The Scrolls is a weekly Bible study written by pastors and other leaders at Central Bible Church, based on that week’s sermon topic. Use The Scrolls as a personal Bible study tool, for family devotions, and for small group discussions. You can read part of it below. The downloadable PDF also includes discussion questions, more in-depth commentary, end notes, and a kids’ page designed for families to study the topic together. This lesson goes with the sermon "Pleasing Faith."
Salvation in its entirety—including redemption, reconciliation, regeneration, forgiveness, justification, sanctification, and glorification—is obtained by faith alone and not at all by religiously doing what is morally right and humanly good (Eph 2:8-9). While it’s certainly better to do what is morally right rather than wrong and humanly good rather than bad, moral perfection is humanly impossible. After all, “nobody is perfect,” right? Fortunately, what human beings cannot do for themselves through works, God can do for them through faith.
About those who believe, Paul writes: “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life” (Tit 3:3-7).
More specifically, justification, that is, having a right relationship with God, comes by trusting Jesus rather than by working hard. This is the leading lesson learned from Abraham. Listen to what Paul writes about the patriarch:
“What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’
“Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness . . . The words ‘it was credited to him’ were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Ro 4:1-5, 23-25).
Salvation by grace through faith is not a New Testament doctrine only. It’s found in the Old Testament as well—in what some might think an unlikely story, the story of Cain and Abel. “Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast” (Ge 4:2b-5).
While Genesis says nothing about the brothers’ standing before God, Abel being righteous and Cain not, the writer of the book of Hebrews says this about Abel, who brought “a better offering” (Heb 11:4a): “By faith he was commended as righteous when God spoke well of his offerings” (v. 4b). About Abel’s offering, one commentator writes: “Cain’s offering was offered out of obligation without faith, whereas Abel’s sacrifice, while recognizing an obligation, was offered in faith. Thus the writer of Hebrews is stressing the fact that Abel’s obligation was discharged by faith (Heb. 11:4). It was not through the sacrifice that Abel obtained righteousness, but through faith that produced obedience. And he was declared righteous. God saw his sacrifice as an evidence of his faith” (J. Dwight Pentecost, A Faith that Endures,188). Put differently, Abel was right with God by faith, and his offering was a demonstration of his faith. Salvation has always been by grace, through faith, not through works.
Central Message of the Text:
The faith-life is the only life that pleases God, so believe in Jesus and live by faith.
Family Talk:
How would you describe faith to your kids? Faith is one of those things we mostly know and understand but have difficulty describing or defining so we just start rambling, “Faith is part trust, part belief, part confidence, part hope and all the way invisible. I don’t know how to describe it; you just have it. Go clean your room.” Nothing makes a Christian parent sound quirkier and that can potentially make our belief (and faith) in God unappealing. Young kids are looking for concrete answers to the abstract and that can be challenging. Thankfully, Hebrews 11:1 gives us a clear definition, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” This week our church begins a new series that will explore the nature of faith, and this means you’ll have an incredible opportunity to foster rich conversations with your kids. Take this time to share with them your faith journey and how God called you to believe in Jesus as your Savior. Tell them about struggles or hardships where your faith was on the line and you had a choice to believe God’s promises. Share with them about a time you were rewarded because of your faith even though your hope was never realized. Sharing these stories with your kids will not only help build a bridge for them as they begin to experience their own faith journey but challenge them to consider what they believe about God. The door will be wide open for conversations that will help build a foundation of faith for your kids. This is discipleship! We’re praying for you.