Romans 5:1: Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ), “For unless you first of all grasp what your relationship to God is, and the nature of h i s judgment concerning you, you have neither a foundation on which to establish your salvation nor one on which to build piety toward God.” God justifies us as a gift through faith (3:24). Paul goes back to the theme of boasting (3:27), to argue: “What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? That transaction takes place the instant that we believe in Jesus (2 Cor. Though he didn’t know Jesus’ name and he had no evidence other than God’s promise, Abraham looked forward in faith to God’s Redeemer and thus God credited it to him as righteousness. 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. Paul must have said, “God justifies the one who tries to do his best. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo... More, 3. Romans 8:9-11 Christians have God’s Spirit to guide and assist them, Romans 8:12,13 by which if … What is the best of human righteousness when you compare it to God’s absolute righteousness? He does not say that God justifies the godly (those who are righteous by their own merit), but that God justifies the ungodly. When God called Abram, he promised, “I will make of you a great nation” (Genesis 12:2). John Calvin thought that it is mentioned here, long after Abraham was first justified, to prove that justification does not just begin by faith, only to be perfected later by works. Faith does not merit God’s favor, or grace would not be undeserved. So it’s a very important text to understand. He thus reveals the broad scope of God’s relationship with humans. For example, the Book of Jubilees (23:10), written about 100 B.C. If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. He came to the studio the next day, but the artist sent him away because he had washed his face, combed his hair, and put on a suit of clean clothes. Romans 5:8-10. You acknowledge that the wages of your sin is death (Rom. “our forefather, has found according to the flesh” (v. 1b). That’s not fair! His righteous status cannot be earned, but is a gift of God. He proves this by showing that Abraham was justified before he was circumcised. ), “For unless you first of all grasp what your relationship to God is, and the nature of his judgment concerning you, you have neither a foundation on which to establish your salvation nor one on which to build piety toward God.” In other words, this truth is foundational for your entire Christian life. He also refers to Genesis 17:5, where God promised that Abraham would be the father of many nations (4:17), and concludes that descent from Abraham includes all “of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all” (4:16). Finally (4:23-25), Paul applies the lessons of Abraham’s faith to his readers. We are “justified freely by his (God’s) grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). In other words, Paul does not mean that Abraham could have boasted before people, but not before God. If you feel bad about your sins and are trying to get them under control so that God will accept you, you have not ceased working. But when you bring God into the picture, Abraham’s boast vanishes.” It’s as if one bug was bragging to another bug, “I’m taller than you are!” just before a human comes along and squashes both of them. The truth is justification takes place in the heart. So why does Moses mention in Genesis 15:6 that Abraham believed God and that God reckoned it to him as righteousness? In chapter 4, he says that Abraham is “the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision” (4:12). Faith means taking God at His word when He promises to justify the one who has faith in Jesus (3:26). Paul’s point in 4:1-2 is that if justification were by works rather than by faith alone, it would give us a ground for boasting. The flow of thought in the chapter is as follows (from Thomas Schreiner, Romans [Baker], pp. In doing so, Paul was challenging the Judaism’s central premise—that obedience to the law determined one’s relationship to God (MacArthur). That, however, is not what Paul says. Romans 8:5-8 The evil of being carnally minded, and the good of being. • the fact that none is righteous (3:9-20); He lived and died without seeing God’s promise fulfilled, but believing that it would be. • First, God “who gives life to the dead.” This recalls Abraham and Sarah, who were as good as dead, but who, by the grace of God, gave birth to descendants “as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore” (Hebrews 11:12. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV) of the Bible, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. Is it fair (just) for God to forgive an evil murderer who trusts in Christ, but to condemn a loving person who didn’t trust Christ? The people of Israel tried to obey God and follow the Law, but they didn't succeed. IX (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1954), Luther, Martin, Commentary on Romans, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1976), Moo, Douglas, The New International Commentary on the New Testament: Romans (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1996), Morris, Leon, The Epistle to the Romans (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdman’s Publishing Co, 1988), Mounce, Robert H., The New American Commentary: Romans, (Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), Myers, Allen C. In short, his self-construal was—and always will be—since the Damascus road anyway, one who was a free and willing slaveof the Lord Jesus Christ. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Do these two stories grate on your soul? 3For what does the Scripture say? Thus it is not by accident that it always has been under fire. “For the law works wrath“ (v. 15a). Romans 5 - NIV: Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. If justification were based on how righteous we were in actual conduct, then we could never be declared perfectly righteous in this life, because we always have some indwelling sin in us. You don’t send him a thank you note, telling him how much you appreciated his kindness. It brings to light not our worthiness, but our unworthiness. The apostle Paul was unreservedly committed to Christ and to the ministry of the gospel. Submission to the Authorities. See how this Scripture accepts the charge, and plainly states it! See also Genesis 17:15-21; 18:11-14). 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,). There is debate among scholars as to whether Paul was referring specifically to Abraham or whether he meant to contrast a notoriously sinful person with the relatively good Abraham. The name Paul means little. The Prayer of Manasseh (8), states that God did not appoint repentance for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, “who were righteous and did not sin against Thee.” (What Bible were they reading?) The Book of Romans is a four-part explanation of the Gospel message written by Paul to the Church in Rome. Both are beneficiaries of a generous gift. However, Paul has already stated that God is the God of Gentiles also, since he “will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith ” (3:29-30). If God justifies the ungodly and you’re ungodly, there’s hope for you! For g in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. He/she has no currency to purchase salvation, but is wholly dependent on God to provide it as a gift. Who can boast of personal holiness in the presence of God’s holiness? While Abraham was relatively good when you compare humans with humans, in God’s sight we all have sinned and fall short of His glory. What did he discover about being made right with God? • and the fact that righteousness is possible only through faith (3:21-31). Book of Romans Explained. He called justification by faith “the chief article from which all our other doctrines have flowed.” He said, “If the article of justification is lost, all Christian doctrine is lost at the same time.” He argued, “It alone begets, nourishes, builds, preserves, and defends the church of God, and without it the church of God cannot exist for one hour.” (James Boice, Romans: Justification by Faith [Zondervan], p. 126, citing from What Luther Says: An Anthology, compiled by Ewald Pass, [Concordia], 2:702-704.). Roman Forum, most important forum in ancient Rome, situated on low ground between the Palatine and Capitoline hills. The artist needed him as a poor beggar and he was not invited in any other capacity. Read Scripture Part I. Paul’s Magnus Opus. 6:23), eternal separation from the holy God. Abraham Justified by Faith. OVERVIEW Paul's opening to this letter to the church in Rome follows standard letter-writing conventions of the day with certain modifications. 4-5). 3 For what does the Scripture say? Romans chapter 1 KJV (King James Version) 1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,. For q there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. The Jewish Christians could claim to be the seed of Abraham by bloodline, but all Christians can claim to be Abraham’s spiritual descendants. The verb, elogisthe, is an accountant’s word. So also we have no right to demand anything from God based on our achievement, righteousness, or faith. The book of Romans is a Pauline Epistle (letter from Paul). The Faith of Abraham. Thus for your own salvation, for your being able to resist the winds of false doctrine blowing in our day, and for your being able to present the gospel clearly to those who are trusting in their good works to save them, you must be clear on this truth: God graciously justifies the ungodly sinner who believes in Jesus Christ. 5:21). Romans 15. Faith means taking the gift of Christ’s full payment for your sins, much as you would thankfully receive a check from a wealthy man who offered to pay a large fine that you couldn’t afford to pay. 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God. You must be somewhat surprised to read a text like this: “Him that justifieth the ungodly.” I do not wonder that you are surprised; for with all my familiarity with the great grace of God, I never cease to wonder at it. It has fallen into your mind that, if you were excellent, then God would reward you; and you have thought that because you are not worthy, therefore there could be no way of your enjoying His favor. When you compare humans to humans, Abraham was a good guy. If you work to earn justification, then God owes you something. She writes: “Several years ago in Peru, during the insurgence of the Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path), a Wycliffe couple was travelling to show the film in a village. 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