Justified By Faith Alone Romans series #12 3/16/2014

Romans Chapter 4 The Men of Faith (vs. 1-8) The Meaning of Faith (vs. 5-8) The Membership of Faith (vs. 9-12) The Means of Faith (vs. 13-25)

Two weeks ago… We studied two MEN of faith in verses 1-8 The example of Abraham (vs. 1-5) The example of David (vs. 6-8) We mentioned that justification by faith is far from being… A new doctrine An unim portant doctrine A discouraging doctrine A sin-excusing doctrine

Justified by Faith Alone! Proven by argument in Chapters 1-3 And now in today’s message by definition - The MEANING OF FAITH Salvation is not by works of any kind, but simply and solely, by faith in Christ. That’s the way it has always been!

Romans 4:1-8 NKJ Romans 4:1 ¶ What then shall we say that Abraham our father 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 accounted to him for righteousness." 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted 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."

The MEANING of FAITH F for facts The facts of God’s redeeming work through His Son, Jesus Christ Faith is NOT a blind leap! The “Fundamentals of the Faith” are the solid biblical groundwork on which our faith stands – Basic Facts. I Corinthians 15:1-8,14,17

F – A F for facts A for agreement “It is one thing to KNOW the truth of the gospel. It is quite another to AGREE with it.” JMacArthur The believer (faith-er) whole-heartedly affirms the truth he receives from the Bible. He agrees with the facts of faith with heart, soul, and mind. John 20:31; I John 5:13

F – A – I F for facts. A for agreement. I for internalization “The inner desire of a believer to accept and apply the truth of the gospel to his own life.” This desire of the heart and will in the New Birth results in obedience and submission – all part of the Holy Spirit’s continuing work of sanctification. Jn. 1:11-13; John 8:31

F – A – I – T F for facts A for agreement I for internalization T for trust Unreserved confidence in God That He will keep His promises Turning from sin and self to HIM in repentance II Peter 3:9 The Parables of Matthew 13:44-46 The Growing faith of Abraham from partial to full trust.

F – A – I – T – H F for facts A for agreement I for internalization T for trust H for hope The sure hope of God and heaven having seen neither! John 20:29 - Having not seen, ye believe! I Corinthians 15:51-58

ONLY Abraham was justified ONLY by faith. David was justified ONLY by faith. You and I are justified ONLY by faith. God graciously accepts a sinner’s faith and counts him righteous ONLY for Christ’s sake. We are saved ONLY by faith in Christ’s righteousness.

AMEN God put our sins on Christ’s account that He might put Christ’s righteousness on our account. Joyful is the man whose sin the Lord will not put to his account! Romans 4:8 Thanks to John MacArthur and Ron Mattoon for the F-a-i-t-h acrostic basics.