Righteousness Without Works
Romans 4:1-12
April 16, 2023
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I. Introduction (Job 25:4)
A. Job 25:4 How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
B. You may not care much about being right with God right now
1. You have all your life to live
2. You are a free man or a free woman
3. Who wants to worry about facing God, and being judged by God for sinful actions and sinful thoughts?
C. But your relationship with God determines your access to God, and whether you will be allowed to enter into heaven one day
D. So, HOW can a man, or woman, boy or girl be justified, made right with God?
E. That’s a good question!
F. Romans chapter 4 helps answer it!
II. Background (Romans 4:1-3)
A. Romans 4:1-3 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
B. Paul is specifically writing to the Jews.
1. He does this from time to time throughout this book in your Bible
2. He has proven that we all are sinful in our nature: whether Jew or Gentile
a. Jews did not like to consider themselves sinners… only the pagan Gentiles were sinners in their minds!
b. But Jews lie, steal, commit adultery, and have idols in their hearts just like us Gentiles do!
C. And asks them (and all of us too) how can a sinner become righteous?
1. That is a very important question
2. People try so hard to just ignore their sinful nature, and act like it is okay to lie, to look on other people in lust and envy, to take advantage of other people, and steal from them
3. And then end up mentally unstable, and full of anger, and depressed, and sometimes in prison!
D. Wouldn’t it be amazing to be able to make what is crooked, straight? To forgive someone enough so that they could live free from guilt?
E. Well, Paul looks back to Abraham
1. One of the most influential men in history
2. He was the founding father of the entire Jewish race
3. And he was a man that God called His friend (Isaiah 41:8) “But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.”
F. And then asks them if they ever noticed what Abraham discovered about getting right with God. He would be a great place to start!
III. Message
A. “Father Abraham” (Romans 4:1)
1. Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2. He refers to Abraham as “our father Abraham”
3. Abraham was the physical father of the Jews. The start of the Jewish people – like a “founding father” of a nation
4. But being related to Abraham was not the most important relationship the Jews needed to have with Abraham
a. Anybody can produce children
b. But passing on what you learn to your children is more important!
B. Abraham’s Discovery (Romans 4:1,2)
1. Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? [HAS DISCOVERED]
2. The apostle Paul asks his Jewish audience, what did Abraham discover about righteousness? About being made right with God?
a. Was Abraham made right with God by HIS best efforts, his own good works, his own righteousness?
b. Or by GOD Himself?
3. Can righteousness be bought, earned, and worked for?
a. Most every Jew reading this Book in the first century would have said “YES!”
b. To every Jew, their founding father was a good man, a great man, a faithful man, a godly man
c. And so, every Jew believed they also just needed to work hard at being good like Abraham, and they too would be called the friend of God! They would be allowed straight into heaven when they died!
d. And do you know what is sad? Almost every Catholic I meet believe they also just need to work hard at being good like Mother Theresa, Pope John Paul II, all the saints of Ireland, and they too would be allowed straight into heaven when they died!
4. No one can boast before God
a. Romans 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
b. That was a hard truth to accept
c. If Abraham earn righteousness by his own efforts, then he should be able to boast about it, brag about it!
d. Only people who work hard and accomplish something can boast about it
e. Yet, WHO could ever boast before God? It is impossible!
5. So where does that leave us?
6. If we can’t work at being right with God, and can’t earn forgiveness, then how can anyone become righteous in God’s sight?
C. Paul answers… “What saith the scripture?” (Romans 4:3; Genesis 15:1-6)
1. Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
2. Amen! THAT is the right place to look for answers!
3. What does the Bible say?
a. Most people to day only tend to believe what is popular, or controversial, or promoting of themselves.
b. This was Martin Luther 's response constantly to Catholic priests bishops and popes about what he believed
c. Speech in defense of his doctrines at the Diet of Worms, 18 Apr 1521… “Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason, I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other. My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.”
d. People have forgotten that God gave the Bible so that we could know what to believe!
e. Paul makes the BIBLE the authority over Popes, prince’s, opinions, theologians, and philosophers!
4. Let's read Genesis 15:1-6
a. Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
b. Genesis 15:2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
c. Genesis 15:3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
d. Genesis 15:4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
e. Genesis 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
f. Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
g. Did you notice…
1) God promised to reward/honour Abraham if he just trusted Him and believed Him
2) And Abraham looked around and said, I am old, and have no children, no one to pass on all that I have to – no heir
3) And that was when God made a promise to give Abraham, even though he was old and impotent, children – loads of children. As many as the stars in the sky “so shall thy seed be”
4) Right!
5) It was absolutely IMPOSSIBLE. Just having one child, maybe, but millions?
5. Abraham believed God! THAT IS THE RIGHT ANSWER
a. He didn’t believe in himself (new age) and his own abilities, or inabilities
b. He didn’t believe in science - He didn’t have IVF treatments
c. He didn’t believe in religious efforts and faith healers
d. He just believed what God promised!
e. Notice closely Romans 4:3
1) Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
2) This statement is not Abraham’s boast about his faith, and that he believed in God
3) It is God's boast about Abraham!
a) Not that Abraham was a good man
b) Not that Abraham was a great man
c) Not that Abraham was a chosen man
d) But that Abraham just believed God!
6. ‘Belief’ means accepting something as true even though you may not understand it, simply because of WHO promised it
a. Abraham did not tell God what to do
b. He did not tell God what he wanted from God
c. He just heard God's promise of children, and of nations full of them!
d. And Abraham believed it!
e. Think about this! Abraham knew it was impossible! But because he believed God was able to do whatever he promised he decided to believe the impossible promise!
f. Let me say here that becoming righteous it's just as impossible as their 100 year old man having children and grandchildren and great grandchildren numbering as the sand of the Seas and the stars of the sky!
7. Counted up as perfect! Righteous! No sin-record with God now!
a. Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
b. EXAMPLE: A convicted criminal walking through prison is called to a door, and formally declared pardoned, a free man! THAT IS HOW AMAZING THIS TRUTH IS!
D. What was Abraham’s Faith Like?
1. Abraham's faith was NOT flippant – parroting – mouthing the words
2. It was not hesitant either (Cf Romans 4:19-22)
3. It was STRONG, solid, firm grip, steady
a. Romans 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
b. Romans 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
c. Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
d. Romans 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
4. He was confident in God’s ability to do what He promised – as impossible as that was!
a. And THAT belief activated a swap on his life
b. His faith activated a swap…
c. His sinfulness (all of us are sinners, including Abraham) was exchanged, swapped out for righteousness!
5. It was and always has been THAT easy to become righteous, ladies and gentlemen!
E. Paul Continues… Two ways for a human to become righteousness – no longer guilty of sinful acts (Romans 4:4,5)
1. Romans 4:4,5 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
2. By earning it – it is owed to you – because of perfect effort
3. Or by just accepting it - as a gift to you – without any effort
a. Believing on the God who by nature justifies the ungodly!!!
b. Remember, God is the JUDGE of sinners
c. But He also is the justifier of sinners (3:26)
1) Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
2) Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
3) Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
4) Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation [FULL PAYMENT] through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
5) Romans 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
6) Romans 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
4. BALANCE – Fait, vss Works… faith is greater than your efforts
5. Real faith in God’s promises WORKS, actually accomplishes our greatest need
6. It activates all the promises of God and obtains forgiveness for all our sins!
F. The Example of King David (Romans 4:6-8)
1. Paul refers to more Scripture, and looks at what king David discovered about getting right with a holy God!
2. Romans 4:6-8 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
3. David describing the blessedness of NOT being condemned by God for awful sins
a. Iniquities are sins that should be judged, condemned, made to pay for (example of someone scraping against your car – you would demand the person to pay for the damage)
b. Yet David says, instead of God condemning us like He should, God forgives the guilty
4. David spoke from experience!
a. He was a married man who committed Adultery with a married woman, Bathsheba
b. And when he found out she was pregnant he tried to cover up the act
c. And when that didn’t work, he had Bathsheba’s husband murdered!
d. Yes, the Bible tells it as it is! David became a wicked man
e. Should have died under the law of God!
5. Yet, David writes that amazingly, his sins were covered – paid for – by a substitute – not by good works
a. A murderer cannot just become nice, and make up for taking another person’s life
b. A their cannot make up for the trouble he or she has caused just by saying a few prayers
c. David needed to pay for that crime
d. But, God provided another option…
1) An innocent lamb in the Old Testament – something as harmless as a lamb, taking the place of a sinful man or women!
2) That’s why there were so many sacrifices of lambs throughout history – because there are so many sins people commit!
e. But there is one more way out! The Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who would pay with HIS OWN LIFE on the cross for the sins of the whole world, once, for all time!
f. John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
g. What kind of men did Jesus die for?
1) Jesus died for sinful men
h. Why did Jesus die?
1) To cover the cost of our sins, or else we all will have to die for our sin
6. This is why God is able to restore the ungodly! This is how God can make a sinful man, right with God!
a. We think only the good who fail a little bit, sin a little bit need to be restored
b. And can be restored, forgiven, justified
c. But God, who can do the impossible, can justify the most wicked
d. Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
e. Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7. God has chosen to NOT impute sin to the guilty, IF they believe God’s promise of a messiah – a Christ – a Saviour!
G. Does This Only Work for the Jews? (Romans 4:9-12)
1. Romans 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
2. Romans 4:10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
3. Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
4. Romans 4:12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
5. No!
6. Righteousness was “imputed”, reckoned, added up to be enough to make up for all his sin-debts to God when he was not doing ANYTHING
a. He had not become circumcised
b. He was not keeping the laws – they weren’t even written yet
c. Abraham was not even a Jew when God challenged him to believe not just “IN Him”, but believe His promises
1) He wasn’t even circumcised yet in Genesis 15 when he just believed God
2) Circumcision is a seal, a sign of righteousness, that Abraham had already believed God
3) It did nothing for Abraham’s soul – only faith affects the soul
4) It was just like a ring on a finger – it represented a relationship between Abraham and God, and between his children and God
d. It was received SIMPLY because he believed what God promised!
7. Abraham is now NOT just the father of the Jews physically, but of all who believe! That’s us!
a. I am now related to Abraham just by believing like Abraham did!
b. He is MY founding father – my great example of FAITH
c. Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
d. Abraham is the founding father of not just all Jews who are circumcised, but of all who believe God, just like he did
e. Abraham is a Christian’s founding father – he is the reason why WE believe like him
H. What has Paul Proven?
1. That no one can boast before God
2. That all men are sinful – to some degree
3. That no one can earn, or work their way to righteousness
4. That we are lost without God’s intervention – doomed under the righteous wrath of God for our sins
5. And that God who is the Judge, is also the justifier, the One who can make us righteous!
6. And all we need to do is believe He can forgive sinners like us
7. John 3:16,17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
8. Ephesians 2:8,9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
IV.Conclusion
A. You may not care much about being right with God right now
B. But your relationship with God determines your access to God
C. You need a personal relationship with God
D. Jesus Christ made that possible
E. Any other attempt, and you are blocked, and will be condemned
1. Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
2. Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
3. Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.