Heritage Reformed Baptist Mission
ROMANS
Sermon 11
Righteousness Without Works
Romans 4:1-12
"What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that works is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputes 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. Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised."
Karl Marx, the father of modern Communism, is quoted as having said, “Religion is the opiate of the people.” Now, what would you think if I said I agree with him? Well, I must say I do. Why? Because religion is man trying to please or appease a god or gods with the works of his own hands. Even among those who profess to be Christians, where the true and living God is known about and where the gospel of grace and faith is preached, there are many who still trust in “good works” to make them right with God.
It is to be feared that much of the idea of “righteousness by works” comes from a misinterpretation and a misunderstanding of the way of righteousness as presented in the Old Testament. Such was the case with the Jews in the days when the New Testament was written. To set them (and us) straight, God inspired the Apostle Paul to record the proper interpretation and understanding of how righteousness was given in Old Testament days. That inspiration is found in our text.
In Romans 3, Paul has already said “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in (God's) sight” (v. 20), and, “a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (v. 28). Now, using Abraham as the illustration, he is going to show how and why everyone else should be able to make those same statements without any question as to their absolute truth.
Abraham was chosen by God and called to leave his native country and all but his immediate family, and go to a place of which he had never heard. God's purpose was to make of him a great nation which would be a blessing to the whole world. He was the first Hebrew, the physical father of a race of people through whom God would provide a Savior for His elect.
In Joshua's final message to the children of Israel before he died, he said that their ancestors, specifically Terah, the father of Abraham, served other gods (Joshua 24:2). So, before God called Abraham, the best that could be said of him is that he mixed the worship of God with the worship of idols. Such a mixture is unacceptable with God. The Scriptures are very clear about that from beginning to end. Therefore, Abraham was certainly not a righteous man when God chose and called him. Something had to happen to make him acceptable in God's sight.
Immediately, we might be prone to say that something was the fact he left his home and went to Canaan as God told him to do. But that is not what the Scripture says. In fact, it was not until after he arrived in Canaan that anything is said about his relationship to God. Then, in Genesis 15:6, the Bible says of him, “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” This is the Scripture to which the Apostle Paul refers in verse 3 of our text. By it he proves that it was not Abraham's doing what God told him to do that made him right in God's sight. It was simply trusting God, believing in Him as the true and living God, accepting His word as truth.
As to works, Abraham did obey the Lord. But he could not use that obedience as the means of being able to enter into the presence of God. He might have boasted about it to men, who doubtless would have declared him to be a righteous man. But God's declaration of righteousness was not because of his obedience, but because of his faith.
This means of salvation goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve sinned, they discovered their nakedness. They tried to hide it with fig leaves. But, when they heard God's voice, they were afraid and hid from Him. Their own efforts to cover their nakedness, which was symbolic of their sin and separated them from God, did not even satisfy them, let alone God. But, by an act of pure grace, which we must believe they accepted without question, He clothed them with animal skins, symbolic of the righteousness He would later give to them, to Abraham, and to all who simply trust Him.
So, we understand that works have never been what makes a person right with God. Salvation is of the Lord. Works are due a reward. Therefore, if a man could be declared right with God through works it would do away with the grace of God in providing salvation as a gift. And it is clearly seen, especially in Abraham, that faith in “Him that justifies the ungodly,” is God's way of declaring a person to be right with Him.
It is also clearly seen in the life of David. Paul quotes his testimony from Psalm 32. In that Psalm, David describes how sin troubled him, and how God convicted him day and night because of it. How did he get relief? Listen to his own words from verse 5 of Psalm 32. “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and my iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.” So, it was not by works of righteousness that he did that brought David into a right relationship with God. Rather, it was his simple act of faith in admitting his sin and making confession of it to God. He knew the blessed happiness that comes from a gracious God who forgives ungodliness, removes the guilt of sin, and does not ever charge the one who comes to Him in faith with sin. As he writes in verse 10 of Psalm 32, “...he that trusts in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.”
That is exactly what sinners need. Mercy! That mercy came to Adam and Eve, to Abraham, to David, to every person in the O.T. who received it, by grace through faith. Even under the law, it did not come as the result of offering the animal sacrifices. Listen to what David wrote in Psalms 51:16-17. “For you desire not sacrifice; else would I give it: you delight not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you wilt not despise.” Such a spirit is the spirit of one who admits he is a sinner, that he is helpless to do anything about it, and turns to God in simple faith for forgiveness and cleansing. Under the law, a person with such a spirit offered the animal sacrifices because he first trusted the Lord and, out of love for Him, was obedient to His commands. His good works followed and came out of his faith.
It was even so before the law with Abraham, who showed his trust in the Lord by offering his son, Isaac. As it is written in Hebrews 11:17-19, “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”
What God did in and for Abraham is what He will do for everyone who will trust Him as Abraham did. That was and still is a difficult thing for Jews to believe. They came to be full of pride in themselves because they were the ones who possessed the law of God. That pride led them to trust in the works of the law, especially circumcision, rather than in God. From that belief, it was just a simple step to believing no one could be right with God who was not circumcised.
But, to see that belief to be absolutely wrong, all one has to do is look carefully at when it was Abraham's faith was counted to him for righteousness. It was before he was circumcised, not after and not because. He later received circumcision as a sign of the righteousness that he had already received through faith. That is what good works are in those who have saving faith - a sign the faith they say they have is real.
The fact Abraham's faith was counted to him for righteousness before he was circumcised shows that anyone who believes God, trusting His way of salvation in Jesus Christ, will have their faith counted to them for righteousness. Even Jews, though they be circumcised according to the law, cannot call Abraham their father unless they also have the same kind of faith Abraham had. Though the O.T. does not say it in specific words, we must believe that Abraham's faith in God looked toward the Savior God would later provide. For the Lord Jesus Himself said to the Jews in John 8:56, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.”
The Jews of Jesus's day and the Jews about whom Paul was writing in our text represent those who do “good works”, not appearing to be ungodly, but who must have faith to be saved. “For without faith, it is impossible to please (God).” He has but one way of salvation, but one way of declaring ungodly people to be righteous. That way is by grace through faith wholly without works. It has always been that way. Adam, Abraham, David, Paul, you and I - none is saved, none is justified, none has any righteousness counted except by grace through faith. As it is said of Abraham, “He believed in the LORD, and it was counted unto him for righteousness,” so it must be said of all who will be saved.
Friend, have you believed God? Are you trusting in the shed blood of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sin? Do you confess Jesus as Lord and wholly trust in the fact that God raised Him from the dead? Is there any work of your own or anyone else that you would add or to which you would turn for salvation? Answer these questions honestly. If any trust in works occupies your heart and mind, flee now to Jesus Christ alone and be saved.
And this for you who are already saved by faith in Jesus but are trying to maintain that salvation by your own strength. I have no doubt you are struggling in misery, perhaps thinking, as I once did, you were happier before you became a Christian. If you are truly saved, God has made you a new creation in Christ Jesus. But you cannot joyfully and effectively live the Christian life by your own efforts. The answer is to repent of your own efforts, confess them as sin, yield your body and mind to God, and let God do in you and through you what you are struggling to do yourself. “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”