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.
- How does Paul illustrate justification by faith from the OT?
- What is Justification by faith?
- Is Justification by Faith excusive to the Jews or the Gentiles?
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