Romans 4 - Faith is Not Another Work We Do to Be Saved!

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.

Paul continues to teach the Romans on the nature of faith and how we are credited with righteousness not because of what he have done, but because of what God has done for us.  If we could be righteous through works, God would owe us a debt of righteousness and it would not be a gift.  But as we saw yesterday, we cannot become righteous by obeying the law, because we all fall short of keeping it perfectly.  Works righteousness is legal in nature.  If I do this much, then you owe me this much.  Much like if we work a certain amount of hours we are owed a certain amount of money based on our hourly wage.  

Paul uses the example of Abraham to show why it is faith not works that makes us right with God.  Remember the law which was given through Moses came after Abraham.  Abraham is the father of faith because he was the first one to trust in God's promises.  When God told Abraham his descendents would be as numerous as the stars in the skies though Abraham had no son at the the time but Genesis 15:5 says, "Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness."    

Paul again teaches the Jews that although they are physical descendants of Abraham, if they don't have faith like him they won't be credited with righteousness.  Yet if a Gentile who does not know the law believes in God's promises, he becomes the offspring of Abraham by faith.  While circumcision was a sign of being part of God's covenant people, it did not justify the Jewish people, only faith could. Circumcision did not save the people, but faith in the God who prescribed the circumcision in the Law did.  

The covenant of circumcision is similar in some ways with holy baptism.  Baptism does not save us, but faith in what baptism signifies does.  Baptism simply means being "completely covered" or "immersed" in the grace of God. The water is the sign of being completely cleansed by the grace of God. Notice that the cleansing comes from outside of us. God acts to save us. When a child becomes older they are taught how to have faith in what their baptism signified when they were but a child.  Circumcision set apart Jewish boys and adult Jewish converts to God, but it was faith in God that saved them.  

Finally, the easiest way to say this which is the rallying cry of the Reformation is, "We are saved by grace through faith."  Notice it is not faith that saves us but God's grace which we apprehend by faith.  Faith is not another work we do to be saved.  Faith is trusting in what has already been done for us.  Therefore all credit must go to God.  Grace is a gift, it cannot be earned only received by faith in the gift giver.