A lesson by Pastor John Skaggs

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Date: 7-12-98

Sermon Number: Romans #24

Text: Romans 4:18-25

Being Fully Assured

One of the commentaries I consulted during the preparation of this lesson was the Gray and Adams Bible commentary. I would like to read a paragraph from that commentary titled "Salvation by Grace." "In a period of religious awakening Sammy (who I take to be a young boy) thought himself to be a subject of the work of grace, (He thought he had been saved.) and so, with others, presented himself for admission to the church. The office bearers hesitated on the ground that he might not have sufficient capacity to understand the doctrines of the gospel or to recognize the evidences of conversion. They concluded, however, to examine him and began with the subject of regeneration. "Do you think that you have been born again, ask the Pastor?" "I think I have," was the answer. "Well, if so, whose work is that?" "Oh, Sammy answered, God did His part and I did my part." Ah, exclaimed the Pastor, what part did you do?" "Why I opposed God all I could and He did the rest!" The result of the examination was that, so far as they could judge, the Holy Spirit had been Sammy's theological teacher, he was, in fact, born again. (End Quote)

That man contributes nothing to salvation and that God does everything necessary for the sinner's salvation is exactly what Paul intended to teach the readers of the epistle to the Romans. Man often believes he can be pleasing and acceptable to God by his good works but in reality he only opposes God by his efforts. He does not seek God in the acceptable way, by faith alone. Every man woman and child of Adam has gone his own way, all have turned aside and become useless. There is none who does good no not one. Mankind stands in active opposition to God and will continue to do so until God replaces his rebellious heart and renews his will. Those of us who are saved must take young Sammy's words to our lips, "I opposed God all I could and He did the rest."

In our recent studies the patriarch Abraham has been the focus of our attention. Paul uses him to prove that a sinner's justification is by faith without regard to works. He uses Abraham because the Jews believed him to be the perfect example of salvation by human merit. They speak of the merit of his faith, the circumcision of his flesh and his obedience to the law. By these things the Jews believed Abraham earned God's approval. Paul has done a good job proving that none of these things contribute in the least to one's salvation.

First of all faith is not a work of merit. For faith does not originate with man. The faith by which men believe in Christ and are saved is a gift from God created in the sinner by God Holy Spirit. Genesis chapter fifteen declares that "Abraham believed and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." Abraham's acceptance with God was based on faith not works. Therefore, boasting is excluded.

Second, Paul has proven that Abraham's circumcision had nothing to do with his justification for he was declared righteous a full fourteen years prior to being circumcised!

Third, Paul has shown that Abraham could not have been justified by keeping the Mosaic Law since God declared him righteous four-hundred and thirty years prior to the giving of that law! The conclusion is this. Abraham gets no credit for his own salvation. The great "Father Abraham" had no reason to boast and the Jews have no reason to boast on his behalf. Rather, God gets all the glory for He alone saves the sinner.

We continue to consider the nature of saving faith as we return to Romans chapter four to take another look at Abraham, the believer.

(Romans 4:18-25 NASB) "In hope against hope he believed, in order that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, "SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE." {19} And without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb; {20} yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, {21} and being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform. {22} Therefore also IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. {23} Now not for his sake only was it written, that it was reckoned to him, {24} but for our sake also, to whom it will be reckoned, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, {25} He who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification."

The first thing we see is that saving faith is of such a nature that it stands it's ground when it makes no human sense to do so. "In hope against hope he believed." In this case the object of hope was the fulfillment of God's promise that Abraham would have a son and that all the nations of the earth would be blessed by his offspring. This is of course a reference to Jesus Christ who would come from Abraham's offspring. This was the object of Abraham's hope, the promise of God. When Paul says "he hoped against hope," he speaks of the physical condition of both Abraham and his wife which made the fulfillment of the God's promise humanly impossible. When this promise was given Abraham was one hundred and Sarah was ninety. Sarah's womb was dead and had been all her life. As for Abraham he was now impotent. All of this was by divine design. Had God given the child while Abraham and Sarah were in their prime it would not have been clear at all that the child was conceived and born by a miracle. But at one hundred and at ninety it was obvious to all and especially to Abraham and Sarah that it was physically impossible for them to conceive a child without divine intervention. Yet Abraham believed the promise of God. We find the record of this promise in Genesis seventeen verses five through six.

(Genesis 17:5-6 NASB) "No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I will make you the FATHER of a multitude of nations. {6} "And I will make you EXCEEDINGLY FRUITFUL, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come forth from you."

How could two one-hundred year old people believe such a promise as this? Such faith flys in the face of good human reason and logic. Yet, he believed with an unwavering belief. In fact, we are told in verse twenty that Abraham's faith grew stronger in light of repeated promises and in spite of the apparent impossibility of the situation. But WHY did he believe that he and Sarah would one day bear a child? Verse seventeen gives us the answer.

(Romans 4:16-17 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, (Jews) but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (all believing Jews and gentiles) {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."

Abraham believed he would be the father of many nations because of what he knew about God. He did not believe in a hand carved god of stone or wood that could neither move nor speak. Rather, he believed in the, ". . God who gives life to the dead and calls into existence that which does not exist!" Abraham reasoned like this. The God I worship has promised me a son. Yes both Sarah and myself are reproductively dead. However, this is not a problem. For the God I worship is so powerful and wise He can give life to the dead and call into existence that which does not exist. Perhaps Abraham thought of the fact that God had created all things that are out of nothing. Consider these familiar words.

(Genesis 1 NASB) "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. . . {3} Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. . . {6} Then God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." . . . {11} Then God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, . . . and it was so. . . {14} Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens . . . {20} Then God said, "Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens." . . . {24} Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind . . and it was so. . . {26} Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, . . {27} And God created man in His own image, . . . {31} And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day." Here is God creating all things out of nothing! He did so with a His spoken word! If this is an example of God's power, is anything impossible for Him? Perhaps Abraham reasoned like this when he heard the promise of God and looked at the opposing circumstances. Whatever the thought process might have been, Abraham and Sarah believed God would do exactly what He had promised.

Verse twenty tells us that this unwavering faith glorified God. (Romans 4:20-21 NASB) " . . yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, {21} and being FULLY ASSURED that what He had promised, He was able also to perform."

Many of the old statements of faith and confessions tell us that the purpose of man is to "Glorify and God and enjoy Him forever." The scriptures declare that whatever we do we must have the glory of God in mind for this is the reason for our existence. To glorify God is to reveal some truth about Him by what we say or do or do not do. Here we are told that unwavering faith glorifies God. How does it do that? It does so by revealing or emphasizing some truth about God.

Abraham and Sarah glorified God by telling their friends, "Were going to have a son, God has promised that at this time next year we will have a son!" They glorified God by coming together as man and wife do in order to conceive a child. There unwavering faith caused them to do what many would deem foolish. They glorified God by persevering in the face of all that opposed them. They did so because they believed that God was able to do all that He had promised to do. Unwavering belief in the word of God always brings Him glory. Such faith testifies to the integrity, faithfulness, power, grace and goodness of God.

When I am not anxious or afraid in a difficult situation because He has promised to work all things together for my good, I glorify Him. When I lay down at night without fear because the Bible tells me that my God never sleeps or slumbers I bring glory to God. By such behavior I say something about the God I worship to those who observe. Unwavering faith glorifies God. When I refuse to speak ill of my wife or she of me because we believe that God made us for one another and put us together, I glorify God. When I refuse to speak ill of my government or the leaders in my church I glorify God. For His word has told me obey and pray for my secular and spiritual leaders. The exercise of such faith brings glory to God. The person with this kind of faith is the most comfortable of God's people. This person enjoys peace that goes beyond man's ability to explain. Abraham and Sarah had such faith and their behavior betrayed its existence. The two of them were, " . . fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform," (Romans 4:21 NASB)

To be fully assured is to be completely doubtless about the integrity, power and promises of God. Are you fully assured?

If, as a Christian, you are fully assured that your God is faithful to His word you will not fear the loss of your salvation. You will with Paul declare, ". . . I am convinced (fully assured) that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, {39} nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, (Romans 8:38-39 NASB) If you really believe that God means what He says you will find rest for your soul in the promise that, "Whoever believes in the Lord Jesus Christ shall not perish but will have EVERLASTING LIFE."

If you are fully assured of God's integrity and intent to do you good even in the midst of great persecution and suffering you will say, ". . . I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced (fully assured) that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day," (2 Timothy 1:12).

The Christian has entrusted his whole life and eternity to God and he is fully assured of his safety. If you are fully assured of the power, ability and integrity of God you will not despair when you think of your lost family members and friends. For the Bible, speaking of salvation, says, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible," (Matthew 19:26). When you are discouraged and without strength to carry on if you are fully assured you will rejoice in your weakness and continue to serve God saying, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me," (Philippians 4:13 NASB) This is the unwavering faith that brings glory to God and moves the people of God to praise and obey Him no matter what the circumstances seem to say. This is the kind of faith that Abraham had. Based upon this faith verse twenty-two declares, "It was reckoned to him as righteousness."

Now we come to the reason God has brought all this to our attention. Why were these things written to us? Why this history lesson on old man Abraham? Romans 4:23-25 gives us the answer. "Now not for his sake only was it written, that it (righteousness) was RECKONED (given or accounted) to him, {24} but for OUR SAKE ALSO, to whom it (righteousness) will be RECKONED, as (or to) those who BELIEVE in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, {25} He who was delivered up BECAUSE of our transgressions, and was raised BECAUSE of our justification."

Young students often object to the study of history because they can't see its relevance to them today. The truth is, if they do not see the relevance they will not profit from the study of history. The same is true of Christians who study a passage like this. We must make application to ourselves, to this age and time, or we will have wasted our time. By the grace of God we are not left on our own to discover the worth of the things we have studied today. Rather, we are told in no uncertain terms what all this has to do with us. By this text we are to learn and believe that salvation comes to men in this age just like it to came to Abraham. Righteousness is given to us through faith in God and His promises. Those who are saved, or justified, have been justified by faith not by works! The righteousness by which men are accepted does not come from themselves. Rather it is given to them when they come to God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul says that righteousness is reckoned or given to all "those who BELIEVE in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, {25} He who was delivered up BECAUSE of our transgressions, and was raised BECAUSE of our justification." Brothers and sisters, if the righteousness necessary for salvation is "given" to us through faith which is also given to us then we have no cause to boast except in the grace and mercy of God.

Finally I call your attention to the phrase in verse twenty five, "He who was delivered up BECAUSE of our transgressions, and was raised BECAUSE of our justification." The young man, Sammy, who was introduced in the beginning of this lesson, was a transgressor. He, like us, was an ungodly enemy of God doing all things to oppose holiness and reconciliation. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, (in active rebellion and opposition toward God and His Son), Christ died for us," (Romans 5:8 NASB). By the will and mercy of God Jesus was delivered up to death on the cross. It was not for sins that He had committed. Rather, it was because of our transgressions that He was put to death by His Father. This is good news for sinful, helpless, hopeless, impotent, sinners. For God saves to the uttermost all who come to Him believing in His Son who died for transgressors and was raised to prove His death effective.

Have you ever noticed the language used in verse twenty five? Jesus died BECAUSE of our sin. Then we are told that He was raised BECAUSE of our justification. I understand the fact that He died for or because of my sin. But what does Paul mean when he says, "He was raised because of our justification?"

Here we must remember why Jesus was crucified in the first place. Jesus went to the cross to save His people from their sin. He went to the cross to save, in every way, and for eternity, those given to Him for salvation by His Father. The record of this is found in John chapter six. Jesus went to the cross to accomplish our redemption, justification, sanctification, and glorification. All that Christ intended to do for us by dying on the cross is, in today's text, summed up in the word, justification. What this text tells us is that Jesus was raised from the dead BECAUSE He had accomplished his mission. Had we not been justified by his dying Jesus would still be in the grave. But, praise God, that is not the case. His sacrifice was accepted by God on behalf of all the elect, the given ones, the lost sheep of God, all who would ever believe. Christ's resurrection proved that God was pleased and appeased by the shedding of the Son's blood.

Verses twenty-four and twenty-five tell us that every one who by faith believes this to be true will be saved from the wrath to come. Everyone who is fully assured that Jesus was put to death for their sins and raised from the dead because of His success will be saved. To be fully assured of these gospel truths is to have saving faith. Such faith will cause one to flee to and rest in Christ alone for the salvation of his soul. This is the good news that, " . . . . that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, {4} and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NASB) God in His word makes this promise, " . . . that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe (are fully assured) in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; {10} for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. {11} For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED," (Romans 10:9-10). This is the promise of God. Will you believe it like Abraham and Sarah believed the promise made to them? Whoever is fully assured and has no doubt that Jesus Christ died for their sins and was raised from the dead because He actually accomplished eternal redemption. That person will be saved. Such a person is a Christian. Such a person has had a perfect righteousness reckoned to him by faith.