248 - Les Feldick Bible Study Lesson 2 - Part 4 - Book 21 - Redemption and Justification

https://lesfeldickbiblestudy.com Through the Bible with Les Feldick LESSON 2 * PART 4 * BOOK 21 REDEMPTION AND JUSTIFICATION - ROMANS 3:25-4:8 Now we'll look at verse 5 again, where Paul again is building his case that Abraham was declared righteous only because he believed God. Romans 4:5 Now if you remember Onesimus had been a slave and had run away from his owner Philemon, and while he was away Onesimus had come across Paul's Gospel and had become a believer. And now Paul says to be an obedient believer that he should go back to his master Philemon, but he doesn't want Philemon to come down hard on Onesimus as a disobedient slave, and so Paul is pleading with Philemon to accept the man back as a Christian brother without any punishment. Philemon 1:15-18 Now what's Paul talking about? Now it's the same Greek word that we see back here in the Book of Romans as counted in verse 5. It cancels our sin debt and never again will God confront any believer with his sins. It's been wiped off the slate and never will you be confronted with sin when we stand before God. We're forgiven the moment we sin, and that's so hard for people to comprehend. God's righteousness! All of God's righteousness has been imputed to our account, and that's what it said concerning Abraham. Now let's read on. Romans 4:6a Romans 4:6 "Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth (puts to the account) righteousness without works," God imputes righteousness without our doing a thing. Now let's not confuse that with Christian good works. Turn with me for a moment to the Book of Ephesians, Chapter 2. Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace (the unmerited favor of God) are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves (there isn't anything you and I can do for Salvation except believe): it is the gift of God:" Just ask yourself this question, Do you work for a gift? Never! Ephesians 2:9 "Not of works, lest any man should boast." Now look at verse 10. As a result of our faith in the finished work of Christ being accomplished on our behalf, and it is now appropriated by our faith, God has imputed His righteousness to our account, but what does He expect? Now I stand to be corrected but I believe the word "workmanship" has the same Greek connection as our word "symphony." We are the result of the work of the eternal God because we believe. Ephesians 2:10 God expects the believer to perform the good works, but not for Salvation. Good works are a result of Salvation. Matthew 25:31-34 It wasn't their good works that performed their Salvation, but rather their Salvation that caused them to perform the works. Matthew 25:41-45 What's Christ saying? Ephesians 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained (what does that mean? Now here Paul is dealing with this other side of our Christian experience. He's not dealing with the Salvation end of it, but rather the works/reward part of it. I Corinthians 3:9-11 "For we are laborers together with God (we can't do anything alone): ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder (Paul says), I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man (believer) take heed (be careful) how he buildeth thereupon. We are building onto this building that we are constructing with God, and God gives us six materials to build with. I Corinthians 3:12,13 "Now if any man build upon this foundation (as believers) gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's (believers only) works shall be made manifest (put in the spotlight): for the day shall declare it (the day when we come before the righteous Judge in Heaven), because it shall be revealed by fire;..." Revelation 19:12 Work and serve, and do everything to God's glory because the rewards are piling up. "Everything that you do for God's glory, you're sending ahead." I Corinthians 3:13-15 "Every man's work shall be made manifest (not a single believer will escape these fiery eyes of the Lord as He judges our works): for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned (he's got nothing but hay, wood, and stubble. He never worked for the gold, silver, and precious stones), he shall suffer loss (not of his Salvation, but rather of rewards, he'll have none): but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." We should always strive for rewards and live a fruitful life for our Lord. Romans 4:6-8 "Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputed righteousness without works, Saying, `Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.'" Why? #LesFeldick #BibleStudy #Bible