Turn, if you would, to the Book
of Romans. I've titled the study this morning, As Blessed is the
Man. And our subject study, our text for today's study will be
the fourth chapter, verses one through eight. And I'd like to
read those verses through without stopping, and then we'll come
back and look at each one on an individual basis. Chapter
four, Romans, beginning at verse one, we read these. What shall
we say then that Abraham our father as pertaining to the flesh
hath found? For if Abraham were justified
by works, now remember, Paul was just addressing to us in
chapter three, works and faith, we're under the law of faith,
is what we saw back there in verse 27 of chapter three. So
he's talking about that for verse two. 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, not considered. of grace, but of debt. In other
words, those who work, the work is not rewarded with grace, but
it's rewarded as a debt, something you've earned. Verse five, but
to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth
the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. And then he
goes on after that to talk about David. Even as David also describeth
the blessings of the man, and to whom God imputeth righteousness
without work, saying this, verse seven, blessed are they whose
iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Blessing is
the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Now, let's go
back to verse one. And before we begin on a verse
by verse, consider this if you would. There is absolutely no
justification for Jew or Gentile before God by the words of the
law. That's what we read back in Romans
chapter three, verse 20. Read that with me if you would.
Romans chapter three, verse 20. Therefore, by the deeds of the
law, there shall no flesh, Jew or Greek, Jew or Gentile, all
of us come under the sin of the flesh. There is no, therefore
the deeds of the law, by the deeds of the law, there shall
no flesh be justified in his sight, for by the law is the
knowledge of sin. Secondly, the second point that
we saw before was there is the righteousness of Christ by which
believers are completely justified. We are completely sanctified
in the sight of God without our obedience to the law. There is
free, full, and forever in Christ Jesus, and look at verses 21
and 22 to prove that, but now the righteousness of God without
the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the
prophets, even the righteousness of God, which is what? By faith
of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe, for
there is no difference, again, speaking of the Jew and the Gentile.
Thirdly, we saw back in chapter three that this perfect righteousness
that justifies us, it not only justifies us, it not only justifies
the sinner, but it also honors the law and God's justice, thus
enabling, thus making God to be the just, the Lord Jesus Christ,
the just, and the justifier. That's what we read in verse
26. To declare, says Paul, I say at this time, his righteousness,
the righteousness of Christ, that he might be just and the
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Now, Paul goes on to
take us into Romans chapter four to illustrate these truths that
we just saw. Paul uses chapter four, these
two men, and he holds them up. He uses these two men which were
held in high esteem by the Jews, David and Abraham. Now, who in
the world has not heard of King David? Everyone, almost as many
as have heard of Jesus. Isn't that correct? When we speak
of the Old Testament, David, oh, the one who fought Goliath. The Jewish people and the Greeks
alike hold both Abraham and David both in high esteem. So Paul
uses these two men to express these things that justification
is not by the works of the law. Justification is not by man's
righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ. Justification is by
the just one, who is also the justifier of
him that believeth. Romans 4, verse 1, Abraham. Abraham,
in a spiritual sense, is the father of all believers. What
shall we say, then, it says, that Abraham, our father, as
pertaining to the flesh, hath found? What shall we say has
he found? Did he figure it out that he was justified by what
he was doing in the flesh? You know, Abraham was told, leave
the land of Chaldea. to go out, well, where am I gonna
go? Don't worry about it. I will take you where I need
you to go, okay? If somebody would have come and
told me that when I was a kid, you know, leave Sacramento, just
leave your parents, leave your brothers, leave your sisters,
go out here into the mountains and don't worry about it, I'll
feed, I'll take care of you. I would have thought they were
flat out crazy. But see, somebody who would have come and said
that to me was not God. God spoke to the heart of one
of his people, just as he speaks to our hearts through his word.
Why do we believe God? Because he says his people will.
He tells us that faith is a gift from him. Our belief, our desire
to hear more of his word, more of the truth of his word is because
of him. Abraham was no different than
you and I. None of God's children are any different. God is no
respecter of persons. He saved Adam and Eve. He saved
Abraham. He saved David the same way he
saved us. The difference is, is we have
his whole word right here in front of us. He still spoke his word to the
hearts of his people even in those days. Abraham, who was
in a spiritual sense the father of all believers, But this verse
is speaking of his relationship to the Jews. According to the
natural descent, being the first of the circumcision, Abraham
was the first. What did he find as pertaining
to the flesh? Circumcision and the law? Did
he find the way of life and righteousness and salvation by his services,
by his performances? No. And these next verses that
we'll read between two and eight bring this out. between, down
to where David, two to five, I'm sorry. These next verses,
they'll bring this out. Look at verse two. For if Abraham
were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before
God. He could have glory before men.
See how good a follower of God I am? I was willing to sacrifice
my son. I left all the people I had.
He could have glorified before men, but he couldn't glorify
before God. Why? Because God looks upon our
hearts. Now, I don't know where Abraham's
heart was at that time, but I guarantee you God looked upon that heart
and saw the sin of man just as he looks upon our hearts and
sees the sins of us. If Abraham were justified by
his works, either moral or ceremonial, then contrary to what Paul had
taught, he had something which he could boast in, didn't he?
He could not say, I was saved by grace and grace alone. That's the way the world is. They say, oh, amazing grace,
but then they turn around and they mix their own works, their
own decisions, their own free will, their own baptismal, their
own ceremonial laws into it. If Abraham were justified by
his works, he could boast in it. He had something which to
boast in, maybe before men, but certainly not before God. For
God sees the sins of our hearts, and he knows all of our fallings.
Hold your place there a moment, we'll come back. Look over at
Luke chapter 16. Look over at Luke chapter 16 for a
moment. One verse. Our Lord looks upon
the hearts there in verse 15 of chapter 16. It says, and he
sayeth unto them, ye are they which justify yourselves before
men. He's speaking to the Pharisees.
See that in verse 14? He's speaking to the Pharisees.
Ye are they which justify yourselves before men, but God knoweth your
hearts. For that which is highly esteemed
among men is an abomination in the sight of God. Our Lord looked
upon Abraham's heart just as he looked upon ours. Over in
verse three, we read these for what sayeth the scriptures. Isn't
that interesting? What do we look to for our truths?
Don't look to John's articles. Don't look to Henry Mahan's articles. Don't look to Don Horner's. words,
look to the word of God. Be as faithful Bereans. If a
man's gonna stand before you, if you're gonna take something
and read a writing from a man, make sure what he's saying is
from the scriptures. What sayeth the scriptures? Somebody says, well, it is your
free will. It is up to you to make a decision. Really? Scripture
says it's not of him that willeth. nor of him that runneth, but
of God that showeth mercy." Isn't that what Scripture says? What
saith the Scriptures? For what saith the Scriptures,
Abraham believed God. That's what Scripture says, Abraham
believed. Did Abraham go and do what God
told him to do? Yes, he did. But that's not what
was accounted to him for righteousness. What was accounted to him for
righteousness is that he believed God. and it was counted unto
him for righteousness. Having denied that Abraham or
any man is justified by work, Paul goes on to appeal to the
scriptures. Folks, this is our foundation. This is our foundation
of our faith. What? In scriptures. It's not in me, it's not in you,
it's not in this flesh, it's in the scriptures. What does
God say about our faith? He says, I will give you a new
heart. He says, I will place my laws
upon that new heart. You will be my people and I will
be your God. He says, my sheep hear my voice. That's the basis for our faith
is what is said in the scriptures. It's the basis for our rule of
faith. It's the basis for our practice
of faith. We don't practice our faith in
order to save ourselves, in order to make our salvation better. This is the word of truth. I
want to walk according to God's will. I want to walk according
to the instruction that my God has given me. Why? Because he's
wiser than I am. He knows all things. He knows
the things that are better, way better than I know. His ways
are not my ways. Turn from my ways. Turn from
the ways that John thinks is right and go the ways of the
scripture. Scriptures are the basis for
our source for all information about God. It's the source for
our information about what sin is. It's the source of our information
what salvation is. It's the source of eternal life.
That's what the scriptures are. Look over at Genesis chapter
15 verse six for a moment. Hold your place there in a moment,
we'll come back. Genesis chapter 15, look over there for just
a moment. The scriptures are the basis for all our knowledge. You wanna know something? You
wanna know truth? Don't look to John, don't look
to Gene, don't look to any man, look to God. Look to the scriptures. What do the scriptures say? I'm taking my time turning here. I'm getting there. I say that
on the golf course, you know that after about the 10th strike
at the club and getting to the hole. I'm getting there. Don't
worry guys. I know you're all there waiting
for me. I'm getting there. Genesis chapter 15, verse six. What do
we read? And he believed in the Lord And
he counted it to him. The Lord counted it unto him,
Abraham, for righteousness. Why was Abraham righteous before
God? Because he believed. And let's
not forget what Paul says to the Ephesians. Faith is a gift of God, not of
works, let's mention both. Now, look over at Galatians chapter
three. Galatians chapter three. What sayeth the scriptures? What
sayeth the scriptures about Abraham and his faith? Was it in his
works? Was the fact that he took his son up to the mount to sacrifice
him, was that what accounted to Abraham for salvation or for
righteousness? No, as we just read in Genesis,
it was for believing in God. Over here in Galatians chapter
three, verse six, we read these words, even as Abraham believed
God and it was accounted to him for righteousness. So we're seeing
in scripture over twice now where it is according to the belief
that Abraham had in God that was accounted to him for righteousness.
That's what the scriptures are telling us. Now look at Romans
chapter four. Romans chapter four, verses 20 and 20 through
22. Speaking again of Abraham, it
says, he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief.
That's talking about his son. His son, that the Lord had promised
him and Sarah, that he had not had to, what do you mean by staggered
and unbelief? Folks, they were over, they were
way past the day of childbearing. Way past it. And those of us
who are way past that childbearing age understand that, no, that's
gotta be unbotherable. Abraham did not stagger. He believed
God. He staggered not at the promise
of God's written belief, but was strong in faith, giving glory
to God, and being fully persuaded that what he had promised, he
was also able, also, to perform. You know, that's the same faith
you and I have. We see the sin in his flesh and we wonder at
times, how can God save a wretch like me? By the power of his son. By the
power of his son alone who has promised it and who is able to
fulfill all that he has promised. Aren't you thankful he's not
waiting for us to help fulfill any of that? Amen. That'll wake us up in a hurry.
Aren't you thankful? Oh, amen, I am. All right, so back in our text over
in Romans chapter four. Now, before we go there, Henry
Meehan pointed something out. He says, didn't James say that
Abraham was justified by words? Didn't Abraham say so? I mean,
James say so? Well, let's look at that. Turn
over, if you would, to the book of James for just a moment. What does James say about this
over in chapter two, James chapter two? Doesn't James say that Abraham
was justified by works in James chapter two, verse 21? Why, look
it there. Was not Abraham our father justified
by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Brother Mahan points this out.
Folks, I'm not smart enough to figure these things out. Sometimes
I have to lean upon our commentators. Paul and James are not speaking
of the same thing, writes Henry. Paul speaks of the justification
of the person before God. Abraham, the person, was justified
before God because he believed God. Paul speaks of the justification
of the person before God. James speaks of the justification
of the person's faith or the claim of it before God. It's exactly what he's doing
here. James is talking about Abraham expressed his obedience
to God, and that was proof of his faith in God. Paul condemns our works as a
cause of justification before God. James praises our works
as the evidence of our justification before God. Paul was writing
to those who trusted in their works to save. James was writing
to those who neglected or denied the necessity of obedience. There
you go. That's that line between grace
and man's responsibility. That's exactly what that is. Okay, let's go on, back in Romans
chapter four. That was a little side note from
Henry Mann. Thank you, Henry. Thank you, Lord, for giving Henry
the ability to write such wonderful things. Back in 4, Romans chapter
4, verse 4. Now to him that worketh is the
reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. Now that's pretty
simple. That just means that the laborer and what he merits
or earns can never be called a gift or a favor or mercy. but rather it is an obligation
owed to him. That's why we say not of worse,
let's mention both. If I came down to the front of
this church that first day and I said, okay, I accept the Lord.
And you know how many people do this? You do, don't you? You know that this is the way
of the world. I received Christ in my heart such and such time. I did this, I got baptized at
such and such time. We know that that's what it's
all about. And what they're not saying in the mouth, they are
saying with the heart, therefore, that's when the Lord saved me.
That's when I deserve to be saved, when I received the Lord. And
that's not the case of any of it. That's not the truth of God's
word, is it? The truth of God's word is, is
none of us would have come to God. This is the grace that I
love to tell people about. None of us would have come to
God if it weren't for His love for us. If it wasn't for His love for
me, I know in my heart I would have kept right on going. And
to that door marked death and on the road to destruction. And
you know it too if you belong to Him. We believe God, He has told that
old over and over and over to us in his word, and we believe
it. And even our belief is because he loved us and gave himself
for us. Oh, verse five. Okay, so Abraham's not enough.
Abraham, we see one example, but God didn't give just Abraham
to us for an example. He gave all kinds of prophets,
all kinds of his loved ones. Joseph, what an example of God's
people being saved by Christ. Joseph, who holds all the keys
to the king's treasure and disperses it to whom he will. But oh, you
know David better than the rest. So let's use David, Paul said.
even as David also describeth the blessings of man unto whom
God imputeth righteousness without works? David, the chosen king,
the man after God's own heart, is quoted on the subject of blessedness
of the man who believes God and seeks acceptance and righteousness
in Christ alone, not in his works. Look at Psalms 32. Again, hold your place in Romans.
We'll come back to those last couple of verses here in just
a moment. Turn over to Psalms chapter 32 for a moment. The
gospel excites me. It's such a blessing to be able
to stand before sinners as like myself and say, salvation is
of the Lord. Look at Psalms 32 verses one
and two. Blessed is he whose transgression
is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Didn't say blessed is he who
has worked out all his wrongdoings. Doesn't say blessed is he who
has changed his ways. But he whose transgressions are
forgiven, whose sin is covered, verse two, blessed is the man
unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, shortcomings, deceitfulness,
sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile. Blessed is the man
whose iniquities are forgiven. They are removed from us as far
as the east is from the west. They are cast behind God's back,
never to be seen anymore. They are cast into the depths
of the sea. They are remembered no more. Blessed is the man whose sins
are covered. They are covered by divine justice, and they shall
never be seen again, nor shall they be brought into judgment.
Romans 8, 1, there is therefore now no condemnation to them who
are in Christ Jesus. Happy is the man to whom God
will not reckon or charge sin to. For we shall appear before
him without fault, without blame. We shall be unreprovable. We
are justified. and acquitted. Look over at Jude
chapter 1. Actually, there's only one chapter
in the book of Jude. Turn to Jude and look at verse
24. Now, unto him. This is what Abraham
and David both said. You know what David's last words
on his deathbed were? Even though it be not with my
house. That means Even though it's not
with my house, with my children, with my family, with those who
live under my roof, I have a covenant with God. God has made a covenant
with me. He says, you will be my people,
and I will be your God. That's a covenant that he will
not break. This is the one who is able,
to keep us from falling. What are we kept by? According
to 1 Peter 1, chapter 5, we are kept by the power of God. This
is the one who is able to keep you from falling and to present
you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. Have we got the picture of how
blessed we truly are yet? As Abraham and David were blessed
men, so are we. Not of our works, but of the
gift of God that he has given unto us to believe on him. Therefore,
we strive to do good for his sake. Why? To bring glory to him. Have
you ever gone out and done something and somebody wanted to pat you
on the back for it? Oh, you did, you know, thank
you. That was such a good thing for you to go do for those dear
folks down there. at the homeless shelter. It was such a good thing
for you to do. I mentioned this in Friday night's
Bible study, folks. My biggest fear, and I've said
this many a times coming to this pulpit, my biggest fear is the
praise of men. One of the hardest things for
me to accept when the Lord put me here in this position was
to stand there at the back of the church and have people walk
by and say, But what a wonderful message.
I needed to hear that. It took me a long time to understand
that you're not saying that to me. You're saying that to my
Lord. I want to preach Him from His
pulpit. I want to glorify Him. I want
Him to get all the glory. But I also understand our need
because I was there too, where I needed to stop. I needed to
call Pastor Gene and say, Pastor Gene, that was a great message
I heard you preach last week. I needed to call Kevin Thacker
and say to Kevin, Kevin, that was a wonderful message. I needed to call Gabe Stoniker
and tell him, God inspired me to bring a message from your
message. I understand that now. It's taken a long time to get
used to that. But that's what we do good for now. I don't want to tell you what
I've done today. Let God be glorified by whatever
happened. I don't want to tell you what
I did on Thursday or Friday. Let God be glorified in whoever
it happened to, in whatever it was I was doing. Give take the
glory for whatever we do, but I want to do it for his sake We want to bring glory to his
name We want the world to see the glory of God in us not in
our works But in our works for him look over at Acts chapter
3 and I'll bring this to a close Acts chapter 3 You know we didn't
finish Let's do that first. Before we
go to Acts chapter three, let's finish reading those last couple
of verses there. Seven and eight, saying, blessed
are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not... Oh, I did read
that. When you get to be my age. Right,
Mike? Turn over to Acts chapter three,
and we'll bring this to a close. Acts chapter three. And I want
it again in verse one. I'm getting there. Acts chapter
three. Now Peter and John, verse one,
Acts chapter three. Now Peter and John went up together
into the temple at the hour of prayer, being of the ninth hour.
And a certain man, lame from his mother's womb, was carried,
whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple, which is called
beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple.
when seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked
for alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes
upon him with John, said, look on us. And he gave heed. We're talking about doing good
for the glory of our Savior. The world may see it like we're
trying to do good for our own salvation, but God help us not
to in our hearts. God, look upon the hearts of
John. God, look upon the heart of Abraham. God, look upon the
heart of these two men here, who seeing Peter and John about
to go on to Asheron, and Peter, fastening his eyes, said, look
on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting
to receive something of them. And then Peter said, silver and
gold have I none, but such as I have, give I thee. In the name
of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. And he took
him by his right hand, he lifted him up, and immediately his feet
and ankle bones received strength. And he, leaping up, stood and
walked and entered with them into the temple, walking and
leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking
and praising God, and they knew that it was he which sat at the
alms of the beautiful gate of the temple, and they were filled
with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto
him. And at the lame man, which would be held, was healed, helped
Peter and John. And all the people ran together
unto them in the porch, that is called Solomon's, great and
wondering. And when Peter saw it, he answered
unto the people, ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Why marvel
at what has happened here? Why marvel as though I had anything
to do with it? Why marvel? Ye men of Israel,
why look ye so earnestly on us as though by our own power or
holiness we had made this man to walk? No, the God of Abraham
and Isaac and of Jacob and the God of our fathers hath glorified
his son Jesus. whom ye delivered up and denied
him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let
him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the just, and desired
a murderer to be granted unto you, and killed the Prince of
life, whom God hath raised from the dead, whereof we are witnesses.
And his name, the name of Jesus, the name that is above all names,
through faith in his name, have made this man strong, whom you
see and know. Yea, the faith which is by him
hath given him the perfect soundness and the presence of you all.
I'm gonna leave it at that. Amen.