Spoken at SGBC

6-7-98

Romans #23

4:13-17

The Promises are Ours by Faith

Years ago I was listening to a tape by John MacArthur Jr.. On that tape he revealed the contents a magazine article written about the largest religious ceremony in the world. Here is the essence of what Mr. MacArthur had to say.

The largest religious ceremony in the world occurs in India every six years. It is a Hindu event. Here is how it proceeds. There is a place in India where the Ganges and the Yamuna rivers come together. To the Hindu this convergence of rivers is a most sacred place. It is here that the great ceremony takes place. It begins with a parade of millions led by unclothed Indian Holy men. The destination of this great sea of humans is the sacred water of the two converging rivers. Their coming to this place has been very expensive and, as you would guess, the majority of these people are very poor. Most come on foot many beginning their journey months in advance. The month is January, it is cold and the water is freezing. Along the banks of the river there are many "fakirs." These "fakirs" who are also holy men to the Hindus. These men sit on beds of nails or walk over glass bits or beds of glowing hot coals. Another common sight is worshipers piercing their tongues with long knives in order to sentence themselves to eternal silence as a way of appeasing the gods.

Still others engage in killing the use of their legs and arms by various means. For instance, one man had held his arm up in the air for seven years. Of course it was withered and immovable. His fingernails were two feet long. Again this was an attempt to please and appease the gods. Others will be found staring purposely at the midday sun until they are blind for life. This is another way of pleasing the gods.

The Hindus believe that the pilgrim who bathes at this place wins absolution for himself and his whole family. Even if he has perpetrated one hundred crimes he is redeemed the moment he touches the Ganges. For its waters are believed to wash away the sins of all who bathe in them. All along the waters edge there are little shaving booths. These devout and sincere people strip themselves bare, enter one of these booths where they have every single hair removed from their bodies. These hairs are collected and are thrown into the filthy water of the river. According to their sacred writings each hair thrown into the water secures for them one million years in heaven.

There is yet another gift one may offer their god in order to gain heaven. That gift is one’s life. The sacred writings declare, "Whoever wishes to be born in heaven ought to fast to a grain of rice and then drown himself in these waters." The article concluded with these words. "Millions who come with spiritual hunger depart with peace in their hearts and renewed faith." (Taken from a tape by John MacArthur Jr.)

From our perspective these people are deceived and so far from Christianity we needn’t even compare the two religions. I agree with that statement for the most part, however, there is something to take careful note of. The extreme cases we have just heard described have to do with men and women seeking justification by works of the flesh. All these people are trying to do is make the gods happy with them. All they are trying to do is find a way into heaven. Problem is, they are trying to get there by the works of the flesh. These Hindus are not alone. There are millions of others who, while they laugh at people like these, are doing the same thing. They have gotten past the weird stuff like shaving booths and tongue piercing but nevertheless they are still seeking acceptance with God on the basis of works. They have sanitized the process so that most cannot tell the difference between it and true religion. These more sophisticated people seek to appease their God by offering Him, acts of kindness, money, moral living, baptism, church membership and a hundred other things. The list is really endless. There is nothing men and women wont do in order to gain acceptance with God.

Every society on earth has manufactured some kind of ladder which men must climb in order to get into heaven. Mankind is addicted to the idea of a performance based salvation. The names of the religions are different and the ceremonies and requirements are different but the common thread that runs through all non-Christian religions is a performance based acceptance with God. You must be something or do something or sacrifice something to earn God’s favor.

The truth of the matter is that acceptance with God is by faith in Jesus Christ without reference to our performance or works. This is Paul’s argument in Romans chapter four.

In the first twelve verses Paul proves that, contrary to what the Jews believed, Abraham was not saved by works but by grace through faith. In verse three Paul quotes from Genesis 15:6 NASB. "Then he (Abraham) believed in the LORD; and He (God) reckoned it to him as righteousness." Then our inspired brother says this in verse five of Romans four. (Romans 4:5 NASB) "But to the one who does not work, but believes in HIM WHO JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY, his faith is reckoned as righteousness." Paul’s goal is to prove from the scriptures that salvation cannot be earned. Rather, it is all of grace. It is a blessing from God. Salvation is God interfering in the lives of the ungodly, unrighteous, rebellious sinner to the extent he is transformed into a hater of sin and a lover of God. This is the blessing of salvation. Paul speaks of this divine and blessed gift in Romans 4:7-8 NASB. "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. {8} "BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT." Salvation is a blessing, an undeserved gift, from God.

Paul presses on with his arguments determined to answer every objection so as to bring the Jew to silence. In verses nine through twelve he argues that Abraham’s justification had virtually nothing to do with his circumcision. The Jews of course held that acceptance with God was based on circumcision and other works similar to it. Paul declares that God ascribed righteousness to Abraham at least fourteen years before his circumcision. Therefore, it had nothing to do with his justification.

The Jews also considered the Mosaic Law as the basis for their special standing before God. They believed that they and Abraham were recipients of, "The promises," because they possessed and adhered to that Law. This is the problem Paul addresses in our text for today, verses thirteen through seventeen. Follow as I read.

(Romans 4:13-17 NASB) "For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was NOT through the Law, BUT THROUGH the righteousness of faith. {14} For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void (empty and useless) and the promise is nullified; {15} for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there violation. {16} For this reason it is by faith, that it might be in ACCORDANCE with grace, in order that the promise may be CERTAIN to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, {17} (as it is written, "A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the sight of Him whom he believed, even GOD, WHO GIVES LIFE TO THE DEAD AND CALLS INTO BEING THAT WHICH DOES NOT EXIST."

Let’s begin our study of this passage by looking at the promise given to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 NASB. "Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; {2} And I WILL MAKE YOU A GREAT NATION, And I WILL BLESS YOU, And MAKE YOUR NAME GREAT; And so you shall be a blessing; {3} And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And IN YOU ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED."

Consider also the words of Genesis 17:4 NASB. "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And YOU SHALL BE THE FATHER OF A MULTITUDE OF NATIONS."

Now these promises were given to Abraham and his descendants some four-hundred years before the Mosaic law, (The Ten Commandments), came into being. Yet the Jews believed that their father Abraham received the promises through obeying the Mosaic Law. Realizing that the scriptures recorded this great gap between the time of the promise and the giving of the Law the Jews concocted this solution. They taught that long before the Law and even the giving of the promises that Abraham had a thorough knowledge of the Law and obeyed it in all its detail. (Hendricksen pg 154 note 128) Therefore, he earned these promises and God’s declaration of righteousness by keeping the Law.

Paul’s argument is that the works of the law were not involved at all and that the promises came to Abraham by grace though faith long before Abraham knew anything about the commandments. He says it well in the letter to the Galatians. (Galatians 3:16-18 NASB) "Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ. {17} What I am saying is this: the Law, which came FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTY YEARS LATER, does not invalidate (annual, overthrow, or render ineffective) a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. (The promises made to Abraham four-hundred plus years before the law came into being.) {18} For if the inheritance (the promise and all it contained and implied) is based on (keeping the) law, it is no longer based on a promise; BUT God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise."

Take careful note of what was said. The promise of being heir of world was given to Abraham and to his seed. Then Paul explains who that seed is. That seed is Jesus Christ the Lord. It is in Him, Jesus, that all the families of the earth were to be blessed. Has that promise come true? Yes! Christ’s redemptive work has reached into every corner of the earth where He has saved, for His own glory, the elect from every nation under the sun. He has saved this great multitude through faith without reference to their performance or works. They are saved by the same faith Abraham was saved by. Such believers are called the true sons and daughters of Abraham.

(Galatians 3:6-9 NASB) "Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. {7} Therefore, BE SURE that it is THOSE WHO ARE OF FAITH WHO ARE SONS OF ABRAHAM. {8} And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS SHALL BE BLESSED IN YOU." (By putting their faith and trust in Jesus Christ the Lord as Abraham did.) {9} So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

(Galatians 3:29 NASB) "And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, (children, descendants), heirs according to promise." Of course this has nothing to do with whether you are a Jew or a Gentile but whether or not you belong to Christ by faith.

This is how it may be said that Abraham and his descendants by faith inherit the world. Having come to faith in Christ we are reconciled to God. We become sons of God, brothers of Christ and, therefore, joint heirs with Christ. Does God own the whole world? Yes He does! Is His Son the heir of all things that are God’s? Yes He is! Therefore, those who are sons and daughters of God and brothers of Christ own all things as well. Hear the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 NASB. "So then let no one boast in men. For ALL THINGS BELONG TO YOU, {22} whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas OR THE WORLD or life or death or things present or things to come; ALL THINGS BELONG TO YOU, {23} and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God."

We who are believers are heirs of the promises in the same way Abraham was, by faith in God through Jesus Christ. If it were by law, obedience, or performance then it could not be by grace or promise.

Paul continues in Romans 4:14 NASB. "For if those who are of the Law are heirs, (He speaks of Jews or anyone else who believes in a works based acceptance with God.) faith is made void and the promise is nullified."

The promise is nullified or ceases to be a promise when it is surrounded by conditions, which is what the law does. If the things God "promised" to GIVE Abraham and his believing descendants had to be earned by keeping the law then we’re no longer speaking of a promise but of payment and reward for obedience. If acceptance with God and entrance into His heaven is based on keeping the law then faith is useless, of no value, and obedience is the thing we must be concerned about. Faith becomes empty and useless because the law does not require belief, it requires conformity or strict obedience. On the other hand, if faith is the means by which we find acceptance with God, become sons and, therefore, heirs of His kingdom, then keeping the law has no place in finding acceptance with God. Has faith been nullified or made useless?

Paul declares that faith has not been nullified or done away with. Quite the contrary it is the ONLY WAY men can relate to God. He continues to teach what the Bible supports throughout, that ". . . by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20 NASB) In Romans 4:15a he puts it like this, " . . for the Law brings about wrath, . ." Faith is the instrument of peace and reconciliation to God the law brings about divine wrath.

The law does not justify it condemns the sinner. It pronounces a curse upon all who do not perfectly comply with all that it demands. That means that everyone who tries to relate to God by meeting some standard, rule or law, is in deep trouble. "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God!"

(Galatians 3:10-11 NASB) "For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM." {11} Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

(Romans 4:15 NASB) " . . for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there violation."

What is the meaning of this last phrase, ". . but where there is no law, neither is there violation?" It is a statement which shows that God’s wrath rests upon all men. How do I come to that conclusion? Paul says in Galatians 3:10 that God’s curse rests upon all breakers of the law. Now if it could be proven that some men had no law it might also be proven that there was no divine wrath resting upon them. However, we have learned from this very book that the law of God is revealed to all men in varying degrees. It comes to us first thorough creation and it is written on our hearts or consciences. Chapter one of Romans tells us that mankind chose to ignore and to violate these revelations of truth. (Romans 1:18-20 NASB) "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, {19} because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. {20} For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse."

Where there is no law there is no violation but there is no place to be found where there is no law! The law of God, the truth about God, surrounds us and it is in us as well. This law demands perfect obedience and condemns to hell all who fail to render it. The law brings wrath and condemnation because we cannot and will not keep it. Since all of us have and continue to break God’s law we are due only His wrath. So you see again that the law cannot save the sinner. The law was never meant to save the sinner. The law was meant to condemn.

(Romans 4:16 NASB) "For this reason it is by faith, that it might be in accordance with grace, in order that the promise may be CERTAIN to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all."

May I offer a paraphrase of this verse? "For this reason man’s justification is by faith. For works of merit are incompatible with grace. Works denote a payment due. Were works the basis of salvation all the descendants of Abraham would be lost. For none could make the grade. It is only through faith that any man can be certain of obtaining the promise, the inheritance, eternal life. Salvation is by grace, the undeserved, unearned, unmerited favor of God effectually applied to the heart and soul of the ungodly sinner who trusts in Christ. It is by grace through faith that the salvation of Abraham’s descendants is made certain."

(Romans 4:17 NASB) (as it is written, "A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the sight of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist."

Abraham, in a spiritual sense is the father of all believers, not of Jews only but of believers from every nation under the sun. (Genesis 17:4-5). At the moment Abraham stood before God, though he was not then a father physically or spiritually, this promise was as sure to be fulfilled as if it had already been fulfilled. Why do I say that? I say it because of who Abraham’s God is. As Paul put it, He is the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. This statement has both a spiritual and a physical application.

On the physical side of things we must think of creation. (Genesis 1:1 NASB) "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." How did He do this? Did He have a kit? Was there some raw material to work from? No the Bible declares that in the beginning there was God and only God. This God called into being what had not previously existed in any form. Hear the words of the Lord.

(Hebrews 11:3 NASB) "By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, (Think of the "Let there be" statements in Genesis.) so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible." Here is power and wisdom beyond measure. Here is a God with no limitations. Here is the God who said to Abraham I will make you the father of many nations. The father of a multitude of people as numerous as the sand on the seashore. Here is the God who speaks and it is done. So, though Abraham did not have children when the promise was given to him it was certain that he would have children in the future. For God calls into being that which does not exist.

We conclude with the phrase, "He is the God who GIVES life to the dead." This is but another statement employed to declare the greatness and power of the God who made promises to Abraham and his seed. He gives life to the dead! Now there are numerous examples of God raising people from physical death. The most important of these is the resurrection of Jesus. Romans 8:11 "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you." Here is the Holy Spirit’s testimony that God raised Jesus from the dead and that He will raise believers from the dead in the last day. We won’t belabor the point, God is able to raise the physically dead.

More importantly to us is the truth that He is also able to raise the spiritually dead in order to make them His sons and daughters by faith. Hear the word of the Lord.

John 5:21 "For just as the Father raises the (physically) dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives (spiritual) life to whom He wishes."

1 Corinthians 15:45 "So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." (he was physically alive) The last Adam became a life-giving spirit." Jesus, God in the flesh could and does raise sinners from spiritual death unto life by faith. Consider Ephesians 2:1.

"And you (all who are now alive in Christ) were DEAD in your trespasses and sins, . . . 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were DEAD in our transgressions, MADE US ALIVE TOGETHER WITH CHRIST (by grace you have been saved)." Salvation can be described as God raising sinners from spiritual death." This is what He did for Abraham and it is what has been done for those who now believe. Sinners must be raised from the dead. The dead have no life and cannot save themselves. This is not a problem. For our God, Abraham’s God, the Christian God is unique among all so called gods. For He gives life to the dead and calls into existence that which did not previously exist.

The key word here is gives. He GIVES life to the sinner who had no life. The dead sinner did not earn life by obedience, he was dead. He GIVES faith to the enlivened sinner who had no faith. He GIVES repentance to the sinner who had no repentance. This is all of grace says the Apostle, it is all of grace through faith not law. This is Paul’s point. Sinners are saved like Abraham was saved, through faith alone in Christ alone plus nothing.