Romans chapter 4. I'm taking
the title for the message from the words found in verse 5. Romans
chapter 4, verse 5. To him that worketh not, but
believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted
for righteousness. God, think about this statement
here. God justifies the ungodly. God, who is holy, justifies the
ungodly. Abraham was an ungodly man. David was an ungodly man. God
justified them through the blood and righteousness of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Last week we brought a message
from Romans chapter 3. which sets the table for Romans
chapter 4. In Romans chapter 3, Paul declares
that all men everywhere are sinners. Do you remember that? Turn back
to Romans 3. Paul sets forth that all men
are sinners everywhere. Romans 3, look at verse 10. As
it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one. There
is none that understandeth. There is none that seeketh after
God. They're all gone out of the way. They're together become
unprofitable. There is none that do us good.
No, not one. That included Abraham, that included
Isaac, Jacob, that includes David, that includes you, that includes
me. No sinner is justified by the
deeds of the law. He plainly states that in Romans
chapter three, verse 19 and 20. He plainly says that we're all
sinners and because of that we cannot satisfy the holy law of
God, Romans 3.19. What things whoever the law saith,
it saith to them that are under the law, that every mouth may
be stopped, and all the world become guilty, guilty before
God. Therefore, by the deeds of the
law, there shall no flesh be justified in His sight. For by the law is the knowledge,
the knowledge of sin. Paul goes on to declare in Romans
chapter 3 how sinners are justified. Look at verse 24. Verse 23 says,
we've all sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3,
24, being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption
that is in the Lord Jesus Christ, whom God has set forth, God has
ordained, set forth. Christ to be the propitiation,
the sacrifice for our sin through faith in his blood, to declare
his righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through
the forbearance of God, to declare, I say at this time, his righteousness,
that he might be justified, and the justifier of them which believe
in the Lord Jesus Christ. And then he makes this conclusion
in Romans 3, verse 28. Therefore, we conclude that a
man, a sinner, is justified by faith without the deeds of the
law. By the deeds of the law, no flesh
shall be justified. We walk by faith, not by sight. The just shall live by faith.
Now in Romans chapter 4, we see an example of two sinners who
were justified. He illustrates what he said in
chapter three about not being justified by the works of the
law or by circumcision. And he illustrates that by these
two sinners saved by the grace of God, one in Abraham and then
one in David. Abraham and in David. Abraham was justified before
the law of God was given. David was justified after the
law was given, but both were justified by the grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ through His redeeming blood. It's always
by His redeeming blood alone. Look right across the page in
Romans chapter 5, verse 6. We'll consider these verses next
week, Lord willing. Verse 6, for when we were yet
without strength, without merit, without righteousness, without
God, and without Christ, and without hope. In due time, Christ
died for the ungodly. For scarcely for righteous men
will one die, yet perventure for good men, some would even
dare to die. God commended his love toward us, and that while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more than being
now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through
him. How are we justified? by His
grace through the blood atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's
always that way. It's always been that way. Now
we have here, let's look at these two examples. We have here an
example of God's sovereign mercy given to a idolater named Abram. We meet him in Genesis chapter
11 and chapter 12. Remember how the Lord found Abram
as his name was originally given? God found him in the house of
his father, Terah, who was an idolater. They lived in a land
called the area of Chaldees in Babylonian. in Babylon, and he
was raised in the house of idolatry with his father, Terah, and the
rest of his family. Abram, as he was known then,
was not seeking the Lord, but the Lord was seeking him. The
Lord called Abraham out of idolatry when he was 75 years old, and
told him, get out from your country, get out away from your family,
and go to the land which I will show thee. Abraham believed God,
and he went out. He went out. He was not seeking
the Lord, but the Lord was seeking him. The Lord God called Abraham
out, and by faith, Abraham went to the place that God showed
him. Now look at verse one. What shall
we say then that Abraham, our father, as pertaining to the
flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified
by works, he had whereof the glory, but, oh, not before God. What did the Lord reveal to Abraham? What did Abraham believe about
salvation? It was by God-given faith, not
by works. Before Abraham was justified,
he had nothing to merit or favor God's mercy and God's grace.
The same lesson the Lord teaches every believer whom he saved,
it's by grace alone. Grace alone. Did you notice verse
16 in Romans 4? It starts with the word therefore.
See what it's there for. Therefore it is of faith, that
is salvation received by faith, that it might be by grace to
the end, to the purpose, to the goal, that the promise might
be sure to all the seed, not only to that which is of the
law, but to that which is also of faith, the faith of Abraham,
who is a pattern of believers, a father of us all. The same
lesson the Lord teaches us, for by grace are you saved through
faith, and that not of yourselves, it's the gift of God, not of
works, lest any man should boast. Verse two, for if Abraham were
justified by works, if he were justified by works, he'd have
wear up to glory, but not before God. If Abraham were justified,
he might boast somewhat, If good works were the ground and cause
and the reason of his salvation, he could have boasted in the
flesh before men, but not before God. Remember Paul's question
before in Romans chapter 3. In Romans chapter 3, look at
verse 27. Where is boasting then? I declared
this time, he says, Verse 26, Jesus declared, I say at this
time, his righteousness, that he might be just, and the justifier
of him which believeth in Jesus. Whereas boasting then is excluded
by what law? Of works? Nay, the law of faith,
the principle of faith. Therefore we conclude that a
man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Now verse
3, Romans 4 verse 3, for what sayeth the Scripture? I love
that statement. Paul doesn't go to his reasoning
or the philosophy of the fathers. He says, what does God say? What
does the Scripture teach? All Scripture is given of God.
What does the Scripture teach? It goes all the way back to the
book of Genesis, chapter 15, verse 6. And he says that Abraham
believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Righteousness. Every sinner needs
a justifying righteousness. It's only found in the Lord Jesus
Christ. Paul makes his case and then
goes to the Scripture to prove his point. Abraham was justified
before he was circumcised. 15 years before he was circumcised
he was justified. God said he was. He was justified
430 years before the law of God was given. Before it was even
given. It says in scripture Abraham
believed in the Lord and it counted to him for righteousness. Abraham
believed his salvation and deliverance from all sin and he had a justifying
righteousness before God that was totally found in the Lord
Jesus Christ. Look at Romans chapter 4 verse
20. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but
was strong in faith, and here's what saving faith does, giving
glory to God, being fully persuaded what he had promised, God had
promised, he's able to perform. I'm persuaded too, aren't you?
Therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was
not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but
for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him
that raised up Jesus, our Lord from the dead, who delivered
for our offenses and raised again because he justified us in Christ
Jesus. Now, our Lord said of Abraham,
Abraham in John chapter 8, he said, Abraham rejoiced to see
my day. He saw it and was glad, and was glad. What was Abraham's
hope? What was counted to him for righteousness? The Lord Jesus
Christ. That was his righteousness, and
that's every believer's righteousness. Look at verse 4, Romans 4. Now to him that worketh is reward,
not reckoned of grace, but of debt. Now, you see what he's
saying here. If we work for salvation, then
it's not grace. It cannot be both. to those who
seek salvation by works of any kind or any way. Salvation would
not be by the grace of God, but rather it would be a debt owed
to them. It would be the reward of their
merit and their labors, not the free gift of God. Let's look
at two scriptures. Turn to Romans chapter 6, verse
23. Romans 6, 23. For the wages of
sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord. So if you want what's coming
to you, the wages of your sin is death. Thank God. But the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Turn one more page. Romans
chapter 8 verse 32. He that spared not his own son,
but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
free to give us all things, who shall lay anything to the charge
of God's elect. It is God that justifieth, who
is he that condemneth. It is Christ that died, yea rather,
is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also
makes intercession for us. Thank God salvation were justified
freely by his grace through the redeeming blood in the Lord Jesus
Christ. To him that worketh not, but
believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted
for righteousness. His faith is counted for righteousness. Those who do not work for salvation,
but rather believe to the saving of their soul, those who are
blessed of God with saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone
who justifies. Faith is counted for righteousness
or justification before God. Justification before God. Look
at Romans chapter 4, verse 13. Romans 4, 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, but through the righteousness
of faith. Or we can rightly say the righteousness
of Christ. For if they which are of the
law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise of none effect,
because the law worketh wrath where there is no law. There
is no, no transgression. His faith is counted for righteousness. No wonder that faith is called
precious. Without faith, it's impossible
to please God. Faith is called precious. Second
Peter 1.1, to them that have obtained like precious faith
with us through the righteousness of God our Savior. Those who
are truly justified by the grace of God know their works, which
are nothing but sin, make up no merit, no ground of salvation
before God freely by the grace of God alone. You cannot have
works and grace. The argument here is salvation
cannot be both. It can't be a little bit works,
a little bit grace. You cannot mix the two together.
Let's see if we can read that. Turn to Romans 11. Romans 11. Verse 5 says, Romans 11 verse
5, Even so then, at this present time also there is a remnant
according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then
it's no more of works. Otherwise, grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it's
no more grace. Otherwise, work is no more work. So you cannot have it both ways.
It's either all of grace or all of works. We know that God said
Abraham was justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now
here's a second example. David, even David, David is called
a man after God's own heart. David was one who was chosen
among his brothers to be the king of Israel. Even David also
described it, the blessedness of the man. unto whom God imputed
righteousness. God gives salvation without any
consideration of your works, your deeds, your doings. David
described the blessedness of the man, whom God imputed righteousness,
righteousness without works. The apostle brings forth before
us another example. of David was chosen like Abraham
by the Lord's electing love and sovereign and free grace. David
did not merit salvation any more than Abraham did, any more than
any sinner does. You remember God told Samuel,
go down to the house of Jesse and anoint me a king. Well, Jesse
had eight sons. Sammy went down there and of
course the father, Jesse, he brought out his oldest son and
said, Said to Samuel, this is my oldest son. Well, Samuel was
impressed with Eliab. God said to Samuel, that's not
my son. And then Samuel asked, do you
have any more sons? And he brought all the seven
sons before Samuel. God said, nope, nope, nope, nope. And finally, Samuel said, Jesse,
do you have any more sons? He said, I've got one little
runt. He's out there hurting the sheep. He's just a little
boy. He doesn't know anything. Sammy
said, you bring him. You bring him. Set him down here.
He said, we're not going to eat. We're not going to eat until
you bring him in here. And when David walked in, the
Spirit of God said to Samuel, that's my chosen. That's my anointed. Rise and anoint him. Was David
any better than the rest of his brothers? No. God's electing
love and electing grace was set on David from eternity like Abraham
of old. David declares by the Holy Spirit
that he was blessed and justified in Christ alone. David was the
Lord's chosen king, a man after God's own heart, truly a sinner
saved by the grace of God, who says God imputed, counted, reckoned
unto him righteousness. before God. Now can you imagine
how righteous does this sinner need to be to stand before God
accepted as righteous as God? How can that be? Only as we stand
in Christ having His righteousness charged to our account. We know something about imputation,
don't we? When we take our our earnings
to the bank and we cash the check and put that in our account,
it's reckoned, charged and reckoned to our account. God has given
and put in our account the very righteousness of Christ that's
freely given to us. Think of it. Blessed is that
man to whom the Lord imputes righteousness with, out, works. And then look at verse 7. Look
at verse 7. Saying, and this comes from Psalm
32, blessed, blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven. Now, we have a lot of iniquities.
We've sinned against God. David said in Psalm 51, this
is his confession in Psalm 51, against thee, thee only have
I sinned and done this evil in thy sight. No wonder David writes,
blessed are they whose iniquities are all forgiven. Can you imagine
such a thing? All iniquities of the past, present,
and future, all forgiven? Your slate wiped clean and nothing
put there but the righteousness of Christ? Iniquities forgiven. Forgiven. How are they forgiven? through the blood and righteousness
of Jesus Christ. His blood cleanses us from all
our sin. And then he says, whose sins
are covered, are covered. Our sins are covered with the
blood atonement of Christ. The blood atonement of Christ.
Verse eight, blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not charge
sin to your account. That's the blessed man whose
sins are forgiven, Covered by the blood of Christ, David described
it in Psalm 103. He said, as far as the east is
from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from
us. In Hebrew chapter 10, he talks
about our great high priest for the one offering He perfected
forever them that are justified, so much so that God said their
sin and their iniquity will I remember no more. We've been studying
on Wednesday evening some messages from Isaiah, and recently we
read Isaiah 38, 17, where Hezekiah was told that all of his sins
are cast behind the back of God. They're gone. I have no sin,
charge of my account. And then again in the book of
Micah, he will turn again, he will have compassion upon us,
he will subdue our iniquities, that will cast all their sins
into the depths of the sea. We are redeemed with the precious
blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed is that man to whom the
Lord will not, cannot charge his sin to him. And you know
why? Let's see if we can find out.
Turn to Romans 8 one more time. Romans 8, because our sins have
been charged to the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans chapter 8, verse
1. There is therefore now no condemnation
to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of
life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and
death. For what the law could not do, and it was weak through
the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful
flesh, And for sin, condemn sin in the flesh, that the righteousness
of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit of God. The Lord has already charged
our sin to the Lord Jesus Christ. He bare our sin in His own body
on the tree. He fully paid our sin debt for
us. He honored the law of God in
all which precepts. Obedience, perfect obedience,
and he died under the penalty of that law, satisfying that
God might be just and the justifier. He fully put away our sin by
the sacrifice of himself. He appeared once in the end of
the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. He obtained
for us eternal redemption, for us. He redeemed us from the curse
of the law, being made a curse for us, that we might be made
the righteousness of God in Him. He fully made complete atonement
for our sin. In the Lord Jesus Christ, I'll
give you three things and I'll quit. We have complete reconciliation. God was in Christ, reconciling
us unto Himself. In the Lord Jesus Christ, we
have in Him complete reconciliation. Our sin caused separation. In
Christ, we have reconciliation. In the Lord Jesus Christ, we
have full redemption. We are redeemed. We're bought
with His precious blood, not with the blood of bulls and goats,
but with His own blood. He obtained for us eternal redemption.
And we have righteousness given. So we have in Christ, we're reconciled,
we're redeemed, delivered from our sin, washed and made clean
in the blood of the Lamb, and we have righteousness freely
given. Everything God demands of us is found in Christ and
Him crucified. He freely gives us all things. All things. Now, let me close
with this. We know this verse so well, don't
we? But let's turn and read it. I
was gonna quote it, but let's read it. 1 Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 1, verse 30. 1 Corinthians
1, verse 30. No flesh, ye glory in his presence,
verse 29. 1 Corinthians 1, verse 30. But
of him, but of him, of God, Are you in Christ, Christ Jesus,
who of God is made unto us wisdom? He is our wisdom. He is our righteousness. He is our sanctification. He is our holiness and redemption. that according as it is written,
he that glory, let him glory in the Lord. How does God justify
the ungodly? By the grace of God, through
the blood atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.