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Sacraments Rev. Scott Strickman Download

Sermon Outline

Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: FWPSM

Romans 4:1-17 (ESV)
1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

Sermon Outline
God has given us signs and seals of the covenant to show us grace, assure us and nurture us.

1. Covenant

v13 “for the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world…”
v6, 9 “blessing”
v16 “that is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring…” (v4 “gift”)

2. Sign

v11 “he received the sign of circumcision… the righteousness he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised”
v10 “it was not after, but before he was circumcised”
v12 “who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith”

3. Seal

v11 “as a seal”
v11-12 “the purpose…”
v16 “the promise… guaranteed to all his offspring”
v5 “believes in him who justifies the ungodly”

Prayer of Confession
Our Father, who justifies the ungodly: we acknowledge there is nothing we can do to earn your favor. We admit we have broken our covenant relationship with you through unbelief and sinful actions. You would be perfectly just to give us what we deserve. We thank you for the grace of Jesus Christ, through whom you give us what we don’t deserve. We marvel at your faithfulness to bring the long-promised blessing to us, and we turn to you today, renewing our faith, thankful for the forgiveness of sins and life with you. Amen.

Questions for Reflection

What is pictured/portrayed in baptism? What are we meant to see?
What is pictured/portrayed in the Lord’s Supper? What are we meant to see?
As signs, how do these two sacraments point us to Jesus?
What value is there in being baptized and partaking regularly in the Lord’s Supper?
Why is it important to remember God’s promises? How do the sacraments help us to trust the promises of God?
What are similarities and differences between circumcision and baptism? Between the Passover and the Lord’s Supper?
How are the sacraments means to assure us God is trustworthy? How are they means to assure us we are included in God’s plan of grace?
What are ways we might misuse the sacraments? What misunderstandings are we prone to?