Romans
Chapter Four Lesson 49
Justification Illustrated
Rom 4:6-8 The example of David;
David is
very helpful in making Paul's point that justification is by faith because
while Abraham lived before the M/L was given, David is squarely under it;
* Both of these men were acquitted before God without
works, apart from works because "reckoning" [imputation]
belongs only to the category of favor [grace - gift] and not merit [what is
due].
- The question verse 6 raises is who is the blessed
man? And why is he blessed?
The
blessed man is the justified man, the one to whom God has imputed His
righteousness to and that apart from works.
- When it says that David speaks of the blessing of the
man; it is referring to what he said in the context quoted - Psa 32:1-2.
- It also shows us the position that David held before God;
he was a justified man;
- Compare Psa 32:1-2 cf. with Rom
4:7-8 [Quote comes from the LXX; word
for word.]
2 things
jump out of these verses in both passages; blessing and forgiveness of sin; these 2 things are
a reality only for the one who is justified.
#1 lets
look at the forgiveness of sin;
- this is an important point that Paul adds
to our understanding of Justification; that forgiveness of sin is associated
with it;
* The
terms used for sin here in Psa 32 are very important;
#1 chatah hj;x; = sin
(most common) to fall short of the absolute moral standard.
#2 `awon !A[; = iniquity; to twist the absolute standard, to deviate
from it.
#3 phesha` [v;p,, = transgression,
to revolt against the absolute moral standard; to breech the
relationship.
- Paul uses a`marti,a
for #1 & 2 and uses avnomi,a, lawlessness and para,ptwma;
transgression for #3
#2. "Blessed" here stresses the state of the one who
believes;
blessed asheri yrev.a; = a
plural noun that describes the state of happiness, contentment or
satisfaction; here it is used as a
spiritual quality or characteristic.
- In their view there was no happiness or no contentment to the one
who doesn’t walk straight.
- Question: How do you tie a straight walk to happiness?
- Answer: Happiness is a by
product of a straight walk.
*** Only those who cast themselves on grace will ever have
the capacity to know true happiness and contentment in life.
Not
until we move to looking into the mirror of the word and see our self as God sees us positionally
in Christ and start making decisions in life based on that truth; putting off
the old and putting on the new, and casting all your cares on Him, will you
experience the load being lifted, must keep your eyes on Him!
* The first phrase of Psa 32:2
and Rom 4:8 is the link to being declared righteous;
being justified by faith.
- Both verses contain a word for imputation;
Verse 8 finishes with a
really strong statement of emphatic negation will not take into account."
- ouv mh.
logi,zomai double
negative plus the subjunctive mood of the verb; this says that by no means or
shall certainly not take into account
* So we should by now have it firmly planted in our
thinking that justification is by faith alone totally apart from works of any
kind; should be no question to any of
us; unless we reject truth of the Word of God.
2. Justification is by faith not rite or ritual 4:9-12
4:9 "Is this blessing" What blessing? The blessing just noted in the previous 3
verses; that of the forgiveness in salvation; of our sin not being imputed to
the one who believes!
"then upon the circumcised, or upon the
uncircumcised also?"
- To prove his case Paul once again goes back to Abraham!
"Faith was
reckoned to Abraham as righteousness."
4:10-11
Next Paul asks and answers a key question!
- "How then
was it reckoned" when was Abe's faith
credited to him resulting in his being acquitted before God? When was that?
- Note
the chronology of Abraham!
* So clearly what's the only conclusion that you must
make??
- Abraham believed, he was justified, then 24 years later was circumcised.
- It was important to the Jew for it was the sign of the
covenant relationship they had with God.
- They could and did have the sign, the designating mark
without having the spiritual reality that is its real significance, no faith in
the right object.
-
Circumcision was established by God to do 2 things;
#1. As a sign of His everlasting
covenant with the Jew;
promise related to the land & ruler that have yet to be
fulfilled, but will be!
#2. As a seal, the authenticating
mark, that Abe had already
believed, and had been justified,
that is, 24 years prior. Seal says it was genuine.
* Correctly understood the rite of circumcision confirms the truth of justification by faith.
- Then Paul points out again the importance of chronology;
He believed long before he was circumcised; purpose = rest of the verse.
"that he might be the father of all who believe
without being circumcised, that righteousness might be reckoned to them."
Seed of Abraham
* Problem: Jews of Christ's day did not understand this
seed with in the seed!
They
thought that if they were of the physical line; they had it made; they were
heirs of the promise.
Jn 8:31-47 is a good context to see this.
* God made a Covenant with Abe and his seed, the people of
* God's program with
* How long are they going to have to delay? Maybe the nation of
* What do you think that encouragement is called?? Tribulation, the time of Jacob's trouble.
** Just before Abe
was circumcised the Lord reaffirmed the covenant, the contract He had made with
him originally some 24 years before;
This
covenant was ratified in ch-15 10 years after initially given.
** So very forcefully and clearly Paul has pulled the rug
out from under another crutch, from another explanation that man has for
attaining a standing before God!
Justification is not by ritual but by faith.
3. Justification is
by faith not by law
4:13-22
Was the
promise given to Abraham thru the law?
NO! Paul says! 4:13-15 spells it out!
*
Expanded outline of this section: focus
of section is faith!
#1
Destruction of faith;
4:13-15
What
Paul is saying here is that there is something that we can do to destroy
faith. Read!
#2
Necessity of faith;
Faith is
the only condition that fits grace! Only thing compatible with grace! Read!
#3 Strength
of Abraham's faith
4:17-22.
#1 Destruction of faith; 4:13-15
- Paul is still answering the larger question; How does man attain a standing before God!
Every
approach that man comes up with revolves around the idea of appeasing God
somehow!
- What's the B.L. with man's answer??
It's
basically find out what you think God expects and then
perform, do your best to live up to that standard!
* God's
answer and that of Scripture is much different!
"by
faith" believe what God says; this dominates the rest of the chapter.
- What was the pattern with Abe; Abraham was justified, he
became an heir of the promise of God by believing the promise of God not by law
performance.
- Paul says it was not through the Law, but through the
agency of righteousness by means of faith.
When was
the M/L given? Just after the Exodus in
1445 BC.
- The way Paul puts it here, the point he is trying to
drive home is that even later, for those descendants of Abe's who do come along
after the M/L is given; even for them it must be through the agency of
righteousness by means of faith.
- In this way Paul makes his point very vividly to all
that any kind
of law performance does not establish a
relationship with God, ever;
its always by faith!
- To what does the phrase "heir of the world" refer??
- Think about it; his seed is the Messiah, the Christ; who
will rule the whole world! Millennium.
- Paul's response I believe would be to any of their
arguments, "Yes, but don't forget that this promise that Abraham would be
the heir of the world, in which you Jews are boasting, was not received through
the law or through works or through any rituals.
Next we find how faith is destroyed
"For if those who are of
the Law are heirs” if it was possible for one to become
an heir by law performance; its not but if it were true!