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Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson ROMANS - The Lord is our Righteousness
Studies in the Letter of Paul to the Romans
PART 1 - The Righteousness of God Condemns all Sinners and Justifies and Sanctifies all Believers in Christ (Romans 1:18 - 8:39)
B - The New Righteousness by Faith is Open to all Men (Romans 3:21 - 4:22)
3. Abraham and David as an Example of Justification by Faith (Romans 4:1-24)
c) We are Justified by Grace and not by the Law (Romans 4:13-18)ROMANS 4:13-18 When he had denounced the false trust of the Jews in circumcision, Paul destroyed the second support of their imaginary righteousness, which was their reliance on the Law. The people of the wilderness thought that God sat on the tablets of the covenant, from which he revealed himself, and reigned over the worlds. They hoped that God would stay with them as long as they obeyed the Law with its many decrees. However, they did not recognize their horrible sin, nor did they feel the great love of God to all men. They became servants of the Law. Their hearts turned into stone, and they boasted blindly. They saw neither the anger of God on them, nor recognized Christ who lived among them. Woe to the church, or community, which is strenuous in the observation of customs, prohibitions, and judgments, rather than the simple faith in the living Christ! He who is weak in faith is better than an unloving lawyer. It is a great mystery that laws produce anger, incite transgression, and bring punishments. This is why prudent educators put only a few terms and stipulations in their houses and schools, for Christ has consecrated us to love, trust, patience, and forgiveness, and not to the enslavement to laws and regulations, to their strict interpretation, and to their severe punishments. Paul confirmed to the lawyers, once again, that Abraham was justified through faith, long before Moses came with the law. Thus, Abraham trusted God before the law was given. The Commandments came later to guide the believers, and break their pride. Faith in God’s mercy is the true power, which builds spiritual life, encourages the believer to serve God, and prompts him to good works; whereas the law besieges, condemns, punishes, and kills us. Abraham, then, did not look at his conduct, and his observation of the law, but looked only at the promise of God, and trusted his Lord. He became the example and spiritual father to all believers. Having believed the promise that in him all nations would be blessed, though he had no child yet, Abraham gained so many nations and peoples through his faith that Paul called him, “the heir of the world”. In this manner, the Holy Spirit initiated in Abraham, the simple Bedouin, the plan of blessing in which Christ himself dwelt, drawing to him all those who were justified by faith. Abraham probably excelled over most of the personalities of the Old Testament because of his great faith. God promised that in his seed he would bless all the peoples of the world, meaning by his seed, Christ himself. The Hebrew word “seed” is used to denote an individual, and the apostle affirms that there was special reference to Christ in the promise made to Abraham. Thus, those who are justified by the Crucified will inherit heaven with all its treasures because their trust in Christ has united them with the life, power, and blessings of God. Come to the Savior that you may rise from your death. If you continue in his word, the Holy Spirit will create a new life in you and your surroundings. If there is faith in the promise of God in your church or community, this faith will overcome death in sins, and establish something new which was not found before, because God creates and works through your faith, and he hears the cry of your trust. Your acceptance of his word changes you, as well as the world. PRAYER: O heavenly Father, Our minds are narrow, legalistic, and inclined to judge and condemn others. Make room for an entire believing confidence and implicit faith in our hearts, and let your Holy Spirit consecrate us to love, courage, and revival, that those who are dead in sins may rise, and your praise may abound in our nation. Create your faith in us that you may be able to do your saving work through us. QUESTION:
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