1. Gospel of Grace Fellowshipggf.church0 by Eric Douma Gospel of Grace Fellowship May 29, 2016

2. Gospel of Grace Fellowshipggf.church1 Romans 4:1-8 Salvation by faith apart from any works. 4:9-12 Salvation by faith apart from any ritual. 4:13-16 Salvation by faith apart from the law. 4:17-25 Salvation by faith apart from sight. Synonyms for sight: Circumstance Something tangible Mystical visions or audible revelations Miraculous signs

3. Gospel of Grace Fellowshipggf.church2 Romans 4:17 … (as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.  “a father of many nations” = Genesis 17:5  “Who gives life to the dead and calls into being…” 1.Refers to God’s ex nihilo creation? 2.Refers to God receiving Isaac back from the dead? 3.Refers to God enabling Abraham and Sarah to conceive?

4. Gospel of Grace Fellowshipggf.church3 Romans 4:18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.”  “In hope against hope he believed” 1.Hope = future promises of God 2.There was no circumstance other than receiving God’s word that would indicate Sarah would conceive!  “so that…” = result clause  “So shall your descendants be” = Gen. 15:5

5. Gospel of Grace Fellowshipggf.church4 Romans 4:19-21 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.  Genesis 18:11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing.  Abraham believed in God’s word, not in what he saw!

6. Gospel of Grace Fellowshipggf.church5 Romans 4:22-25 Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. Two Options: 1.“because” = Christ’s resurrection proves our justification. 2.“for the sake of” = Christ’s resurrection life enables Him to make constant intercession for us (Rom. 5:10; Heb. 7:25).

7. Gospel of Grace Fellowshipggf.church6 1.We must know that saving faith requires us to believe God’s promises despite our circumstances and without having tangible evidence in this world. Snares for the Church Today:  The need for miracles  The need for visions and extra-biblical revelation  The need for “feeling close”  The need for something “tangible”

8. Gospel of Grace Fellowshipggf.church7 Romans 8:23-25 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. Exodus 32:1 Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”

9. Gospel of Grace Fellowshipggf.church8 Coloring Mandalas: In the last few years, while working with a children’s spirituality program called The Way of the Child, I have discovered the practice of coloring mandalas, which has added a whole new dimension to my coloring. The purpose of coloring mandalas is spiritual in nature, designed to bring me closer to God and to help me get in touch with my heart (Devozine). Hebrews 11:6 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.

10. Gospel of Grace Fellowshipggf.church9 Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Matthew 12:38-40 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.