Religious versus Righteous

Scripture: Hebrews 11:8

C.I.: Do You Know Where Your “Faith” is Taking You?

Series on Romans... – Last week we saw a person is justified/made righteous – on the basis of faith.
Now if we are going to understand – what it means to have a “Faith that Changes Lives”– we need to understand Abraham!
Today's lesson is entitled, “Do You Know…” – what we shall see is that, “Faith determines our Direction; God Determines….”

I. The Place of “Faith” in the Life of the Believer

A. “Faith” Determines Our Direction ; God Determines Our Destination !

1. ( Heb. 11:8 ), “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place he was to receive for an
inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.”
a. Note: God didn't say, “Go 3 days due north, then turn west and go 31 days that way. Then turn…”
1) God wanted to see Abraham's level of trust – not his ability to read a map!
2) A valuable lesson re: Faith – “We may not always know where we will end up – but we trust
that God is going to get us there!

b. Jesus knew from the start – the direction His/our lives needs to take (relate story from Luke 2).
1) ( Lk. 2:49 ), “Did you not know that I had to be about My Father's business?” – For us too!!!

B. The Example of Abraham's Faith, (Romans 4)

1. Jews came out of a religious system - based on their ability to keep the Law, i.e., a works-based righteousness.
a. But Abraham, who lived before the Law was given - is an example of faith-based righteousness!
1) ( Rom. 4:1-3 ), “What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?
– For if Abraham was justified [made righteous] by works, he was something to boast about; but not
before God. – For what does the scripture say, ‘And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned….'”

b. Rom. 4:3 , is from Genesis 15 , where God made Abraham a most incredible promised.
1) ( Gen. 15:5-6 ), “God took him outside and said, ‘Now look toward the heavens, and count the
stars, if you are able to count them … So shall your descendants be.' – Then Abraham believed in the
Lord; - and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.”
2) In spite of his advanced age – and his wife's barrenness – Abraham trusted what God said.
3) It was on the basis of this trust – that God “reckoned” righteousness to him!
4) “Reckoned” is an accounting term = Since there is “none righteous, note even one” ( 3:10 ) –
God had to “credit His righteousness to Abraham's account”!


2. Five Characteristics of a “Faith that changes lives,” (vs. 17-21)
a. #1 – Trusts in the word of God
1) ( v. 17a ), “As it is written , ‘A father of many nations have I made you.'”
2) There are lots of choices for us – as to whom we will listen. – God is best, ( Rom. 10:17 ).
3) If faith is going to “change lives” (ours!) – it must be founded upon the word of God!!!

b. #2 – Trusts that God can do the impossible
1) ( v. 17b ), “…God who gives life to the dead, and calls into being that which does not exist.”
2) In context this is speaking of Abraham's body ( dead ) – his inability to father kids ( calls into… )
3) Anyone can say they “trust the Bible,” – but the proof is found in those who will obey it!!!
4) ( Heb. 3:18-19 ), “And to whom did He swear that they should not enter His rest, but to those who were
disobedient . – And so we see they were not able to enter because of unbelief .”
5) Can we have a K-12 Xns school here, reach 100 souls a year, hire a Youth minister, etc.?!

c. #3 – Trusts in the God of the word
1) “In hope against hope he believed, - in order that he might become a father of many nations, according
to that which had been spoken, ‘So shall your descendants be,'” ( v. 18 ).
2) “Hope against hope” = he was beyond all hope! -
3) But Abraham trusted in the one who told Him. – Not faith in a book – but the God of the book
4) Jesus warned the religious in His day, ( Jn. 5:39-40 ), “You search the scriptures, because you think
that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; - and you are unwilling to
come to Me, that you may have life.”

d. #4 – Trusts that things are not always as they seem
1) “And without becoming weak in faith – he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he
was about 100 years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb; yet with respect to the promise of God, he
did not waiver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,” ( vs. 19-20 ).
2) Scriptures are full of accounts of “things not being what they seem”; a boy defeating a giant,
a global flood tomorrow, prison slave who rules tomorrow, King born in a stable rule forever.
3) ILLUST.: New budget (impossible)?! –
4) ( Quote II Cor. 4:18 ), “For we do not look at the things which are seen, but the things that are not….”
5) Faith takes what is not seen - and makes it visible, ( Heb. 11:3 ), By faith we understand that the
worlds were prepared by the word of God, - so that what is seen was not made out of things that are
visible.”

e. #5 – Trusts Fully God will Act on Our Behalf
1) “And being fully assured that what God had promised, he was also able to perform,” ( v. 21 ).
2) Notice; his direction is “full assurance in what God had promised.”
3) The destination is left up to God “to perform.”

CONCLUSIONS:

1. Honestly, how many of us make our decisions on the basis of what the outcome may be – rather than on our faith in God??!

2. Now, don't you think it is time to change that?! (i.e., saying what needs to be said – instead of saying what others want to
hear – instead doing what needs to be done – instead of what others want to have done!!!)

3. Members: Make some life changing decisions; invite others to church, talk to friends about Jesus, teach a class, get involved!

4. Guests: Make some life changing decisions; (Review 5 Characteristics of a “Faith that Changes Lives”) – Mk. 16:15-16!