The Roman’s Road to Righteousness (Chapter 5:12-21)‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏

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 5:12-21)

 
This week we will continue reading chapter 5 verses 12-21 as we ponder Death in Adam and Life in Jesus Christ – Life and Death…

Many theologians consider this to be one of the most difficult passages in the book of Romans. At first reading it sounds intensely complex – and in a sense it is indeed. But in another sense it's wonderfully simple and wonderfully clear. And I think by the time we're finished, you'll have this latter understanding too!
 

Adam: His reign of death

DEATH… First of all, it is important to note that twice in this passage the Apostle Paul repeats the phrase "death reigned."

 

It appears in verse 14:

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come – Romans 5:14

It appears again in verse 17.

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ – Romans 5:17

And in verse 21 it says “sin reigned in death.”

so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord – Romans 5:21

The major lesson that Paul wants to teach here in chapter 5 verse 12 to 21 is that “one” man – Adam – has wickedly affected so many. As you’ll remember, Paul described earlier in chapters 1, 2 and the first half of chapter 3 the awful “sin” nature of man. Then, beginning in the second half of chapter 3, all of chapter 4 and in the first half of chapter 5 (as we read last week), Paul told us how Jesus Christ has “justified” – saved – by His death on the cross all who come to Him in “faith!” 

 

To begin with, we learn that “sin entered the world” through “one man” and then “death spread to all men”

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned – Romans 5:12

Note carefully that it does not say that Adam originated sin. Sin had already existed prior to Adam. The Bible says the devil has “sinned from the beginning”:

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil – 1 John 3:8

We actually find Lucifer’s “original sin” and his resulting rebellious fall from heaven – often referred to as his sinful five “I wills” – brazenly outlined in the book of Isaiah:

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit – Isaiah 14:12-15

Therefore, sin predates Adam! We learn that Adam didn't originate sin, he “learned” it from the one who originated it – the “devil!” Adam merely introduced it into the human realm. That's why Paul says as by “one man” sin entered into kosmos or the human system – mankind. Adam was acting as an introductory point – an “agent” for Satan. Adam was merely a pawn in the devil's attack on God. To state it another way – Satan made the product, Adam just introduced it into the marketplace!

 

Essentially Paul presents Adam acting on behalf of mankind. After all, that is what Adam’s name means – “mankind.” Adam and his wife Eve had become one flesh and would soon introduce rebellion and evil into the entire human race – male and female. Adam therefore is not acting as an individual man – he is acting as mankind. Adam is the cause of “all” mankind becoming sinners. That’s why Paul also tells the Corinthian believers:

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive – 1 Corinthians 15:22

Death came as the penalty for “sin” and is the unfailing fruit of the poison that entered Adam's heart. Solidarity and guilt must involve penalty. “Sin” and “death” will never be separated.

At this point, there are a couple of critical questions to consider pertaining to the virgin birth of Jesus Christ:

• Why did Jesus Christ have to be born of a virgin?
• Why did Jesus Christ have to bypass a human father?

Answer: Because if Jesus Christ would have been born through Joseph, He too would have become a fallen sinner! People often ask, "Is the virgin birth important?" Yes! Extremely important!

Then verse 13 says:

For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law – Romans 5:13

Here we see that “sin” cannot be charged – “imputed” – to one's account when there is no “law” available to obey. In other words – how can one be guilty for breaking a “law” if there's no “law” to break? Right?

And then verse 14 says:

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come – Romans 5:14

The main thought here is “death reigned” from “Adam to Moses.” So when God gave the “law” to Moses, did “all” people living before Moses “die?” Yes! Therefore, if “death reigned from Adam to Moses” then “death” is not a result of sin(s) – plural – and it's not a result of breaking a direct commandment. In fact, it's not even a result of violating a direct statement from God – because prior to Moses, the “law” did not exist. In the period of time from “Adam to Moses” there was no “law” and “death reigns” and they're not dying because they broke a “law” – So what is it that's causing them to “die?” The sin nature!

 

This period of history from “Adam to Moses” verifies that men “die” not because they “sin” – it is because they are born with a sin corrupting principle within them. And they're born into the world on their way to hell. But God in His marvelous mercy calls them to Himself! And the conclusion is that we “die” not because of acts of “sin” but because we bear the “sin principle” which ultimately kills us! It's like having cancer eating away at our body till ultimate death occurs. God is calling people back from Death to Life – That's His heart’s desire!

Jesus Christ: His gift of Life!

LIFE… Paul anticipates an argument might formulate and addresses it head-on. How is it that Jesus Christ – one Individual – can accomplish a work which is potentially able to save all men? In order to answer that question, Paul draws an analogy between “Adam” and “Jesus Christ” the “One” that brings us to the second part of Paul’s analogy throughout the balance of this excellent chapter:

But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord – Romans 5:15-21

The focus is no longer on Adam and his reign of death. Rather it’s now on Jesus Christ and His reign of Life!

This beautiful Truth now becomes the point of interest – the “free gift” of Jesus Christ! Adam's one act brought “sin,” “judgment” and “condemnation.” However, Jesus Christ's one act brought “grace,” “righteousness,” “justification” and “life” – “more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.” Therefore, the effect of these acts are antithetical to one another – the complete opposite! The analogy comes in the idea that one man with one act can affect so many and the effectiveness of Jesus Christ's “gift” is greater than Adam's “sin” offense – “much more!” What then is the practical use of this passage? It is the confident assurance that once we are saved by Jesus Christ we are in Him forever. And that Truth fills our hearts with everlasting “hope!”

 

The Apostle Paul gives five “contrasts” here in these closing passages as he presents Jesus Christ as the One who brings eternal life:

• Contrast in effectiveness = Adam's “offense“ & Jesus Christ's “Gift
• Contrast in extent = Adam's “condemnation” & Jesus Christ's “Justification”
• Contrast in efficacy = Adam’s “death” & Jesus Christ’s “Life
• Contrast in essence = Adam’s “sin” & Jesus Christ’s “Grace”
• Contrast in energy = Adam’s “unrighteousness” & Jesus Christ’s “Righteousness”

Where there was the “reign of death,” God came with His “grace” and overpowered death which is overruled by “life” for all who believe in Jesus Christ!

 

And don’t forget – the Apostle John also says that you can, beyond the shadow of a doubt, “know that you have eternal life”:

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God – 1 John 5:13

Praise the Lord!

 

In closing:

 

Corruption invaded the human realm in the Garden of Eden and no one can escape – no one!

 

As the Apostle Paul previously explained, from Adam on throughout human history, everyone has “sinned”:

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

And I would just like to remind you that we’re not sinners because we “sin.” No! We “sin” because we are sinners! We’re not liars because we lie. We lie because in our hearts we’re liars! One is not a murderer because they kill somebody, they kill because within the heart is murder. Jesus Christ said in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark that it's not that which goes into a man that defiles him, it's that which comes out of him – for out of the heart proceeds evil, murders and so forth…

 

Death is inevitable – it awaits us all. We can fear it or we can anticipate it. It can be the beginning of a worse death forever without God or it can be the beginning of eternal bliss in the presence of the living God! We were there in Adam – we sinned and we will die. But we can also be there in Jesus Christ with the payment of our sins made in His death and we can rise in His resurrection to newness of life. Which will you choose?

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment – Hebrews 9:27

Every one of us should bow before God in humiliating consciousness that we are vile sinners worthy of death. We must realize that apart from the work of Jesus Christ we would be doomed to eternity forever without God because He hates sin.

 

By the way, there are no “first degree” or “second degree” or “third degree” sins. Sin is sin. And one “sin” has potentiality beyond the power of human calculation! I contend that we need God's view of “sin” because it will only be when we get God's view of “sin” that we'll understand just how magnanimous is God's “grace” – AMEN!

Please continue reading verses 12-21 of the fifth 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 5:1-11)‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏

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 5:1-11)

 
This week we will begin reading chapter 5 verses 1-11 as we study these first eleven verses we’re going to find ourselves rejoicing in the tremendous security of our salvation. This is a great passage!

This is a subject that through the years has been very hotly debated in theology. There have always been those who have affirmed that you can lose your salvation and those who have affirmed that you cannot lose your salvation – the battle rages on. The issue of eternal security or the perseverance of the saints or the “once saved, always saved” doctrine is very important. In many churches today it is believed that a Christian can indeed lose his or her salvation. We often hear about those who "backslide" and fall away from Jesus Christ. This particular doctrine that says one can lose their salvation renders salvation conditional. In other words, long as you meet the “conditions of maintenance” you are safe. This view is nothing less than works righteousness...
 
Here in chapter five, the Apostle Paul presents six “links” in a chain – so to speak – that ties a true believer eternally to the Savior. This chain is so secure, that after grasping these passages, we're going to know full well that if we are truly in Jesus Christ we will belong to Him forever – eternal security. That's a marvelous thing to know!

First link: “peace with God”

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ – Romans 5:1

It isn't so much that we were hostile against God as it was that God was hostile against us – angry about our sin. In fact, the Bible says God is “angry with the wicked every day”:

God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day – Psalm 7:11

However, true Christian believers are secure because they are at “peace with God” and His anger and wrath are satisfied in the death of our “Lord Jesus Christ.” For how long do Christians have “peace with God”? For as long as Jesus Christ lives – Forever! When a person embraces Jesus Christ by faith, the spotless Son of God makes that person one with God – Forever!

 

Second link: “standing in grace”

through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand – Romans 5:2a

Grace is God's undeserved favor toward sinners. Grace operates where there is sin. If we “stand” in “grace” but sin, God’s “grace” operates. By “whom” do we have “access by faith?” Through “our Lord Jesus Christ” – Everything is because of Him! We aren't moving in and out of “grace” – we “stand” in it. We're not coming and going through it, we're “standing” in it! 

 

Third link: “hope of glory”

and rejoice in hope of the glory of God – Romans 5:2b

He also brings us to the “hope of the glory of God” in Jesus Christ! So far we see that the security of the believer is first of all predestined in the past – Jesus Christ made “peace with God.” The security of the believer is anchored and maintained in the present – we are “standing in grace.” The security of the believer is anchored in the future – our “hope of glory.” We have been saved. We are being saved. We shall yet be saved. We wait for the full salvation – the redemption of our bodies – the full and ultimate glorification. Therefore, past, present & future all comes together to secure the believer! 

 

Fourth link: “love of God”

And not only that, but we also rejoice in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us – Romans 5:3-5

Here the Apostle Paul says we rejoice even in our “tribulations.” The Greek word tribulation is thlipsis which means “pressure” and refers to the squeezing of olives to get the oil or the squeezing of grapes to get the wine. Tribulation works “perseverance.” The Greek word hupomoneit means “patient endurance.” We go through trouble and learn to endure – the more trouble, the more we learn to endure. And what happens? Our “perseverance” produces Dokimenis the Greek word that means to be “put to the test” for the purpose of approving someone. The same way gold or silver is tested for impurities to make sure it's pure. The believer not only rejoices in the “glory” to come but he even rejoices in the “tribulations” now. Why? Because the “tribulations” now “produces” the kind of “perseverance” and “character” that has a greater capacity to “rejoice” about the future. Wonderful!

 

Therefore, when we experience “tribulations” it produces “perseverance” – proven “character” – and “hope” which “does not disappoint” because “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts” as we await the promised anticipated glory by the “Holy Spirit who was given to us.” The truth is that God's love for us has been deposited in our hearts by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Practically speaking, the Holy Spirit gives the true believer the sense that God loves Him.

 

The Apostle James also speaks to this promise which “produces patience”:

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing – James 1:2-4

However, we will forfeit this sense that comes by the Holy Spirit ministering to us if we live in willful disobedience, an unrighteous life or habitual unconfessed sin. By disobedience we grieve the Holy Spirit and will cause Him to bear no fruit in our lives. Therefore, if a Christian goes through a period when he loses this sense of God loving him, it is because he has quenched the ministry of the Holy Spirit of God. Although our salvation is indeed secure, we can in fact hinder His work in our lives and lose the sense of God’s love. Beware!

 

Fifth link: “saved from wrath”

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life – Romans 5:6-10

What does Paul mean when he says we were “still without strength?” As unbelievers we were without strength to do anything that pleased God. Without strength to overcome sin, Satan, the world, the flesh, death, hell, the ability to live a righteous life or to save ourselves when we were literally paralyzed by our sin – unable to do anything about it. We had no moral ability at all. We were “enemies” of Holy God and powerless to please Him. Therefore, if there was nothing in us to make Him love us, what could there be in us to make Him stop loving us? Nothing! Can you see the point Paul is making? 

 

Jesus Christ died for us “while we were still sinners” – ungodly, impotent, ugly sinners. God hates every sin, evil deed, evil thought, evil word – He despises them with the fury of all of heaven. The fact that He could reach out and love ungodly sinners is the all-surpassing nature of His divine love. If God could love us “when we were enemies” of His, is it going to be any problem for Him to love us now “through the death of His Son” as believers? No! We were “justified by His blood” and we will be “saved from wrath through Him” that is to come. That transaction – “having been reconciled” – covers the past, present and future. If He could save us through the “death of His Son” then He can certainly keep us “saved by His life” – This is a great truth!

 

Sixth link: “rejoice in God”

And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation – Romans 5:11

The final “link” that anchors us to our blessed Lord God is that we “rejoice in God” through “our Lord Jesus Christ” by whom we sinners – believers – have “received the reconciliation” with our Holy God. We are secure in Him. What a “hope” great we have! 

In closing:

 

One of the things that Satan does in attacking a Christian is to attack him at the point of his assurance of salvation. Satan likes to make us doubt our redemption. That's why when we put on the armor of God outlined by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6, he tells us to put on the helmet of salvation. Paul again writing to the Thessalonians further defined it by referring to it as the “helmet of the hope of salvation.” Why? Because Satan wants to deal devastating blows to our head in the area of doubt – we’re saved, redeemed and belong to God. To believe that somehow, someway we forfeited our redemption. Satan therefore blasts away, attempting to make us feel insecure and intimidated. And so we must wear the helmet of the hope and hold to the confidence that we’re really eternally redeemed!

 

Sadly, some believe God has indeed saved them, but as long as they continue to match up with His standard, they can “hold on” to their salvation. But if at any point they fail to live up to His standard – they lose it. However, it doesn't take much Biblical insight to realize that this is a works-righteous perspective. Because what this false belief is really saying is that salvation is conditional in the sense that our works have to stay up to standard or we forfeit our salvation. This distorts salvation into a self-effort work based on human ability. I do not believe the Scriptures teach this and neither did the Apostle Paul! This is exactly the issue to which Paul speaks here in this section to the Romans. 

 

It actually fascinates me that in many treatments of the subject of the security of the believer, Romans 5 is rarely even discussed. In fact, of all the passages in the New Testament, these are the most absolutely definitive text ever written on the security of our salvation!

 

Don’t forget, the Apostle John also says that we can “know that you have eternal life”:

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God – 1 John 5:13

The Apostle Peter also boldly states:

who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time – 1 Peter 1:5

The reason we as believers are secure is because God has given us the “hope” that is built into our salvation and “kept by the power of God through faith for salvation” that we are saved unto glory. He doesn't lose the people He redeems to glory! The hope of the glory of God is a confident assurance that in the future we will partake of the divine glory through His suffering. Oh, what a great and wonderful reality!

Please continue reading verses 1-11 of the fifth 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 4:13-25)‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏

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 4:13-25)

This week we will be reading the balance of chapter 4 verses 13-25 in which we will continue to look at the faith of Abraham. Obviously Paul and the Holy Spirit – God Himself – expected us to think about Scripture or he wouldn't have made it so profound!

Jesus Christ faced a very sophisticated kind of religion in His day that was no different than what we see today. It was the religion of the Pharisees in which they believed that by external rites such as circumcision and other outward religious works they were buying their way into heaven and having their sins forgiven. Jesus faced it. Paul faced it. We face it today...

 

There are only two kinds of religion in the entire world:

• The religion of divine accomplishment – Biblical Christianity
• The religion of human achievement – every other man-made “religion”

The Apostle Paul is showing here that salvation, the forgiveness of sin and heaven is not available to men through ritual, ceremony, self‑sacrifice or religious works of any kind. Only by “grace“ through “faith“ in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's the only way. There's no other way! But someone might say, "But aren't those other people sincere?" Yes, they're probably quite sincere but they're damned to hell forever because they're sincerely wrong. Again, salvation comes only by “grace“ through “faith“ in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

As we have already discussed, 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.

These points overlap and crisscross and are the basic themes in each section. We are justified by “faith” not works. By “grace” not law. By divine power not human effort.

 

In our previous verses Paul says that Abraham was not Justified by “circumcision.” That's very important to remember because the Jews believed that that's exactly how he was justified. In fact, they believe that's the way everybody ought to be justified! However, Paul shows that Abraham was declared right with God through “faith” and it was 14 years later that he was “circumcised.” So, circumcision becomes only a symbol and God’s Word proclaims to every generation: What you are doing on the outside is what I want to do in the heart.

 

Along with “circumcision,” the other point the Jew leaned on was the keeping of the ”law.” So, as we come to verses 13 to 17 Paul deals with the issue of the ”law” which only “brings about wrath”:

For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did – Romans 4:13-17

What “promise” is Paul referring to here in this passage? It’s the Abrahamic covenant. It was given to Abraham in Genesis chapter 12 and was repeated in chapter 15 is repeated in chapter 18 and again in chapter 22. God told Abraham to go out of the land of Ur of the Chaldeans to a land that God planned to give him and make him a great nation and whoever blesses him will be blessed and whoever curses you will be cursed. And God said to Abraham that He would give him a seed like the sand of the sea and they'll number as the stars of the heaven. Remember, at that time Abraham and Sarah didn't have any children – in fact she was barren – and they were already approaching 100 years old! By the way, the book of Joshua tells us the story of him taking possession of that promise. Abraham's descendants took the land under the direction of Joshua.

 

Abraham was the father of nobody on the way to nowhere but he knows that God told him to go – beyond that he knew nothing! However, he “believed” that God was going to fulfill His promise because God had planted this confidence within Abraham’s heart – and by “faith” Abraham “believed” God. But Abraham saw beyond the physical posterity. He saw beyond having a son, Isaac. And Isaac having a son and Isaac's sons having sons and multiplications of nations. He saw beyond being a father of many nations.  

 

Now Abraham “believed” and waited for Isaac to be born. We see Abraham here in Paul's description after he heard the promise and is found waiting for the birth of Isaac. We pick up the story as Paul says of Abraham in this final section of the chapter:

who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be. And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead who was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification – Romans 4:18-25

Here in these tremendous passages we find three realities:

• The analysis of faith = Against all human capability and capacity, Abraham “believed” God. “Hope” is the desire for something to happen. Faith is the confidence that it will happen!
• The answer to faith = God gave Abraham righteousness, the ground of his justification was his “faith.” He “believed” God therefore he was made right with God. In belief God transmits His righteousness!
• The application of faith = We must “believe” on Him Whom raised up Jesus Christ our Lord from the dead!

What does the story of Abraham in this chapter mean to us as Christians today? The ultimate purpose of Scripture is for our justification (salvation), sanctification (edification) and glorification (heaven)! Jesus Christ went to the cross, died for our sins and rose again. So, we “believe” in Him who died for us and was raised from the dead for our justification.

 

What kind of “faith” appropriates Jesus Christ? What kind of “faith” brings righteousness? It's the kind of “faith” that says I have nothing to offer. That's where Abraham was. That's the kind of “faith” Abraham had when it was imputed to him for righteousness. It is the submissive kind of “faith” that demonstrates patience. It allows God to be God. And it is selfless obedient “faith.” Abraham left everything and “in hope believed” because he trusted God. Saving “faith” is hopeful, humble, strong, confident, submissive and obedient. And we have every reason to put that “faith” in our God because He raised Jesus Christ from the dead – AMEN!

 

In closing:

 

Abraham was not made right with God by keeping the ”law” – because the law came some 430 years later! The Jews believed that circumcision and law where the two things which brought a man into right relationship with God. We don't come into a right relationship with God by an outward ceremony or by an outward observance of laws. When Abraham was declared right with God he had no circumcision. And when he was declared right with God he had kept no law because the Mosaic Law hadn't even been given yet! He was justified by believing God's promise. And that makes salvation a grace gift. Justification is not only by “faith” but it is borne in the “grace” and “promise” of God.

 

And this “promise” incorporated not only a people – the Jews – but a physical nation. In fact, out of Abraham came not only Israel but the Arab nations as well. In the book of Genesis it says:

I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth so that if a man can number the dust of the earth then shall thy seed also be numbered – Genesis 13:16

God gave Abraham a seed and the book of Exodus shows us the realization of that seed – the birth of the Semitic peoples and their history.

 

Abraham also knew that there was in that promise a spiritual blessing:

And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed – Genesis 12:3

I'm convinced without a shadow of doubt that in the promise given to Abraham, he saw beyond Isaac to a redeemer – Jesus Christ! Why do I believe this? Because our Lord Jesus said it Himself:

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day and he saw it and was glad – John 8:56

Abraham saw the day of The Redeemer. Maybe he saw it in the typology of the ram provided in the thicket when he would have needed to take the life of Isaac. The reason God blessed the world through Abraham and made him the “father” of a world of people is because there would come out of his loins a Redeemer who would redeem all the tribes, tongues and nations of those who would “believe” God by “faith” – and all those “sons of faith” would be the sons of Abraham!

Please continue reading verses 13-25 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"

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