Eternity Daily Bible Study: No. 516 Romans 1-8 - A Righteousness That Is By Faith Verses: Romans 4:6-13 Topic: The Blessing And The Promise Came Through Faith Date: 29th September 2005 Romans 4:6-13 HCSB Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: (7) How happy those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered! (8) How happy the man whom the Lord will never charge with sin! (9) Is this blessing only for the circumcised, then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness. (10) How then was it credited--while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while he was circumcised, but uncircumcised. (11) And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also. (12) And he became the father of the circumcised, not only to those who are circumcised, but also to those who follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. (13) For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. Paul's argument turns on two points: 1. David says that God "covers" the sin of some people and will not charge them with sin and that this is a "blessing". 2. That Abraham entered into this blessing while Abraham was uncircumcised, through the righteousness that is by faith. It is beyond dispute that Abraham was declared righteous, because of his faith, while he was uncircumcised. (Genesis 15:6) Paul then connects this with David's declaration: "How happy those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered! How happy the man whom the Lord will never charge with sin!" In other words Abraham was one of a special class of people whose lawless acts are covered and who God NEVER charges with sin. This is so wonderful that David says "How blessed are.." such people. Of course Christians enter into this blessing through the work of Christ on the cross, and God forgives all their sin and indeed will never charge them with sin! (see Romans 8:1,2, 31-34) How did Abraham enter into this blessing of justification? How did Abraham become one of those that God will never charge with sin? Was it through circumcision? No, Abraham was not circumcised then! Was it through the Law? The Law was not given! How does the Scripture say that Abraham became righteous and inherited the blessing of justification? Through faith! Verses 9-12 above explore the theme of the blessing of Abraham being for both the circumcised and for the uncircumcised. Abraham did eventually become circumcised but this circumcision was a sign of righteousness that already existed, the righteousness of faith. Circumcision did not confer righteousness, rather it attested to its prior existence. "And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while still uncircumcised." The righteousness was not conferred by the ceremony, but the ceremony was still important as a seal and a confirmation and attestation that the righteousness that was of faith existed in Abraham's life. Paul asks the critical question: "Is this blessing only for the circumcised, then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised?" (The blessing being that of having one's sins forgiven and being one of those who God will not charge with sin.) The answer is that the blessing is for both the circumcised and for the uncircumcised. (Now the issue of the necessity of circumcision for salvation is no longer relevant for most people in that rather literal form but it was a "hot button" issue in Paul's day and has many parallels today.) Circumcision was the "sacred ceremony" the sign of the covenant and was what all spiritual people did (including Jesus Luke 1:59, 2:21) up until that time. It was a holy and unbreakable precedent and to let Gentiles become Christians without going through the sacred ceremony seemed unthinkable. To some extent circumcision has been replaced by baptism as the initiation ceremony into the spiritual life. The point of what Paul is saying is that any such ceremony is only a seal - the righteousness of personal faith in God must exist prior to the ceremony or the ceremony has little or no value. The ceremony does not impart righteousness. The righteousness of faith must exist in the person's life prior to baptism (or circumcision) and can exist apart from any such ceremony. "And he became the father of the circumcised, not only to those who are circumcised, but also to those who follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith." True Christians are those who: "follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised." Abraham's ability to believe the promises of God sets and example that all Christians must follow. This kind of faith is the pathway to spirituality and to the blessing of justification and blamelessness before God. Christians are not primarily anything except believers. Our first and foremost job is simply to take God at His Word. John 6:28-29 HCSB "What can we do to perform the works of God?" they asked. (29) Jesus replied, "This is the work of God: that you believe in the One He has sent." We are not required to obey laws or go through ceremonies but we are required to simply believe God and especially to believe in the One He has sent - Christ Jesus! This faith will activate the promise that we will inherit the world: "For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith." To put it bluntly it is not religious activity that justifies us, but our faith and trust in God. It is simply as we believe God that we are accounted as righteous. Works may flow from faith and such works may be rewarded at Christ's Coming but works do not produce the blessing of justification before God (see Ephesians 2:8-10). Righteousness comes from faith alone and not from anything we do. Why will God forgive us and never charge us with sin? Simply because we believe in Him and in His Son. 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