Paul's letter to the Romans
A letter of reminders, righteousness, love and prophesy.
Romans 4 - ASV
1. What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, hath found according to the flesh?
We are now abiding with the righteousness of Abraham in our thought of justification.
We explore what Abraham had for justification, so that we can rely on the same.
2. For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God.
Abraham did not claim any of his works are profitable.
His aim was to be with God, for God. His sight was at God. No deviation. No interference.
3. For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.
You know the scriptures? Read the scriptures. They are our reference points. They are the law by which all are judged.
The only importance is that Abraham believed God; believing in what God can do, even the impossible. He relied on the strength of God, though not understanding it. His reference point is correct.
Abraham had no other desire, no other god/idol. Abraham did not live for/to his own glory.
It is righteousness to be with God.
4. Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt.
Work carries reward. What is earned is not what is freely given.
Grace is not something God owed. God freely gives, even to the undeserved ones. He is generous.
5. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.
A believer(who has been ungodly) who does not do any work is still justified and reckoned as righteous.
Works are, therefore, unnecessary/non-essential for christians to be classified as righteous. Their faith alone counts.
Works do not justify sinners as pure and sinless. Our works cannot clear our debts of sin. We continue sinning.
Human righteousness does not depend on works, although people do work when enabled by grace/the gifts(eg:charismata) of God.
6. Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works,
Want to stand with King David? He also did not judge according to works, although there are works.
7. saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, And whose sins are covered.
Forgiveness is not earned by works. Acceptance is a step of faith, and not self-initiated/planned action/effort.
We cannot take away our own sins.
God has provided a way to cover our sins - His plan of redemption.
8. Blessed is the man to whom, the Lord will not reckon sin.
The Lord owes no debt to the happy/blessed man. The man just receives.
9. Is this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcision, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say, To Abraham his faith was reckoned for righteousness.
Circumcision of the flesh is a sign by works. It is by faith before and above circumcision that sinners received grace and blessings.
God does not rely on circumcision for the forgiveness of sins.
The atonement and the day of atonement does not depend of circumcision of the flesh.
Job and Enoch were not circumcised Jews. Abel did not produce circumcision.
10. How then was it reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision:
Question for rethinking. Lets reconsider.
Justified before initiating circumcision. Justification before producing works.
11. and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision; that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might be reckoned unto them;
Work is a seal, not righteousness itself.
12. and the father of circumcision to them 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.
Abraham is the father of circumcision, who himself received no circumcision. He was/is not justified by circumcision.
That faith caused you to be circumcised by others/believers for the covenant of/with God.
Faith came while uncircumcised. Faith does not come after circumcision. To obey is better than sacrifice.
13. For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith.
At the time of Abraham obeying God, there was no written law; no Mosaic law, no official Jewish religion.
The seed of Abraham also inherited the world. Faith is not without blessing.
14. For if they that are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect:
Being heirs not by works, not even by the act of circumcision, but through the promise received by faith/belief.
Do you believe? Would you believe?
15. for the law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression.
The law show that you sin and fall short of the righteous standards of the law, bringing wrath and punishment.
You cannot violate the law when it is not even there.
16. For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
If you just believe, then you receive the gift/grace, as you have no work that demand reward. There is no debt on the part of the giver of grace to repay you.
If you are of faith, then you are the children of Abraham who received by faith.
17. (as it is written, A father of many nations have I made thee) before him whom he believed, even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were.
People of many nations believed.
God created creatures and the world and gives life. the world did not come to life by works. All a matter of grace.
If we break away from this truth/union/commonwealth; we break away from God, and His wholesome creation.
18. Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be.
God's plan is not for men to depend on works. Men should hope for things that perplex them; things they did not know. Trust in the Lord. He richly gives/provides. Jehovah Jireh.
The Lord has spoken. Who can? but prophesy?
19. And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb;
20. yet, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God,
21. and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22. Wherefore also it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.
23. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was reckoned unto him;
Point to God. Look to Him.
24. but for our sake also, unto whom it shall be reckoned, who believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
God is in control of death, and overpowers it. Fear God and worship Him alone who has ultimate power over death.
25. who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.
God's plan is for us!
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