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Sermon #45 — Romans Series
Title: “It is of faith, that it might be by grace.”
Text: Romans 4:13-16 Subject: Faith — The Work of Grace Reading: Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 Introduction:
Throughout the Word of God we are taught that sinners are “justified by faith.” That is the doctrine of Holy Scripture; and that is distinctly the doctrine of God the Holy Ghost in the Book of Romans. Sadly, multitudes vainly imagine that faith is a work of man’s free will and make justification by faith to mean justification by choice. Therefore, lest we be deluded by the will-worship religion of antichrist, the Lord God tells us plainly in Romans 4:16, — “It is of faith, that it might be by grace.” — “It is of faith, that it might be by grace.” — That is my subject. — “It is of faith that it might be by grace.” My text is Romans 4:13-16.
(Romans 4:13-16) For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (14) For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: (15) Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. (16) Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.
Proposition: Faith in Christ is the display and assurance of God’s saving grace.
“It is of faith that it might be by grace.” — That is the doctrine of the gospel. But the world’s religion, the religion of antichrist, the devil’s religion, freewill/works religion turns the gospel of God upside down and throws the grace of God out the door! · God says, “It is not of him that willeth!” — Satan says, “The decision is yours.” · God says, “Salvation is of the Lord!” — Antichrist says, “You’ve got to do your part.” · God says, “By grace ye are saved.” — Will-worship religion says, “Yes, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to do your part.” · God says, “We are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” — The works-monger says, “Yes, but we are sanctified by our works.”
Do you see the difference?
(Proverbs 16:25) There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Divisions: Hold your Bible open on your lap, while I call your attention to three things in our text. 1. God’s elect are heirs of the world (v. 13). 2. Any mixture of works with grace is a total denial of grace (vv. 14-15). 3. Faith in Christ makes the promise of God sure to our souls (v. 16).
Heirs of the World
First, let’s look a verse 13 and learn that God’s elect are heirs of the world.
(Romans 4:13) For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
God’s promise to Abraham and his seed was that he and his seed would be heirs of the world. What a promise! What a wide, broad, sweeping promise! What does it mean? What does it include?
Understand the teaching of Scripture. — God’s covenant, with all its promises and spiritual blessings in heavenly places, was established with and fulfilled in Christ, who was Abraham’s Seed (Galatians 3:16).
(Galatians 3:16) Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy Seed, which is Christ.
And all those promises and blessings belong to all believers, belong to all the Church, to all the Israel of God, Abraham’s seed, in Christ (Romans 8:16-17).
(Galatians 3:29) And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
(Romans 8:16-17) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
These promises and blessings of God are ours, “not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” You cannot avoid noticing that Paul keeps hammering this one point, over and over, again and again. — Sinners get God’s salvation and all its blessings, not by works, but “through the righteousness of faith!”
Notice this, too. — The word “promise” is singular. All God’s promises in Christ Jesus are yea and amen (2 Corinthians 1:20) because all God’s promises are one Promise; and that one Promise is Christ himself! The great and comprehensive promise of God in the covenant is, “I will be their God, and they shall be my people!” — In that one promise the Lord God gives himself, in all his perfections, to our souls! · God the Father, the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, is our Father! · God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in his person, fulness, suitableness, and all-sufficiency as God and man is ours! · And God the Holy Ghost, in all the fulness and perfection of his gifts and graces, is ours! · Everything temporal, spiritual, and eternal, in and with the Holy Three in One, form the promise of Jehovah to our souls!
But in this place, God the Holy Spirit declares that we who are heirs of the covenant, we who are Abraham’s seed, we who trust the Lord Jesus Christ, the One Abraham trusted, are heirs of the world (1 Corinthians 3:21-23; Hebrews 11:8-10, 13; Luke 20:34-36; Revelation 22:1-27). — If that doesn’t ring your bell, your clacker’s broke!
(1 Corinthians 3:21-23) Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; (22) Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; (23) And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
(Hebrews 11:8-10) By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (9) By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: (10) For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
(Hebrews 11:13) These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
(Luke 20:34-36) And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: (35) But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: (36) Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
(Revelation 21:1-7) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (2) And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (3) And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (4) And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (5) And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (6) And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. (7) He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
(Revelation 21:24) And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
(Revelation 21:26) And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
Illustration: Israel Spoiling Egypt
That is God’s promise to every sinner who trusts his dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. — “He that believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting life!” — “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved!” — O sinner, believe on the Son of God, and go home enriched beyond measure as “heir of the world…through the righteousness of faith!”
Denial of Grace
Second, any mixture of works with grace is a total denial of grace (14-15). Let me repeat what I have said from this pulpit countless times. — My relationship with the eternal God does in great measure determine what I do; but what I do does not in any measure determine my relationship with the eternal God.
Like Paul, I stress this point over and over again because it needs stressing. — Any mixture of works with grace is a total denial of grace. That is the meaning of verses 14 and 15.
(Romans 4:14-15) For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: (15) Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
(Romans 11:6) And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
(Galatians 2:20-21) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (21) I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Salvation cannot be by faith and by works (Galatians 3:18).
(Galatians 3:18) For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
· Salvation (any part of salvation) by works denies salvation by grace. · Salvation (any part of salvation) by works makes the death of Christ meaningless! · Salvation (any part of salvation) by works makes any profession of faith in Christ a blasphemous mockery of Christ!
Christ is salvation, the totality of salvation, all our salvation (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).
(1 Corinthians 1:30-31) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (31) That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Promise Sure
Are you with me? · First, God’s elect are heirs of the world (v. 13). · Second, any mixture of works with grace is a total denial of grace (vv. 14-15). And…
Third, faith in Christ makes the promise of God sure to our souls (v. 16).
(Romans 4:16) Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.
Stay with me. I want to show you three things in verse 16, and I’ll be done.
1. Salvation is by faith that it might be by grace.
The promise of God, salvation, eternal life, remission of sins, justification, sanctification, and glorification are by faith in Christ, only by faith in Christ, without works of any kind.
Paul is telling us, again and again, that sinners are justified freely by the grace of God, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. What does it mean to be justified? · To be justified is to be eternally pardoned from all sin by the precious blood of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:18). · To be justified is to be acquitted and vindicated of all charges before the holy bar of divine justice (Jude 24). · To be justified is to be made and regarded righteous in God’s sight (Colossians 1:21-22).
(Colossians 1:21-22) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (22) In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.
How are sinners justified? · The source of justification is God. — “It is God that justifieth” (Romans 8:33). · Grace is the spring and fountain of justification. — “Justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans3:24). · We are justified by sacrifice and blood-letting of the Lord Jesus Christ, by his blood atonement. — “Being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Romans 5:9). · Our Savior’s resurrection is the proof and evidence of his accomplished justification of our souls. — “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25).
But here the Spirit of God tells us “It is of faith that it might be by grace.” Faith is the means by which sinners receive God’s salvation in Christ. — “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God” (Romans 5:1). Faith might be looked at in three parts.
2. Faith in Christ is the gift and operation of God’s grace in us by which God’s promise of salvation, God’s promised covenant blessedness, is made sure to God’s elect.
Faith doesn’t cause grace. Grace causes faith. Faith is not created by my choice or your choice. Faith is created in us by God’s choice, God’s will, God’s operation, and God’s gift! Faith is the evidence of life, not the cause of life! — Assurance of salvation and grace does not come from “good works.” Assurance comes from faith!
(Romans 4:16) Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.
(Hebrews 11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
3. All who trust Christ are God’s covenant people, the Israel of God, the sons and daughters of Abraham.
(Romans 4:16) Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.
The Apostle Paul repeatedly refers to the affinity existing between Abraham and all true believers. He speaks of the family likeness common to all the saints of God, “walking in Abraham’s steps.” As Abraham walked by faith — walked with God in holy fellowship, so they walk in his steps, having his faith, which is “the faith of the operation of God.” It is faith relying entirely upon Christ. These sinners saved by grace in union with the Lord Jesus Christ are one spiritual, holy, heaven-born family.
Application
May God the Holy Ghost, who alone can do so, give us understanding of his Word.
(Romans 4:13-16) For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (14) For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: (15) Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. (16) Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.
· God’s elect are heirs of the world (v. 13). · Any mixture of works with grace is a total denial of grace (vv. 14-15). · Faith in Christ makes the promise of God sure to our souls (v. 16).
Oh, may God be pleased to give you the hand of faith to lay hold on Christ! The primary function of the hand is to take hold of and grasp an object. The human hand is the master-piece of anatomy, the fingers and the strong opposing thumb are expressly designed by God to seize and hold things. Every muscle, artery, vein, and nerve work in unison to get and hold things.
Is it any wonder that faith is described in Scripture as a hand work? — “Lay hold on him!” — “Lay hold on eternal life!” — “Lay hold on eternal life!” — “Let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me, and he shall make peace with me.” — Faith is taking hold of God, taking hold of God’s Strength, taking hold of Christ, taking hold of eternal Life! · Jacob took hold of the wrestling angel. · Sinking Peter laid hold of the Savior’s hand. · Oh, poor, needy, sinking sinner, lay hold upon the hope set before you this day in the gospel!
Reach out and touch the Lord, As He passes by; You’ll find He’s not too busy, To hear your heart’s cry. He’s passing by this moment Your needs to supply! Reach out and touch the Lord, As He goes by!
Amen.
Don Fortner
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