Romans Chapter 4:3-6

To become a believer.

What you believe and then everything else changes in them from left place of many begin desire to do things for James point.

Of that grace, that faith that living faith should lead towards, but not out of the duty of trying to earn God's favor, but out of love for what is Artie done welcome to cross a bridge with David McGee. All the things we do as Christians go from a heart of gratitude for all the gods don't today.

Pastor David encouraged us to serve the Lord with a passion. As he continues in the book of Romans chapter 4, entitled to now were looking at Romans chapter 4 we finish with three lastly well we got worse. Three last regressions or we finish because we just really barely scratch the surface of verse three, but that's where we find ourselves were in Romans chapter 4 verse three says this for what does the Scripture say Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Talked about this word accounted is is literally an accounting term. In other words, God considered all his sins wiped away and declared him righteous.

Now what had Abraham done to deserve this righteousness man placed upon waltzes. He believed God so you have to go and do anything. Now he just believed God, and he was declared righteous.

Now the incredible thing you said okay what he believed God about well, it's pretty astounding will bring up Genesis chapter 15 that this is quoted from Genesis 15.

Five the Lord brought Abram outside beneath the life God told him.

Look up into the heavens and count the stars if you can. Your descendents will be like that too many to count. Verse six and Abram believed the Lord, the Lord declared him righteous because of his faith.

Now testing the limits of this promise is is pretty incredible and that your offspring will number more than the stars in the sky were incredibly promising even if you were, you know a teenager in your 20s, that's a pretty incredible promise. Let me remind you some open room talk about it a little more next week and the following week as we dig in further to Romans chapter 4. At this point this promise from God came forth.

Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah his wife was 90 now and I was young man I was like yeah okay hundred nine. Whatever. As I got older, I've come to appreciate more and more the incredible promise that God was given Abraham and Abraham believed in God's is because of your belief now count you righteous. So that's what Paul is pointing out here that is not through works that through belief and through grace that were safe.

Verse three asked a great question like it when at the way it opens us as for what does the Scripture say was the Bible say is a great question.

What is the Bible say about salvation. What is about to say about grace.

What does the Bible say about Holy Spirit what is the Bible say about the way we live our lives.

We believe here that the Bible is the final authority and have taught the pastors and lead them in such a way that when somebody comes and says hey why we do this the plot the bombings they will because the Bible says we should. Why don't we do this with the Bible says we should. This is the ultimate authority and know there's a saying in the chapter and verse somebody nears what that means and surmises hey you know you really ought to do this yada in a runaround sanctuary and cluck like a chicken and screen with black keno chicken with its head cut off or something that sounds interesting. What chapter and verse you get that from well I believe that all people who commit suicide or burn and inhale. That's interesting what chapter and verse do you get that from seaweed, passed on all sorts of beliefs that have nothing to do with this book that it's not commenting on learned a tough lesson in ministry and in life in the Bible silent about an issue we probably ought to be. Now some of you go well but isn't that a book that's written by man is not really let me help you with this. God used it to write the Bible but it is see if I was to pin up your summer. If I was to take this pen and write you a letter would you say the pen wrote you the letter now I'm the one the road to the letter.

I simply use the pen to write it. That's what God God is the one who wrote the Bible. He simply used men to communicate to bless understand some friend there is no way that men could've compiled this book in such a way as to so accurately predict the future is 1/2 is math pneumatically in possible. There's no way nobody is ever predict the future with such accuracy. So you have to understand it was God communicating through them to us. Here's what the Bible says Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12 as for the word of God is full of living power that is sharper than the sharpest knife cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are shows us where we heart where our heart is where lives are second Timothy chapter 316 and something to all Scripture say all Scripture, all Scripture say again, all Scripture says any part of the Scripture know it means all Scripture, reason I say that sometimes talks about a goat well you know we we don't really read that Old Testament Way, don't you know that's not really is not really for a meeting. You know it it's old it's athletic all the Old Testament had none doing anything friend you can even understand the new test. If you don't understand the Hebrew Scriptures. We need to have a knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures, so we understand the New Testament in this verse says all Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true in the make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do that phrase all Scripture is inspired in the Greek it's literally the is no stalls. What that means is God breathed the word of God is the breath of God. It is the words of God himself.

We value that and we take you know I don't know if you've noticed or not. Our services are little longer than some of the seriously why is that you know what that meant but most of you probably watch between 12 and 16 hours of television this week. Probably a lot of that was not Christian television going out on a limb here so like in our teaching. I'm gotta do 12 to 16 hours of television. Okay take a little bit and I cannot talk to people and and sometimes it I don't know if you've ever had the unit try to explain to somebody what it is we do here and NRC and a look as José William delivers a whole crowd of people. He given money when we need you and we were teaching about the pastors get what we teach the Bible. My questions always honey take what you know will teach couple versus here next week will teach couple versus somewhere next week will teach few verses from casino you not really teach in order to guide your teaching out of the word of God. There's a big difference. I've been blessed by topical service. Don't get me wrong, I have been blessed and God spoken to me through topical sermon. What I mean by topical sermons as the pastor decides on the topic and then he gathered some scriptures together to support the topic again. I've been blessed to those things. But it's not a good diet of the word of God. I love cotton candy but I'm I donated three times okay but as you go through the Bible verse by verse. That's the way it was given to us and that is the best way to study it in the best way to teach the lesson.

While in part, we do what we do because we always want to come back to this. What does the Bible say why I believe this wobbly that in a minute. What does the Bible say we need to keep that in mind, especially as we work it is.

We work it breaks not so were as we look at grace now.

Paul quotes in Old Testament 60 times in the book of Romans, and he he's talking about Abraham and and you know how Abraham, when was he declared righteous. When he believed not only offered Isaac when he believed Paul was going to be speaking when he believed he was counted righteous. See this tears away at spiritual product because the moment we believe were declared righteous. What the Bible say in here but we always think what we got to do this we gotta do that this that and the other and then of the Bible says when you believe amazing thing happens here on Sunday mornings within the service. Ask if anybody wants to be forgiven. Ask if anybody wants to follow me in this prayer was so blessed because week after week.

People do and they come forward and you happens in an instant, forgiven whale, what if they're not sorry enough. See that's that's the way we think and will they need to they need to get right before they can really come to the Lord. Some of the bottles is when you believe your forgiven you start acting right now when you start behaving when you start believing literally in the Greek now repentance we say will repentance straighten up and fly right literally in the Greek it means to change your mind the moment you change your mind. From what I'm trying to save yourself to allowing Jesus the Savior.

Your forgiven as hard-pressed to wrap her mind around it because were like men and I we gotta do this, we gotta do that we gotta earn it.

That leads to spiritual pride. You can earn it, and I would owe it to you and have nothing to do with grace. Thank you for listening to cross a bridge with David McGee will return to David's teaching in just a moment the tragedy in Benghazi.

The bombings in Boston in the current unrest in Egypt are all vivid accounts of terrorism each time an event like this occurs, it often causes us to respond with fear. But it doesn't have to because God knows your future and you can to with David McGee's teaching entitled know your future immune to terrorism. You'll come to understand the realities of radical Islam while rejoicing in God's promises for your future.

Don't allow fear to consume your life.

Instead, find hope with this month's special offer. Know your future be immune to terrorism know your future is available as a CD or DVD, and is our gift to you when you call today with a donation to cross the bridge ministries is because of your continued faithful support that were able to broadcast across the nation. With the life-changing word of God to help support cross a bridge and receive your CD or DVD copy of know your future call 877-458-5508 or go online to cross the bridge.com and now let's return to pastor David's verse by verse teaching in the book of Romans's look at verse four now to him who works the wages are not counted as grace, but that you earn your salvation God would tell you, salvation, God owes no person salvation you think you can go to church and forgiven for the lesson I forgot owes your salvation when you're on the wrong track never happened is and is not grace pastor you saying that we never have to do good works. That's not what I said to the starting place has to be grace grace once you come to that. Believe it begins a change of heart begins to change your life and indeed it begins to change your behavior but it doesn't start with a change in behavior starts with a change in believe so many people like well I would, I would be a Christian but I would have to not do this or not do that focuses on the wrong thing to become a believer. What you have to do believe in and everything else changes and then from that place of rest. Then you begin desiring to do things for the Lord, you begin the design surface just how it works are thrown completely out the window. It's just reminding us that were saved by grace, and that in this James points out that that grace, that faith that living faith should lead to works out of the duty of trying to earn God's favor, but out of love for what is Artie done. Life lesson here.

We should serve God with a grateful heart for what he is already done for us.

We should serve God with a grateful heart for what he is already done for us to get caught want to do this and got got bless me know a lot today. I read my Bible book that I got bless me if any of you guys have any trouble this afternoon. He is tempting to go to church is kindling you give me a bad day when I went to church needs both bless my game I went to Walmart and there's a lot of charges thinking God owes you. God owes no person never has and never will. Got your Ms. so clearly early on in ministry owes minister and then that's are going to play music and rest times and end up doing record and with insured in the church you have a little table had some of the recordings on the guy came up and I had this policy than anybody could get anything for free. You know that in one of not minister semi-overfunded CI came up and he was looking at Wanamaker's city on having money, they can be blessed so he walks off bouncing around like the Lord comes, lays a big bill on the table. The actual recordings is limited to changes.

Keep it. Be blessed. God said, I will no man nothing she does know a salvation. You can't earn it through good works. It's his love for us.

You talk about grace in this book of Romans reminding God's unmerited or unearned favor little academic, helps us hear God's riches at Christ's expense. God's riches at Christ's expense.

Let's remember all blessings come through grace they come through grace. God doesn't owe you a good day.

God doesn't owe you forgiveness. He doesn't know you any leasing and once you come to this knowledge of grace, and you understand and so change your life.

But I grew up in Ocala religious denominational church. I didn't understand grace in and say you need to be born again.

The moment you come to Jesus and asked him to forgive your sins are declared righteous. Now they say will you know basically know you do the best you can opener good outweighs your back some really in this book. This book points out that almost scales of good and bad once you do one bad thing.

The scales are forever to George that there's nothing you can do to tip him back except come to Jesus and asking to forgive then when you do that these things start doing these things out of out of love. I love teaching the Bible. I love studying the Bible.

I love doing worship. I love these and I don't do them out because I have to know that being that you know that some days are long. Sundays are not have long days. Some days are the do it out of out of the love and so we should do these things for the Lord out of love, not trying to earn his favor earn his blessed friend. If you're trying to do that you're trying to earn his favor earn his blessing to live a really frustrated Christian life. You know what is.

You'll never measure up, you will never measure up. The moment you have a bad day you think well at set up one I used to live like that, I read my Bible so much and prayed so much in every God loves me must say I had a bad day and I was like oh God doesn't love me, you can't. That's like living life like a yo-yo. Christianity can be based on works or you would be live in life like a but is based on grace so everyday that you wake up in the morning say father, thank you for your mercy is unknown, but I'm with you and my sins are forgiven.

Look at verse five is with the him and does not work but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness believes on him who justifies the ungodly, some of us are going to all cc their so we do something we believe we have to believe.

I greatly have to believe that you can't take any credit for that you cancel your will know about. I believe become for this. Let me as you graduated walking down the street one day and also think you know what I need to believe in God or did, perhaps friend has the Holy Spirit been chasing you for quite a while before you desire to go to a church before you desire to pray the prayer before you desire to fellowship with the Lord so that was the Holy Spirit wooing convincing convicting you if you will about your need for him to establish that relationship with them. It has to be grace. It can't be work are you living like a yo-yo friend I used to live like that as a Christian I will live like that anymore. When I came of this understanding of grace.

It totally changed my Christian walk.

I was no longer walking around miserable walkaround filled with joy that had been forgiven, even though I didn't deserve it, you can often talk to a Christian and you can tell they're basing their salvation on grace other patient on works and how you can tell sometimes you can tell really think about their face, because I met Christians who are trying to earn God's favor.

They were miserable because I work measure not and so they were measurable Christians and you could just look at the and then got Zumba you will think you you look like you got it all friend started talking to him about grace with a smile on your face that appeals to people we start on migration you know that your blessed and excommunicated it mentally.

When the easy simple ways I witness in the South week we ask each other how were doing and sometimes is a known as a finite sinner saved by grace and then get any better and I'm just given him a little bit of the gospel told him I was center. I told him I saved by grace.

It is not some elite club of do-gooders and that it's really really good that appeals to people you see, grace is what brings us into being God's children. I know a lot of people think we are all God's children are some some networks were all God's judgment of the Bible says Jesus when he was talking to somebody because your of your father the devil is very seeker friendly and so and so the reality is if you don't belong to God you not come to them through grace. Yes, you're not his job is willing to adopt you through grace once you come to be God's shelter. Grace here is your is your doctor what we were adopted because you are just such a good person.

No, because he loves you so much because he loves you so much. When did God bestow this righteousness on Abraham when he got everything worked out all his issues not when he believed when he believed is what the Bible says grace causes are standing to be God's children verse six just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works misunderstand something we we all messed up about the points that out and once we come to Jesus and said Jesus, forgive me. We began to live this new life. The Bible talks about second Corinthians chapter 5 verse 14 puts it like this. Whatever we do it is because Christ love controls us motivated by love. First Corinthians 13.2 Celtics since we believe that Christ died for everyone.

We also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. This is important to understand come to God through grace, you begin to doubt, to the old ways, old things the old habits the old ways of thinking. That's what supposed to happen. According to the Bible. It's interesting you want to raise himself you some of you are probably aware of this. What you do with the dog or hound who kills chickens because once they do that they really they have a tendency to do it more and more and so you have to do some initial self-aware, but this is actually what you do. Once a dog does that what you do is you take a dead chicken that he killed and you tied around his neck and you leave it there for a week or two, and pretty soon guess what I don't want anything to do. Would chickens anymore yesterday with thanks a lot for the great visual thinking that next summer my KFC and Sharon for a reason, because were supposed to to the old way and part of me really has to get set up with old ways and that's part of what the Lord doesn't line because after a while you know you if you try to live in the old life you will be walkaround you is that smell is not all bad you. You're still trying to carry around. Let it go.

Let it go. Can you imagine this is a reality. Somebody said no I don't want to be set free from this course and carcass on. Around quite comfortable with, but rather carried around will. That's what it looks like somebody doesn't doubt to the old wife. That's what it looks like when somebody rejects Jesus friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Jenna short, simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him.

Please pray this prayer with me out well right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you.

All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness.

Those who were sick, not the righteous.

So congratulations you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you if this was your first time praying that prayer with Pastor David we would love to hear from you. You can call us toll-free at 877-458-5508 to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ.

Also, if you been blessed by cross a bridge ministries would you consider supporting us with a financial gift when you call with your gift. Make sure to ask them about this month's special offer entitled know your future be immune to terrorism.

This insightful teaching will fill you with hope and also help you understand the truth about Islam donate today and will send you a CD or DVD copy right away as a way of saying thank you for your support. Our number is 877-458-5508 77458508 or go online to cross a bridge.com. While there, take a moment to sign up for David's free email devotional or browser large library of teacher again. Our website is cross a bridge.com. Thank you for listening and we hope will join us again next time. As we continue to cross the bridge