Romans 4:9-16
By Faith We Stand

Introduction:
1. Paul develops Sin and unrighteousness in (1:18-3:20). The Righteousness of God is revealed
(3:21-5:24) …Salvation. Notice who is declared righteous in verse 5…the ungodly. In (4:9-16)
notice the key words: faith, reckon (put to your account), righteousness.
2. ‘Do you believe?’ and hands went up. Satan ‘believed’…Jesus is God, His death, burial and
resurrection. He ‘believed’ and will perish in hell!
3. Faith, Believe decides our eternal destiny. My fear is the modern concept of Faith in not
Biblical. I remember reading an article: Faith: the misunderstood doctrine. “Faith is a
miracle; it is the ability God gives to trust His Son, and anything that does not result in action
in accord with the will of God is not faith, but something else short of it.
The man that believes will obey; failure to obey is convincing proof that there is not true faith
present. Where real repentance is, there is obedience, for repentance is not only sorrow for
past failures and sins, it is determination to begin now to do the will of God as He reveals it to
us. This determination flows from a different heart!
4. To make it practical you rest your full weight on an object…. then you order your whole life on
that commitment.
5. At the point of ‘faith’…righteousness is put to my account: Iniquities are Forgiven, Sins are
cleansed, Sin is not put to my account!
6. Are you resting your weight on Jesus Christ and ordering your life by that commitment?
Substitutes for resting and ordering are easy as seen in (Romans 4:9-16)

Are you resting your weight on Jesus Christ and ordering your life by that commitment?
Substitutes for resting and ordering are easy:
I. DOING SOMETHING INITIATED BY GOD DOES NOT SAVE 4:9-12
Just as the rabbinical schools taught that Abrahma was righteous by works and assured of
heaven, so they had similar beliefs for circumcision. Circumcision was initiated by God.
A. The Reckoning of Faith 9,10
Cometh this blessedness (verses 6-8) Does forgiveness, righteousness come from rites
and ceremony?
1.Paul goes to Abraham. We (considering himself along with the Jew) say, Faith was put to Abraham’s account for righteousness (Genesis15:6)
2.Another question in verse 10: Did this take place in a circumcised or uncircumcised state? Not circumcision, but uncircumcision. Genesis 15:6 occurred 14 or 15 years before Abraham was circumcised. The rite of circumcision has nothing at all to do with his right standing.
B. The Righteousness From Faith 11
The sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith.
1.In other words, every time circumcision was performed should have reminded them of God’s righteousness that Abrham had and all believers have, through faith completely apart from circumcision.
2.Seal marks the genuineness of a document. It authenticates. The important thing
isn’t the Seal, but what was inside the document. There was one way open to establish a relationship with God…Faith.
3.That he might be the father of all them that believe…That righteousness might be put to their account also. (Romans 2:28, 29)
C. The Road of Faith 12
Abraham was declared righteous 15 years before he was circumcised.
Faith alone is for everyone!

Are you resting your weight on Jesus Christ and ordering your life by that commitment?
Substitutes for resting and ordering are easy:
II. DOING SOMETHING INDEPENDENT OF GOD DOES NOT SAVE 4:13-15
Law is doing something for God out of our own strength.
A. The Promise of Faith 13
1. The Law came 430 years after Abraham. (Galatians 3:10, 17) To make the promise
conditional on obedience to the Law…which wasn’t in existence at the time of the
promise would be worthless.
2. Heirs of the world…in this shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. It was not in
his ability, but God’s faithfulness.
B. The Path of Faith 14-15
1. The Law (doing something for God) Undermines Faith 14
*The opposite of law (doing something for God) is faith and grace. No effect is out
of work…out of business. If a Jew could inherit God’s promise by their ability to
keep the Law…God’s promises would be out of business, useless!
*If Salvation is on the basis of trying…how much effort is enough? At that point
faith is eliminated and God must come on our terms.
2. The Law (doing something for God) Underlines Failure 15
*Law was never given to produce life. It was given to show our sinfulness and
inability to please God.
*Brings forth God’s wrath. Sin must be paid for. We can never measure up even to
our own system of dos and don’ts.
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Abraham was justified by resting his weight and ordering his life by that commitment:
III. DOING SOMETHING INSTITUTED BY GOD DOES SAVE 4:16
That something is Faith alone by Grace alone. Grace saves faith is the agent!
Abraham who is the father of us all. For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is
that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and
circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter; whose praise is not of
men, but of God. (Romans 2:28, 29)

It is faith alone for Abraham. It is faith alone for David. It is faith alone for Gentiles.
It was faith before, during and after the Law.
GRACE: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
Grace alone through Faith alone in Christ alone produces Salvation!