Romans 4:13-25

                                                                 Romans 4:13-25

For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

God made a promise to Abraham apart from the law.  He died long before the law was given through Moses.  Since the law was revealed to a small group of people, it is important that the promise be separated from the law.  This is the truth that allows us to demonstrate God’s mission to all nations.  Faith is available to all and is the responsibility of all.

 

THE PROMISE DID NOT COME TO ABRAHAM THROUGH THE LAW: When Abraham was declared righteous there was no law.  The law was not designed to justify.  The law reveals man’s sinful nature and demonstrates our being worthy of the wrath of God.  God’s righteous standard and His hatred of sin are all evident in the law.  Abraham’s faith is what made him an heir to the promise and not his ability to keep a code of conduct.

 

THE PROMISE CAME TO ABRAHAM BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH: While the law reveals God’s wrath; faith reveals God’s grace.  The fact that Abraham received the promises of God despite his many moral failures demonstrates the grace and love of God.  The justification that might come from keeping the law would only bring pride to the heart of man.  We have not room for pride, because we are saved by grace through faith.

 

THE PROMISE EXTENDS FROM ABRAHAM TO ALL NATIONS: Since the law was only reveled to the nation of Israel, it would have made salvation restricted to just one group of people.  However, Scripture reveals that Abraham is called the father of many nations.  He is the father of all who are saved by faith no matter what nationality they represent.  God is a missional God.  He is on a mission to restore people from every nation to Himself.  Only His grace through faith in Christ is this possible.

 

THE PROMISE TO ABRAHAM IS FULFILLED IN JESUS: The object of the faith that saves man from sin is Jesus.  Abraham may not have understood nearly as much as we do about Jesus and His death and resurrection.  However, he believed the promise of God to send a redeemer.  Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise.  We are saved today because we place our trust in the death and resurrection of Christ.

 

APPLICATION: Don’t imagine that there is any way for us to be able to earn salvation by keeping the law.  Be thankful for God’s grace and trust in Christ alone for salvation from sin.  He is the only reason that we can have hope.  Spread the message to justification by grace through faith to all nations because it was promised through Abraham to all nations. 

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