<TITLE>08. Par 83-96</TITLE>L-83   But now, in Paul, in Romans, the Book of Romans, the 8th... the 4th chapter, 4:1 to 8. I won't read it all, but just read part of it.
And what shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, has found?
For if Abraham was justified... (You remember, we took the word last night, "justified.")... by works, he has whereof to glory; but not before God.
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness sake.
And to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

L-84 Now--now what Paul is referring to here, is what God seen in Abraham.

L-85   Now let's... if you... if we was not turning too much, we'd go back again to Genesis, the 15th chapter, and the 6th verse; 15:6, I believe is right. We'll begin at the 5th.
And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now towards the heavens, and tell the stars, if thou are able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

L-86   Now the two man that were talking on faith: Paul justified Abraham by what God saw in Abraham; but James justified Abraham by what man saw in--in Abraham.

L-87 See, now, James said, "He's justified by his works."

L-88 Paul said, "He's justified by faith."

L-89 But see, Abraham believed God, that's what God saw in him; he believed It. But then when he went to acting as though it was already done, that's what man saw in him.

L-90 And that's the same as it is to us, because our works express what faith we have. But if we're afraid to act on what we believe, then we do not believe It. See, you've got to believe It.

L-91   Abraham's works was expressing his faith he had in God's promise. Now, Abraham, remember, he was ninety years old... a hundred years old, and Sarah was ninety years old. And now they were well stricken in age, past child bearing, had been for many, many years. And they had lived together as husband and wife since they were young, and no children. But yet, God told him when he was seventy-five years old, and Sarah sixty-five, "You're going to have a baby." And he believed God's promise. He believed It. Now, see, he made ready everything for this baby. See, that's what God saw, when he believed God; and man saw what he did to express what he believed. (And that's the same thing that works tonight, the same way it is with us.) It has been revealed to him. See, it had been revealed to him, so he believed it so, and was acting as though it had already took place.

L-92 Now, let's just stop there, just a minute. Sometimes we misunderstand It. People gets emotion, and they try to work on emotion. That won't work.

L-93   Now, I'm like Brother Gerholtzer here, we're--we're old man, and we've been in the... this a long time, and we've seen the pros and cons, and--and everything. And praying for the sick, around the world, and seeing the--the disappointments of people, and seeing the--the "Hallelujahs" from every side. Then, all this, we learn by. Now, when as boys, and we started preaching this, Brother Gerholtzer, like we started to swim. The first thing, you know, it used to be that I'd get out, and I would... Brother Jack, I've had Brother Brown to walk me on the street, night after night, to try to get myself around to myself. I'd stand there, like a little kid, splashing the water, seeing visions, you know. And I'd just stay there till Brother Brown...

L-94   I remember one night, I never will forget it, up in San Jose or somewhere. He come to wake me up, I hadn't slept for several days and I didn't know I was talking to the man, but said that I told him. Started crying, said, "I'm going home." See?

L-95 "Why," he said, "you can't go home." There's a meeting going on down there.

L-96 I said, "Well, I'll be ready in a few minutes to go home. See, just beyond, beside myself, almost. See, I was a boy then.


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