The Roman’s Road to Righteousness (Chapter 4:1-12)‏‏‏‏‏‏‏

Hello Friends!

Welcome Back! Let’s continue our journey through the book of Romans – “The Romans Road to Righteousness.”

The Roman’s Road to Righteousness (Chapter 4:1-12)

This week we will begin reading chapter 4 verses 1-12 in which if we were to entitle this entire chapter we could title it "The faith of Abraham" because the whole chapter is actually the Biblical story of Abraham. The Apostle Paul eloquently uses Abraham as a grand illustration of the truth that salvation is by faith not works – Abraham is the complete Biblical proof of salvation by grace through faith!

Paul has already revealed to us in previous chapters how to be made right with God. It’s not by what we do but by what we believe – by believing in Jesus Christ and His perfect work. Now it is very important that Abraham be Paul’s illustration because what he has just taught would be totally unacceptable to the Jewish mind. And so Paul selects Abraham as a credible source to make his point. But why Abraham?

• First: Abraham would show the eternal truth of righteousness by grace through faith as an Old Testament character. By referring to Abraham, Paul is saying this truth is nothing new but rather very old. Abraham proceeded Moses and even the identity of the nation Israel. Abraham is from the patriarchal period – a very primitive time in early human history found in the book of Genesis. And if Paul can establish that a man in the book of Genesis was saved by grace through faith and not of works, then he has given to us a timeless truth promise.
• Second: No one else in the Old Testament exercised as much or more faith than Abraham! In fact, the New Testament book of Galatians tells us that Abraham is the father of all who believed. In a very real sense, all who come to God by faith are children of Abraham who had set the standard for faith by believing God in a most incredible way. This man's name originally was Abram which meant "father of many." No one was more inappropriately named than he was – the father of nobody. And yet he was named Abram ‑‑ the father of many.
• Third: All that Paul has said thus far in the book of Romans has been theological truth needing “flesh and blood” and so he takes it out of the abstract and puts it into the concrete – the actual, factual, historical person of Abraham.

Abraham was not a man who earned salvation by his good works. He is an example of a man who received salvation by grace through faith in believing God. In simple child‑like trust and complete yieldedness to God, Abraham took God's word at face value, believed God and by that act of faith he received righteousness. Of course it was very important to the Jews to have Abraham as an example of a righteous man whom God chose because they believed by their own self‑righteousness God had to choose them too. Therefore, if it can be established that Abraham was justified by faith alone then everyone must be justified by faith alone – for Abraham is the standard. If Abraham can't glory and boast in himself then nobody can – it must be of God’s grace. This point is absolutely critical!

Throughout chapter 4 the Apostle Paul emphasizes the following important doctrinal distinctions:

• In verses 1 to 8 Abraham was saved by faith not works.
• In verses 9 to 17 Abraham was justified by grace not law.
• In verses 18 to 25 Abraham believed by God not will.

Paul is saying the same thing from different angles and hence widening our understanding all the while as we study the book of Romans!

 

This chapter begins with a negative – Abraham had nothing “to boast about” – “before God”:

What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God – Romans 4:1-2

If Abraham was “justified by works” then he would have had something in which to boast. But from God's viewpoint, he had no right to boast and had no basis for pride. Paul is going to prove this point throughout the rest of this chapter.

 

We then enter into verses 3 to 8 in which we find the positive. Abraham “believed” God:

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: “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 – Romans 4:3-8

Salvation is dependent upon “faith” in Jesus Christ and “works” is a result – fruit – of Salvation. The Apostle Paul said the same thing to the Galatians:

just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.”So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham – Galatians 3:6-9

Again, the writer of Hebrews says of Abraham:

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going – Hebrews 11:8

Abraham lived in the city called Ur of the Chaldees. He and his family, his possessions, his reputation, his business, his life – everything was there. God told Abraham to leave and go somewhere else – without first telling him where. Now that is faith!

 

To God, Abraham was His chosen man. And yet Abraham never saw the fulfillment of the land unfold as the possession of God's people – the Jews. Abraham never owned any land and he spent his life as a tent dweller wandering around just like Isaac and Jacob. He never saw the fulfillment of God’s promise – but it was to be out of his loins that another generation would see the promise. And so his “faith“ was a continuous walk with the Lord.

 

In verses 9 to 12, we come to the next section in the chapter in which Paul tells us that Abraham was justified – “while uncircumcised”:

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 4:9-12

Historically, circumcision was the major issue with the Jews. Here they questioned Paul in that if one is saved by “faith,” why did God tell them to be circumcised? What is the meaning of circumcision? What validity does it have? What is its point if it doesn't guarantee entrance into the covenant of God? They believed that when a male child was circumcised, that rite placed him into the covenant. They believed that men were made right with God by circumcision – by their “Jewishness” so to speak. They believed the surgical act on an 8‑day‑old male child secured that child's righteousness and was the only way into the covenant. That's basically reflective of what they taught and believed.

 

Question: How old was Abraham when he was “circumcised?”

Answer: He was ninety‑nine years old!

That’s a painful thought, isn't it? 

Interestingly, on the same day that Abraham was circumcised, Ishmael was also circumcised and he was “thirteen” years old:

And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin – Genesis 17:25

When God made His covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15, Ishmael had not yet been born! So at best, Abraham was not circumcised for some 14 years after his being stated by God as “righteous!“ Therefore, Abraham was made “righteous“ inside God’s covenant before he was actually circumcised! Note that Ishmael was circumcised and was never in God’s covenant. Therefore, circumcision is not even an issue in terms of a covenant relationship with God. This too is a very critical point!

 

Circumcision was actually instituted by God as the mark borne by every Jewish male to remind them and all the succeeding generations that God desired to circumcise their “hearts”  - not just their flesh!

 

In Deuteronomy we can bring our thinking to a fuller understanding:

And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live – Deuteronomy 30:6

Abraham is not only the father of the Jews. He is also the father of all Gentiles who have been made righteous by God through His gift of “faith.” Abraham is the father of “all“ who “believe.” Since “uncircumcised” Gentile believers are justified the same way Abraham was, he's our father too! God always desires to circumcise the “heart“ – to cut away the “skin” that consumes the heart with sin. In fact, the Jews would have read about this in their own Pentateuch – the first five books of the Old Testament written by Moses. For that was always God's plan for the future...

 

In closing:

 

Many people today are basing their salvation from eternal hellfire on various religious rites and rituals such as infant baptism, confirmation, adult baptism, communion or some other type of ceremony. Do you know why many folks seek the Baptism of infants? Because they believe these human religious efforts somehow impart regeneration, forgiveness of sin, the Holy Spirit and eternal life – whether or not there's a personal mediation of faith.

 

For example: How is one “justified” in the Roman Catholic system? By being baptized. When are you baptized? As an infant. Therefore, you are “justified” in your infancy. In fact, the Council of Trent issued a decree on original sin:

"If anyone denies that by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ which is conferred in Baptism, the guilt of original sin is forgiven or even a search that the whole of that which has the true and proper nature of sin is not taken away, let him be anathema”

In other words, if you deny that infant Baptism takes away the guilt of original sin – you're cursed!

Roman Catholicism as well as many Protestant churches today also teach error in that by these various ceremonies, rituals, sacraments and certain rites duly prescribed and carried out in the proper described method or order according to tradition will somehow impart redemption, salvation, righteousness, grace and holiness. Many folks coming from a Lutheran background or even a Baptist background may have also believed that salvation was secured with some type of baptism or confirmation of sorts. 

 

This is no different than what we see in studying the historical Jewish view of circumcision here in the book of Romans. 

 

Question: What part do religious rites and ceremonies play in salvation?

Answer: None!

 

Remember: Abraham was “uncircumcised“ when he was “justified!” That's tantamount to saying he was “unbaptized!” It is through “faith“ by God’s “grace“ that saves us from our sin. This is the general thrust of this section of our text – “justified… while uncircumcised.” 

 

This is what Paul also said to the Ephesians:

For by grace are you saved through faith and it's not of yourselves, it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast – Ephesians 2:8-9

God has always saved people by His “grace” – even in the book of Genesis it states:

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord  – Genesis 6:8

God is a God of great “grace“ and He saves on the basis of His own Sovereign will to undeserving sinners – by “faith.” That's what “grace“ is – free favor to undeserving sinners. AMEN!

Please begin by reading verses 1-12 of the fourth chapter of Romans.

We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!

If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com

I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!

Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><

Encouraging Concepts

Truth for Today

"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"

Lighthouse Publications <><

The Roman’s Road to Righteousness (Chapter 3:21-31)‏‏‏‏‏‏

Hello Friends!

Welcome Back! Let’s continue our journey through the book of Romans – “The Romans Road to Righteousness.”

The Roman’s Road to Righteousness (Chapter 3:21-31)

 
This week we will begin reading chapter 3 verses 1-20 which is actually the “official” opening to the wonderful section on the salvation of the soul in Jesus Christ – finally!

It is a fact that salvation is an issue all the way through chapter 3, chapter 4 and chapter 5. It’s even an issue in chapters 6, 7 and 8. So, it’s a very important part of the heart of this Roman epistle. It’s essential that we understand it. And I think as we flow through it in the months to come, we’ll get a much better grasp of all of the great things that the Apostle Paul is saying!

 

Up to this point, we’ve come to the clear understanding that we cannot be saved by keeping the law. The Gentile cannot become saved by a fleshly effort to maintain the law of his conscience. The Jew cannot save himself by a fleshly effort to live up to the written law given to him through the Old Testament. The law has the effect of showing us our sin, but we cannot keep it to the satisfaction of God and thus be granted salvation!

 

Salvation/justification and righteousness/sanctification are apart from the law. They are given to the Christian as a free gift through grace granted in Jesus Christ alone. In other words, salvation occurs apart from any human effort to live up to His divine standard. You can’t do it. I can’t do it. All “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God!” We’re all left incapable of reaching the standard and salvation therefore must come through grace alone in Jesus Christ alone.

 

In our text today, we find the true meaning of the death of Jesus Christ. He died as a satisfaction and we by faith in Him and the work He did on the Cross receive the grace and mercy and forgiveness of God. 

 

First of all, we'll see that in verse 21, it's apart from the “law”:

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets – Romans 3:21

NOTE: May I give you a little word of warning as you study the Apostle Paul? Whenever you see the Greek word nomos or law you will want to be very careful how you interpret it because Paul uses it a lot of different ways. Sometimes it refers to legalism. Sometimes it refers to the ceremonial Law of God. Sometimes it refers to the Moral Law of God. Sometimes it refers to the Old Testament Scripture. Sometimes it refers to a principle such as a general law. As you can see, he'll use it in many different ways. In fact, he uses it in two ways in this one verse. *The proper way to interpret the meaning in the original koine Greek language is by the context of the passage in question. 

 

Here Paul says, the “righteousness of God apart from the law," and then in the same verse he says "being witnessed by the Law…" As we see, he uses law here in two different ways. In the first “law” Paul uses the word there in the sense of legalism. It is apart from any man-made human effort. The “law” of God only works His wrath and gives God the right to condemn all people. That's all it does. 

 

The second “Law” is a euphemism for the Old Testament – the “Law” and the “Prophets.” This was a Jewish phrase to describe the Old Testament itself. Paul is basically saying – “Look, this is that which was witnessed to in the Old Testament, this isn't anything revolutionary or brand new.” Even in the Old Testament, the law didn't make people righteous, it showed them just how sinful they were and it threw them on the mercy of God. The whole point for a Jew was to look at the law of God, realize he couldn't keep it and cry out for mercy and grace – and believe that God would provide it to them. 

 

Saints in the Old Testament were redeemed the same way as saints in the New Testament – as well as the Christian today. They believed God. They knew they were sinful and in need of a Savior and they went to God to be their Savior. Though they may not have fully understood Jesus Christ because He hadn't yet come, they knew they needed a Savior and they knew the sacrifices depicted that Savoir who had to die for them.

 

These “Laws” are built on the Old Testament. There are at least three hundred and thirty prophecies in the Old Testament pertaining to Jesus Christ! His coming has the embodiment of the righteousness of God as the fulfillment of the Old Testament.

 

Now we see the “righteousness of God” is acquired by “faith”:

even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference – Romans 3:22

The provision is made for anyone who believes. In other words, it doesn't come by works, it comes by “faith.” And those two are very distinct. Works is an effort that you embark on. Faith is something God does – a gift – and you believe it, you accept it, you trust in it. It is done by Him and you accept that He did it and you don't have to add anything to it. For example, on the cross Jesus said it is “finished!” He had accomplished the work of salvation – it was done! He died on the cross and arose from the dead – that's all that's necessary. He did it all, we need only believe it. It is acquired by “faith!”

 

And just in case we missed it in the previous 2 ½ chapters, Paul again notes that “all” human beings on the face of the earth “fall short”:

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23

Evil is evil and “all” are infinitely separated from Holy God. Salvation is provided for believers because they are “all” in the same category. Not only do “all” need it – God is able to save “all” who believe. A Tremendous truth!

Verse 24 then says:

being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus – Romans 3:24

It seems to connect back with verse 22 – that the “righteousness of God” is by “faith in Jesus Christ” unto “all” and upon “all” them that “believe” – “being justified freely by His grace.” And the intervening is a parenthesis to describe how it is that everybody can be saved because they're all the same. Then back to the main point in verse 24, that those who believe are made right with God freely “by His grace”. To justify doesn't mean to declare your righteous – it means to make you righteous. Paul's usage was drawn from the Old Testament Hebrew concept – the equivalent in the Hebrew is tsawdak' which means "to cause someone to be righteous." God makes us righteous. It is the opposite of condemnation. This is an important distinction!

 

Then verse 25 explains the required sacrifice for our sin:

whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed – Romans 3:25

God required death – a sacrifice. Jesus became that sacrifice. God could not just forgive you and me and not deal with justice. Love could forgive but justice had to be met – it required a penalty which had to be paid. Literally, Jesus becomes the covering. He becomes the satisfaction, the word hilasterion – the propitiation. It means "a place where sins are blotted out." It was used to refer to the Mercy Seat when the priest went in the Day of Atonement - Yom Kippur – and sprinkled the blood on the Mercy Seat, the place where sins were blotted out. Jesus Christ became the place where sins are blotted out. He became the kapporeth – the Mercy Seat. He, by His blood, provided complete satisfaction. And so we are redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ – the Lamb without spot and without blemish.

 

The Cross is everything! Jesus died in our place. This exchange of our unrighteousness for His righteousness is marvelously summed up elsewhere by the Apostle Paul in one of the greatest verses in the New Testament:

For He hath made Him who knew no sin to become sin for us that we might be made right with God through Him – 2 Corinthians 5:21

This is the Gospel in one concise verse! God's righteousness couldn't come to us apart from the Cross. That’s God’s plan - a supernatural, divine miracle! We don't have any virtue to hang on to but He does. How can an infinitely, absolutely Holy God get to sinful men without violating something of His holy perfection? Paul continues:

to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus – Romans 3:26

God set forth Jesus Christ on the Cross to be a satisfaction – for God. Isn't that profound? The Cross frees God from any thought of injustice.

 

Boasting Excluded! Then Paul says:

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith – Romans 3:27

Where is boasting? It is “excluded” by the principle of works. Because if we were saved by our works – we would boast. We are saved by the “law of faith.”

You can't earn your way to Heaven! It is by the doctrine of “faith” alone:

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law – Romans 3:28

Now, Just in case you missed it…

• We're saved by ”faith” in verse 28
• We're saved by ”faith” in verse 26.
  
• We're saved by ”faith” in verse 25.
• We're saved by ”faith” in verse 22.

Get the picture? Paul tells us over and over and over again... We are saved by “faith” – alone!

God is consistent! He's everybody's God:

Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith – Romans 3:29-30

Paul says to the Jew, "He the God of the Jews only?" And they have to say no! Because there's only one God and He is the only God and they know it from the articles of their Jewish faith. He is the God of all. “Is He not the God of the Gentiles?” And Paul answers as if he were answering for the Jews: "Yes, of the Gentiles also” – There are no other gods and that was basic to the Jews understanding.

 

The law is established! One might say, "Well, if you're not saved by works and you're not saved by keeping the law, doesn't this mean that the law is useless?" That's the last argument Paul deals with in chapter 3:

Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law – Romans 3:31

The “law” was never given to save us. It was given to show us that we needed to be saved. So, the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross doesn't make void the “law” – it “establishes the law.” The “law” only had one purpose – to bring us to Jesus Christ. Justification by faith does not “make void the law” – it makes the keeping of the “law” a possibility. The “law” is there now to be fulfilled in the energy and power of the blessed Holy Spirit. The “law” is confirmed. When we look to the Cross we see Jesus Christ. God’s righteous wrath is coming down on Jesus Christ because His “law” demands it. The penalty for sin will drive us to see our sinfulness. In the sufficiency of Jesus Christ is the granting of His Holy Spirit!

 

In closing:

 

When a person becomes redeemed, there is never a separation between grace and law. That is a major fallacy in the thinking of many Christians today. They want to so purify grace that they make salvation all of grace and no responsibility or obligation to obedience. This is an effort to maintain what some have chosen to call “super-grace.” But grace and gracious salvation never makes null and void the law. Rather, it establishes the law. Becoming a Christian by grace does not remove from us the obligation to obey God. The Apostle Paul is saying we cannot save ourselves by our good works. He is not saying therefore give up and never bother with them. He is simply saying – when we come to Jesus Christ and are justified and implanted with the Holy Spirit. He then can produce in us those good works worthy of repentance. Yes, He will produce in us those good works and we will even establish the law – fulfill it. Awesome!

 

Often Christians want to separate the Savior-hood of Jesus Christ from His Lordship in their lives. They will affirm that Jesus Christ is Savior and receive Him only as Savior and hopefully at a later time, they’ll acknowledge Him as Lord and address the issue of obedience. That is not germane to salvation, it is an artificial dichotomy. This view is not biblical! It is an effort to maintain pure grace without obedience to God’s Word. And so we have people today who claim that all you have to do is “receive” Jesus Christ as Savior… and that’s it…

It goes something like this: 

 

The man lives an overtly sinful and compromising lifestyle but brazenly says “there was a time in my life when I asked Jesus Christ into my life.” You know what that means? It doesn’t mean anything! But you see, that is just one of many common false theological perceptions of salvation. All one has to do is ask Jesus to “come into their heart” – no commitment, no change of life, no nothing – but you’re still “saved.” In other words, one can be saved and have absolutely no manifestation of God’s grace in their personal life. Is that true? No! Because if salvation means the life of Jesus Christ is planted in the soul of the new man, there’s got to be some evidence of that new life – just as there was of the life of evil that was there before true salvation took place. 

 

And so, there is no reason to dichotomize the saving work of Jesus Christ from His Lordship. In doing so, we do disservice to His person and we miss the message of true eternal salvation. The Bible never separates true faith from obedience to His Word! Again, to do so is nothing less than cheap grace… 

Please begin by reading verses 21-31 of the third chapter of Romans.

We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!

If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com

I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!

Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><

Encouraging Concepts

Truth for Today

"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"

Lighthouse Publications <><