Romans 4 - How Can You Know If You Are Saved???
Abraham Justified by Faith
4 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.”
This is a very important chapter where Paul shows that the concept of being justified by faith. This doctrine is found in the Old Testament multiples times beginning with Abraham, the recipient of the first covenant from God. Paul quotes from Genesis 15:6 and Genesis 15:22, where it says that because of faith, Abraham was given God's righteousness. Meaning he could not earn righteousness, it only came by faith alone.
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:
Trust in God's promises is more important than works. Doing works for God is under a spirit of obligation it not done in faith. Believing in God is relational in nature. I.e. Would you rather have someone do something for you, or trust in you because they believe in you. Besides Abraham, the concept of being justified by faith is also found with King David, to whom the next great covenant was given. I.e. The Davidic, or royal of covenant. This was the covenant that the Messiah, the King of kings, would come through David's lineage. I.e. Jesus
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.”
Notice how similar this language written by King David in Psalm 32 relates to our New Testament concept of faith given to us in all of Paul's writings. I.e. Forgiveness, sins covered and not counted against us. All this is the language of grace.
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.
Paul then brings up the practice of circumcision. Although it was required by the Law of Moses, it didn't save anyone. It was a mark of the covenant. Abram was credited with righteousness by faith before he was justified. Circumcision was the seal of the covenant and the outward sign of the inward reality that he was a child of God. In this way it is much like baptism in the New Testament. Notice this also shows that both Jews and Gentiles can be justified by faith.
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.
The promise of God received is not just given to individuals but also to families. I.e. Abraham's seed. Notice the language of "promise"! Promise is relational, whereas works are obligation and duty. Works are not unimportant but flow out of the relationship we have with God by faith. If we could be justified by keeping the Law, then faith and trust in God's promises are null and void. The Law reveals our need for a righteousness that comes through faith, which is why Jesus came to save us and give us His righteousness.
Again the word righteousness means "being in a right relationship with God". It also means being "justified with God" Or, in a "just standing with God". I.e. Free from guilt and condemnation. The Law shows our need for Christ. This is its first purpose of the Law, but it is also a guide for holy living empowered by the Holy Spirit.
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.
We often call Abraham the "Father of Faith", and you can see Paul using this language here in Romans 4. When Paul says, "Not only to those who are of the law", he means the Jewish people. Those who have the faith of Abraham are also the Gentiles (most of us). This is why Paul said we are ALL children of Abraham by faith. The word "many nations" refers to the Gentiles. Nations mean "many ethnicities". The nations were all those who were surrounding the Jews. Importantly, God's plan from the beginning (Genesis 15) was to save all people through the Jews who received God's covenant through Abraham.
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.
Not only did Abraham have faith, but he also had hope. As we know it took a lot of faith and hope for Abraham to believe he and Sarah could have a child at 100 and 90 years old respectively. Abraham believed God could do what He promised.
This is so important. Faith is believing that God will do what He promised. It also means Jesus will do what He promised, since Jesus is God. Believing in Jesus means you have confidence that everything he said it true! Not only to believe in His words but to follow him with your actions. This is why Jesus said, "Follow me!"
Jesus importantly told his disciples (and us) that he would die on the cross and be raised again in three days. If this didn't happen the Christian faith would be built on a lie.
This is what makes Christianity different than any other religions. It is based on a historical figure, Jesus, who lived 2,000 years ago. This is an established fact. It is also a fact He claimed to be the Son of God and he claimed he would rise from the dead three days after He was crucified. You can have confidence knowing your faith in based on God being true to His promises. This is why faith is all about God and not what you can do.
So many believers are basing their faith on what they have done to earn God's approval, rather than the fact that we can get God's approval only by faith and trusting in His promises.
This is the gospel we preach, teach and confess. Most importantly we need to know what this means so we can explain to our friends and neighbors!
Do you believe this? Do you trust in God's promises? Do you believe in Jesus that he died for you and rose from the dead? If you do you are saved and you can believe in the promise that when you die you will be in heaven forever with all those who have gone before us, including Father Abraham.
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