Pg.1
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, We ask that you will bless this study tonight and use it to enlighten our understanding of our faith, and help us to put into action the faith that we profess. Let us become living examples of the faith that your word conveys to our world. We are truly thankful for the gift of Your Son Jesus who made a way for our salvation, for there is nothing we can do to make ourselves righteous in your sight. We pray also for those of our group who cannot be here tonight, and that you will share our blessing with them. Bless us now, we pray as we study your word as given to us by Your servant Paul. AMEN
Opening Words
Faith is something we exercise, but Paul does not consider it a work in the same way that obedience to the law is. Works involve the bringing of what we do to God and saying that we deserve justification. Faith involves the admission that nothing we can do makes us deserving of salvation. It is all on Jesus, and he only is the linchpin of our salvation, without him even our own efforts at righteousness fail us, and we are lost sinners seeking help for our souls.
Scripture Reading
13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed-17b-the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
Discussion
Abraham’s faith led to his being justified before God. God’s promise of Justification comes from God’s grace. The promise of salvation for the true believer is not ordered by God’s law, God does not promise one justification if they comply with his laws, as if following the rules of righteousness would earn our justification. It is by the faith one exhibits in the life one lives that God recognizes as true faith and with the living of the faithful life God sees only the righteousness of Jesus in us. If salvation was simply obeying the law, one might even fool oneself into thinking they were justified by righteously obeying the law. That is how putting our faith in our works can deceive us so easily Justification by faith is a choice one makes that changes ones life path. That is a choice one is free to accept or reject.
Q.1 Why is justification achieved by faith instead of by the Law?
Q.2 In what way has this caused me to rely on faith in Christ alone?
Q.3 What is the first characteristic of faith that Paul alludes to in Romans 4:17b?
Q.4 How does a proper understanding of the Creator and creation affect one’s daily life?
Q.5 What is the concept that the Jews were practicing in those days?
Pg.2
In this next scripture, Paul tells us what faith is. Paul says Abraham believed God. God is the object of our faith. The quality of our faith depends upon the object in which that faith has placed its trust. The amount of faith you have has nothing to do with it. That is why Jesus told us that even if we have faith, as small as a grain of mustard seed, it will produce results. The object of your faith is the important thing. It is not a question of how little or how big our faith is; it is a question of how gracious our God is! God has set no measure of faith as a goal to be reached. But he has precisely stated what even a very small faith can do.
18. Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 23 The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
There are times when one must realize that whenever we are called to exercise our faith, (which for some can be minute by minute) there will be obstacles to that faith. Abraham teaches us this. First, there were the circumstances of He and his wife and family and all their kin, slaves, and livestock, just picking up their entire life’s work, even at an old age, and moving. God had not even told them where their new home would be. Then there is their age, both were past the age of having children. And then there’s the problem of the promise from God, to make a great nation of Abraham and his descendents . It was a promise for them that seemed too good to be true. Hard to believe if we examine the circumstances. They had been trying to have a child for years with no success It is also interesting that Abraham and Sarah tried to take the situation into their own hands by Abraham having a child with Hagar, Sarah’s slave. This did not fare well, as God’s Angel said in Gen 16:12
Q.1 Are there situations in life that seem outside the realm of possibility?
Q.2 Do you think there may have been times when Abraham struggled with doubt ?
Q.3 Are there times in every day life when doubts are more reasonable than faith?
Q.4 Abraham must have felt, that the promise from God was too good to be true, yes or no?
Q.5 Have you ever gone through a “Too good to be true experience”?
Q.6 How does the resurrection serve as the bedrock for the Christian faith?
Q.7 In your opinion, is there a measure of faith one must maintain?
Who Are The Justified ? Pg.3
A. THE JUSTIFIED ARE SINNERS
We must be repentant true believers. That makes us recipients of God’s free grace, because we rely on the finished work of Jesus to provide for our justification. Otherwise, our sin would prevent our salvation. Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved…… Q. Who are the true believers?
B. THE JUSTIFIED SHARE CHRISTS BLOOD AS SALVATION .
Faith means that “while we were yet sinners, at the right time Christ died for us. Then it is our faith in what Christ’s shedding his blood has done for us, that saves us. Gal 3:26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, Gal 3:27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ…… Q. What meaning does sharing communion have for you?
C. THE JUSTIFIED ARE JUDGED BY GOD THROUGH CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.
We need Christ’s perfect righteousness credited to our account. That transaction takes place the instant that we become a true believer in Jesus’ finished work of our salvation. John 3:18
If justification were based on how righteous we actually are, measured by our own set of laws, we might well be righteous by earthly standards. We might have a spectacular record of accomplishments denoting our righteous service to God. But does that make us righteous in God’s eyes? The answer is found in Isaiah 64:6. We need our sin put on Christ’s account.
2 Corinthians 5:21 …... Q. What has Jesus done for us lately?
Scripture references
Gen 16:12 He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers."
John 3:18, Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the faith that Paul so avidly professes. We thank You that you so loved us that You gave your Son Jesus to be sin for us so that none should perish, We thank You that Your Grace is such that You have chosen to let Your Son’s righteousness be credited to our account. And we thank You as so great a God as to be sensitive to our needs and to offer your healing touch to those who suffer in this life__________ Bless those mentioned here tonight and offer to them Your healing touch. In Jesus name we pray AMEN
Pg.4
Meditation
Q. What has the finished work of Jesus done for you ?
Psalm 119:66 Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.
68 You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.
69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart.
70 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. 71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.
72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
73 Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands.
74 May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word.
75 I know, LORD, that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
Psa 119:76 May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.
Psa 119:77 Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.
Psa 119:78 May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your precepts.
Psa 119:79 May those who fear you turn to me, those who understand your statutes.
Psa 119:80 May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees, that I may not be put to shame.
Dear Lord, May the faith of our fathers be made manifest in us throughout this year, and may we indeed practice what we believe to such and extent that it becomes a way of life for each of us. And may we become living examples of the Justified True Believer that Christ’s life was sacrificed to save. Amen
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