Your March 31st Expository Sermon

Promises, Faith, and Fulfillment (Romans 4:13-25)

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Sermon Outline: [NOTE to Paid subscribers — scroll down for the full manuscript sermon].

Sermon Outline: "Promises, Faith, and Fulfillment” — Romans 4:13-25

Introduction:

In Romans 4:13-25, Paul continues to elaborate on the nature of faith using Abraham’s life as a powerful illustration. This passage looks into the promise given to Abraham and how it extends beyond legalistic boundaries, highlighting the role of faith in accessing God’s promises. Through Abraham’s example, we learn about the dynamics of faith that believes against hope and the power of God to fulfill His promises. As we explore this portion of Scripture, we are invited to reflect on the nature of our faith and the assurance of God’s promises in our own lives.

I. Promise Unbound by Law (Romans 4:13-15)

• Covenant Beyond Commands: Paul asserts that the promise to Abraham and his offspring was not through the law but through the righteousness of faith. This distinction emphasizes that God’s covenant with Abraham transcends legal requirements, offering a relationship based on faith, not on adherence to rules.

• Law and Wrath: The law brings wrath and where there is no law, there is no transgression. Paul highlights the limitations of the law in facilitating the promise, illustrating that reliance on the law would nullify faith and the promise itself.

II. Faith Founded on Grace (Romans 4:16-17)

• Grace as the Groundwork of Faith: Faith rests on grace, ensuring the promise is guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring, not only to those of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham. Paul emphasizes that faith, founded on grace, secures the promise for both Jews and Gentiles.

• God of the Impossible: Abraham’s God is the one who brings the dead to life and calls into existence things that do not exist. This description of God underlines the miraculous nature of faith that believes in God’s power to fulfill His promises against all odds.

III. Hope Held in Faith (Romans 4:18-22)

• Abraham’s Assurance Amidst Hopelessness: Despite the human impossibility of his situation, Abraham believed in hope, fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised. His unwavering trust in God’s promise, even when it seemed impossible, is presented as an example of true faith.

• Righteousness Recognized: Abraham’s faith was “counted to him as righteousness,” not because of his actions, but because of his belief in the one who promises. This section reinforces the idea that faith, not works, is what God acknowledges and rewards.

IV. Present Power of Faith (Romans 4:23-25)

• Scriptural Significance for Believers: Paul concludes that the account of Abraham’s faith and its crediting as righteousness was not written for him alone but for all who believe in God who raised Jesus from the dead.

• Justification through Jesus: The passage ends with the focus on Jesus, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. This culminates the discussion of faith by connecting it directly to the work of Christ, affirming that faith in Jesus’ resurrection is the means by which believers are justified.

Conclusion:

Romans 4:13-25 not only recounts the historical faith of Abraham but also speaks to us, calling us to a faith that transcends legalistic boundaries and rests in God’s grace. It invites us to trust in the God who fulfills His promises, often in ways that defy human logic and possibility. As we hold onto faith like Abraham, let us be strengthened by the certainty that the same God who justified Abraham and raised Jesus from the dead is at work in our lives, calling us into a living, active relationship with Him, grounded in faith and marked by the fulfillment of His promises.

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