Romans 4

I've put this off for a looooong time! For that, I apologize. Romans is so big, so important, and so unpackable that it's become a little daunting. I want to cover everything, explain every reference, learn about every illustration, allusion, or point, and I end up doing nothing because there's always more to do. But it's silly to feel like that! If I miss stuff, I can always go back. It's a blog, not a final exam. Shipping is a feature!

I'm encouraged to go ahead with this by three things: a book I checked out intended to be a Bible-study of Romans, a commentary given to me by a friend, and an after-church Bible study I've been attending on Sundays. I'm in different places in Romans in each of these, so if I seem a little scatterbrained or connection-heavy, you'll understand why.

Let's get moving.

Abraham Justified by Faith

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
"Blessed are they
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord will never count against him."

Paul uses two figures from the Old Testament (Abraham and King David) to further emphasize that we are saved through faith, not through our works. Aside from this fundamental point, this section also strengthens the idea that the Old Testament is tied to the New. Christ came not to found a brand new religion, but to serve as the Head and fulfillment of one that had existed since it was first promised to Satan in front of Adam and Eve that one of their offspring "will crush [Satan's] head, and you will strike his heel".

The picture that we are given in this section is one of an accounting book, or ledger, with assets and liabilities. God 'credits' the good things that Christ did into Abraham's account through Abraham's belief in Christ. Abraham's belief in Christ will be discussed a few chapters from now. David also says that God will not count a person's sins against them- they have been covered. We get rid of our liabilities and put them on Christ.

How do we get the right to do this? How do we switch these assets and liabilities? Some people were believing that we somehow earn this righteousness. Paul points out that the Bible doesn't say, "Abraham's belief earned him righteousness". It says "Abraham's belief was credited to him as righteousness".

From my Bible-study book:
1. Why was Abraham's faith not a work that earned the wage of righteousness?

This is a very important question! Sometimes we may think of faith itself as a good work, somewhat akin to helping old ladies cross the street. However, Paul also wrote in Ephesians that "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God". Abraham's faith was a gift of God, not a work on Abraham's part.

2. In Psalm 32:1-2, David describes what God does when He credits righteousness to a person. How does David describe what God does?

An easy question: he says that God covers a person's sins and doesn't hold them against him. Jesus told this parable in Matthew 18: "the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

'The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.'"

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Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness. Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

This argument might be a little hard to understand if we don't know more details of the life of Abraham. The scripture that Paul was quoting in the section before was from Genesis 15. In it, God promises to give Abraham offspring and land. It's not until two chapters (and 14 years) later in Genesis 17 that he is circumcised. It's not until hundreds of years later that Abraham's descendant Moses will receive the Ten Commandments and the rest of the law. Therefore, Abraham wasn't righteous due to his observation of the law or circumcision- they hadn't been given yet. Instead, Abraham is credited with righteousness through his believing the promises of God: the promises of land, offspring, and a certain member of those offspring named Jesus, the Messiah.

3. Remember the Jews' beliefs about circumcision. Why was it important that God declared Abraham righteous before he was circumcised?

This is important because it meant that salvation is for all people, both circumcised Jews and uncircumcised Gentiles.

4. Circumcision was a sign (pointer) and a seal (outward ratification and guarantee) of the righteousness Abraham had by faith. What are the signs and seals of a Christian's righteousness by faith?

I think the signs can include the fruit of the Spirit spoken of in Galatians 5: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.". These are outer things that are visible that serve of evidence of faith.

The seals of a Christian's righteousness by faith include the sacraments of baptism and holy communion. In a way, Christ's resurrection and ascension are also seals: they show that the sacrifice given by Jesus did the job.

5. Abraham is the physical forefather of all who are physically Jews. Of whom is he the spiritual forefather?

This is another easy question. Abraham is the spiritual forefather of people who share his belief in God's promises.

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This is 13 verses out of 25. I'll do the remaining half within this blog post, too.