week 13 day 2

Read Romans 4

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%204&version=NIV

4:1–8 Paul demonstrated in Romans 4 that justification by faith was nothing new. This section is a powerful exposition of Genesis 15:6 (quoted in Rom. 4:3, 9, 22) and how God has always forgiven his people on the basis of faith—whether Abraham before the law (4:3) or David within the time of the law (4:6–8). Both Abraham (4:3–5) and David (4:6–8) were justified in this manner. The entrance of the law in Moses’ day did not interrupt this way of righteousness by faith. The two pillars of Genesis 15:6 are “faith” (Rom. 4:3, 5, 9, 11–13, 16, 18–20, 24) and “credited” (4:3, 5, 9–11, 22–23).
This explanation of faith and its righteousness explains what Paul meant in 3:20 and 3:31. The law was never designed to save, just to instruct and condemn (3:20). And to see faith’s priority over the law was to set the law into its proper perspective, thus establishing it properly (3:31).

4:9–12 This section clarifies what Paul meant in 2:29. Circumcision was a sign (4:11), that is, its real meaning pointed away from the physical act to something else, in this case a heart of faith. See, for example, Acts 15:9. The point here (4:9) is that Abraham was credited righteous before (Gen. 15:6), not after, his circumcision (Gen. 17:9–14). The fact that Abraham was justified apart from circumcision opens the doorway of faith to Gentiles—those who have faith but have not been circumcised (Rom. 4:11).

4:13–25 Abraham was promised the world as his inheritance, not through the law, but through faith (4:13). Paul shows that the law of circumcision came after Abraham’s justification by faith. Again, this established the proper framework for the law. It came to those who were already righteous by faith; therefore it must have a purpose other than justification. Its purpose was to correct and condemn where needed, thus driving its followers to God’s grace through the offerings of the tabernacle, then the temple, and finally, Christ.

Law was not the vehicle of promise (4:13). Paul’s use of Genesis 17:5 and 15:5 (Rom. 4:17–18) was Old Testament proof that Abraham was “the father” (4:16) through God’s promise to him and through his own faith. The resurrection and creation themes of 4:17 are the foundation both for Paul’s faith that God would do something with his too old body (4:19) and for the faith of all believers that God raised up the dead body of Jesus (4:24).


Discussion question

Do you see your relationship with God as a gift to be received or a prize to be earned?

Reflection question

In what area of your life do you need to take a lesson from Abraham and focus not on working but on believing?