Paul does not say that our faith makes us righteous, but that “faith is accounted for righteousness”—which is to say that God, seeing our faith, credits our account to wipe out our insolvency—freeing us of debt—God’s grace undoing our unrighteousness. For historic purposes, he wanted to include in his picture certain characters well known in the town. Faith means trusting Jesus to be your advocate in court, to plead His shed blood in your case before the bench of God’s justice. Who can boast of personal accomplishment in the presence of the creator of the universe? Even though God had promised him heirs like the stars of the sky in number (Genesis 15:1-6), Abraham took matters in his own hands by taking Hagar as his mistress so that he might have a son (Genesis 16). Is faith simply another form of works-righteousness? He mercilessly tortured, raped, and murdered many young women. No person can stand in God’s presence claiming to have rendered satisfactory service, so God has no moral obligation to provide compensation for services rendered. When you compare humans to humans, Abraham was a good guy. Romans 15. While Abraham was relatively good when you compare humans with humans, in God’s sight we all have sinned and fall short of His glory. Romans 5:12 - Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread... - Verse-by-Verse Commentary Hi, ... as usually explained, means nothing else. He spends eternity in the unspeakable joy of heaven. The Jewish Christians could claim to be the seed of Abraham by bloodline, but all Christians can claim to be Abraham’s spiritual descendants. Even a cursory reading of the Old Testament will show that, prior to the giving of the law at Sinai, there was a good deal of sin—and that God held people accountable for those sins. Having illustrated from Abraham’s experience as recorded in Scripture that God justifies by faith alone, not by works, Paul proceeds to apply it to every sinner who will believe in Christ: “Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. A faithful Catholic nun spends her life working in a slum in a poor country, feeding the poor, ministering to the sick and dying, and caring for the orphans. So when Abraham believed in the Lord, he believed the specific promise that a Savior for all nations would come forth from his descendants. Their vehicle was intercepted by the Senderos, and they feared for their lives (with just cause). Paul goes back to the theme of boasting (3:27), to argue: “What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 1What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh? For a Jew, a quote from the writings of Moses had great theological weight, especially relating to Abraham, who was seen as the father of the Jewish nation. SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public domain (no copyright) modern English translation of the Holy Bible. Thus for your own salvation, for your being able to resist the winds of false doctrine blowing in our day, and for your being able to present the gospel clearly to those who are trusting in their good works to save them, you must be clear on this truth: God graciously justifies the ungodly sinner who believes in Jesus Christ. He came to the studio the next day, but the artist sent him away because he had washed his face, combed his hair, and put on a suit of clean clothes. Paul not only cites it here, but also in Galatians 3:6, where he argues against the Judaizers, who said that we must add our works to faith in order to be saved. ), which the WEB has updated. It’s absolutely essential for you to understand the doctrine that Paul sets forth in Romans 4:1-5, that we are justified (declared righteous) by faith alone, apart from any works. No, he owes you the money. Verses 17-22 explain the nature of Abraham’s faith. It would feed our pride. 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but u not before God. Romans 4-5 English Standard Version (ESV) Abraham Justified by Faith. 5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we [] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. 210-211): In verses 1-8, Paul expands on and illustrates with Abraham and David the principle of 3:27-28, that we are justified by faith, not by our works, and thus we have no grounds for boasting. As noted above, Jews considered Abraham to be justified by works. Come in your disorder. Is it fair (just) for God to forgive an evil murderer who trusts in Christ, but to condemn a loving person who didn’t trust Christ? 4 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, t our forefather according to the flesh? You do not understand God’s grace. “for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience“ (Greek: parabasis—transgression) (v. 15b). The verb, elogisthe, is an accountant’s word. • and the fact that righteousness is possible only through faith (3:21-31). Jewish people are descended from Abraham according to the flesh. But when you bring God into the picture, Abraham’s boast vanishes.” It’s as if one bug was bragging to another bug, “I’m taller than you are!” just before a human comes along and squashes both of them. Come to Jesus, crucified for sinners! The employer has enjoyed the benefit of the employee’s service, and is under obligation to compensate the employee. Romans 8:5-8 The evil of being carnally minded, and the good of being. The best news in the world is, God graciously justifies the ungodly sinner who does not work for salvation, but rather believes in Jesus Christ! The ASV, which is also in the public domain due to expired copyrights, was a very good translation, but included many archaic words (hast, shineth, etc. The apostle Paul was unreservedly committed to Christ and to the ministry of the gospel. Come filthy, naked, and dirty. She writes: “Several years ago in Peru, during the insurgence of the Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path), a Wycliffe couple was travelling to show the film in a village. • the relationship of Jews to the law (2:17 – 3-8); These faithful acts seem to give Abraham cause for boasting, but Abraham’s deeds were not always faithful. Both are beneficiaries of a generous gift. (Favor is literally grace.) ), “For unless you first of all grasp what your relationship to God is, and the nature of h i s judgment concerning you, you have neither a foundation on which to establish your salvation nor one on which to build piety toward God.” But God will not be a debtor to anyone. He explained (ibid. If it were, verse 5 would be saying the opposite of what Paul is arguing! My aim today is that all of you will understand this crucial doctrine that is at the core of the gospel and that you will join Spurgeon in worshipful wonder that God has justified you. If he doesn’t pay, you can take him to court to make him pay. See also Genesis 17:15-21; 18:11-14). But you trust God’s promise that “while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,). Romans 4 Commentary, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, as set of 17 volumes on the New Testament, the result of Barclay's dedicated work Some commentators argue that the phrase, “according to the flesh,” should not modify “forefather,” but rather, “has found.” Thus Paul would be asking whether Abraham found some way, according to the flesh apart from God’s grace, to be justified. If justification were based on how righteous we were in actual conduct, then we could never be declared perfectly righteous in this life, because we always have some indwelling sin in us. John Calvin thought that it is mentioned here, long after Abraham was first justified, to prove that justification does not just begin by faith, only to be perfected later by works. This video is about 11-15-20. Paul was also known as Saul. He thus reveals the broad scope of God’s relationship with humans. Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2010, All Rights Reserved. It says that the Lord credited Abraham’s account to give him the status of righteousness just as a generous father might cross out a wayward son’s debt to give him the status of solvency. Since Adam, humans chose to live sinful and selfish lives. Who can boast of personal holiness in the presence of God’s holiness? The key personalities in the book of Romans are the … Paul’s understanding of grace flies in the face of conventional Jewish theology, which sees faithful observance of Torah law as analogous to a faithful employee’s service (Moo, 263). As wonderful a gift as God's merciful forgiveness is, merely being forgiven through Christ's blood is not sufficient for salvation. Paul is still hammering at the religious Jew (or any other religious person) who thinks that he qualifies for heaven because of his religion and good works. The name Paul means little. The word “grace” makes it clear that it is not. It was when Martin Luther finally understood this truth that he was saved. Christ’s substitutionary death paid the just penalty for the sins of those who will trust in Him (3:25). That would give some sort of merit to faith, which cannot pay the debt of our sin. The Search OF the Savior: Why Jesus Came, Part 1 (Luke 19:1-10), Bible Storying Series - Teaching The Story Of God Chronologically, Bible Teaching Ideas: The Ten Commandments And Ten Fingers. Thus many Jews assumed that Abraham was right with God, at least in part, because of his life of obedience. Faith means taking God at His word when He promises to justify the one who has faith in Jesus (3:26). Romans 4. So the artist found the man and told him that he would pay him well if he would come down to the studio so that he could paint him. If God justifies the ungodly and you’re ungodly, there’s hope for you! Faith means taking the gift of Christ’s full payment for your sins, much as you would thankfully receive a check from a wealthy man who offered to pay a large fine that you couldn’t afford to pay. Instead of killing them, however, the terrorists decided to seize their equipment, including the film projec… The Book of Romans tells how God can save the whole person: body, soul and spirit. Romans 5:6-8 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly… Joshua 24:2 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. 13 Let every person p be subject to the governing authorities. But looking at the last 2,000 years there is not much reason to expect that thing, even … See how this Scripture accepts the charge, and plainly states it! He/she has no currency to purchase salvation, but is wholly dependent on God to provide it as a gift. Paul first demonstrates this truth in the life of Abraham (4:1-3). We might imagine that verse 5 reverses verse 4—that we can earn righteousness by faith if not by works—that our faith imposes an obligation on God that our works failed to achieve. It’s an accounting term that means that God credited to Abraham a righteousness that did not inherently belong to him (Moo, p. 262). He explained (ibid. So why does Moses mention in Genesis 15:6 that Abraham believed God and that God reckoned it to him as righteousness? “As it is written, ‘I have made you a father of many nations‘” (Greek: ethnon—can be translated “nations” or “Gentiles”) (v. 17a). “For the promise to Abraham and to his seed that he should be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith“ (v. 13). The idea is that of “necessary but not sufficient.” Our faith is necessary for salvation, but not sufficient to effect it. “But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness” (v. 5). ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’” (4:3, citing Gen. 15:6). Is it right or wrong to join with Roman Catholics in proclaiming our common faith in Christ when we differ over justification by faith alone? Book of Romans Explained. 3:8). Thus it is not by accident that it always has been under fire. But that was not God’s way. 17As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.”This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were. Then he illustrates it negatively by a common example (4:4) and states it positively in rather shocking language (4:5). First (4:4) Paul gives a negative example from everyday life that we can easily understand. Abraham Justified by Faith. Neither Abraham nor the son could claim credit for their status. Surely, there must be a copier’s error in the text! As we said before, Abraham did show the world of his great faith by his outward circumcision. Paul’s “what then” links chapter 4 to what Paul has been saying in the first three chapters where Paul established: • the reality of human guilt (1:18-32); It brings to light not our worthiness, but our unworthiness. 1 Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. If we could earn salvation, the cross would be unnecessary. If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. God saves those who come acknowledging their need and trusting “him who justifies the ungodly.”. If you work to earn justification, then God owes you something. We can be saved only if God chooses to save us. He knows that he deserves eternal torment in hell. Saul means asked and this was the name he was using when he was persecuting the Christians. Rather, faith means not doing anything ourselves to earn salvation, but rather trusting what Christ did for us on the cross. The Book of Romans is a four-part explanation of the Gospel message written by Paul to the Church in Rome. Rather, you believe God’s promise to declare righteous any sinner who trusts in Jesus and His shed blood as the propitiation for his sins (3:25). What is the best of human righteousness when you compare it to God’s absolute righteousness? God has convicted him of his terrible sins, so that he despairs about dying and facing God. Many early Jewish writings put Abraham on a pedestal far higher than the way the Bible portrays him. ... You thought, did you not, that salvation was for the good, that God’s grace was for the pure and holy, who are free from sin? Paul is referring to Abraham as the Jewish forefather by lineage; but there may also be the hint that fleshly descent from Abraham is insufficient. No political volunteer can demand to visit the Oval Office. “For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace” (Greek: charin—from charis) (v. 16a). The book of Romans is a Pauline Epistle (letter from Paul). IX (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1954), Luther, Martin, Commentary on Romans, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1976), Moo, Douglas, The New International Commentary on the New Testament: Romans (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1996), Morris, Leon, The Epistle to the Romans (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdman’s Publishing Co, 1988), Mounce, Robert H., The New American Commentary: Romans, (Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), Myers, Allen C. Under grace you do not work for justification. Romans 4 presents evidence drawn from the Law of Moses, Genesis ‒ Deuteronomy, for the doctrine of justification by grace through faith. But the chaplain shares that if he will believe in Jesus Christ, who died for the ungodly, God will forgive all his sins and credit Christ’s righteousness to his account. • First, God “who gives life to the dead.” This recalls Abraham and Sarah, who were as good as dead, but who, by the grace of God, gave birth to descendants “as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore” (Hebrews 11:12. 3 For what does the Scripture say? Romans chapter 1 KJV (King James Version) 1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,. 2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. Abraham knew that through his seed, blessing would come to all the families of the earth (12:3). (ed. It also brings to mind God’s promise to Abram that he would be the father of a great nation (Genesis 12:2)—at a time when Abram had no children. If the president decides to recognize a citizen’s contribution, the initiative is the president’s and the audience with the president is a gift. IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. So Paul is attacking the popular Jewish views about Abraham in his day, saying, “He couldn’t have been justified by his works.” Then he supports his argument with Scripture: “For what does the Scripture say? You acknowledge that the wages of your sin is death (Rom. The word credited (Greek = logidzomai) is used 40 times in the New Testament, 34 times by Paul, 19 times in Romans, and 11 times in this chapter, so it is a key word. In verse 10, Paul states, "We shall be saved by His life." The instant we believe in Jesus, God bangs the gavel and declares, “Not guilty!” But He not only removes our sin and guilt. ), “For unless you first of all grasp what your relationship to God is, and the nature of his judgment concerning you, you have neither a foundation on which to establish your salvation nor one on which to build piety toward God.” In other words, this truth is foundational for your entire Christian life. On payday, a worker need not beg for a paycheck, but can demand payment for services rendered. But the principle of grace is different (4:5). • the fact that none is righteous (3:9-20); Grace abounds so that it “might reign” over abundant trespasses (Romans 5:21). The Prayer of Manasseh (8), states that God did not appoint repentance for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, “who were righteous and did not sin against Thee.” (What Bible were they reading?) 3 For what does the Scripture say? Before we begin in the book of Romans we need to look at the penman, Paul. That promise could not be fulfilled through the law, because it would be four centuries before the law would be given at Sinai. When you work and your boss pays you, he isn’t doing you a favor. God justifies us as a gift through faith (3:24). It has fallen into your mind that, if you were excellent, then God would reward you; and you have thought that because you are not worthy, therefore there could be no way of your enjoying His favor. He proves this by showing that Abraham was justified before he was circumcised. OVERVIEW Paul's opening to this letter to the church in Rome follows standard letter-writing conventions of the day with certain modifications. Martin Luther said that Abraham was justified by faith long before this time, but that it is first recorded in this context in a connection where the Savior is definitely involved in order that none might venture to dissociate justification from the Savior (cited by H. C. Leupold, Exposition of Genesis [Baker], 1:479). I have heard that men that hate the doctrines of the cross bring it as a charge against God, that He saves wicked men and receives to Himself the vilest of the vile. The only fulfillment of the promise that Abraham was allowed to witness was the birth of Isaac—his son and heir. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “(Abraham) who is the father of us all” (v. 16b). 1 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh? Faith is the hand that receives the free gift of right standing with God apart from our works. Doesn’t this damage one’s self-esteem. What did he discover about being made right with God? Romans 4:2 "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath [whereof] to glory; but not before God." 4 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? He brings up Abraham because the Jews revered him as the father of their nation and their faith. Create. Thus God can justify uncircumcised Gentiles who follow the faith of Abraham. In doing so, Paul was challenging the Judaism’s central premise—that obedience to the law determined one’s relationship to God (MacArthur). Rather, he had no grounds for boasting at all. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness” (4:4-5). It’s a short step from there to believing that any person who follows Abraham’s example of obeying God will be accepted by God. God graciously justifies the ungodly sinner who does not work for salvation, but believes in Jesus Christ. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. If this were not so, why would God have sent Jesus to die on the cross? In short, his self-construal was—and always will be—since the Damascus road anyway, one who was a free and willing slaveof the Lord Jesus Christ. (ed. An analogy: No citizen has the right to demand an audience with the president. In other words, Paul does not mean that Abraham could have boasted before people, but not before God. For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God” (4:1-2). Just as the believer cannot storm the gates of heaven demanding admittance on the basis of righteous deeds, neither can he/she demand admittance on the basis of belief. For q there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. He also refers to Genesis 17:5, where God promised that Abraham would be the father of many nations (4:17), and concludes that descent from Abraham includes all “of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all” (4:16). Verses 9-16 develop the theme of 3:29-30, that righteousness by faith applies equally to Jews and Gentiles. 5:21). 4 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? Now, to demonstrate that what he is saying is no innovation, Paul uses Abraham, the great forefather of Judaism, as an example of what he is saying. Their families mourn the tragic loss of their daughters. Step-by-step explainers for how romance works in Cyberpunk 2077 with a full list of male romance options and female romance options explained. You do not understand His grace. That’s unthinkable!”. 4-5). Christians make an outward show of their decision to follow Jesus by being baptized. Let me draw out four implications of this astounding truth: Paul clearly spells it out, “to the one who does not work….” If you try to blend your works with God’s grace, you muddy the waters of pure grace. If you think that maybe you should become a missionary or go live and work in a slum for years, depriving yourself of the normal comforts of life, so that God will overlook your sins on judgment day, you’re still working. If it is true that Abraham did not earn his righteousness by his deeds, it is also true that he did not earn it by his belief. There is debate among scholars as to whether Paul was referring specifically to Abraham or whether he meant to contrast a notoriously sinful person with the relatively good Abraham. This privilege of an immediate transformation will belong to the believers who shall be alive at … Especially noteworthy was his obedience of the command to sacrifice Isaac, his only son (Genesis 22:1-14). In Romans 4:5, Paul makes one of the most outrageous claims in all Scripture: “But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.” What a staggering verse! So if you see yourself as a basically good person, you can’t be justified. X (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2002), Copyright 2005, 2011, Richard Niell Donovan, All Rights Reserved | © 1997-2020 Richard Niell Donovan. 2 Therefore you have f no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. Spurgeon ended that chapter in All of Grace by telling a story about an artist in the years before photography who painted a picture of a part of the city where he lived. 29 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982), Craddock, Fred B.; Hayes, John H.; Holladay, Carl R.; and Tucker, Gene M., Preaching Through the Christian Year, A (Valley Forge: Trinity Press International, 1992), Dunn, James D. G., Word Biblical Commentary: Romans 1-8, Vol. Commentary on Romans by John Calvin. The word it does not refer to Abraham’s faith, as if God exchanged his faith for righteousness, in a sort of trade. Thus Abraham was already what we would call “saved” before this experience. Verse 2 explains (“for”) verse 1, “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.” Most commentators understand the last phrase to mean, “When God’s viewpoint is considered, Abraham has no right to boast at all” (Moo, p. 261). The passage in Genesis raises the question, “What did Abraham believe and why did God credit it to him for righteousness then?” We know that he had believed God previously, when he left Ur and set out for Canaan (Heb. For g in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. If you feel bad about your sins and are trying to get them under control so that God will accept you, you have not ceased working. 5But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. “What then will we say that Abraham” (v. 1a). In chapter 4, he says that Abraham is “the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision” (4:12). Though he didn’t know Jesus’ name and he had no evidence other than God’s promise, Abraham looked forward in faith to God’s Redeemer and thus God credited it to him as righteousness. Make social videos in an instant: use custom templates to tell the right story for your business. 5:6). 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. So Genesis 15 ratifies Abraham’s earlier faith. In the 1990’s, many evangelicals signed a document, “Evangelicals and Catholics Together,” that would relegate justification by faith alone to the sidelines. Submission to the Authorities. For him to say that Abraham is “the father of us all” is quite radical. 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