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.”[a]
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.”[b]
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.”[c] 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.”[d] 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.
Footnotes:
a. Romans 4:3 Gen. 15:6; also in verse 22
b. Romans 4:8 Psalm 32:1,2
c. Romans 4:17 Gen. 17:5
d. Romans 4:18 Gen. 15:5
I got the commentary this morning from the easy English site.
Paul wanted to teach about faith. And he wanted to prove that his message about faith was not a new message. So he explained how the Old Testament taught the same message about faith. Paul chose Abraham and David in order to show faith in the Old Testament. Abraham began the Jewish nation. David was the most famous king of the Jews. Paul wanted to show that they received righteousness because of faith, and not because of their good deeds.
Abraham was called the ‘friend of God’ (Isaiah 41:8). He was a righteous man (Isaiah 51:1-2). He might have been able to boast to other people. But he could not boast to God his Creator. God did not accept Abraham because of his (Abraham’s) good works. God accepted Abraham because he (Abraham) believed God. In other words, Abraham had faith. Abraham believed God’s promise that he would have a son. He would have more descendants than there are stars in the sky. Abraham had faith that God would make this happen. He had faith although he was an old man. His wife Sarah was old too. She was far beyond the age when women have children. God accepted Abraham’s faith and God considered him righteous (Genesis 15:6).
Jews believed that a man needed circumcision. They did not consider anyone a real Jew without circumcision. A Gentile might believe the Jewish religion. But he could not be a proper member of the Jewish faith without circumcision. This matter caused a very serious argument in the first churches. Many Jewish Christians insisted that Gentiles had to be circumcised in order to become real Christians. Paul dealt with this problem in his letter to the Galatians. God considered Abraham righteous before he received circumcision. His genuine faith in God began 14 years before the sign of circumcision. Circumcision was the proof of the covenant that Abraham had already made with God.
The promise comes from God’s grace. Abraham and his descendants can be sure about God’s gift. This is because they can accept it by faith. The promise is for anyone who has the same faith as Abraham. It is for Jews and for those who never had the law. So Abraham became the father of those with faith. Paul showed that the promise came true by means of Jesus Christ. By faith, people all over the world receive God’s love. He cares about them. The law would say that they are guilty. But people can become righteous by faith in God. God forgives them because of his great love.
From a human point of view, it was impossible for Abraham to have children. Both he and his wife Sarah were much too old. But Abraham believed in God’s power. He did not lose hope that God would carry out his promise. Instead, Abraham’s faith increased. He trusted God’s promise. He was sure that God would carry it out.
The priests and Judas handed over Jesus to Pilate. The Romans then killed Jesus on a cross. These men thought that they had control over these events. But in fact, these events were part of God’s plan to ‘hand over’ Jesus. God ‘did not keep back (rescue) his own son, but he gave him up for us all’ (Romans 8:32). Jesus’ death was a sacrifice to cancel the effect of human sin. God accepted his sacrifice and raised him from death. So if we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus, God considers us at peace with himself. He considers us as righteous.
OK.... when God told Abram [whom he would later rename Abraham] that he would have so many children he couldn't count them all..... Abram was 100 years old..... and his wife Sarah.... she was so old she laughed when she heard the tale. I can just hear it now..... Abram came home from the meeting and told Sarah who it was he met with.
"Sarah.... God said we're going to have so many kids...... we won't be able to count them all"..... to which Sarah replied "Who's we? I'm way too old for all that foolishness..... my days of having babies are way behind me". But Abram insisted...... Abram was sure it was going to happen because he had "faith".
What makes all this really incredible to me.... God did surgery on Abram's penis.... circumcision is surgery..... I guess when God does the surgery there is not post surgical pain.... Apparently Abram became Abraham and went right back to work..... Unlike those men in Shechem after the rape of Dianne.... the Bible doesn't say anything about Abram [Abraham] being laid up for several day.... vulnerable to attack.
Paul says it wasn't the circumcision of the penis that made Abram become Abraham...... It was the fact that Abram believed what God said.... even though it was a really difficult idea to comprehend..... Abram believed God was going to give him a huge huge huge family..... lots of sons to bring in the harvest.... and Sarah would be their mother.... good old ancient Sarah! The point is..... Abram believed it would happen.... and that's faith.
In order to be a good Jew.... the skin of the penis had to be removed at the sweet tiny age of 8 days...... That's one week [including at least one day of rest] and a day..... Now Paul is saying all that isn't important.... what is important [according to Paul in this chapter] is the faith that Abram showed. God told Abram he was going to be ok.... and Abram believed him. Abram believed him..... that's the ticket..... let me restate it..... Abram believed God...
Even after God performed surgery on Abram's penis.... Abram believed Him.....
Even after Sara laughed in his face for saying she was going to have babies..... at her age.... but Abram believed Him.....
It's that belief that God can do anything.... that Paul [the disciple] was talking about.
Baptism and Circumcision are in the same boat..... people get all confused. It's not the circumcision that makes a man a Jew.... it's his belief in the One Living God. It's not the Baptism that makes a man a Christian.... it's his belief that Jesus gave up His life on the Cross as a sacrifice for the stuff I'm messing up..... that is important.....
It's the belief..... that's important.... not the penile surgery
It's the belief.... that's important.... not the near drowning.
It's about believing.....
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