The Gospel According to Paul

But if we can “do” enough good to be saved, then…

1) God’s grace is unnecessary

2) Christ’s sacrifice is also unnecessary

1) Modernist thought – We’re saved by being good

2) Catholic thought – We’re saved by “good” religious works

3) Jewish thought – We’re justified by works of the Law

Romans 4:1-3What 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.”

What did HE gain?

Justified?Righteous

?

How did he get there?

Righteousness / Thayer – The The state of him who is such as he state of him who is such as he ought to be, the condition ought to be, the condition acceptable to Godacceptable to God

Reckon / counted / Thayer – to to take into account, to pass to one’s take into account, to pass to one’s accountaccount

Conclusion? One is righteous when GOD counts him as righteous

That his faith was counted as if it were righteousness

That his faith was a substitute for righteousness

That Abraham was counted righteous ONLY because of his belief in God

John 12:42-43Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the

Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for

they loved the glory that comes from man more

than the glory that comes from God.

Hebrews 11:66 And without faith it

is impossible to please him, for whoever would

draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those

who seek him. 

James 2:20-24Do you want to be shown, you foolish person,

that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his

son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the

Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified

by works and not by faith alone. 

Romans 3:28For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of

the law.

Mark 7:6-9And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you

hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me;7 in vain do they worship me,

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition

of men.” 9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!

(religious works of men)

John 6:28-29Then they said to him, “What

must we do, to be doing

the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered

them, “This is the work of

God, that you believe in

him whom he has sent.” 

Faith itself IS a work.Faith itself IS a work.

Hebrews 5:9And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

James 2:24You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Genesis 22:12He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you

fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

Because his faith was an OBEDIENT faith

James 2:21-23 Was not Abraham our father justified by works

when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along

with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled

that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he

was called a friend of God.

Because of his OBEDIENCE he received grace, i.e. righteousness

That is the implication of the Greek term “eis”,

i.e. looking forward to… as in Acts 2:38

And seen in Romans 4: 3, 5, 9

Abraham was blessed by his faith

Because it led him to obedience, justification, and righteousness

Anyone can follow this same course of obedience of blessing

Life is not a checkbook to be balancedTrust and obey