The Letter to the Romans Chapter 4
“Believing the Impossible”
September 31, 2006
PRAY
INTRODUCTION
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Romans 4:1-9 Read
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Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Matthew 7:9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
God has good things planned for us.
So, what is the answer? This is what we will answer today.
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BODY
QUESTION: What did Abraham discover to be true?
“What therefore shall we say Abraham, our forefather discovered, according to the flesh?”
ANSWER: If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he would have had something to boast about--but not before God. 3 So what does the Scripture say?
"Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
Believe – אָמַן - Aman πιστεύω – to believe what God says to have faith in what he says.
Credited, reckoned, accounted – the books were adjusted so that they balance.
Who was Abraham? 10 generations from Noah
Genesis 12:1-3 Calling & Promise
• The Calling: Genesis 12:1
• The Promise: Genesis 12:2 & 3
– A Land
– A Great nation
– A Blessing
– A Great Name
– You shall be a blessing to others
– Others will bless you
– Curses on those who curse you
– All the earth shall be blessed because of you.
How do we mess it up?
ABRAHAM’S WAY OVER GOD’S
Genesis 12:10-20
• The Cursing:
– A Land
– A Great nation
– A Blessing
– A Great Name
– You shall be a blessing to others
– Others will bless you
– Curses on those who curse you
– All the earth shall be blessed because of you.
ABRAHAM’S RETURN TO PROMISE
• Genesis 13:1-4,
• The Promise: Genesis 13:14-17, 15:1-6
ABRAHAM’S WAY OVER GOD’S
• Genesis 16:1-4, 16, 12
• The Cursing:
ABRAHAM 24 YEARS LATER
• GOD REITERATES THE PROMISE: 17:1-4, 17-19
• GOD BRINGS THE PROMISE: 21:1-5
• ABRAHAM WAS 75 WHEN GOD FIRST CALLED HIM
• THE PROMISE CAME AT 100 YEARS OLD.
CLOSING
What caused Abraham to falter?
• Time – promise was long ago
• Fear – how shall we survive?
• Trusting in Egypt (The World)
• Other’s ideas over God’s
• Unbelief – God is not more powerful than nature.
• Living with Consequences of unbelief – Ishmael &
his descendants
Our Calling & Promise
• Our Calling: John 3:16
• Our Promise:
– The Holy Spirit to guide you - John 14:16, 17, & 26, 16:7, 8, & 13; 8:12
– Answered Prayer - John 14:12-14
– Quenched Thirst for things – 4:14
• Financial – Matt. 6:33-34; 11:28-30
• Physical & Mental – Matt. 11:28-30
• Family – Psalm 127 & 128
What causes us to falter?
• All the same things: Romans 4:17-25
– Time – promise was long ago
– Fear – how shall we survive?
– Trusting in Egypt (The World)
– Other’s ideas over God’s
– Unbelief – God is not more powerful than nature.
– Living with Consequences of unbelief
I find that we all want to be Christians on our own terms.
But, I am sorry that is just not acceptable to God.
We must submit to Him and His Word, all of it, without reservation,
choosing to accept and live with whatever fallout, we think, might come.
Experience has proven to me that it never comes.
