'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. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him 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.
Romans 4:1-25
Our works may impress others, but not God. The law can be compared to “household rules” as they are behaviors that are expected of us, but they do not earn us God’s love. Just like how our relationship with others is what brings blessings and favor into our lives, much more so, our relationship with the LORD and our faith in Him is what brings blessing and favor into our lives. Our obeying His Word should stem from our love for Him rather than working to earn His love or salvation. Since noone can perfectly follow the law without the Lord’s help, we cannot earn eternal life in Heaven. Jesus is the only way!! It is a righteousness that comes by faith, and it is a gift from God. In fact, anytime we believe God, it is credited to us as righteousness. It is the Lord who justifies us before the Father. He redeemed us with His blood to buy us back from the Devil because the penalty of sin is death and the only way to be freed from that fate is through His blood. The only way to be saved is to recognize that we need His help and to accept His Righteousness by faith since He who did not sin died for our sins, thus redeeming us. The Holy Spirit is what helps us not only to obey the law, but to be clean on the inside. He purifies and transforms us to become more like Himself. We must daily die to our sin nature and accept His Righteousness by faith. Over time we truly become more like Him because He transforms our hearts. He is the only one who can do miracles on our hearts.
Romans 4:1-25
Romans 4:1-25 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. | New International Version (NIV) |
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.
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Our works may impress others, but not God. The law can be compared to “household rules” as they are behaviors that are expected of us, but they do not earn us God’s love. Just like how our relationship with others is what brings blessings and favor into our lives, much more so, our relationship with the LORD and our faith in Him is what brings blessing and favor into our lives. Our obeying His Word should stem from our love for Him rather than working to earn His love or salvation. Since noone can perfectly follow the law without the Lord’s help, we cannot earn eternal life in Heaven. Jesus is the only way!! It is a righteousness that comes by faith, and it is a gift from God. In fact, anytime we believe God, it is credited to us as righteousness. It is the Lord who justifies us before the Father. He redeemed us with His blood to buy us back from the Devil because the penalty of sin is death and the only way to be freed from that fate is through His blood. The only way to be saved is to recognize that we need His help and to accept His Righteousness by faith since He who did not sin died for our sins, thus redeeming us. The Holy Spirit is what helps us not only to obey the law, but to be clean on the inside. He purifies and transforms us to become more like Himself. We must daily die to our sin nature and accept His Righteousness by faith. Over time we truly become more like Him because He transforms our hearts. He is the only one who can do miracles on our hearts.