Sermon 6: Romans 4.1-15 (Continued)

  In the fourth chapter of the book of Romans we have faith in a concrete form.  The narrative of the lives of Abraham and Sarai in connection with the birth of Isaac furnishes a practical example of justification by faith.

  Works did not justify Abraham, but he believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  Abraham received the seal of circumcision.  Why?  To cause him to believe?  No, but because he had believed.  It was a seal of the righteousness, which he had by believing.  The promise to Abraham and to his seed was that he should be heir of the world.  This promised inheritance was to be for an "everlasting possession."  Genesis 17:8.  Therefore it was a covenant of righteousness, sealed by a seal of righteousness, and the inheritance was to be a righteous inheritance, which none but the righteous can gain.  2 Peter 3:13

  How can God give us righteousness when we are so sinful?  We cannot understand how nor do we need to inquire.  It is just as great a miracle for God to make an unrighteous man righteous as it was for Him to create the world.  If a man calls a thing, which is not as though it were, he tells a falsehood; but when God calls a thing, which is not as though it were, the very fact of His calling, it makes it so.  God not only makes our hearts righteous, when there is no righteousness there but He does more than that; He makes our hearts righteous, when there is nothing there but unrighteousness.

  A man is just as much an infidel who does not believe that God can speak righteousness into his heart as a man who, by the theory of evolution, does away with the Mosaic record of creation.  No limit can be put upon the power of God.  If there were a huge mountain, which was to set itself up against the power of God, He could take nothing and break that mountain all to pieces.

  "We brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise."  We get to be the children of God in the same way as Isaac was born--by believing, as Abraham and Sarai believed.  The promise is to him "that worketh not but believeth on Him, who justifieth the ungodly."

  There was much implied in the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac.  Through no other son could the promise of the inheritance come.  Christ could not come into the world except through Isaac.  Cut off Isaac and what hope of a Saviour?  None.  Abraham to all appearances would cut off all hope of his own salvation.