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Romans 4:2-3

Romans 4:2-3

“For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about–but not before God! For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

– Romans 4:2-3

Main Thought: There are many people in this day who mistakenly think there was a different way of salvation in the Old Testament than in the New Testament, believing that in the Old Testament men and women were saved by works and being obedient to the Law. Also, very sadly, most people throughout history have trusted that, in the end, it is their good works that will achieve a right standing with God, bringing them a right standing with God and eternal life. What Paul points out here is that if Abraham had somehow achieved justification, or a righteous standing with God, by his own works, then he could have boasted before men in the multitude of his good works, and the fact he had more good works than other men. However, what he is identifying in this chapter is that being justified before God does not come because of good works that we perform in the eyes of men and ourselves, but because of faith in God. The Jews of Jesus’ day boasted in the fact of being of the heritage or lineage of Abraham, and therefore being Abraham’s children, as if somehow being of his physical heritage merited something in God’s eyes (John 8:33). Jesus acknowledged they were physically of Abraham, but pointed out to them they were not of him spiritually, not loving the One whom God the Father had sent (John 8:42) and not doing the deeds of Abraham (John 8:39). Very many people in our culture think because they come from a Christian family, or because they are outwardly morally good, or because they have done good works, that they are in good standing with God. The reality is that justification, which is a righteous standing before God, comes only when someone has trusted by faith completely in the atoning death of Christ. Abraham and all the Old Testament saints believed in God and the promise of the coming Messiah who would atone for their sins (John 8:58). As New Testament believers, we look back now at the finished work of Christ on the cross and believe, just as Abraham, in Him and that His sacrifice for our sins justifies and makes us righteous before God. It is a false hope, and proud and presumptuous, to believe that somehow my good works are more satisfactory to God the Father than the shed blood of His Son. If you have trusted in Christ, and Christ alone, then you are justified before God and rejoice in that righteousness imputed by Christ. But if you are trusting in and boasting in your own works, then you are still in your sins and not justified before God. Call on Him today, trust in Him even now, and know that in believing in Him you will stand justified before God and have eternal life.
David Webber

David Webber

David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.

Faith Baptist Church: Longview, Texas
More from David Webber
Romans 4:2-3
Romans 4:2-3

“For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about–but not before God! For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” – Romans 4:2-3

John 11:25-27
John 11:25-27

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die–ever. Do you believe this?’ She (Martha) said to Him, ‘Yes Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, the One who comes into the world.” – John 11:25-27

John 8:23-24
John 8:23-24

“And He was saying to them, ‘You are from below, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am His, you will die in your sins.” – John 8:23-24

John 6:39-40
John 6:39-40

“Now this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” – John 6:39-40

John 2:18-21
John 2:18-21

“The Jews then said to Him, ‘What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It took forty-six years to build this sanctuary, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking about the sanctuary of His body.” – John 2:18-21

John 1:14
John 1:14

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14

Psalm 85:6
Psalm 85:6

“Will You not Yourself return to revive us, that your people may be glad in You?” – Psalm 85:6

Psalm 86:1 and 86:5
Psalm 86:1 and 86:5

“Incline your ear, O Yahweh, and answer me; For I am afflicted and needy…For You, Lord, are good, and by nature forgiving, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.” – Psalm 86:1 and 86:5

John 14:19
John 14:19

“After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me, because I live, you will live also.” – John 14:19

Romans 4:2-3

John 11:25-27

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die–ever. Do you believe this?’ She (Martha) said to Him, ‘Yes Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, the One who comes into the world.”

– John 11:25-27

Main Thought: This is one of the most familiar passages of Scripture in the Gospels, the account of the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead. These three verses are part of a conversation between Jesus and Martha prior to His arrival at the tomb. Prior to these verses, Jesus told Martha in John 11:23: “Your brother will rise again.” Martha, of course not knowing that Jesus was about to display His glory and power over death by raising Lazarus from the dead, reveals her faith by her statement in John 11:24: “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” What faith she reveals, having confidence in God resurrecting those who have believed in Him, even prior to the death and resurrection of Christ. Perhaps she heard of Christ’s teaching in John 5:21, when He said “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.” Or could she have heard Job 19:25-26 read in the synagogue, where Job proclaims “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God.” Her words reveal her faith in Christ, and her trust in the promises found in the Scriptures. The great truth He proclaims, that “I am the resurrection and the life”, reveals that He has authority over both spiritual death and physical death, that when we believe in Him and receive eternal life, we will in essence never die, going immediately into the presence of the Father and the Son upon leaving these mortal bodies. Christ’s resurrection following His crucifixion, and then three days and three nights in the tomb, displays and is a promise of His authority for us, that we will be raised in our glorified bodies when Christ returns in power and glory. Paul gloriously exclaims in 1 Corinthians 15:54 “Death is swallowed up in victory, O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” Christ has won the victory for us, bestowing on us eternal life that cannot be abrogated, and giving us victory over the grave through the demonstration of His own resurrection. Fear not, believer in Christ, for the One who is our Lord and Savior proclaims “I died, and behold I am alive forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” What great, almost inexpressible joy and comfort, to know that we have life everlasting through Christ, the One who lives forevermore and has all authority over death. Surely, everyone who knows Christ should give thanks today for He who is “the resurrection and the life.”
David Webber

David Webber

David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.

Faith Baptist Church: Longview, Texas
More from David Webber
Romans 4:2-3
Romans 4:2-3

“For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about–but not before God! For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” – Romans 4:2-3

John 11:25-27
John 11:25-27

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die–ever. Do you believe this?’ She (Martha) said to Him, ‘Yes Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, the One who comes into the world.” – John 11:25-27

John 8:23-24
John 8:23-24

“And He was saying to them, ‘You are from below, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am His, you will die in your sins.” – John 8:23-24

John 6:39-40
John 6:39-40

“Now this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” – John 6:39-40

John 2:18-21
John 2:18-21

“The Jews then said to Him, ‘What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It took forty-six years to build this sanctuary, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking about the sanctuary of His body.” – John 2:18-21

John 1:14
John 1:14

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14

Psalm 85:6
Psalm 85:6

“Will You not Yourself return to revive us, that your people may be glad in You?” – Psalm 85:6

Psalm 86:1 and 86:5
Psalm 86:1 and 86:5

“Incline your ear, O Yahweh, and answer me; For I am afflicted and needy…For You, Lord, are good, and by nature forgiving, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.” – Psalm 86:1 and 86:5

John 14:19
John 14:19

“After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me, because I live, you will live also.” – John 14:19

Romans 4:2-3

John 2:18-21

“The Jews then said to Him, ‘What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It took forty-six years to build this sanctuary, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking about the sanctuary of His body.”

– John 2:18-21

Main Thought: This conversation with the Jews followed immediately after Jesus had turned over the tables of the money changers and driven them out of the temple area. They questioned His authority, asking for a sign that would validate His authority in performing this cleansing of the temple. He informed them that if they destroyed this sanctuary, He would raise it in three days. It must have seemed to them that He was a madman since it took forty-six years to build Herod’s temple. However, the Jews and the disciples both missed His meaning, for He was not speaking of the physical temple in Jerusalem, but He was speaking of the temple or sanctuary of His body. He was speaking prophetically of when he would raise up his body once again to life. The importance of the resurrection of Christ from the dead cannot be overstated, for as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:17, if Christ was not raised from the dead, then our faith is in vain. However, the multiple appearances of Christ to His apostles, and eventually to over 500 of His followers, is overwhelming eyewitness historical evidence that Christ did rise from the dead and that we have a living hope of eternal life. Besides that, the new life we possess as believers in Jesus Christ is evidence of the resurrection and the fact that He overcame the grave and is at the Father’s right hand even now. Paul states in Ephesians 1:19-20 that the power, or might, by which we have been saved is no less than the power by which Christ himself was raised from the dead. Our faith is not just in a crucified Christ, but a crucified, risen, and living Christ who paid our sin debt and is reigning now in Heaven. While the scoffers and the unbelievers may reject the idea of a substitutionary atonement and a resurrected Lord, we know by faith as His people that He has fully paid our sin debt and will return again for us one day. May we give our thanks daily for our resurrected and living Savior.
David Webber

David Webber

David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.

Faith Baptist Church: Longview, Texas
More from David Webber
Romans 4:2-3
Romans 4:2-3

“For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about–but not before God! For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” – Romans 4:2-3

John 11:25-27
John 11:25-27

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die–ever. Do you believe this?’ She (Martha) said to Him, ‘Yes Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, the One who comes into the world.” – John 11:25-27

John 8:23-24
John 8:23-24

“And He was saying to them, ‘You are from below, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am His, you will die in your sins.” – John 8:23-24

John 6:39-40
John 6:39-40

“Now this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” – John 6:39-40

John 2:18-21
John 2:18-21

“The Jews then said to Him, ‘What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It took forty-six years to build this sanctuary, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking about the sanctuary of His body.” – John 2:18-21

John 1:14
John 1:14

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14

Psalm 85:6
Psalm 85:6

“Will You not Yourself return to revive us, that your people may be glad in You?” – Psalm 85:6

Psalm 86:1 and 86:5
Psalm 86:1 and 86:5

“Incline your ear, O Yahweh, and answer me; For I am afflicted and needy…For You, Lord, are good, and by nature forgiving, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.” – Psalm 86:1 and 86:5

John 14:19
John 14:19

“After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me, because I live, you will live also.” – John 14:19

Romans 4:2-3

Hebrews 11:24-26

“By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.”

– Hebrews 11:24-26

Main Thought: We all know very well the story of Moses, a child rescued from the Nile River by Pharoah’s daughter and raised among the royal family as her son. However, in time Moses discovered that he was not an Egyptian by birth, but was of the Hebrews. We are told here that Moses, rather than choosing to stay among the Egyptians with an accompanying life of riches and ease, chose instead by faith the pains and afflictions of God’s people. What a striking example of someone who walked by faith and believed in the only true God, and did not choose temporal ease and pleasures and remain among the pagan gods of the Egyptians. He understood by faith that the reward that would come to him was eternal, “greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt.” Like the Egyptians, most in our world are choosing the pleasures of this world, the kingdom of here and now, ignoring the eternal consequences of the sin and pleasure that is leading them down a wide path (Matt. 7:13) to destruction. There are many in Hebrews 11 who demonstrated this same walk of faith in the eternal God as Moses did, living as light, not darkness in a perverse world that disdained them because they walked with God and lived by faith before them. But Moses’ testimony, and all the rest of these Old Testament saints, is a testimony for all of us to not be “conformed to this world, but be transformed” (Rom. 12:2). The question we must ask ourselves is are we, as Moses, choosing to walk by faith with God, looking to our eternal reward, or are we instead choosing “Egypt,” valuing this world above Christ and the eternal reward He has prepared for all His children? It is a question worth asking, for the answer reveals whether or not we have faith in God or have a love first for this world. I pray that you and I will continue to choose reproaches in Christ above this world and culture, revealing that we truly “walk by faith, and not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).

David Webber

David Webber

David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.

Faith Baptist Church: Longview, Texas
More from David Webber
Romans 4:2-3
Romans 4:2-3

“For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about–but not before God! For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” – Romans 4:2-3

John 11:25-27
John 11:25-27

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die–ever. Do you believe this?’ She (Martha) said to Him, ‘Yes Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, the One who comes into the world.” – John 11:25-27

John 8:23-24
John 8:23-24

“And He was saying to them, ‘You are from below, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am His, you will die in your sins.” – John 8:23-24

John 6:39-40
John 6:39-40

“Now this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” – John 6:39-40

John 2:18-21
John 2:18-21

“The Jews then said to Him, ‘What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It took forty-six years to build this sanctuary, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking about the sanctuary of His body.” – John 2:18-21

John 1:14
John 1:14

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14

Psalm 85:6
Psalm 85:6

“Will You not Yourself return to revive us, that your people may be glad in You?” – Psalm 85:6

Psalm 86:1 and 86:5
Psalm 86:1 and 86:5

“Incline your ear, O Yahweh, and answer me; For I am afflicted and needy…For You, Lord, are good, and by nature forgiving, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.” – Psalm 86:1 and 86:5

John 14:19
John 14:19

“After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me, because I live, you will live also.” – John 14:19