April 30, 2006

Righteousness by Faith
Gen.15: 1-6

Nearly 500 years before the law of Moses came into effect, we see that righteousness was by faith in God. Now that brings some questions to mind and before we look at this "righteousness by faith" we need to ask at least one, if this is the case, then why the law? I mean, if God had a system of justification by faith, why mess with it?

I'm glad you asked. Thankfully God has the answer and it's found in Galatians 3: 19-26 Wherefore then [serves] the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; [and it was] ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator Now a mediator is not [a mediator] of one, but God is one. [Is] the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. G 24 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. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Did you ever really talk to a little kid? Have you ever asked a kid can you fly? I have. Quite A few years ago in the Developmental K class at School one day I asked these kids "who can write a poem?" Everyone could! Now not a one of them could write, but so what, right? I asked,"Who can drive a car?" Every one admitted that it was not beyond their might to drive a car. I asked, "how many of you can fly?" Many raised their hands.

What's going on? They have limitations, but they do not yet know these limitations. This can be dangerous you know? I mean would you honestly put a 4-5 yr old in a car ,alone, on the freeway? I certainly hope not. Would you take your 5 yr old up on the roof and say "FLY KID, YOU CAN DO IT."? I seriously doubt it, though maybe there are some days .

What's needed, you see is a method of teaching them that they are in need of help. A method of teaching them that they can do a lot, but they cannot do all they think they can. That is why there is LAW.

The Law, says Paul under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was given to us to show us that we could not measure up. It was an early way of saying "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." God deals with us through our need. ... need, and failure are part of God's preparation for spiritual interaction with us.

So that is why, some 500 plus years later God sent the Law to His newly liberated people. To teach that righteousness comes by faith in God's work alone.
Now with that said, let's look into the topic today brought up by the sentence "Abraham believed God and it was counted to Him as righteousness"

First off we will note the truth of Righteousness by Faith . Turn to Romans 4:1 -8 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. 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 justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputes 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.

We see here that in His letter to the Romans, Paul is taking great pains to prove to them that God's plan had always been a plan of faith. Why was the law added. To teach dependence on God by faith alone. So now he needs to teach the Jewish ears in his audience the truth that Grace and not works has always been God's plan. This is a hard truth for them and for all humanity really. God is pleased by one thing in us and Hebrews 11:6 says that one thing is FAITH. For without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE (get that) to please God.

Many people want to add works to faith for salvation, that is not only error, it is a slap in the face of the one who gave His lifeblood for us. He and He alone bought our salvation. We can have no part in procuring salvation. The purpose of the death on the cross was not just to remove Adam's sin as some religions teaching, but it was for removal of sin debt to all who call on Christ.

Let me show you:

Look at Hebrews 10: 4 -13 For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hast had no pleasure Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein]; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all]. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes ` the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

And in Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express Image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, When he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Note if you will that Jesus' sacrifice was for our sins, not just Adam's SIN. However look at Roman's 5 with me . . .

5:11-21 And not only [so], but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that Had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come . But not as the offence, so also [is] the free gift. For if through the Offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, [which is] by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as [it was] by one that sinned, [so is] the gift: for the judgment [was] by one to condemnation, but the free gift [is] of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one [judgment came] upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [the free gift came] )upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the .obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

The sum of all this is that First of all Adam's transgression brought the habit and onus of "sinner" on us. His choice did that, but Christ's choice opened the door so that any one who would receive him (John 1:12) could be a part of God's family and have (1 John 1 7-8) fellowship with God. Jesus took away sin, but if we come to him in faith we have seen that he took away our sins, that was what separated us from God, If we say that we have no sin, John says, the truth is not in us, But if we agree with God, confess that is, that that we have sin, we are forgiven.

So our salvation from sin is by faith now as it was in Abraham's day:

Gal. 3:13-18 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangs on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though [it be] but a man's covenant, yet [if it be] confirmed, no man disannuls, or adds thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, [that] the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance [be] of the law, [it is] no more of promise: but God gave [it] to Abraham by promise.

And note these two references :Ro 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin. Ga 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

People, it is saving faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ and that alone which justifies you, that is makes it between you and God. Now being human, we might say: Ah hah! If thats the case then I can live like Hell and get Heaven, right?

I'm glad you asked : having seen the righteousness by faith, lets note secondly:
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II. Righteousness of faith I really ought not to have to teach this. It really ought to be inborn in a believer. God is not a God to allow sin (and as we saw, he came to TAKE AWAY sin LET ME ILLUSTRATE REAL BIBLICAL CHANGE: ""YORUBA MAN=SECRET ORG." IN X=NEW CREATURE. Old things are passed away...you can live as you want, but God changes your wanter. James addressed this matter of faith works very plainly 2:14-26 What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye] warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what [doth it] profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Point is as Calvin put it, "Faith alone saves but the faith that saves is not alone"Jesus was manifested to TAKE AWAY SIN. listen to the prophet Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

Zec 3:4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

Ro 11:27 For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Heb 10:4 For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.Heb 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

1Jo 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

Jer 31:31 -33 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day [that] I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Jer 32:38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

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- Heb 8:12 Heb 10:16 This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

The Scriptures clearly teach that God's plan of salvation is one that deals with sin. If you prayed a Jesus prayer to some Jesus who did not take away sins and give you a desire to be righteous in a practical sense you prayed to the wrong Jesus. You got a cosmic wrong number somewhere. As 1 John 3:5 says "He was manifested to take away our sins and in him is no sin". And in verse 16 of the same chapter which we just read we heard that the words and &laws of God are written in our hearts.

Righteousness, that is having everything clean and right before God, comes by faith in God. That righteousness will produce in you as a believer, a desire for a practical walk which brings you closer and closer to Jesus. Listen and do not miss this. If you are a seeker, a person who wants to find out before you get to death's door if you need a ticket, then you have come to the right place today.

If you are troubled in your heart, tugged and drawn by something you don't quite understand, then you are in the right place. You see, God is the only one who can enlighten you to His reality. He is the only one who can convince you that you are lost, a sinner in need of His Grace. And if that is going on in your heart today, do not delay. Believe that the one who caused the restlessness, also brings the rest. The one who makes the turmoil also brings the peace. The one who calls you to Himself will swiftly answer. If you are convinced by God's spirit this day that you are in need of a savoir, then give in: Say something like this,"God, I know that you came to earth to die for my own sin. I know that I am a sinner and I ask you to come in and take over my life so I can follow you. Forgive me for all my sin and take them away as you promised.

Thanks. If you did that, you really just became a new creature in Christ. And if you would like some help in growing in Jesus then please let us know about your new found faith in Jesus. come on up and say it publicly, or as you leave today say "Steve, I did it today." and we will happily plug you in with a discipler who will spend a few hours over the next month teaching you the basics of this new life in Christ. Pray.