BOOK OF ROMANS CHAPTER 4
Lesson No. 20 THE ONLY PLAN OF REDEMPTION: SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH

“Therefore it 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 of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all…” —Romans 4:16—

As there are many religions in the world, there are as many plans of redemption [salvation] for man. Religion has confused man and made a big mockery of the truth. Martin Luther for one, a German Catholic priest, confused and unsure of life, opened the Word of God and there the Spirit of God revealed to him the folly of his religion, got convicted by it and converted to Christ. He nailed a 96-page thesis on the door of his parish in declaration that man is justified by faith alone. From Adam to the last man on earth, there is always only one plan of salvation and that is SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH. Romans 4 fully explained and revealed this truth.

MESSAGE

1. The life of Abraham revealed that salvation is by grace through faith (Rom. 4:1-5). All of what Abraham has done is not to earn his salvation but the evidence of his faith in Christ. What was established in the faith of Abraham?

1.1. That only by faith in Christ can one be made righteous (Rom. 4:3, 5).
1.2. That this faith is not only given to the Jews but to the Gentiles as well for Abraham believed God even before the rite of the circumcision (Rom. 4:9-12).
1.3. To be heirs and seed of Abraham is not by genealogy or the law but through the righteousness of faith (Rom. 4:13-17).
1.4. His faith in Christ made him strong over unbelief and uncertainties of life (Rom. 4:19-21).

2. The life of David also showed faith in Christ (Rom. 4:6-8). With all of David’s transgressions, sins and wrongdoings, he never wavered in his faith in God. He believed:

2.1. That the blessedness of man is based upon the imputed righteousness of Christ (Rom. 4:6).
2.2. That forgiveness comes not by works of man but by the atonement of Christ (Rom. 4:7-8).
2.3. He cried out to God for mercy and cleansing of his sins, believing that by the sacrifice of God’s Son, he can be wholly cleansed (Psalm. 51:1-7).

CONCLUSION

This is where our faith differs from others who call themselves “Christians” or even Bible believers. As the song says, “Our faith has found a resting place,” and that is in Jesus Christ our Lord. Grace, pure grace not because of our own merits or works but always and only upon Christ and what He has done for us. We will never be deserving. We can never able to repay God. But the only thing that He wants from us is to be OBEDIENT to His will and WALK in His path.