July 2, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Exodus and Romans? Here’s today’s reading:
Romans 4 (NIV)
Abraham Justified by Faith
1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”……Continue Reading
3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
5 ¶ But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,
6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
8 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.”
Romans 4
4:20b “but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God.”
This is how we grow in faith. It is an active thing, not a passive one. When we give glory to God through praise, worship, trust and obedience, our faith will grow, and ultimately, it is our faith and trust in God that gives God glory and in fact allows us to please our Father (Hebrews 11:6), which is our hearts’ desire.
I really like these two verses 7,8. { -Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.} These sins of ours can only be forgiven and covered under the blood of the Lamb. Only He could take our place on the cross and take all our past, present, and future sins. For He was also the only One that could conquer death and raise from the dead after three days. Romans 4: 25 { Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.} What part do we play in this? Simply to put our faith in Jesus alone by calling upon His name. That`s our part. Jesus has done the rest. We are saved and justified by our faith in Him; and not by our deeds. The works would make faith void as far as salvation. Works comes latter as proof that we are already saved. Romans 4: 14–16a { For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect. Because the law worketh wrath; for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace. —-} Thank you Lord Jesus for saving my soul.
Passover. To be spared from death an innocent life had to be sacrificed in their place. How did they miss this generations later. As God himself instituted this holiday for all Hebrews always. If there’s one thing I’ve learned during these spirit filled years. I cannot add one grain of righteousness for myself before God. The gap had to be completely filled by the righteousness of God. Alls I have to offer is to believe. The spirit within me leaps with joy
To me, someone who was brought up in the Catholic church, these words bring hope and assurance of the gift of salvation. Our righteousness through faith goes as far back as as Abraham.
God says to us through Paul: “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Romans 4:5
One pivotal question: Is believing actually works? Is not the one believing, acting on their own will, not that of God’s? Does not God alone save? Is it possible that you can have faith without God impressing it upon you? (That is, God made you believe. )
Believing is not works, i.e., “working for your salvation,” even though, for me, I did it of my own will, my own choice. Yet, this is the eternal will of God, that all men would believe, that the will of man would agree with the will of God. I Tim 2:4.
When someone asserts to me that my believing in God is works, that I worked for my salvation, I pull out my “.45” which is Romans 4:5! -reb
Roman4
What better example for Paul to use to defend the theology of salvation through faith and not the law than Abraham..the one who Jews would honor most. And so the fact remains that Abraham was justified through faith before circumcision and before the law was ever given. And so faith is the thing that God calls His people to, but faith in what? In the Old Testament it was the promise of God and the sacrifices brought. But now someone greater than Abraham has come and someone far better able to provide payment for sin. That is Jesus, the righteous One, who provides justification to all who place their faith in Him. See the power of faith is not in the amount of faith, but what faith is based in…that is why it is not a work. It is a choice to trust in what is performed and what is declared and it is those things that make faith powerful…not faith in and of itself…
23The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Romans 4
”“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.“
Romans 4:7-12 NKJV
Paul explains how Gentiles, the uncircumcised, the non-Jew, with the Jew alike can be justified by faith. It all goes back to Abraham.
I know so many people that live good lives but separate from the knowledge and power of God; they do the right things, make good choices, and are “good” people….we need to pray for these people all the more because they are missing the point. They may know of God and even pray from time to time but are missing the key ingredient of Jesus’ death and ressurection for them.
It is easy for good people to feel like things will be fine for them and there is no need for something else, but then you read a chapter like this that makes it so clear that no matter how much good you do, your works will not save you but rather your Faith!