Romans 4 Lesson

Sooner or later we all realize that we are not strong enough to make it through life on our own.

For some, that realization comes early in life.  

For others, much later.  

And sadly, for others, that realization will only come on Judgment Day.  

NO ATHEISTS IN FOXHOLES

Have you ever heard of the expression, “There are no atheists in foxholes?”  

That expression points out how many people seem to, “find religion,” during the most difficult times of their lives.  

It is during these times of adversity that we often reexamine our priorities and ask ourselves if we need to make any changes.  

Our skills and hard work can only take us so far in life.   There will come a time when our abilities and determination are not enough.   God uses these times to wake us up to just how dependent on Him we are.  

SAVED THROUGH FAITH BY GRACE

The Apostle Paul wrote:  

• “Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.  But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered.   Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.” – Romans 4:4-8.

If anyone thinks that their works alone will save them, they are not paying attention to what the Bible says.

The truth is that none of us are worthy of going to Heaven.   It is only through God’s grace and the precious blood of Jesus that we have redemption with God the Father.  

Consider the following two scriptures:

1. What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written: “There is no righteous person, not even one; there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks out God; they have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, there is not even one.   Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving, the venom of asps is under their lips; their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in their paths, and they have not known the way of peace.   There is no fear of God before their eyes.” - Romans 3:9-19,
2. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9.

EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO WERE BLESSED BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH

There are several occurrences in the Bible where people are told by Jesus that because of their faith, they will be blessed.  Below, we have listed five such scriptures:

1. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.” - Mark 5:34,
2. And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.” - Luke 17:19,
3. And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road. - Mark 10:52,
4. But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well. - Mathew 9:22,
5. And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” – Luke 18:42.

FIVE MATTERS OF SALVATION

Different denominations have differing opinions about what is necessary to go to Heaven.  

In the end, the only thing that matters is what God says on the subject.

Listed below are five things that the Bible teaches us that are necessary for salvation along with the corresponding scriptures.  

1. Believe in Jesus.  “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” –  Acts 16:31, 
2. Confess our belief in Him.  “For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” –  Romans 10:10, 
3. Repent (turn away from) of our sins.  “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” –  Luke 13:3, 
4. Be baptized.  “ Baptism  now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ .” –  1 Peter 3:21  and “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” –  Mark 16:16, 
5. Obey God’s commandments.  “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”  –  Mathew 7:21. 

CONCLUSION

We cannot work our way to Heaven.

If it were not for the grace of God, we would all perish!

Sometimes, Satan tricks us into thinking that we can make it through life without God. But eventually, when adversity strikes, we will realize just how dependent we are on God.

We will end today’s lesson with the following two scriptures:

1. “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” - Hebrews 11:6,
2. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” - John 3:16.