Greetings and welcome to all present and online, in America and abroad. Today we continue our study in Paul’s letter to the Romans, in the fourth chapter, we ask the question: Do the Scriptures teach that the salvation that God has provided for all mankind is given as a free gift totally apart from works or the keeping of the Law? Just why is there such a great misunderstanding in the conflict between salvation by faith alone and salvation by faith plus works? Let us examine what the Bible teaches about what a proper reaction to God’s salvation should be from those to whom it is provided. Turn with us to the first verses of the fourth chapter of Romans, and listen as we gain some insight into this great chapter with a message that our Pastor Landis Fisher has titled: “To God Be The Glory”
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Isaiah 42:1 – 9 (NASB)
Isa 42:1 “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.
Isa 42:2 “He will not cry out or raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street.
Isa 42:3 “A bruised reed He will not break, And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.
Isa 42:4 “He will not be disheartened or crushed, Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”
Isa 42:5 Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk in it,
Isa 42:6 “I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you, And I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations,
Isa 42:7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon, And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.
Isa 42:8 “I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images.
Isa 42:9 “Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”
New Testament Scripture Reading: Romans 4:1 – 8 (NASB)
Rom 4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? Rom 4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God. Rom 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Rom 4:4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due. Rom 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness, Rom 4:6 just as David also speaks of the blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works: Rom 4:7 “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. Rom 4:8 “BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”
Transforming Power Statements:
#1) The highest theme in all of creation is the glory and majesty of the Most High God, Who alone is worthy of honor, praise and glory among all created beings, yet many are they that seek to possess such things for themselves and those who deny, desecrate, or distort these things which Scripture reveals are reserved for God alone.
#2) For God to be the only benefactor of the glory, praise and worship it must be true that salvation is a free gift given by His grace alone, otherwise the ones who are being saved, if they have contributed to their salvation by their works, or keeping of the Law, would also be worthy of some glory in that they assisted in bring it about.
#3) The Apostle Paul pulled up two great witnesses to testify to this great truth in the persons of the patriarch Abraham and King David directly from the Law and the Psalms so that Jews who knew the Law and the Prophets would have to acknowledge that these passages teach that salvation is “imputed” not earned, and therefore to God be the glory!
