Rom 4:1-25
Key Verses 23-24 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.
Introduction: So far, Paul laid out clearly that
no one can be called righteous and all are justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. In other words, a person is
justified by faith apart from the works of the law (v28).
This truth is established based on the law’s
inability to bring man to God’s righteousness. But there are more questions
than answers given. What about the promise of God? Was God’s promise of
salvation in line with this assertion? What about the Covenant, particularly
covenant of circumcision? This directly opposes the claim that by faith the
salvation is to all and there is no distinction between the Jew and Gentile.
The last question is how and why God would honor faith over godly life, work?
Paul said that the Law and the Prophets testify
this truth (3:21).
So, today’s passage speaks about a particular
part of the history of Israel that explicitly reveals this truth. We will
discuss this into four parts: how God imparted his blessing of righteousness to
Abraham and David (1-8); Was circumcision necessary to receive the credit of
righteousness? (9-12); If God’s promise of blessing was received by faith or by
works? (13-17) Finally, what is the faith that God was happy with and willing
to honor by giving His righteousness? (18-25)
1. By faith, Ab and David counted to be righteous
by the LORD (1-8).
Having established the fact that all are
justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus
(3:24), Paul got into the OT and picked up two most important characters where
this truth began and revealed most explicitly. Abraham was the father of God’s
blessing for Israel. When God called him at first, he said clearly that He
would bless Abraham as the source of blessing (Gen 12:3). When God
made his visit to Moses in the Midian wilderness, He explicitly told Moses that
He is the God of Abraham and He came to rescue Israel as He promised to Abraham
(Exo 3). Abraham was their first patriarch and out of him came the nation
Israel. How could Abraham get God’s blessing? This is the most important
question. Before getting to the answer to this question, we like to examine
what the Jews beloved the role of their ancestors Abraham.
First, God called Ab and blessed him with a promise to make him and his
descendants be the source of bless for all nations of the world (Gen
12:1-3). Second, the Jews thought and believed that Abraham
was the godliest patriarch and because of his godliness, God blessed him as
well as his descendants, Israel. Third, the law was a part
of this blessing to make Israel unique and different from all other nations,
i.e., to make them godlier than all nations of the world. Fourth,
the covenant of circumcision marks the distinctiveness and made them superior
from all other nations of the world. All this understanding is well supported
by the fact that God called them a royal priesthood and holy nation.
Jews’ superiority grounded on the covenant in
the law/circumcision set squarely against the message of the Gospel; all men
are saved by faith, nothing else.
Since Paul had said that the law and the
Prophets support the truth of the Gospel, while the Jews hold that the Law and
the Prophets support their belief, who’s right must be determined by carefully
examine the message of the Law and the Prophets.
First Paul explains how the patriarch Abraham
was blessed by the LORD.
3 What does Scripture say? "Abraham
believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
At the outset of God’s call, he promised to make
him a great nation. But even after many years passed by, Ab did not have a son.
So, he complained to the Lord when he would give him a son. God took him
outside and showed the millions of stars in the sky and told him that his
descendants will be numerous as the stars in the sky. Abraham believed what God
said and God was happy to credit him righteousness (Gen 15:6). It was his
belief in God’s word of promise that earned him God’s righteousness. Since he
did not do anything to earn God’s righteousness, it was a gift, not a wage that
would be due to him for his work. In other words, God imparted him His
righteousness freely without any merit simply because he believed the Lord that
He would and could do what he promised him. So, it is God’s grace and mercy.
Out of this came the long-lasting relationship between the LORD and Abraham,
which bore many blessings, including a son Isaac and then Jacob, and then 12
sons of Israel and then a nation out of these 12 sons.
There is quite a number of such examples in the
history of Israel. Out of them, David was the most prominent example. David was
a man of faith from childhood. When he was just a teenager, he defeated the
giant soldier Goliath by faith in the Lord. His faith in the Lord was
demonstrated numerous times until he became the king of Israel. Up to this
time, his faith looked to be an impeccable one. God was so happy with him that
He promised to make one of his decedents to establish an everlasting kingdom.
But one evening he saw a beautiful woman and his heart was drawn to desires of
sin and committed adultery and murder of one of his loyal servants. According
to the Law, such man must be condemned to death. When he was rebuked of his
sin, he repented. God accepted his repentance and said this through Nathan (2
Sam 12:13-14):
13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have
sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin.
You are not going to die. 14 But because by doing this you have shown
utter contempt for the LORD, the son born to you will die.”
Though the Law of Covenant demands his death,
God showed his mercy and imparted His righteousness because David put his trust
in the LORD’s mercy. The moment when David felt receiving God’s righteousness
was a dramatic turning point.
19 David noticed that his attendants were
whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child
dead?” he asked. “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.” 20 Then David got up
from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes,
he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own
house, and at his request, they served him food, and he ate.
The baby was born sick and dying. David pleaded
with God in prayer. He fasted, putting on sackcloth and lying on the
ground. He saw the gravity of his sin falling on his son. As soon as
the bay died, he took this as God’s sign of forgiveness. At this time, what
went on in his heart? David expressed the sorrow and joy in his psalm (32:1-2)
1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions
are forgiven; whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the one whose sin the
LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. (Ps 32; Rom
4:7)
This is the joy of relief from the power of
death, joy of peace in God’s grace, and joy of knowing God’s amazing mercy. It
was all because this blessing was given freely because David trusted the LORD,
even his life. Simply by faith, David received God’s righteousness as was with
Abraham.
What is the significance of these two stories,
the story of Abraham, and that of David? Israel’s history can be divided into
two phases; the formative period, which is from Abraham to King Saul. The next
one is the period as the kingdom of God, from David to the exile. Abraham is
more of the head of the first period, while David was the head of the second
period. What God did in the lives of the head of both periods points to what
God would do through His Son Jesus for the world. give through the Gospel in Christ;
both received the righteousness of God by faith. God’s will and His truth was
at the beginning of His will to bless Abraham for the sake of the world. This
continued through King David and was starkly revealed through His son Jesus by
letting him pay for the sins of human races. His purpose is clear; he wanted
all come to him by faith; no matter how sinful and ungodly one might have been,
if he or she comes to him by faith in Jesus, He would accept him/her and would
give His righteousness.
2. Was circumcision necessary to receive the credit
of righteousness? (9-12);
Circumcision was another huddle that stands
against the righteousness by faith. When God made a covenant with Abraham (Gen
17), he told him this:
10 This is my covenant with you and your
descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every
male among you shall be circumcised. …My covenant in your flesh is to be
an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male,
who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off (Gen
17)
According to this covenant condition, if one is
not circumcised, he can never be a part of the Israel community and at the same
time can never enjoy the covenant blessing given to Abraham. Out of this
command, Israel believed that she was an exclusive community of God’s blessing.
Anyone wanted to be a part of God’s blessing given through Abraham must be
circumcised. If we flip this word, it means that if anyone is
not circumcised, he can never receive the blessing promised through Abraham.
All the gentiles are not circumcised and have not joined in Israel community.
And they cannot share the blessing given to Abraham. So has Israel thought
without any doubt? Paul did think this way before. But after receiving the
righteousness from Christ by faith, Paul looked into the depth of what God did
to Abraham and found amazing truth.
10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was
it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! (Rom 4)
God’s plan of salvation evolves as time goes,
not in content but in the revelation of the content. Because of this, people
often think that God changed his plan or his mind. But such understanding comes
from their ignorance on an understanding of the words of promise in-depth. What
did Paul discover on this matter? The covenant of the circumcision (Gen 17) was
given 15 years after God credited Abraham's righteousness (Gen
15; Ref 16:16). Fifteen years before he commanded circumcision, God
credited Abraham's righteousness. God would not or could not annul that credit
for once it was given, it was Abraham’s and God could not undo or take back!
Giving out a covenant of circumcision was additional; either to reinforce the
first one or to focus on a particular purpose for the time or for the people.
Paul explains;
11 And he received circumcision as a
sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he
was still uncircumcised.
Circumcision was not a new covenant in addition
to the covenant of blessing, the righteousness, received by faith. So, this
does not undo or redo of the blessing already had given. It is only
a sign in the flesh so that they might not forget the
covenant blessing given through faith. How can it be just a sign? A
sign is something pointing to what the sign represents. This sign points to ‘the
righteousness’ received by faith according to God’s grace. Three things
support this: first, the time it was given: It was given
after he made a covenant of blessing by faith only (Gen 15). God does not make
two covenants, esp, when one conflicts with the other. God does not undo the
old one in order to make a new one. The first and old one stands. God knows all
things and does not change his mind and when he speaks, he speaks the truth
that lasts forever. What comes after the first one is either to reinforce the
first one or to supplement the first one. Second, it
was given soon after pointing out his weakness in the life faith. This weakness
in faith became evident when he took Hagar to bear a child. Abraham and Sarah
thought that Sarah was too old to have a son. In other words, the faith was
hampered by the weakness in flesh, particularly Sarah’s old age. The dependence
on flesh is the culprit that weakens and even thwarts one’s faith. Faith in the
Lord’s word must be enforced and the weakness in flesh must be done away with.
How can one do away with flesh or its weakness while still living in it? For
this purpose, God told them to cut off the foreskin, his own flesh. It surely
causes so much pain in the flesh. Yet it must be cut off so as to put one’s
trust in the word of God’s promise. In other words, circumcision was
an outward expression of one’s internal disposition of his/her heart to the
will of God against the needs and demands of his own flesh. This
is the reason why this is only a sign and it points to the righteousness
received by faith. It further implies that he has to do this for the
weakness of flesh stands against the faith all the time. Weakness
in our flesh stands always in the way of faith. Because of this, he has to do
this even when he felt ‘the life in the flesh’ is in danger. It, without
exception, causes pain in the flesh. Third, God
spoke of the absolute necessity of circumcision so that they may be a kingdom
of priests and holy nation (Exo 19:5-6) among all nations. It has
little to do with ‘salvation’ or receiving the righteousness from the Lord for
they had already received salvation. But after all, did this
succeed? No! They failed to commit their hearts to the Lord in order to suit
the need of the flesh. Israel was chastised for having the
uncircumcised heart that led to rebellion and disobedience to the
Lord. The result was dismal. Israel was sent to exile and they suffered a great
deal. They could not do away with the weaknesses of flesh by holding on to the
grace given by the Lord. Simply circumcision of flesh did not lead them to the
circumcision of the heart. They were not willing to cut off the flesh off in
thankfulness to the Lord’s blessing. Rather, they succumb to or served the
needs of their flesh. And yet they became proud of what they did. The failure
of the circumcision in flesh speaks loudly that the works of flesh cannot lead
to God’s blessings. It was with Abraham, with David, and has been since and it
is even now that blessing that God gave to Abraham, the credit of
righteousness, comes only by faith. What’s its implication?
11b So then, he is the father of all who
believes but has 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.
This promise or this blessing stands effective
for those who are circumcised as well as for those who are not circumcised. So,
Abraham is the father of those who came to the Lord by faith whether they are
circumcised or not.
3. Promise to be the heir of the world (13-17)
At the outset of his call, God gave a promise,
to give a great blessing and to be a father of many nations, while Abraham was
childless and had little hope to have a son. This attracted the heart of
Abraham and he set off his feet to follow God’s promise. Out of
three promises, Abraham being the source of blessing for the whole world is the
last and ultimate purpose of God (12:3). How would the Lord fulfill this
purpose? Was it through the Law?
a) The blessing that flows from Abraham to the world is not through
the Law (13-15)
13 It was not through the law that Abraham and
his offspring received the promise that he would be the 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
Long before giving the law, God, at the outset
of his call to Abraham, offered this blessing (Gen 12:3). God projected this
vision by showing Abraham the millions of stars in the sky (Gen
15:5). Abraham believed this vision and was credited with
righteousness from the Lord (12:6). If this is through the Law, then, this
promise could be never envisioned because the law brings death to all. Simply
the law has no part of the hope in the promise. The early church sent out many
messages of salvation for the gentiles. The first one was Peter’s. Peter said
to the house members of Cornelius: Acts 10:43 All the prophets testify
about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of
sins through his name.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these
words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
b) The promise comes by faith only.
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.” 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.
When did the Lord set his promise of
blessing to Abraham? Some say that God did this when Ab obeyed and
went to the land of God’s promise (12:7). The most conclusive evidence is in ch
15 when God credited to him righteousness as Ab believed the Lord. This is the
most concrete one because both, Abraham’s belief and receiving of the credit of
righteousness, are what happened in the depth of Abraham’s heart. In this way,
Abraham’s heart became one with the Lord’s. On the other hand, the promise in
the law was little to do with one’s heart but more to do with one’s work.
Deuteronomy 11:26 See, I am setting before you
today a blessing and a curse-- 27 the blessing if you obey the
commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; 28 the
curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn
from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have
not known. (NIV)
The work in obedience to the Law is what one
does in action, while the faith that receives God’s righteousness is the
substance in one’s inner being. Action in obedience to the law is men’s effort
dependent. But the righteousness given by the Lord is dependent on the promise
of God, who is reliable and trustworthy in all circumstances. So, the
righteousness by the law squarely lies in position to the righteousness by
faith alone. You cannot have two; you either go by faith or go by the works in
the law. Paul lays down this principle:
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.
Salvation is by faith only! It is God’s grace
for sinners.
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." 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.
As Israel was confused, so are many who sought
God confused and chase after two; the faith and works in the Law. These dual
goals drive many crazy for they neither put their trust in the Lord wholly nor
put hope in the strength of their flesh. We must have a single-minded heart; by
faith only from the beginning to the end. This is for all human
races.
4. Finally, what is the faith that God was happy
with and willing to honor by giving His righteousness? (18-25)
Since receiving the righteousness from the Lord
was by faith, it is very important to know what faith means. What was the faith
that Abraham had and that God was very happy with? Paul captured the faith of
Abraham in this way:
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."
Faith is the faith that trusts the Lord against
all hope. They hope to have a child was in his strength of his body and the
strength of his wife Sarah. Both were too old to have a child. They were as
good as dead as far as bearing a child was concerned. Can a dead body bear a
new life? No! The chance was nil! This was the situation of “against all
hope”. What did he do against such a hopeless situation?
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 the power to do what he had promised.
He believed that God had the power to give them
a child though they were as good as dead. In other words, they believed that
God has life and God can give life even though there is no life at all. In this
way, or by this belief, Abraham gave the Lord full honor as the creator of life
and the LORD of all creation. Because of this, God was happy to credit him His
righteousness (22). To honor him is to believe and to give credit to the Lord
that he is the owner of life is the creator of all things. When one comes to
the Lord in this term, He would impart His righteousness no matter who they are
and what they did. How did the Lord send out this message? Or how did the LORD
call out for such faith from among all people of the world?
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.
Jesus died for the sins of men. God raised him
from the dead. By letting his own son suffer in this way, God revealed His
power and His will to deliver His righteousness to all those who believe in His
son. Paul said in 1:17
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it
is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes:
first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the
righteousness of God is revealed--a righteousness that is by faith from
first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by
faith." (Rom 1:16 NIV)
In the message of the cross, God revealed His
righteousness; he is right and just in punishing the sins of men and at the
same time he is right and just in giving out His righteousness to all who
believe in His son. Jesus died on the cross. He was raised to life by God’s
power. These two are the foundational elements of faith as was with Abraham and
David. He died for us and was raised to life for our righteousness.
Here all men have hope and this is the hope that no men, no weakness, no sin
can take away from us.
If murder and adultery can be forgiven and
receive God’s righteousness, then who else cannot receive His blessing?
No comments:
Post a Comment