Righteousness by Faith

Intro

I. What does it mean to be righteous?

A. Is righteousness something that God asks us to be?

B. How do we have this experience of righteousness?

II. What does the Bible say about righteousness?

A. Unrighteous will not inherit kingdom – 1 Cor. 6:9

B. Righteousness possible only via faith – Rom. 9:30

C. What is this essential righteousness by faith & how do we have it?

D. Look at three examples of those who had

Message

I. Abraham’s experience

A. Abraham believed – simple – Rom. 4:3

1. Abraham believed when God said circumcise

a. God promised to make a covenant – Gen. 17:1, 2

b. Abraham had a part to play – Gen. 17:10, 11

c. Did immediately – Gen. 17:23

2. Abraham believed when God said sacrifice Isaac

a. God spoke to Abraham that night – Gen. 22:1, 2

b. Rose early & left – Gen. 22:3

c. Abraham new the sign – Gen. 22:4

d. Abraham obeyed fully – Gen. 22:9, 10

e. God provided at the last minute – Gen. 22:11-13

3. Abraham believed when God said he would have a son

a. Against hope, believed in hope – Rom. 4:18

b. Staggered not at the promise of God – Rom. 4:20

c. What he had promised able to perform – Rom. 4:21

d. Teaches us how to have righteousness by faith – Rom. 4:23, 24

4. Abraham became father of all who believe – Rom. 4:11

II. Noah’s experience

A. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord – Gen. 6:8

1. Noah walked w/God – Gen. 6:9

2. Time of great wickedness – Gen. 6:5, 6

B. God gave Noah specific directions

1. Make an ark – Gen. 6:13, 14

2. Exact dimensions – Gen. 6:15

3. One window & door – Gen. 6:16

4. Noah obeyed God’s instructions totally – Gen. 6:22

C. Noah became heir of righteousness by faith – Heb. 11:7

III. Our experience – righteousness by faith or faith w/o righteousness?

A. We wait for the hope of the righteousness by faith – Gal. 5:5

1. Comes when our faith works – Gal. 5:6

2. Working faith keeps commandments – 1 Cor. 7:19

B. Righteousness by faith = obedience by faith – Rom. 16:26