One Year Bible New Testament Sampler, Floral Paradise - Flipbook - Page 25
J U LY
17
|
ROMANS 4:1-12
Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about
being made right with God? 2If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have
had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. 3For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham
believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
4
When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. 5But people
are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. 6David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:
7
8
“Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sins are put out of sight.
Yes, what joy for those
whose record the LORD has cleared of sin.”
9
Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles? Well, we have
been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith. 10But how
did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before
he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!
11
Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted
him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the
spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as
righteous because of their faith. 12And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have
been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was
circumcised.
217
