A Promise GuaranteedA Promise GuaranteedRomans 4:13-21Romans 4:13-21

Grace Community ChurchGrace Community Church2/18/20072/18/2007

PromisesPromises Washington Promises Washington Promises Madison Avenue PromisesMadison Avenue Promises Main Street PromisesMain Street Promises We all make promises. We all make promises. We all break promises.We all break promises.

Broken PromisesBroken Promises

Reasons (excuses) GivenReasons (excuses) Given

1.1. Circumstances Changed…Circumstances Changed…

2.2. We Changed…We Changed…

3.3. They Changed…They Changed…

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

Romans 1:17Romans 1:17

Romans 4:13-15Romans 4:13-15

13 It was not through law that Abraham and his 13 It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who live by that comes by faith. 14 For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, 15 because law brings promise is worthless, 15 because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. transgression.

““The promise must be by grace if it is to be The promise must be by grace if it is to be guaranteed. To introduce works, ‘I must do my guaranteed. To introduce works, ‘I must do my part,’ is to introduce an element of insecurity part,’ is to introduce an element of insecurity and uncertainty.” William Newelland uncertainty.” William Newell

Insecurity Leads to: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.

Romans 4:16-17Romans 4:16-17

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it 16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be may be by grace and may be guaranteedby grace and may be guaranteed to to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. though they were.

Romans 4:17-19Romans 4:17-19

He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who believed—the God who gives life to the deadgives life to the dead and and calls things that are not as though they calls things that are not as though they werewere. .

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed 18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in his faith, offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years olddead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.

God gives life to the dead.God gives life to the dead.

Your JustificationYour Justification

4But because of his great love for us, God, 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.been saved.

Ephesians 2:2-5Ephesians 2:2-5

God finishes what he starts.God finishes what he starts.

Your SanctificationYour Sanctification

6Being confident of this, that he who began 6Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6Philippians 1:6