seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Romans 4:1 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.”
4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”
9 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. 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 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. 12 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.
13 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. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 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. 17 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.
18 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.” 19 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. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Now let me set the scene again. Paul is still in "prison" in Rome. He's in Rome because back in Jerusalem [and elsewhere], he's accused of blaspheming. Paul sees his calling to be "growing the church". The Gentile men were not about to have their thing cut just to join Paul's church. Paul said being circumcised was just a sign... like baptism. He had the nerve to say circumcision wasn't necessary. That's why the Jews wanted him dead. He was preaching that cutting the thing didn't mean a thing. They just could not permit that. Abraham... the one all the Jews called "Father" of the Jews... had been circumcised by God. What on earth, they asserted, was Paul thinking. Of course, everyone had to be circumcised.... or they didn't believe in God!
Paul says it's because Abraham "believed first" that God chose him. Paul said the circumcision of Abraham was only to set him apart from the others. [I think it had something to do with Sarah's pregnancy too.]
Remember now, Abraham had two sons. He had a miraculous son by Sarah. He was close to 100 and Sarah was way past her prime too. He also had a son by Sarah's slave. Sarah had given up on having a son of her own. So, she had Abraham sleep with another woman to make sure Abraham had a son. That boy started the Gentile nations. That boy, who was born before Sarah's boy, was uncircumcised.
Paul said.... [paraphrased]... we're all God's children... if we Believe. We have to choose to Believe before we can be a child of God. Then we can be judged "faithful".
Everyone.... each and every single human on earth.... is welcome. You don't have to cut a thingy or go into a trance or be almost drowned in the river. You don't have to be married or unmarried. You don't have to be knowledgeable about the Gospels. All you have to do is choose to Believe. God will handle the rest.
Abraham was judged to be "faithful".
Are you faithful?
