We have a hard time believing that anything is totally free. Whenever we see something free, we immediately assume that there are strings attached. The majority of us have experienced those hidden strings. “You have won a free vacation.” “Download the free clipart.” “Sign-up for a free no obligation quote.” The free vacation often requires us to buy our own plane tickets and to sit through some boring presentation about time shares. The free clipart comes with a lot of annoying adware that bogs down our computer. The free quote results in a stream of never ending inconvenient phone calls. Experiences such as these cause us to believe that nothing is truly free. This skepticism often determines how easy it is for us to accept God’s grace. Let’s be really honest here for a second, I have to work to get a paycheck; doesn’t it make sense that I would have to work to earn my salvation? This is exactly what the Jews struggled with as they heard the Gospel message. Even the Old Testament taught that justification came through faith but somewhere along the line that concept got distorted in the minds of the Jewish people. The Jewish leaders had constructed a religion that was almost completely dependent upon works. So the concept of grace truly went over their heads. So in our text Paul skillfully turns to the pages of the Old Testament to present concrete evidence using the patriarch Abraham that God declares us righteous based on what He had done not on what he had done. Today, we need to truly soak in Paul’s words and discover that there truly is something that is free. Although God’s grace is difficult to wrap our brain around, it doesn’t change the fact that salvation comes through faith and not by works.
I. Paul uses Abraham to show that God makes us right through faith.
A. An examination of the most revered character in Jewish history.
1. Paul is setting out to do one of the most difficult tasks in the world, changing someone’s mind when they are convinced that they are right.
2. Judaism constructed a view of Abraham that was not entirely correct.
a. They viewed him as being the first example of religious piety.
b. They viewed Abraham’s righteousness as a result of obedience to God’s Law.
3. The problem with their view was that Abraham came centuries before God had given the Law through Moses.
4. There was no written code for Abraham to follow, in fact scripture does not support the idea of Abraham being justified before God because of the things he did.
5. Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6—NIV 2011)
B. Abraham is not an example of great piety but an example of great faith.
1. Piety would require Abraham to flawlessly keep God’s written code which had not been given yet.
2. If you examine Abraham’s life and compare it to the Law you find out he was exactly like us, he sinned and fell short of God’s standard.
3. As Paul has pointed out repeatedly throughout the letter so far, if you break one law you are guilty of them all so there is no way to be justified that way.
4. However, we can see that Abraham took God at His word time and time again even when it did not make any sense.
5. The bottom line? Faith not obedience made Abraham righteous in God’s sight.
II. Paul further makes his point by contrasting real life situations.
A. A paycheck is not a gift, it is payment for work that has been completed.
1. Paul uses the process of employment to demonstrate the difference between faith and works.
2. You work and the employer pays you at the rate that has been agreed upon once the work is completed.
3. The wages are not a gift, the employed is obligated to fulfill their side of the agreement.
4. A business that simply gave money away to their employees without any work being done would soon be bankrupt.
5. If we could earn our righteousness, salvation would not be a gift it would be something that God was obligated to do.
B. The ungodly do not earn their righteousness, it is credited to them when they believe and place their trust in God.
1. The truth is, there is no do-it-yourself kit that comes with salvation.
2. Each of us come to God by faith in Jesus Christ not by obeying a bunch of laws or by doing a bunch of good works.
3. Paul blows holes in the theory that salvation is earned with the statement that God justifies the ungodly.
4. Martin Luther put it this way; “God does not accept the person on account of his works, but he accepts the works on account of the (believing) person.”
C. Paul now holds up another revered character from Jewish history as an example.
1. David was the greatest and most loved king is Israel’s history but he was also far from perfect.
2. Despite his many sins, David time and time again wrote of God’s faithfulness and forgiveness.
3. Consider these words of David; Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. (Psalm 32:1-2—NIV 2011)
4. Although we are like David, so undeserving. When we turn to Him God will extend His grace and forgive our sins.
III. Paul once again answers the objections before they are made.
A. Objection 1: Abraham was declared righteous because he had been circumcised.
1. This objection raises an interesting question: “Does God’s grace depend upon circumcision?”
2. We need to remember that circumcision was of paramount importance to the Jewish people.
a. It was a sign of the Mosaic covenant.
b. It was chief thing that identified the Jewish people as belonging to God.
3. Scripture clearly shows that Abraham was declared righteous before he was circumcised. We saw that God declared him righteous in Genesis 15 and he was not circumcised until Genesis 17.
4. This is quite devastating to Jewish thought since technically Abraham was a gentile when God declared him righteous.
5. Paul skillfully argues that Abraham proves that circumcision does not determine one’s standing before God.
B. Objection 2: The Law is what puts us in right standing with God.
1. God’s promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him was not delivered through the Law.
2. It salvation was dependent upon the Law no one would ever be saved not even Abraham and it would make faith useless.
3. Paul shows that the Law lacks the ability to bring salvation, it can only bring wrath.
4. God has given the human race freedom of choice. Since choice exists that means that the Law automatically brings with it the possibility of failure.
5. The Law simply shows us that we fail to live up to God’s standard and outlines the penalties for disobedience.
IV. Every person must decide if they will depend upon works or faith.
A. There are several important things we can learn from Abraham’s example.
1. Throughout his life his faith was tested quite a few times and how he responded each time was a step of faith.
2. The tests of his faith came in all different sizes and when viewed together they show a picture of a man of great faith.
3. Abraham’s responses were not works they flowed from his unwavering trust in God’s faithfulness.
4. Abraham teaches us that we must trust God with our future and always strive to give Him the glory that is due Him.
B. Salvation based on works really appeals to us since each of us wants to be accepted.
1. A part of our feelings of self-worth is determined by how others accept us.
2. We work to receive the favor of others so we automatically assume that God operates the same way.
3. God operates by freely offering justification for every person. Faith comes into play because we fully trust that God will do what He says He will do.
4. Righteousness will never happen apart from faith, it only will result from our faith being fully placed in God.
Closing:
Charlotte Elliot came to Caesar Milan and asked how she could become a Christian. The old man replied, "My dear, it is very simple. You have only to come to Jesus." And she said to him, "But I am a very great sinner, will He take me just as I am?" "Yes, He will take you just as you are, and no other way." And then she said, "If He will take me just as I am, then I will come," and she went home to her room, sat down at her desk and wrote these beautiful words: "Just as I am without one plea, O, Lamb, of God I come, I come."
This is the way that Charlotte Elliot came to Christ, and thousands of others since, in the words of her hymn. Have you come just as you are, without one plea but that Christ's blood was shed for thee? Come in faith & God will save you just as you are right now.
