Daily Bread 2011 - Romans 4
Daily Bread 2011 – Romans 4
13 It was not through 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 live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, 15 because 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 are of 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 things that are not as though they were.
What Does This Mean?
Paul gets into some serious teaching here on the difference between the Law and the Promises of God. He also does some teaching on the value of circumcision and how it was meant to be a sign of the faith of the Israelites. Paul reminds us of the story of Abraham who its says in Genesis 15:6 believed in the covenant God made with him and it was credited as righteousness. This was the promise God made to Abram (at the time) that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the heavens. Since Abram was older and childless he wondered how it could be yet trusted in God’s promises.
Paul explains that the essence of faith is trust in God’s promises and realizing we could never on live up to the demands of the Law. For if we could earn God’s approval by living up to the Law’s standard, then it would not be by grace but by works that were seen as right in God’s eyes. But because God’s gives us the gift of faith it is by grace we are saved! Abram believed in God’s promises and this was the first example of faith in the bible and therefore he is called the “father of faith”. It was a precursor to faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God, but faith nonetheless, the same faith that justifies us.
What Does This Mean for Us?
These foundational passages in Romans give us the framework for a theology of being saved by faith through grace not based on works. These were the teachings that Martin Luther built his 95 Theses on that he posted on the Wittenberg Door in 1518 that sparked the Protestant Reformation. While the Law has value and is holy because it came from God, it can do nothing to change the inherent problem we have as sinner. All the Law can do is convict that we are in need of a Savior. But the Gospel is the Promise of God that we can be made righteous through faith based on the gift of Jesus as His atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Just as called Abraham, He has called you by faith. If you believe in the gift, the promises of God; as revealed in His Son, you too are an heir like Abraham and all those who have come after him in faith. And this is why we can be 100% sure of our faith and our destination as sons and daughters of God, because it is God who made these promises and guaranteed them by raising Jesus from the dead thus proving He was the Son of God.
Heavenly Father we thank you for this great gift you have given us of faith in Your Promises by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Thank you for sending Jesus so that in Him we might see the righteousness of God in his life, death and resurrection, Amen.
13 It was not through 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 live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, 15 because 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 are of 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 things that are not as though they were.
What Does This Mean?
Paul gets into some serious teaching here on the difference between the Law and the Promises of God. He also does some teaching on the value of circumcision and how it was meant to be a sign of the faith of the Israelites. Paul reminds us of the story of Abraham who its says in Genesis 15:6 believed in the covenant God made with him and it was credited as righteousness. This was the promise God made to Abram (at the time) that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the heavens. Since Abram was older and childless he wondered how it could be yet trusted in God’s promises.
Paul explains that the essence of faith is trust in God’s promises and realizing we could never on live up to the demands of the Law. For if we could earn God’s approval by living up to the Law’s standard, then it would not be by grace but by works that were seen as right in God’s eyes. But because God’s gives us the gift of faith it is by grace we are saved! Abram believed in God’s promises and this was the first example of faith in the bible and therefore he is called the “father of faith”. It was a precursor to faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God, but faith nonetheless, the same faith that justifies us.
What Does This Mean for Us?
These foundational passages in Romans give us the framework for a theology of being saved by faith through grace not based on works. These were the teachings that Martin Luther built his 95 Theses on that he posted on the Wittenberg Door in 1518 that sparked the Protestant Reformation. While the Law has value and is holy because it came from God, it can do nothing to change the inherent problem we have as sinner. All the Law can do is convict that we are in need of a Savior. But the Gospel is the Promise of God that we can be made righteous through faith based on the gift of Jesus as His atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Just as called Abraham, He has called you by faith. If you believe in the gift, the promises of God; as revealed in His Son, you too are an heir like Abraham and all those who have come after him in faith. And this is why we can be 100% sure of our faith and our destination as sons and daughters of God, because it is God who made these promises and guaranteed them by raising Jesus from the dead thus proving He was the Son of God.
Heavenly Father we thank you for this great gift you have given us of faith in Your Promises by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Thank you for sending Jesus so that in Him we might see the righteousness of God in his life, death and resurrection, Amen.
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