The faith that brought salvation is the same faith that will produce endurance.

We are living in a time where it is more convenient to give up than it is to press on. We have seen the generations before us fail in ignorance and cause others to fall right beside them. Our churches have produced followers of men instead of followers of God, and when the man has no answer for the trial, the follower loses hope. The great Apostles and prophets, even Christ himself always directed the glory towards God. Too many times people have gotten up from an altar looking for someone to be proud. Why? Because faith in God was never the foundation. Faith in the Lord will see you through! There is no alternative, no bypass route and no second opinion. We must find that Faith that Abraham had, that relationship that causes a man to never walk away or even stagger at the promises of God.

Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

…….Before this chapter, the writer had just completed the explanation of being justified before God, exposing that there is no ritual or tradition you can perform that will bring you to the righteousness of God.

Rom 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory (or, something to boast about); but not before God.

…….Every action that Abraham took and every task completed was a prior command from God. If there was One thing Abraham was great at, it was following instructions! Even in the times He doubted God Abraham still performed.

Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

…….It seems that the “goal” of every church attendee is to somehow attain righteousness. Honestly, is not being righteous or holy enough not one of the greatest attacks of the mind? It’s even been stripped of its value because so many think they can simply look at someone else and credit or discredit where they stand with God! All Abraham had to do was believe!!!!!!

Rom 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

…….I’ll be the first to admit, sometimes it’s a whole lot easier to work than it is to wait and believe God for direction or healing. I believe this is why many women of the home have greater faith these days, because the man has been trained to physically fix any problem that surfaces. In the middle of the mental debate of believing, the mind naturally directs to doing things that takes your focus to what can be physically done rather than relying on the Spirit. Abraham learned continuously that waiting on God would result much greater than trying to work something out with the hands, or to even try lying yourself out of a problem. Sometimes we just need to put our hands in our pockets and let God move!

Rom 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

Rom 4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

…….This is one area the church has been wrong in. It is not up to us to reckon someone not far enough in the Lord. When we doubt people’s walk with the Lord, we are trying to use an authority that was never given to man in the first place! If our focus is not on the heart of man and we are so easily distracted by peoples external shortcomings, it is our hearts that are not right!

Rom 4:8 (David said) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute (or label as) sin.

…….Literally speaking, blessed are those who when God looks on your life, all He sees is the blood of Christ! If it’s enough for God, it better be way more than enough for a man!

Rom 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

…….The question is asked, does the blessing of righteousness come to those who are following the letter of the law only? Or does it come to those also who know not the routines of the “righteous way”? If Jesus’ main purpose was to seek and save that which was lost, He was looking for a majority of people who have never known the way at all. Jesus came to, through salvation fix the problems of the current society and build a church that would now be focused on ALL mankind! While we have been raised and raise our children to be scared of those who are out of our path, Jesus’ eyes were set on the ones who had never even seen the path!

Rom 4:10 How was it then reckoned (calculated, supposed)? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

…….Many of us in the church are trying to credit an external working of what God intended to never be seen by any other person. You can’t publicly look at someone and notice they are circumcised. In the same manner, we can’t publicly look at someone and confirm that they are right with the Lord. God counts people righteous long before we have it all together, because if everyone was honest we would all stand together and admit that we still have flaws!

Rom 4:11 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:

Rom 4:12 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.

…….The point is here, Abraham received something that would never change his external appearance, because if circumcision was an external work, it would be too easy to play the part.

The Promise Realized Through Faith

Rom 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.

Rom 4:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

…….Gods promise (that Abraham would be the father of all nations) wasn’t given to Abraham because he figured out how to obey every rule, but because he loved the Lord and believed.

Rom 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

…….The law bring us a realization of sin, that’s all it does. The law doesn’t change the heart of man, only the love of God.

Rom 4:16 Therefore it (God’s righteousness) 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,

Rom 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Rom 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

Rom 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:

Rom 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Rom 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

…….Abraham staggered not at the promise of God. He knew that God had proved his promises time and time again. It was too easy to look back and remember what had already been accomplished, easier than it was to forget. Why do people give up so easy? Why do we doubt God? In the midst of all doubt God can simply prove himself to us once again when we believe.

When there is an internal debate on belief, we must find the presence of God! Abraham could have tried to obey God at the moment he was commanded to sacrifice his son. But, Abraham knew that if he was going to totally obey God he would have to find God’s presence, and God’s presence was on top of that mountain! The church has got to come to the point of trusting, waiting, believing and then working!