https://youtu.be/i4fTzZnHLJ8

Intro story-Guys testimony

That man was made righteous the moment he believed God is who He says He is

He knew that God could redeem him

He wasn’t made righteous by the act of placing his drugs on the altar

He believed God, was made righteous then immediately laid down his addiction in an act of faith and has been living for the Lord since that day

Romans 4:1-12

4 What then shall we say that Abraham our father[a] has found 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 [b]accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted [c]as grace but as debt.

5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,

And whose sins are covered;

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

9 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

Pauls audience were Jews and Gentiles at the moment

Jewish leaders at the time would teach justification by works

That’s why paul is using the reference of Abraham in the old testament

He is showing the jewish rabbis through it, that Abraham was justified by faith in God and not by works

Abraham Is called the father of faith because “he believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness”

Abraham did many good works that men would boast about and commend

Jewish leaders would proudly proclaim the direct lineage of Abraham and boast about being physical descendants

They thought just because they were direct descendants that it gave them special favor and merit with God as if through Abraham they were made righteous

They thought through association they were justified in the eyes of God

They would even teach, even though wrongly, that their offspring was automatically justified and made righteous by default

Paul was letting them know that righteousness is not inherited

It is not gained by good works either

It cant be obtained by keeping the law, religious ceremonies, or passed down from a parent

Righteousness is only obtained by believing God is who He says He is

It is gained through faith by believing Jesus Christ did everything on the cross

We are not justified by any work that we could ever do or by our own merit