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Romans: The Power of the Gospel Message 51 of 150
The Law is Not Enough, We Need Grace
Pastor Anthony King· June 4, 2023
Romans 4:13-17
“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”
Romans 4:13
The series
Verse by verse through Paul’s letter to the church at Rome: the Gospel of God’s righteousness, from our ruin in sin to life lived as a living sacrifice.
Abraham is the father, not of the circumcised, but those who have been justified by faith.
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.Galatians 3:6-9
This is a promise of the Abrahamic covenant.
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.Genesis 12:1-3
If adherence to the law makes one righteous, then Abraham’s faith and God’s promises are worthless.
When we require our own works to be added to salvation, we are saying that Jesus’ sacrifice was insufficient.
Abraham’s trust was not in what he possessed but in what he was promised.
The law simply points our glaring deficiencies and sets us up for wrath.
The Jews trying to be made righteous by the law only further emphasized their sinfulness and self-reliance.
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised; Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.Jeremiah 9:24-26
Awareness of our inability to keep the law should drive us to God in faith.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.Galatians 3:24-25
Our disobedience sets us up for God’s judgment. Obedience in some areas does not get us a pass.
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.Galatians 3:10
The law cannot produce righteousness. You cannot legislate morality.
Grace and faith lead to salvation so that this gift is now offered to both Jews and Gentiles.
Abraham trusted God and had faith before the Jewish rituals and law.
Abraham has become the father of all who have faith in God.
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.Galatians 3:7-9
Abraham is not the source of our worship or praise, but the God who gives life and has created all things.
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.Romans 8:11
Change in our lives comes about, not by following rules, but by changing our hearts.
Don’t be discouraged by your inability to live righteously in your own strength. This should drive you to the arms of your Father.
You are never accepted by God based on your righteousness, but you are accepted because of His grace.
13For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Romans 4:13-17
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