ROMANS 9
We will begin this lesson in Romans 4:1 "What shall we say then
that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?"
Paul, here is using a question to drive a point home. He is
saying in essance, if anyone could boast of making himself acceptable
to God in the flesh it would have been Abraham. Not even Abraham was
justified by the outward show of his faith in God by circumcising the
males. It was not the circumcising of the males that made him
acceptable to God, but his great faith.
Romans 4:2 "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath
[whereof] to glory; but not before God."
As we said before, Abraham did show the world of his great faith
by his outward circumcision. Christians make an outward show of their
decision to follow Jesus by being baptized. The truth is justification
takes place in the heart. Faith takes place in the inner man. Faith
pleases God. When we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouth
the Lord Jesus, we are justified by the washing of His blood. Jesus`
shed blood washes us and makes us every whit whole.
Romans 4:3 "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God,
and it was counted unto him for righteousness."
Abraham believed God and left Ur of the Chaldees. He was looking
for a city whose maker was God. He gave up his big˙home and wandered
where God had sent him. He dwelled in tents waiting for the city of
God. This faith Abraham had in God pleased God and Abraham was greatly
blessed by God for it. Abraham`s seed that was promised, that would
inherit the kingdom are all the believers in Christ. Galatians 3:29
"And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs
according to the promise." Galatians 3:6 "Even as Abraham believed
God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
Romans 4:4 "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of
grace, but of debt."
If work could get you into heaven, then there would be no place
for faith. In the flesh we all die, but the life of importance is in
the spirit which takes faith to inherit.
Romans 4:5 "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him
that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
No one can work themselves into heaven. That is not the key that
opens the˙door. The key is faith without works. The secret is, after
you have had faith and it has opened the door for you , then you
desire to work for Him. Galatians 2:16 "Knowing that a man is not
justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ,
even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by
the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works
of the law shall no flesh be justified."
Faith plus nothing makes us righteous.
Romans 4:6 "Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the
man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,"
The word imputeth means counteth, Psalms 32:1 "{ [A Psalm] of
David, Maschil.} Blessed [is he whose] transgression [is] forgiven,
[whose] sin [is] covered." Psalms 32:2 "Blessed [is] the man unto whom
the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit [there is] no
guile."
In the Old Testament the sin was covered by the blood of the
lamb. After Jesus the sin was completely done away with by the blood
of the perfect Lamb (Jesus Christ).
Romans 4:7 "[Saying], Blessed [are] they whose iniquities are
forgiven, and whose sins are covered."
Romans 4:8 "Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not impute
sin."
Of course, the reason for all this is when we stand before Jesus.
He will recognize His own. He has paid the price in full for all of
our sin, Our sin died on the cross. We are forgiven. We are blessed,
because we do not have to pay, Jesus paid for our sins in full on the
cross.
Romans 4:9 "[Cometh] this blessedness then upon the circumcision
[only], or upon the uncircumcision also?" for we say that faith was
reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
We are looking here for justification without keeping the
ceremonial law. Abraham was counted righteous before the keeping of
the law. He was made righteous in God's sight before he became a
physical Jew. Acts 13:39 "And by him all that believe are justified
from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of
Moses."
Romans 4:10 "How was it then reckoned? when he was in
circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in
uncircumcision."
All Paul is saying is that Abraham's faith before he was
circumcised was counted as righteousness to him. Also, in I John 5:1
"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and
every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten
of him." Also, in I John 5:12 "He that hath the Son hath life; [and]
he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." We find in both these
Scriptures that it is not whether you are Jew or Gentile, but where
you have put your faith (in the Son of God).
Romans 4:11 "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of
the righteousness of the faith which [he had yet] being uncircumcised:
that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be
not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:"
Genesis 15:6 "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to
him for righteousness." You see Abraham believed, and that alone
brought righteousness. The circumcision came later for an outward show
to the world that he believed God.
Romans 4:12 "And the father of circumcision to them who are not
of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith
of our father Abraham, which [he had] being [yet] uncircumcised."
This just reminds us, again, that Abraham is father to all who
believe. For by faith are you saved.
Romans 4:13 "For the promise, that he should be the heir of the
world, [was] not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but
through the righteousness of faith."
Galatians 3:18 "For if the inheritance [be] of the law, [it is]
no more of promise: but God gave [it] to Abraham by promise." We read
who are saved in Galatians 3:7 "Know ye therefore that they which are
of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." Galatians 3:8 "And
the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through
faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, [saying], In thee
shall all nations be blessed." Galatians 3:9 "So then they which be of
faith are blessed with faithful Abraham." In all of this we must see
the mighty hand of God working salvation for all who have the faith to
receive it. Salvation is a free gift. You must reach out and take it
for it to be yours.
Notes
QUESTIONS 9
1. Who did Paul call Abraham in verse 1?
2. Why is Paul saying this in question form?
3. If anyone could boast of being worthy in the flesh (besides Jesus)
who would it be?
4. Was he worthy in the flesh?
5. In verse 2, who would Abraham not be able to glory before?
6. What was the circumcision of Abraham really?
7. Where does faith take place?
8. What did Abraham do that was counted unto him for righteousness?
9. When Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees, what was he looking for?
10. In Galatians chapter 3 verse 29, who are Abraham's seed and heirs
to the promise?
11. Verse 4 says, to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of
____.
12. In the flesh we all ____.
13. In verse 5, his faith is counted for ____.
14. By the works of the law who is saved?
15. Who in the Old Testament described the blessedness of
righteousness being counted to us without works?
16. What does the word imputeth mean?
17. Where in the Old Testament is this stated by David?
18. In verse 7, who are the blessed?
19. In verse 8, who are the blessed?
20. In Acts chapter 13 verse 39, who are justified?
21. In first John chapter 5 verse 1, we see that all who believeth
that Jesus is the Christ are what?
22. In first John chapter 5 verse 12, he that hath the Son hath what?
23. What is circumcision called in verse 11?
24. In Genesis chapter 15, what was counted unto Abraham for
righteousness?
25. Who was the father of circumcision?
26. Who was the father of faith?
27. Verse 13 tells of the promise to Abraham, what was it?
28. In Galations chapter 3 verse 7, who are the children of Abraham?
29. In Galatians chapter 3 verse 8, who would be blessed because of
Abraham?
30. Salvation is a free gift, but what is our part in it?
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