1. A Promise Guaranteed Romans 4:13-21 Grace Community Church 2/18/2007

2. Promises Washington Promises Washington Promises Madison Avenue Promises Madison Avenue Promises Main Street Promises Main Street Promises We all make promises. We all make promises. We all break promises. We all break promises.

3. Broken Promises Reasons (excuses) Given 1. Circumstances Changed… 2. We Changed… 3. They Changed…

4. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17

5. Romans 4:13-15 13 It was not through 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 live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, 15 because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.

6. “The promise must be by grace if it is to be guaranteed. To introduce works, ‘I must do my part,’ is to introduce an element of insecurity and uncertainty.” William Newell Insecurity Leads to: We whitewash our lives. We whitewash our lives. We cannot love God. We cannot love God. We cannot love others. We cannot love others.

7. Romans 4:16-17 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 are of 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—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

8. Romans 4:17-19 He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. 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.

9. God gives life to the dead. Your Justification 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:2-5

10. God finishes what he starts. Your Sanctification 6Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6