your father's household
and go to the land I will show you.
"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
Genesis 12:1-3
All the people on earth would be under Abraham’s blessing.
Abraham had every reason to boast
before men, but look at the second part
of Romans 4:2…
“but not before God.”
Abraham could have boasted of his
works to anyone, but not to God.
You and I, not even Abraham, can count
our works, our accomplishments,
as anything compared to God, who made us.
Did not Abraham have the trophy wife,
great riches, respected among world leaders…
And in the eyes of the world,
did he not work for all of it?
Yes, he did…
But Abraham’s works were nothing to boast about before God.
Make a list of things you can do that God can’t do.
In comparison to the works of God,
is there anything you have done
that would show up on the list
of great accomplishments?
What can you or I do to impress God?
So, if it was not Abraham’s accomplishments
that impressed God, what was it?
"Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
Romans 4:3
Abraham did what he did because he…
“Believed God”.
Abraham had one goal in life, to trust God.
His goal was not for riches, but to please God.
This is why the Scriptures says…
“and it was credited to him as righteousness."
Righteousness is only accomplished by “believing God”.
Abraham’s works were a result of what he believed in
not what he wanted to accomplish in this life.
Abraham’s works were secondary to his belief in God.
Without faith, Abraham would not have done what he did.
It was not how good of a job he did at works.
When walking in obedience to God…
He lied about Sarah not being his wife.
When he was old, the Bible says…
He staggered not at the promise,
but we might see it differently.
Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead — since he was about a hundred years old — and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."
Romans 4:19-23
Even when Abraham took Hagar to be his wife…
God saw Abraham’s faith and belief
in God’s promise to him.
What are you and I living for?
Is it our belief in God and His promises to us?
If so, it will shape everything you do.
You will have works.
Those works will be greater than others.
But you will have nothing to boast about before God.
If we boast about our works before others,
we have lost all wisdom…
When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
2 Corinthians 10:12
Jeremiah 9:23-24…
This is what the LORD says:
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth, or in these I delight,"
declares the LORD.
Paul was addressing the Jews who lost sight
of why Abraham did works.
They lost sight of a life dedicated to
believing in God in everything.
Faith without works is dead.
As well as, works without faith are
self-accomplishments with no credit from God.
Scripture Reading
Romans 4:1-3 NIV
4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about — but not before God. 3 What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
Romans 4:18-25 NIV
18 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." 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead — since he was about a hundred years old — and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 23 The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness — for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 NIV
23 This is what the LORD says:
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
24 but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,"
declares the LORD.
No comments:
Post a Comment