No Superman

Text: Romans 4:13-25

I. Intro

A. Superman as a role model

i. His physical abilities

ii. His moral superiority

iii. He is an impossible role model

II. Abraham' Works

A. Seems similar to Superman

i. Talked to God!

ii. He is the ancestor of all of Israel!

iii. In some ways, he began the culture of Israel

a. Circumcision

b. Willingness to sacrifice his own son

c. Receiving God's promise

B. Human nature to mythologize our heroes

i. From George Washington and the cherry tree

ii. To Modern athletes, actors and musicians

C. Perhaps the church of Paul's time felt the same

i. At that time the word came through the priests.

ii. The priests wanted everyone to live the law.

iii. Jews had no outside interpretation to turn to.

III. Jesus

A. Throws out the idea of being saved by works.

B. Claims to be fulfilling the Law (Matthew 5:17)

C. and that we should follow the law (v. 19)

D. It sounds like we should throw out Abraham's accomplishments!

E. The Jews can't do this! Abraham is their hero!

IV. Paul clears it all up very logically.

A. If it is possible to, faith is worthless. (Romans 4:14-15)

i. It is impossible to obey every part of the Law completely.

ii. The Law calls down judgment.

iii. No one is righteous under the law.

B. Abraham’s first action was believing God.

i. God promised the impossible.

ii. Abraham was about 100 years old! Too old to have a child!

iii. He believed God anyway.

iv. He laughed, but he believed!

v. That's what makes him a hero!

C. The same offer to Abraham applies to us! (v. 23)

i. We too can be credited with righteousness!

ii. We too are called to believe that life can come from death.

iii. We too are called to put our faith in God.

V. Conclusion

A. Smallville summary-Superman as "human"

B. v 25 "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification."

By Rob Sack