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
