The Promise to Abraham

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Romans 4:13-17

 13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. 16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

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The Promise to Abraham — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Romans 4:13-17
Sermon Series: Romans (32nd sermon)
November 22, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study 
 

Faith Not Works: Back to the Beginning, Part 2

Romans 4:1-12

1 'What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” 9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

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Faith Not Works: Back to the Beginning, Part 2 — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Romans 4:1-12
Sermon Series: Romans (31st sermon)
November 15, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study 
 1.   How does Christianity compare with other religions on the question of human works? How does this contrast help in sharing the gospel?
2.   Why does Paul refer to Abraham and David in chapter 4? What role does each one serve in his overall argument?
3.   How would you paraphrase David’s quote from Psalm 32? How does each part of it point to Christ’s work?
4.   What is true happiness based on this text? How does the biblical concept of “blessedness” provide clarity in a culture focused on personal fulfillment?
5.   Why does Paul address circumcision at such length in vv. 9-12? What is his main point in these verses?
6.   As you reflect on God’s purpose in the events of Abraham’s life, how does this text encourage you to trust God’s sovereignty in your life?

References: Genesis 15:6; Psalm 32:1-2; Joshua 24:2; Genesis 17; Deuteronomy 10:16; Jeremiah 4:4; Romans 2:29; Galatians 3:7-9; Genesis 12:3.

Faith Not Works: Back to the Beginning, Part 1

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Romans 4:1-12

 1 'What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” 9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

NOTE:  Allow 30-90 seconds after clicking the START-arrow or Download-button for playback to begin.

Faith Not Works: Back to the Beginning, Part 1 — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Romans 4:1-12
Sermon Series: Romans (30th sermon)
November 8, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study   Faith Not Works: Back to the Beginning, Part 1   (Rom 4:1-12)
1.   Why should the doctrine of justification by faith humble us?
2.   Why do you think Paul chooses to use Abraham as an illustration? In general, how did the Jews view him?
3.   What does Genesis 15:6 say about Abraham’s righteousness?
4.   How does the text make clear that Abraham’s faith was not meritorious? Discuss why faith cannot be characterized as a work.
5.   What is so problematic about works-righteousness? What does this passage (particularly v. 5) teach us about the nature of saving/justifying faith?

References: Romans 3:28; Matthew 1:2; Isaiah 51:1-2; Genesis 15:6; Galatians 3:6; Hebrews 11:8; Romans 4:16; Ephesians 2:3; Joshua 24:2-3; Romans 3:25.

Justified by Faith - So What?

Romans 3:27-31

27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

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Justified by Faith - So What? — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Romans 3:27-31
Sermon Series: Romans (29th sermon)
November 1, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   What does the doctrine of justification by faith do to human boasting?
2.   How can we identify boasting in our lives? What’s the remedy?
3.   How does the doctrine of justification by faith show the oneness of God? How does Paul appeal to Jewish doctrine to make his point?
4.   What are some implications of monotheism for how we view and relate to others?
5.   How does the doctrine of justification by faith “uphold the law” (v. 31), and how does this refute antinomianism? What other passages in Romans help us to interpret Paul’s meaning?

References: Romans 1:30; 2:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 6:14; Philippians 3:3; 2:3; Deuteronomy 6:4; Genesis 12:3; 3:15; Romans 2:26-29; 8:3-4; 13:8-10.