Faith And Works

FAITH AND WORKS
ROMANS 4:1-7

INTRODUCTION:
          A.    Much confusion in today’s world
                 1.    We tend to extremes:  (Lipscomb stated, “Like a pendulum of a clock”)
                 2.    “Salvation by works” argument
                 3.    “Faith only” argument
         B.    True salvation is in understanding the nature of faith and types of works
         C.    Our study:  “Faith and Works”

I.       THE NECESSITY OF FAITH:
          A.    To please God; Hebrews 11:6
          B.    To obtain justification; Romans 5:1
          C.    Necessary for salvation; John 3:16
          D.    To gain the power of God; Romans 1:16
          E.    To living the Christian life; Galatians 2:20

II.     THE NATURE OF FAITH:
         A.    Not a “leap into a religious darkness and emotional subjectivism”
         B.    The nature of faith; Hebrews 11:1
         C.    Faith is belief, a human response; Romans 10:9-10
               1.    A response is called a work; John 6:29
               2.    The human heart (mind) responding to what God has done; Matthew 7:21
        D.    Examples of faith responding:
               1.    Noah; Hebrews 11:7
               2.    Abraham; Hebrews 11:8
               3.    Israel at Jericho; Hebrews 11:30; Joshua 6:2-5

III.    NAMING THE WORKS:
        A.    In the New Testament the term “works” is used in three senses:
               1.    Works of the Law of Moses; Romans 3:19-20; 4:1-11
               2.    Works of human merit; Titus 3:5; II Timothy 1:9
               3.    Works of obedience; faith in action
                      a.    Human activity as commanded by the Lord; Acts 10:34-35
                      b.    Faith is human activity; John 9:29
                      c.    Paul’s conclusion emphasizes “the obedience of faith”
       B.    Justification of the Roman brethren illustrated; Romans 5:1; 6:17-18
       C.    Did Paul (Romans 4) and James (James 2) contradict each other?
                1.    Paul “not by works”; James “by works”    
                2.    The case of Abraham; Genesis 15:6; James 2:21
                3.    This is the “works of faith” or “faith working”; Galatians 5:6

CONCLUSION:
        A.    God’s grace makes obedience possible; Titus 2:11-12
        B.    We are saved by grace through faith; Ephesians 2:8-9
        C.    God will judge us on the basis of works, or what we have done; Romans 2:5-11