As I have been reading and studying the Word, I thought maybe it might be a good idea to put my thoughts down. I’m going to shoot for a chapter a day, just a quick overview with some context. And, since I’ve never written down anything but scribbles in the margins, I figured, why not start with Romans, the [Sarcasm Alert!] one book in the Bible that doesn’t really bear on anything.
So, here goes. I’m reading in the English Standard Version, because it’s a literal (word-for-word) translation in more conversational language than many of the extant literal translations. So, crack open your own Bible, or click on the link below and read along! Comments are both encouraged and welcome! (You can find the beginning of this series here)
This chapter is key in describing the continuity of God’s plan from the Old Testament through the New. There is no distinction made between Jew and “Greek” here: justification by works is nonexistent; God has always saved according to faith.
2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and his faith was counted to him as righteousness. 4Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness
Paul is attempting to underline the uselessness of our efforts on our own behalf; all the striving to please God that we can muster will never be enough to satisfy our guilt before our Lord and Judge. If the sacrifices, the ways, even the thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, how, then do we become righteous in God’s eyes? By justification. How are we justified? By grace, through faith.
9Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.
So what about the Law? Does it even apply anymore?
[My Lovely Bride and I were talking about this very subject just last night, the relationship between the OT and the NT. My take on it is this: If we wish to follow the Law of Moses, we must follow all 600+ components of it. I don't think there's an exemption for moral law, or another exemption for ceremonial law. And I don't know how you'd easily pick out which was which; there are all sorts of proscriptions all piled on top of each other. Keeping the Law means keeping all of the Law; likewise, failing any part of it means violating all of it. So what use is the OT? Well, it's certainly good color commentary on our world today. It reveals to mankind a portion of the character of God. But where the Law can only show us how far off we really are, grace allows us to bridge the gap. Thus, the OT should be viewed only through the lens of the NT.]
13For 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. 14For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
Jesus said once said he had come to fulfill, not abolish, the Law. Other places in scripture talk about breaking the chains of sin, or about not being a slave to the flesh anymore. And set free from the bonds of sin, where we were shackled under the law, we are now free for the first time in our lives …to not sin.
20No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
God’s grace covers us completely. We have the ability to screw things up royally on our own. Nobody knows this better than me. How much easier would it be for us if we simply followed Abraham’s example and trusted in God to do what He’s told us He’ll do? I mean, the reference in the above quotes are to the story in Genesis about God telling 100-year-old Abraham and his 90-year-old wife Sarah that they were going to have a son. And Abraham believed Him, unquestioningly. Please don’t misunderstand me here; I’m not advocating — and I don’t think God would want — mindless drones buzzing around in His name. By all means, ask for clarification and reassurance. Gideon tested God several times, and he had arguably seen an angel face to face!
The thing to remember is: God’s. Grace. Is. Sufficient.
