Romans 4:22-25

Romans 4:22-25

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hi, this is doctor Bill Branks, author of Love the Word. Let me read today's text for you. Romans four verses twenty two to twenty five. That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness. But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him, who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who is delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. My short testimony is this. I was saved at the age of ten when I trusted in Christ as my Savior. Inquiring minds might respond by asking, What exactly are you trusting him for? This is a great question we must clearly understand. If you answer to save me from my sins, that is true, but only a partial answer, and not even the most important part. Being saved from our sins is one of the grand results of our faith, not the reason for it. We are saved because we believe in the promise of the gospel. We believe that Jesus will do everything he said he would do. Matthew 10 verse 32, Mark 16, verse 16, Galatians 2 verse 16, 1 John 1 9, for 15, 5 13, Acts 2 38, 10 43, Romans 10 verses 9 10, 13, John 3 16, 10 28, Philippians 1 verse 6, and many more. We must believe he will fulfill his promises. We trust in him, he is the truth, and our faith is in him and all he says and promises. We learn not to worry, doubt, or question. We learn to believe him with all our heart. Proverbs 3 verses 5 to 6. It was Abraham's faith in God's word and promises that was counted to him as righteousness. Counted means reasoning to a logical conclusion. Because his faith was genuine and he believed God's promises, it was a right, because of the promise, and a logical conclusion that Abraham would be deemed righteous. We might say it added up. Abraham had faith and offered it to God, and in return he was called righteous. There is no guesswork, anxious hoping, or fabricating the equation. God can always be trusted to fulfill what he has promised. We are to exercise informed faith in him, not blind faith. The greatest blessing of God's care and promise of salvation is that it is for everyone. Key figures in Scripture seem to be pillars of faith, but in God's eyes, his promises were not written for Abraham's sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised Jesus, our Lord from the dead. What do we believe? That Christ is the Messiah and our risen Savior, overcoming sin and death in order to keep his promises. Who else would do such a sacrificial, loving act of grace? The Lord endured great suffering and humility, being delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. For most of us, keeping promises can be difficult. We may do our best or maybe put in a casual effort, but most people would not sacrifice much to keep a promise. God is different, very different. Here is an excerpt from his song, How Many Kings? How many kings stepped down from their thrones? How many lords have abandoned their homes? How many greats have become the least for me? And how many gods have poured out their hearts? To romance a world that is torn all apart. How many fathers gave up their sons for me? Just one, the only one who could. All the sacrifices he made so our faith would be counted as righteousness are overwhelming and humbling. What he did should move us to do all we can to bring him glory and honor.