AM June 27th Rom 4

June 27th Romans, 4

1: What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2: For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3: For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4: Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6: Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7: Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8: Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. 9: Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10: How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11: And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

What can we learn from Abrahams life (who is the father of the Jews) We learn that if Abraham was justified by his own effort then he would have something to be proud about, However not before God. The Scripture states that Abraham believed God and God counted his faith as righteousness. If a man works hard then his reward is a debt owed to him and it is his wages and it cannot be by grace. But to the man that does not work for Gods blessing but believes in the God who declares righteous the unrighteous. His faith is counted by God as righteousness. David the king described the blessedness of the man who God imputes righteousness without human effort. When he said, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Now does this blessing only come to the Jew? (The circumcised) Or is it also for Gentile? (The uncircumcised) It wasn’t circumcision that made Abraham righteous it was faith. Because Abraham was reckoned righteous before he was circumcised. Circumcision was latter received as an outward sign to Abraham of his faith. Abraham is the father of all gentile believers in God even if they are not circumcised. Abraham is the father of circumcision to those who are not circumcised but who walk in his steps in the same faith in God that Abraham had when he was uncircumcised.

Steve