I do not know where this outline came from, but I do know it was not original with me.

A Faith That Worked

Romans 4

Introduction:

A.   The Jews were proud of the fact that they were the descendants of Abraham. They thought that this gave them some special status in God's eyes. Once, they even told Jesus that He didn’t know what He was talking about because of this claim (Jn. 8:33; Matt 3:9). If you, today, heard someone say, "I'm a child of Abraham," what would you think? Perhaps you might think that they were speaking of their Jewish lineage. But what if you later heard him say, "I believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and was baptized in his name into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?” Now you might change you thoughts to “OH, he’s a Jewish Christian, like the Apostles and others were. Or at least he USED to be a Jew, but is now he’s a Christian.”

B.   But there is another option. That being that all Christians, whether Jew or Gentile, are sons and daughters of Abraham by FAITH (Gal. 3:24-29). Yet if you belong to Christ, why should you WANT to identify with Abraham? The answer is perhaps found in Gen. 12:3 which Paul quoted in Gal. 3:8 ("In you all the nations shall be blessed.") Also look at Gen. 22:18 (after offering Isaac): "And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice."

C.   Do you identify with Abraham? Do you perhaps think of him, in some way, as your father?

I.    A Faith That Worked

      A.   Faith comes by hearing - Rom. 10:17

            1.   God Spoke To Abraham and Abraham heard

                  a.   Some occasions - Gen. 12:1-4, 7; 13:14-18; 15:1-7; 17:1-5; 18:10 (received strangers); 18:17-21; 22:1-2, 11-12, 16-18

                  b.   Referred to in the NT - Luke 1:55; cf. Heb. 1:1-2

      B.   Abraham Justified by Faith - Rom. 4

            1.   Abraham believed God and was reckoned as righteous - Gen. 15:6

                  a.   Warren Wiersbe (who does not believe baptism saves) made these points:

                        1)   Justification is by Faith, not Works - Rom 4:1-8

                        2)   Justification is by Grace, not Law - Rom 4:9-17

                        3)   Justification is by Resurrection Power, not Human Effort - Rom 4:18-25

                  b.   I would add these points:

                        1)   DID work to demonstrate faith (next point)

                        2)   DID keep God's laws - Gen. 26:5

                        3)   DID put forth human effort to move, to procreate when old, to offer his son

            2.   Do not have time in this lesson to consider all the times or way his faith was put to the test - but it was!

II.   Faith Without Works Is Dead - Jas. 2:14-26

      A.   By faith, when called, Abraham went - Heb. 11:8; Rom. 4:12

      B.   Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, the priest of God.

            1.   Heb. 7 refers to events in Gen. 14:17-20.

            2.   Point is that a priest after the order of Melchizedek was greater than priest of the tribe of Levi is--AND their FATHER Abraham didn't pay tribute to Levi but to Melchizedek.

                  a.   Meant even Levi (a lesser), in a sense, paid tribute to Melchizedek

                  b.   Jesus is the priest after the order of Melchizedek - Psa. 110

      C.   Worked to show a living faith and produce a son, Isaac - Rom. 4:19-20

      D.   By faith Abraham, when tried, offered up Isaac - Heb. 11:17

            1.   Gen. 22:18

            2.   Justified by works - Jas. 2:21

            3.   Abraham - Jas. 2:23

                  a.   Obedience fulfilled "Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness..."

                  b.   Called the Friend of God

Conclusion:

A.   Whether Jew or Gentile, it makes no difference anymore. If you belong to Christ, you are the children of Abraham.

B.   Gen. 15:6 was not only written for Abraham's sake but ours--do we have faith like Abraham? Do we heed how God speaks to us through his Son, Jesus, in the Word? Faith comes by hearing. Do we develop and live the life of faith, belief, trust, and obedience? Do we hang in there when tested by God? Do we trust in ourselves or men? Do we show our faith with our works? Is your faith dead being without works?

C.   Are we weak in faith? Read Rom. 4:19-20; be fully assured in your faith.

D.   Read Rom. 4:22-25, faith--like Abraham's faith--reckons righteousness and justification (by faith).