In Christ Alone, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
Introduction
I read the story of a 3-year-old little girl who used the word “salvation” in a conversation one day. Her mother was surprised to hear such a word come from such a little girl so she asked her daughter if she understood what the word meant.
“I know all about it, Mommy,” she said. “We saw it at the movies.” The mother was puzzled. The only movie she had ever seen was a Disney production. “What movie?” she asked. “You know,” she replied, somewhat impatiently, “101 Salvations!”
Transition
In our Scripture reading this morning we read about the faith of Abraham. The Apostle Paul’s main point in this chapter is that salvation comes from faith alone.
As early in the Scriptures as Genesis 15:6 we read that Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness, not his works.
Abraham placed his trust – his faith – in Jehovah God and it was this faith that was counted to him as righteousness. Abraham’s faith was in God and God has provided salvation to humanity in Christ alone.
Old Testament saints like Abraham placed their trust in God and as such, in a very real sense; they were looking forward to the Cross of Christ. Though they could not have known the full nature of the work of Christ, they placed their faith in God and the Cross is the way that God redeemed them according to that faith.
As New Testament believers, we look back at the Cross of Christ. We have received the fullness of the truth that redemption is found in Christ alone. While Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness, we know that Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness only because God was to send a savior.
The 20th Century Pastor, A. W. Tozer, once wrote, “Absolute candor is an indispensable requisite to salvation.” This morning it is my desire to be plain spoken and candid as we examine the faith of Abraham.
I am convinced that as we do, we will discover that the true object of faith for all humanity is Jesus Christ. There are not, in fact, 101 salvations. Faith, not works, is the way to righteousness and salvation is found in Christ alone.
Exposition
In verse 2 of this chapter the Apostle Paul makes a clear distinction between faith and works. We do not work to earn a right standing with God. When we enter into faith in Jesus Christ, we inherit all of the blessings of the New Covenant.
We enter into a covenant relationship with God through Christ. It is not that our faith saves us it is that our faith is like a road which leads us to the Cross where we are washed clean in the blood of Christ’s atonement.
In the church we use the word atonement a lot but we seldom define it. Think of it this way, if you break up the word into three parts it says at-one-ment. On the Cross Christ made atonement – at-one-ment – for our sin.
Romans 5:8-13 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (NASB)
But perhaps you have heard the lie that the biblical account of Christ is in no way unique among the world’s religions. Perhaps you have even been told that it is just a nice story with the power to encourage. Maybe you have observed that so many from inside and outside of the church have abandoned the biblical teaching that it is only by the shed blood of Christ that we are made at one with God.
Before you believe that lie, allow me to share with you some of the differences between the authentic grace of the Cross of Jesus Christ and the counterfeit grace of the world’s religions.
The Qur’an does speak of the forgiveness of a compassionate and merciful Allah. But all of its promises in regard to anything resembling grace are only made to the meritorious. In Islam only those people whose merits have been weighed in Allah’s scales are entitled to mercy, whereas the gospel is good news of mercy to the undeserving.
You see, the symbol of genuine grace is the cross of Christ, not the scales of earned favor. When grace must be earned it is not grace at all. The 4th Century Christina theologian, Saint Augustine of Hippo wrote, “For grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them.”
Unlike in Islam, where a person must work to be worthy of mercy, genuine grace frees us to do every good work. In Christ we are enabled by grace to do good works. We don’t work to earn mercy. Mercy works in us!
Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (NASB)
But surely at least one of the major world religions identifies with the genuine grace of God. Surely genuine grace can be found elsewhere! Let’s take a look.
The Bhagavad-Gita explains the spirit of Hinduism but Hinduism has no orthodoxy to speak of. There are many interpretations of Hinduism and its practice varies widely from location to location.
Hinduism is an ancient religion which allows for a radically varied belief system. In Hinduism there is no such thing as an absolute truth.
Hinduism is basically a system of pagan beliefs in which adherents worship forces of nature which have been personified as heroic beings or gods and goddesses.
Most Hindus worship an image of their favorite deity. In Hinduism there can be no genuine grace because there is no genuine God. Hinduism is basically a belief in everything and nothing all at the same time.
When nothing is absolute then there can be nothing authentic because there is no authority. Hinduism, like Islam, does not pass the test. It fails to provide the grace which is found in Christ alone.
But of all the world’s religions, the one which concerns me the most is the “New Age” movement. This false religion concerns me so deeply because its philosophies and teachings have influenced many of God’s people.
The New Age movement is not so much a religion as it is a collection of modern ideas that have permeated our educational institutions, our churches, and has taken a hold on our society in so many ways.
According to 4truth.net, the apologetics arm of the North American Missions Board, “The New Age Movement contains great diversity.
However, the following ideas characterize most New Agers. (1) Pantheism-God (god/goddess) is All and All is God (god/goddess). (2) Monism-All is One. (3) Reincarnation-After you die you will be reborn as a baby and live another life. (4) You are God, and must discover your divinity. (5) Good and evil do not exist; therefore, there are no absolutes in morality. (6) Separate the historical person of Jesus from the Christ Spirit. (7) A New Age of enlightenment and transformation is coming.”
Illustration
I’m always impressed with the human tendency to try to change reality by renaming things. You see it in academic papers where they often pour forth commonalities but disguise them in academic jargon and act as if they’ve said something profound.
Part of the process of communication is exposing the several layers of truth—and putting it in varied language so that it comes across to any and all who are listening. All of which is to say I’ve always enjoyed stories that expose this nonsense. Take the business about titles.
No one is a garbageman anymore—he’s a Sanitation Engineer. No one is a janitor—he is called the Director of Custodial Services, or the Environmental Displacement Engineer.
It reminds me of the story of the man eating lunch in an organic natural food restaurant. When he looked into his soup, he was disturbed by what he saw. He called the waitress over and said, “Young lady, there’s dirt in my soup.”
She looked at it carefully and said, “No sir, that’s earth.”
The chief way that the New Age movement has impacted society is in pushing its view that there are no absolutes in morality. If we are all own gods as it were, then we each decide for ourselves what it right and what is wrong.
This is the world view of so many in our culture. I’m terribly afraid that we are living in a society in which so many see themselves as the center of the universe.
In a society in which that is it the predominant world-view, is it really any wonder that we see such madness in our times?
In Isaiah 5:20 the prophet writes, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (ESV)
Conclusion
Oh, that we would learn to trust in Christ alone! Trust begins with truth.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (ESV)
The Scriptures are trustworthy. They are the truth and they declare to us that we do not have to work to earn mercy and there is a God in Heaven who reigns supreme over His creation!
Our hope rests in Christ alone and He is our one solid and sure foundation!
Amen.
