Romans 4

Monday, 15 April 2013

He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,… Romans 4:20

Abraham has been given as the prime example of fortitude in faith. He remained unwavering in his convictions concerning the promise of God. Unfortunately, he is too often maligned against this very premise when it comes to the account with Hagar. The man of faith is said to have weakened at that time, but this is not at all the case. Paul states very clearly here that “he did not waiver at the promise of God through unbelief.”

What occurred with Hagar was simply a man not having all the information that God has. Because of this, his actions with Hagar were done in faith, not apart from them. It was Sarah who made the proposition and Abraham acted upon it, possibly assuming this was the divine plan God spoke of. In the end, all came about exactly as God intended. Ishmael was born to meet God’s plans and later Sarah conceived Isaac, thus bringing glory to God.

Abraham’s walk was continuously one of undivided faith. The Greek word translated as “waver” indicates a mental struggle concerning the issue. In Abraham, there was no such turmoil. God spoke and he believed unwaveringly. Abraham learned early and held fast to the truth that if one looks at the circumstances around them they will falter, but if they fix their eyes on the Lord their is only surety of purpose and resoluteness in determination.

For this very reason, the Bible elsewhere implores us to “fix our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2) and again to “fix our thoughts on Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1). When we look unto Him, there will be no time for mental distractions which cause us to falter.

But there is an important caveat which must be considered concerning our faith. Misapplied promises can only lead to unsatisfactory results. It is highly fashionable to take single verses out of context and make faith-based claims on them. This is both unreasonable and harmful. When quoting Scripture to build up faith, it must be taken in context and in the manner intended by God. Otherwise, it is no promise at all. Handle the word with care, especially when looking to its promises.

Life application: Who is being addressed in a letter or book? What are the circumstances of what is being said – time, place, person. Is the verse speaking directly to you or are you merely being allowed the privilege of seeing God’s promise to someone else for learning, but not self-application. Knowing and applying these and many other rules of interpretation will keep one from becoming disillusioned by promises which were never intended to be used in your own personal manner.

Lord God, give me wisdom and discernment concerning Your word and help me to rightly divide its instruction. Help me to know when a verse is being taken out of context and instead, help me to be built up by a clear understanding of the intent of what is being presented. I know that as I learn these things, my walk with You will become more sure. Amen.

Sunday, 14 April 2013

And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. Romans 4:19

Abraham’s faith remained strong despite the odds against him. He was given a promise that he would have descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky at a time when it seemed a bit more than improbable.

However, misunderstanding often comes into our thinking at this time concerning the wording of today’s verse. The NKJV here states “He did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old)…” This is misleading concerning the issue. Here is another version for comparison, “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb:” (KJV).

The issue isn’t concerning the deadness of Abraham’s body, but the “considering” of Abraham’s body dead because of the deadness of Sarah’s womb. There is nothing to suggest, and everything to refute, the thought of Abraham’s body being dead. He was only about 100 years old and he would father many children before his death at 175. However, at this point in his life Sarah, his only wife, had no children. The consideration of Abraham becoming a father is tied to Sarah. This is the reason why later, in Genesis 16, Sarah gave Abraham her maidservant Hagar to bear a child.

This same consideration is to be seen in Hebrews 11:12 – “Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.” In this verse, as in Romans 4:19, the reckoning that Abraham’s child-bearing was “as good as dead” is tied directly to Sarah. It shows us the moral uprightness of Abraham who was faithful to his beloved wife despite her inability to bear. This is the strength of Abraham’s faith – that God made a promise and that it would in fact come about.

It was Sarah who proposed that Abraham go into Hagar and thus, because of her words, he agreed. Until she made the proposal, the belief was that his faithfulness to Sarah would be rewarded. And in a way it was – both through the begetting of Ishmael through Hagar and then later begetting Isaac through Sarah. Abraham walked in faith and was rewarded for his faith by God.

To God, who called the universe into existence and who raised Lazarus from the tomb, the miracle of life through Sarah’s dead womb was His way of showing us that He has all things under control.

Life application: With God, nothing is impossible. When we see difficulties, God sees opportunity for His glory to shine forth all the more brightly. Let us stand fast and firm on the surety that if God has made a promise in His word, it will certainly come about.

O Lord, my God! My heart sings at the prospect of eternity in Your presence. Nothing can take away the surety I have in the promises of Your word. You have said that the redeemed will walk in Your light and that there will be no more death, sorrow, or crying. I know this will come about and so I wait on that glorious day! Thank You for such wondrous promises. Amen.

Saturday, 13 April 2013

…who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” Romans 4:18

Hope is defined as a want or expectation of something, particularly when the thing seems likely or possible. Contrary to this premise, Abraham “in hope believed.” In other words, Abraham placed his hope in something that wasn’t likely and which was seemingly impossible. His wife was beyond the age of bearing and yet he accepted God at His word. This is specifically referring to Genesis 15:5 –

“Then He brought him outside and said, ‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.’ And He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.'”

The faith of Abraham wasn’t misdirected faith even though the promise was otherwise unlikely. The reason is that it is “God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.” If the One speaking to Abraham is truly the Creator, then the word spoken from Him, even if it seems impossible to us, is actually more than probable (Matthew 19:26).

The word from God when properly handled contains the surest guarantee of all.

Life application: When reading the Bible, you are reading the very word of God to you. Its promises are guaranteed and what it states is absolute truth. But be careful to rightly apply it and to keep its words in proper context. One cannot claim promises to which they are not entitled. Through right interpretation, we will be built up in our faith and not disappointed when misdirected hopes are dashed.

Lord God, when I consider Your word, I realize that what it contains is no less certain and true than the principles of science or mathematics. Your word stems from who You are and therefore it must be absolute truth. Help me to accept its precepts and to never diminish them for the sake of tolerance, convenience, or to be socially acceptable. Amen.

Friday, 12 April 2013

…(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;… Romans 4:17

This is a continuation of the previous verse which stated that the promise belonged “to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.” To support this, Paul returns to the fountain, to Scripture – “as it is written.”

When a thing can be argued over and debated against, the surest way to prove one’s claim is to return to the source of the matter. When this avenue is taken, argumentation is quickly cleared up. God spoke to Abraham, “I have made you a father of many nations.” The term “I have made” is tetheika. It is used to indicate a granting or constituting of a matter. This promise was spoken to Abraham as if  it was complete; in God’s mind, the promise is as if it were already accomplished.

Abraham was given the promise from God and he simply believed it, despite its otherwise incredible nature. But the promise after all was from “God, who gives life to the dead.” This phrase is certainly speaking of the deadness of Sarah’s womb which is referred to in verse 19. However, because it is speaking of the calling of life from a dead womb, it demonstrates that God can call anything to life and so through the dead womb of Sarah will come the One who would restore man’s spiritually dead condition. This is evidenced by Abraham’s declaration of righteousness in Genesis 15:6.

Each step of Abraham’s life is used to show us the pattern of our own calling. It is God who restores us to life “and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.” Abraham would be a father of many nations. People who appeared to be outside of God’s chosen line are called into it. Those who were once far off are brought near. Those who were dead are called to life. The relationship which did not yet exist in our temporal reality is spoken of by God in a manner as if it already did, and therefore it does.

Life application: The Bible is full of promises which are still future to us now and yet they are spoken of as if they have already come about. For example, it says those who were called are glorified. It also says that when we were saved God “raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” These haven’t yet happened in our stream of existence, and yet to God who is outside of time, they have already occurred. When you’re feeling as if everything is against you and God has forgotten you, remember this. In His mind, you are already seated in Christ Jesus in heaven. It is done and will never be taken away. Your salvation is eternal and your hope is already realized.

Lord God, I am reassured to know that Your promises come from the vantage point which is outside of the stream of time in which I exist. What we see as future, You see as already done. Because of Jesus, I am already seated in Him in the temple of Your heavenly city. Help me to remember this as I face my daily trials. To You, it is already done. Hallelujah and Amen.

Thursday, 11 April 2013

Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all… Romans 4:16

“Therefore” is Paul’s note of conclusion for this particular line of thought – “Because of these things… the following is the conclusion.”

“It is of faith.” This returns to verse 13 – ” For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” The promise was through faith and thus it stands by faith even now. And the reason?

“That it might be according to grace.” If the promise isn’t of faith, then there would be no grace involved. Anything other than faith involves work. When work is included, then wages are due. As was noted in Romans 4:3 and which should be repeated, 1) Deeds of the law, or works, do not lead to justification. 2a) “Faith” is not something required within the context of the law. The law is of works and demands perfect obedience. 2b) But by faith a person is justified and declared righteous. 3) Therefore, because the law demands works, and faith is not a requirement under the law, then faith cannot be a work; it is something entirely different; no wages are due.

But Paul has shown clearly and concisely, using both David and Abraham, that it is of faith and therefore it might be according to grace. And the reason is clear – “So that the promise might be sure to all the seed.” The term “all the seed” must be apart from the law because the promise was made prior to the law in Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc. The promise stands even though there was no law. If this is the pattern, and it is also the pattern through David who was under the law, then it is all-encompassing – “to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law.”

Anyone of faith may receive God’s grace; anyone lacking faith – regardless of whether they are of the law or not – are excluded. The promise is by grace through faith only. It is to those who “are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.”

It is astonishing how many people miss this. Instead, they tear verses out of context in order to justify that we are bound to the constraints of the law. And yet, the law demands such things as going to Jerusalem to sacrifice three times a year. It demands that one not wear clothing of two types of material – wool and linen for example. It demands circumcision and Sabbath observance – and on and on. Any violation of the law breaks the entire law (James 2:10). And yet, while ignoring all of these tenets found under the law, they still claim that adherence to the law is required. This is unclear thinking and it is a setting aside of the very grace bestowed upon us in Jesus Christ.

Life application: Verse after verse has come to the same irrefutable conclusion – we are not under law but under grace. This is so important that we need to be reminded again and again. It is the principle tenet of Paul’s writings and yet… and yet we continue to miss it. Stand firm on the gospel and do not let yourselves be brought again under the yoke of bondage.

Lord God, keep me resolute in my walk and in the light of Your truth. And help me never to be swayed from the heart of the gospel which says that I have been saved by grace through faith. I know there is nothing I can do which could ever add to the work of Jesus. His work is all-sufficient to restore me to You. Thank you for the cross. Amen.