Romans 4:1-5
Father God, thank you so much for this time that we can spend reading and studying your word, specifically today in Romans chapter 4. In Jesus's name we pray, amen.Romans 4:1-3 in the KJB says,
"1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."
As we had discussed in a previous study, Abraham believed God and God counted it unto him for righteousness. It was much later on that Abraham would do works of faith, but his works of faith were not in order to maintain his salvation. Rather, like believers today, it was about teaching us to live according to God's word which brings us rewards. Believers will be rewarded for how much they allowed Christ to live in and through them. One of Abraham's rewards will be in seeing his numerous descendants in the new heaven and new earth (Abraham and all believers have eternal life). He went from not being able to have a child with Sarah almost their entire earthly life, to having countless descendants on into eternity. These descendants include spiritual descendants and not just physical ones, because Abraham is called the father of all believers.
Romans 4:16 says, "16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,"
Also, without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6a says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him:"
Now, let's look over the verses again.
Romans 4:1-3 says,
"1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
[Abraham is physically the father of the Jews but is also the spiritual father of beleving Jews and Gentiles]
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
[Abraham could never have produced a child with Sarah without God's miraculous intervention. When Abraham had a son with the handmaid, God said that this son was NOT Abraham's true heir. Works of the flesh don't cut it with God! Our works of the flesh are NOT sufficient to save us or else we too could boast. 1 Corinthians 1:29 says, "That no flesh should glory in his presence.” No flesh will ever boast before God!]
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."
[This is referring to Genesis 15:1-6 which says, "1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
2 And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
4 And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness."]
Romans 4:4-5 then goes on to say,
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
[If you could earn salvation, then it is not grace. Grace is a free gift. We don’t earn something that is freely given. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."]
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
[Once we recognize our sin nature, and that we cannot save ourselves, we are simply to BELIEVE how that Christ Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose again for our justification. Once we believe that gospel, our FAITH is counted for righteousness. Its really that simple.]
Homework: Read over Romans chapter 4 again. Find and Identify the sections in this chapter.
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