Welcome to Reign of Grace. This
program is brought to you by Reign of Grace Media Ministries,
an outreach ministry of Eager Avenue Grace Church in Albany,
Georgia. It is our pleasure and privilege
to present to you the gospel message of the sovereign grace
and glory of God in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. We pray that today's program
will be a blessing to you. Thank you for listening and now
for today's program. Welcome to our program. I'm glad
you could join us today. And if you'd like to follow along
in your Bibles, I'm going through the book of Romans chapter four,
concerning issues of salvation, justification, talking about
Abraham and David and how they were prime examples of how God
saved sinners. And today I want to preach to
you on this subject, the assurance of faith. the assurance of faith. And we're gonna begin down here
in verse 13. It's where I left off last time on this issue of
salvation by grace. And he's talking about a promise.
Verse 13, for the promise. Now the promise was given to
Abraham that he should be heir of the world. That's taken from
Genesis 17. You know, God made a covenant
with Abraham That covenant was established first in Genesis
chapter 12. It was reestablished, reconfirmed, and built upon in
Genesis 15 and Genesis 17. And he talks about the promise
that Abraham should be the heir of the world. And he says this,
he said, it was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law,
but through the righteousness of faith. The righteousness of
faith. Now, I've been talking about
in this passage how what the Apostle Paul is doing, he's using
Abraham and then he used David too, King David, as prime examples
of how God justifies the ungodly. Another way of putting it is
how God saves sinners. Now what is it to be justified?
You see, a person who is saved by the grace of God is one who
is justified before God. And what is it to be justified?
It means to have all of my sins forgiven on a just ground. And the only just ground that
you will find in the Bible, preached out in the gospel, is the blood
of Jesus Christ. God doesn't forgive me based
upon my faith, my believing in Him. God doesn't forgive me based
upon my decision. And certainly God does not forgive
me based upon my repentance or my good works. You see, this
forgiveness of sins is by grace through the blood of Christ.
And that's why I tell you all the time, the ones whom Christ
died for, they will be forgiven. They will be saved. It's not
everybody without exception, because everybody without exception
does not give evidence of being united to Christ in His death,
because they don't believe in Him. That faith that brings us
to believe in Him is the gift of God. And it's not of works,
lest any man should boast. So to be justified is to be forgiven
on a just ground. And that's the blood of Christ.
But to be justified also means to be declared legally, honestly,
really righteous in God's sight. Again, based on a just ground.
And what is the only just ground? It's the imputed righteousness
of Christ. And we've talked about that.
We talked about it up here in verse 11, where we talked about
that righteousness is imputed unto all of Abraham's spiritual
seed, and that's all believers. Well, down here in verse 13,
for the promise. Well, the promise is the gospel
here because this promise that he's talking about in Romans
four is not the promise of the physical land of promise that
was given to the Jews for a period of time under the old covenant,
about 1500 years under the old covenant. That was a temporary
promise that was given to Abraham's physical descendants, the Jews. And they were given that land
for 1,500 years until God was finished with them. And that
was marked by the coming of Christ into the world and abolishing
that old covenant law. You see, that's what the book
of Hebrews is about, how Christ fulfilled it. He abolished that
covenant by way of fulfillment. That's why we don't have an earthly
high priest to go in to the holy of holies, the temple, the tabernacle. That's why we don't sacrifice
animals today. See, those were all types of
Christ. Christ fulfilled them. But see,
God made Abraham many promises. Some of them were physical and
temporary and applied to the physical nation of the Jews.
But the mainstay of those promises, the promise that God gave to
Abraham was spiritual and eternal to Abraham's spiritual seed and
were fulfilled by Christ. in eternal salvation. And that's
what he's talking about here in verse 13 of Romans 4. For
the promise that he should be heir of the world. Heir of the
world in what sense? God has a people. His elect. That's what they're called in
the Bible. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect.
That's what it says. Romans 8 33. God has a people
all over this world out of every tribe, kindred, tongue and nation. And there's no national barrier,
there's no racial barrier, no sexual barrier as far as male
and female. In Christ Jesus, there's neither
Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, all of that. We're all one in
Christ. And so he's heir of the world
in that sense. And it was not to Abraham, verse 13, it was
not to Abraham or to his seed through the law. This salvation,
this promise, this justification, these blessings, of eternal life,
these benefits, were not given to Abraham or to any spiritual
descendant of Abraham through the law. It wasn't conditioned
on you or me. It wasn't by our law keeping.
It wasn't by our works. Now, most of Abraham's physical
descendants missed that message. And you can read about that over
in the book of Romans chapter nine. Why did they miss that
message? because they insisted upon salvation,
righteousness, by works of the law. Over in Romans chapter nine,
he says in verse 31, now listen to this. He says, but Israel,
which followed after the law of righteousness. Now the law
was given to show the perfect standard of righteousness. that
man, fallen men and women, sinners cannot attain by their works. But because of self-righteousness
and pride, because of the darkness of their minds, and that's what
we all are by nature now until God gives us light. and God left
them in that darkness. Because of that, they insisted
on trying to establish righteousness, work righteousness by their works.
And it says, but Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness,
hath not attained to the law of righteousness. This is Romans
9 31. Wherefore, or in other words, why? Because they sought
it not by faith. but as it were by the works of
the law. Now what is it to seek righteousness
by faith? Does that mean that my faith
equals or is the equivalent of righteousness, my believing? No, doesn't mean that at all.
Here's what it means, look at verse 32. He said, for they stumbled
at that stumbling stone. As it is written, behold, I lay
in Zion, a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whosoever
believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Now he's talking about
Christ here. This is a prophecy of Christ
from the book of Isaiah. And what did God send Christ
into the world to do? To establish righteousness. And
look at chapter 10 of Romans, verse one. Paul writes by inspiration
of the Spirit. He says, brethren, my heart's
desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be
saved. They're lost. Paul's saying,
I'm praying for their salvation. And he says in verse two, for
I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according
to knowledge. They're religious. They're sincere. They're zealous, but they're
ignorant. And what are they ignorant of?
Well, verse three tells us. For they being ignorant of God's
righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness,
it says, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
If you're trying to make yourself right with God based upon your
works, whatever work it is now, That means you're ignorant of
what God requires. His righteousness. And what is
that righteousness? It's the righteousness of God
and he defines it in Romans 10, four. He says, for Christ is
the end of the law. That means the finishing of it.
That means the fulfillment of it. For righteousness to everyone
that believe it. If you're a true believer, you
realize, recognize, admit and confess that you have no righteousness
in yourself and even your best works cannot make you so, that
you are submitted to the perfection of the righteousness of the law
that can only be found in Christ. He is the Lord by righteousness. I have none of my own. So back
in Romans chapter four, this promise of righteousness by faith. Now that's what that is. It's
not righteousness because we believe. It's not our believing
is our righteousness. It's the righteousness of faith
because it brings us to Christ who is our righteousness. Down
there in Romans 10, he says, for with the heart man believeth
unto righteousness. That is, he believes in Christ.
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. And so, he
says in verse 13, for the promise that he should be the heir of
the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law.
It wasn't salvation by works. but through the righteousness
of faith. It was salvation by God's grace that reigns through
righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. And
so he says in verse 14, now look at Romans 4, 14. For if they
which are of the law be heirs, in other words, if they who are
trying to be saved by the law, if they're heirs of what Abraham
had, the spiritual blessings and benefits of salvation, faith
is made void. what God promised is made void.
Their believing is made void. And the promise made of none
effect. Now Paul virtually said the same thing in Galatians chapter
two and verse 21. When he said this, he said, for
if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. In other words, if you can be
saved, if you can be forgiven, If you can be right with God
based on your works, conditions that you meet, then Christ would
not have had to come and suffer and bleed and die and be buried
and raised again the third day. If I can be saved by my efforts,
by my decisions, then Christ died in vain. That's what he's
saying. So you understand what's happening
here. Listen, anyone who claims to be a Christian, who believes
that salvation is conditioned on them, without knowing it,
their whole testimony is declaring that Christ died in vain. They
may not know it or may not realize it, but ignorance is no excuse. Paul said that in Romans 10.
The Jews are ignorant of God's righteousness. They didn't think
they were. Paul, when he was a lost Pharisee, he thought he
was doing God's service. I know for years, as I grew up
in false Christianity, I thought I was pleasing God, worshiping
God, doing God's service. But when the light of the gospel,
wherein the righteousness of God is revealed, came to my heart
by the power of the Spirit, not by my own power, but by the powers,
I found out that I was worshiping an idol, a false Christ, a false
God. And I was brought like Paul in
Philippians chapter three, to count everything but loss for
the excellency of the knowledge which is in Christ Jesus alone.
To count it all but done, but I may win Him. and be found in
him. So if those who are of the law
are heirs of the promises of the gospel, salvation by grace,
and faith is made void and the promise is none effect, verse
15 says, Romans 4, 15, because the law worketh wrath. For where
no law is, there's no transgression. What does the law do to a sinner
based upon that sinner's works. Well, we read it over in Romans
3, look back at that again. Romans 3, 19. He says, now we
know that what thing soever the law saith, it saith to them who
are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all
the world may become guilty before God. That's what the law does
to me, to you, You see, the law, based upon my best efforts to
be a good person, the law would pronounce me guilty. But now
based upon the righteousness of Christ imputed to me, I'm
justified. The law cannot pronounce me guilty.
I'm washed in His blood. and clothed in His righteousness.
I sing that song all the time. My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest
frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid rock
I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.
And then look at Romans 3.20. Now what does that show us? That
the law can only pronounce me guilty and condemned based upon
my best efforts. It shows me this, verse 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. You see
that, by deeds of the law, no flesh. Doesn't matter who you
are, what your name is, doesn't matter you're standing in society,
doesn't matter how many people admire you, doesn't matter if
they give you the key to the city, whatever. It doesn't matter
if you're in the eyes of men, you're the supreme example of
morality and kindness. By deeds of law shall no flesh
be justified in God's sight. The law works wrath. It works
wrath to every sinner without Christ. My only hope of entering
into the presence of God is Christ crucified and risen from the
dead. That's what I'm telling you.
Bible says in Acts 17 31 that God has appointed a day in the which he will judge the
world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained, in
that he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath
raised him from the dead." That's Christ. So look at verse 16. Now here's where we come to the
assurance of faith. Somebody said, well, you know,
How can anybody have any assurance then? Well, look at this. Therefore
it is of faith that it might be by grace. Now remember what
I said about faith. Faith is knowledge. It's knowledge
revealed by the grace of God, revelation, and it's knowledge
received by God-given faith. Romans 1, 16 and 17, remember,
I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, it is the power of
God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, the Jew first,
the Greek also, for therein, verse 17, for therein is the
righteousness of God revealed from faith, that's knowledge
revealed, to faith, that's knowledge received, believed. As it is
written, the just, the justified shall live by faith. Those who
are forgiven of all of their sins by the blood of Christ,
those who are righteous in God's sight by His righteousness imputed,
you'll know them this way. They, the justified, shall live
by faith. What is it to live by faith?
It's to live by looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher
of our faith. Hebrews 12, two. Resting in Christ,
depending upon Him, looking to Him, honoring Him, So go back
to verse 16 now. Therefore it is of faith that
it might be by grace. Many people claim to have faith.
But it's sad to say they have faith in idols. They have faith
in a God that cannot save. They have faith in themselves
and their decision. Many times, you know, when people
talk about their salvation, they'll go back to an experience they
had when they were a young person, teenager or whatever, where they
walked an aisle and they say they gave their heart to Jesus
and they got baptized. My friend, that's not faith.
Faith is right now looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher
of our faith. That's what it is. Resting in
Christ, forgetting those things which are behind, and looking
forward to the mark of the high calling. And that's what this
is. It's grace. And what is grace? Grace is unearned
and undeserved favor. Everything that I have in the
blessings and benefits of salvation is by grace given, freely given. Everything. And Romans 5.21 says
it. For as sin brings death, Righteousness brings life. What
it's saying there, that all that God has given me, all that God
does for me, as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace
reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ
our Lord. And that's what he's saying here,
it's by grace. Verse 16 now. Therefore it is of faith that
it might be by grace to the end The promise might be sure to
all the seed. The promise is 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.
That is, spiritual father, the supreme example. And this promise
is not sure to any who are of the law, because the only assurance
you can have under the law is the assurance of condemnation
and eternal death. But the assurance that we have
in Christ, the surety of the covenant, how do I know that
I, how can I have assurance of salvation? It's not by looking
at myself, what I've done, what I've tried to do, what I intend
to do. It's not even for looking for
the gifts and graces of the spirit within me. You see, that's a
sliding scale, isn't it? But God judges by righteousness,
perfection, that can only be found in Christ. So how can I
have any assurance of salvation? Only as I look to and rest in
Christ for all righteousness. He is my righteousness. God will
not turn any sinner away who pleads the blood and righteousness
of Christ. I quoted it last week. John 6, 37. All that the Father
giveth me, Christ said, shall come to me, and him that cometh
to me, I will in no wise cast out. You come to him. You rest in him. And in verse
17, he says, Romans 4, 17, he said, as it is written, I have
made thee a father of many nations. This is the spiritual seed of
Abraham. Before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the
dead. You see that? That's regeneration. That's the new birth. And calleth
those things which be not as though they were. Now what that
means is this. God is not pretending. He's not
calling something righteous when it is not righteous. But He is
the only one who sees reality in its fullness and completeness.
We don't see that. Think about it this way. I'm
righteous before God. But you can't see that by looking
at me, even my preaching here. Even when I stand behind the
pulpit in our church services on Sunday. You may say, well,
now look at that preacher. He's a pretty good guy. You don't
see the reality of it. You know, Paul dealt with that
in Romans chapter seven when he was talking about the struggle
as a believer, the struggle he has with sin. Every believer
struggles with sin. Paul even made this statement.
He said, I want to do good, but I don't know how. What is he
talking about? Don't you know how to do right
by people and keep the civil laws? Paul, what's wrong with...
Are you insane? No. He's talking about goodness
in God's sight. The perfection of the law. If God's Spirit is within us,
we have a desire to be like Christ. To love like He loved. To obey
like He obeyed. to worship and honor the Father
like He did perfectly. But I don't know how to do that
because I live within this old wretched man. Remember Paul said
it in Romans 7, 24, old wretched man that I am. Who shall deliver
me from this body of death? You see there, if I just spend
my time, I know what I am by nature. I know that my best efforts,
to keep the law, fall short of the perfection of righteousness
that I can only find in Christ. And that by the grace of God.
So, if I spend my time looking within myself and dealing with
myself and try to say, well, you know, I'm better than what
I used to be and all that, I can't find any assurance there. And
if I do, it's self-righteousness. But as I look to Christ, as I
read of Him in the Bible who He is, God manifest in the flesh,
as I read what He accomplished on Calvary to save me from my
sins, shed His precious blood unto death, oh, the blood of
Christ. We're not redeemed with corruptible
things, silver and gold. We're not redeemed by our works,
but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without spot,
without blemish, He was made sin, the scripture says. What
does that mean? It means the sins of His people
were imputed, charged to Him. Their debt. And He came and He
died. He literally died. The God-man
died. That's who He is. God manifests
in the flesh. And rose again the third day.
That's where assurance is. And He says in verse 18, who
against hope believed in hope. That hope is the absolute certainty
of salvation and eternal life based upon a just ground. And what is that just ground?
It's the blood, the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ alone. That's the assurance of faith. That's how we come to be settled
in our minds and our hearts. I hope you'll join us next week
for another message from God's Word. We are glad you could join us
for another edition of Reign of Grace. This program is brought
to you by Reign of Grace Media Ministries, an outreach ministry
of Eager Avenue Grace Church in Albany, Georgia. To receive
a copy of today's program or to learn more about Reign of
Grace Media Ministries or Eager Avenue Grace Church, Write us
at 1-1-0-2 Eager Drive, Albany, Georgia 3-1-7-0-7. Contact us
by phone at 229-432-6969 or email us through our website at www.TheLetterRofGrace.com. Thank you again for listening
today and may the Lord be with you.