247 - Les Feldick Bible Study Lesson 2 - Part 3 - Book 21 - Redemption and Justification

https://lesfeldickbiblestudy.com Through the Bible with Les Feldick LESSON 2 * PART 3 * BOOK 21 REDEMPTION AND JUSTIFICATION - ROMANS 3:25-4:8 We're not underwritten by anyone and totally rely on God's people to supply the funds. We're just here to teach The Book. I just want people to study, read their Bible and understand it. Here Paul is going to come back to Abraham. Galatians 3:7 "Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." Abraham simply did what God told him to do, so he was saved by faith + nothing, and that's exactly where we are. That's the connection: Abraham and Christians today entered in by faith and faith alone. So Paul uses Abraham over and over. Romans 4:1 What was Abraham by birth? Abraham had two brothers you remember up there in Haran in Syria. Abraham came out of Ur of the Chaldees, then came into the Land of Promise after believing God. Romans 4:2 "For if Abraham were justified (notice Paul is still dealing with this whole business of justification. And Abraham becomes an ideal example of a man who was justified, declared as if he had never sinned, because if Abraham were justified) by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God." After all Abraham became a great man. You know I'm always reminded of Job. For a moment let's look at Job Chapter 38. Job, if you remember, was in a dilemma wasn't he? Job 38:1-4 " THEN the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, `Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge (who is God referring to? Job's friends. Gird up now thy loins like a man (what's God saying? declare, if thou hast understanding.'" See what God is doing? Job didn't know how creation happened. He couldn't tell God how He did it, but God says, "Tell Me if you know." What's implied? Job thought he knew a lot. Job 38:5,6 "Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? What could Job answer? Abraham was a man of stature in his day and time, and yet when he came before God, could he boast? All Abraham could do was be a man of faith. Take God at His Word. Romans 4:3 "For what saith the scripture?..." Galatians 4:30a "Nevertheless what saith the scripture?..." Back to Romans Chapter 4. Romans 4:3a "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God,..." There's a tremendous difference between believing God and believing in God. For the most part the world believes in God. They believe in God and prayer but know nothing of believing God. When you simply believe in God you're just recognizing His presence. Here in verse 3 we see that Abraham didn't believe in God, but rather he believed God. In other words when God said it Abraham believed it. Romans 4:3 Remember Abraham was a pagan, an idolater. Joshua 24:2 "And Joshua said unto all the people, `Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your father dwelt on the other side of the flood (river) in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they (the whole family) served other gods.'" The whole world was steeped in idolatry including Abraham's family. And that's why God had to tell Abraham in Genesis Chapter 12 to leave his family, his city, and go to a land that He will show him. God in His Grace reaches down to one man Abram. Genesis 12:1 "NOW the LORD had said unto Abram, `Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred (God wanted the break from idolatry), and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:'" Now when God said for Abram to do all that, what did Abram do? After Abraham believed God, then God could look at Abraham and say, "As far as I'm concerned you have never sinned. What had Abraham done? Nothing! Romans 4:4 "Now to him that worketh (tries to merit favor with God. God! And you'll never put God in debt because He's beyond that. But the human race is still trying to put God in debt by saying, "But God, I've done all this and that and you owe it to me to let me into Heaven." We just have to understand that we're all sinners by virtue of being born from Adam, and that the only remedy for or sins is The Gospel, that Christ died, was buried, shed His Blood, and rose from the dead for you and I, and when we believe it for our Salvation it's just like God saw Abraham believe, then God imputes to us His righteousness. Romans 4:5a That flies in the face of human reasoning, but that's the only kind of person God can deal with. Immediately that life guard is in the water bringing salvation to that drowning kid. I liken that to exactly where God is. A sinner crying out, "Lord Save Me!" So what does God wait for? It's the same way spiritually; when we realize our need and cry from the heart for Salvation, then God is there instantly. Romans 4:5 #LesFeldick #BibleStudy #Bible