AN APOSTOLLIC APPLICATINO OF AN ABRAHAMIC AWARENESS

 

Romans Chapter 4

The French theologian and Protestant reformer John Calvin (1509-1564) wrote, "Justified by faith is he who, excluded from the righteousness of works, grasps the righteousness of the Messiah through faith, and clothed in it, appears in God's sight not as a sinner but as a righteous man.

The apostle Paul spoke similarly in his lament of the Jewish misconception of the source of righteousness, declaring them zealous for God but "ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God," thus "seeking to establish their own" Romans 10:1-3: Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God on behalf of the Jewish people is that they would be saved. I can assure you that they are deeply devoted to God, but they are misguided. They don't understand [how to receive] God's approval. So, they try to set up their own way to get it, and they have not accepted God's way for receiving his approval.

What these Israelites were woefully unaware of is that one's justification and salvation are "gifts" dispensed "by God’s grace through the redemption which is in the Messiah Jesus" Romans 3:22-24: Everyone who believes has God's approval through faith in Jesus the Messiah. There is no difference between people. Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God's glory.

God is "the justifier of the one who has the faith of Jesus" Romans 3:25-26.  God showed that the Messiah is the throne of mercy where God's approval is given through faith in the Messiah's as a sin-offering sacrifice. In his patience God waited to deal with sins committed in the past. He waited so that he could display His approval at the present time. This shows that He is a God of justice [coupled with love], a God who approves of people who believe in Jesus.

Romans 5:1-2: "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our lord Jesus the Messiah, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into the grace in which we stand"

Paul, in his teaching and preaching the good news of the coming Kingdom of God, never strays from the truth that man, by his/her own effort, cannot justify or redeem himself/herself before God, nor can he/she, by his/her own effort, earn eternal salvation. Thus, while still sinners, we are in a state of enmity against God. God took the initiative and dealt with the sin problem through the redeeming act of His son’s sin-offering sacrifice which reconciled all mankind to Himself. It is a gift, not wages due, a truth which many today still struggle to grasp.

Romans 4:4-5: "Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but what he is due. And to the one who does not work but trusts Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.

Romans 3:23-26: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in the Messiah Jesus: whom God set forth [to be] a propitiation – mercy seat, through faith, in his blood, to show His righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done in the past, in the forbearance of God; for the showing, [I say], of His righteousness at this present season: that He might be just, and the justifier of him that has faith in Jesus.

Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life in the Messiah Jesus our lord.

Romans 5:15-19: But the gracious gift is not like the offense. For if by the offense of the one [man] the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus the Messiah, overflow to the many. The gift is not like that which came through the one [man] who sinned; for on the one [man’s] hand the judgment arose from one offense, resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the gracious gift arose from many offenses, resulting in justification. For if by the offense of the one [man], death reigned through the one [man], much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one [man], Jesus the Messiah.

So then, as through one offense the result was condemnation to all mankind, so also through one act of righteousness the result was justification of life to all mankind. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one [man] the many will be made righteous.

Such terms as "free gift," which Paul uses frequently, and God's "grace," and "faith of Jesus" as well as "faith in Jesus," still confuse disciples who, like the Jews of Paul's day, seek to obtain the favor of God through their own effort. Yes, such persons "have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge" [Romans 10:2]

There is nothing you or I can ever be or do that will in some way entitle us to justification, redemption, and salvation. One cannot earn a gift; one can only gratefully and humbly receive it, and that is accomplished entirely by faith. Our faith in the Messiah Jesus lays hold of the gift of justification through the faith of the Messiah Jesus It is his faith that saves; it is our faith that receives that gift. Then, as redeemed ones, we evidence our faith and trust in him through acts of love and gratitude throughout the remainder of our days, as per the truth conveyed in the latter part of this powerful passage: "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of [your] works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in the Messiah Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" [Ephesians 2:8-10]. These good works are for those who are already in the Messiah Jesus, as new creations; they are not works prescribed by God that one must perform in order to be in union with the lord Jesus. They are good deeds performed lovingly and gratefully by those who are saved, not deeds that must be performed by lost souls in order to gain salvation.

In order to demonstrate the above truths, the apostle Paul, in chapter four of his epistle to the Romans, provides the example of Abraham, with special emphasis being given to how he came to be justified in the sight of God. Was Abraham counted as righteous because of something he himself did (by virtue of some good work), or did God declare him righteous and justified for another reason not associated with any personal performance [good works] or obedience to any law (a legal requirement)? Paul goes to great lengths in to show that Abraham was not justified or regarded as righteous by virtue of good works, but by simple trusting faith! "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God" [Romans 4:2].

Romans 4:4-5: "Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness"

It is faith, not works, that brings each of us into a saving relationship with the Father. At our best, we are all sinners in His sight, fallen creature’s incapable of being righteous; for "there is none righteous, not even one" [Romans 3:10]; "there is none who does good, not even one" [Romans 3:12]. "By works of law no flesh will be justified in His sight" [Romans 3:20]. Instead, you and I are "justified by God’s grace through the redemption which is in the Messiah Jesus" [Romans 3:24]. Thus, Paul declares, "we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law" [Romans 3:28]. Salvation, justification, sanctification, righteousness is not found in a legal system, but are forever secured by faith/trust/belief in a loving savior. "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus the Messiah, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand" [Romans 5:1-2].

Paul narrows his focus even more in Romans chapter four by putting forth for view the physical act of circumcision, something well-known to the people of Israel, but less so to the Gentiles. Is God's grace tied to a physical act (even an act commanded by Him)? Will God only justify and regard as righteous those who have submitted to this outward act? Or is His gift of grace much broader in scope? Most of the Jews of Paul's day, and even many of the Jewish Christians, embraced the former view. As a result, the Jerusalem Conference [Acts 15] was even held to address this view (as was the epistle of Paul to the Galatians).

Notice: "And some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, 'Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved'" (Acts 15:1). Paul could not have disagreed more with such a misguided teaching. He "opposed Peter to his face," for Peter "feared the party of the circumcision" and went along with their teaching, even though that teaching was in opposition "to the truth of the Gospel" [Galatians 2:11-14]. Paul made it clear that "if righteousness comes through law, then the Messiah died needlessly" [Galatians 2:21]. "Man is not justified by the works of law. ...for by the works of law shall no flesh be justified" [Galatians 2:16]. Instead, as this same verse declares, we are justified through the faith of the Messiah Jesus, a justification and imputed righteousness we obtain by means of believing in him and what he accomplished for us.

"So then, as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one [man] act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one [man] the many will be made righteous" [Romans 5:18-19]. Paul makes it clear that neither circumcision nor uncircumcision "means anything;" but what is important is our faith evidencing itself in love [Galatians 5:6].

Indeed, "you have been severed from the Messiah, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace" [Galatians 5:4]. Our example of this principle, says Paul, is Abraham. This man was reckoned by God as righteous. "How then was it reckoned? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised?" [Romans 4:10]. The answer, which Paul gives in that same verse, is: "Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised." This was a jaw-dropping revelation to those steeped in Jewish law and tradition! Yes, circumcision was a command of God Himself, yet the purpose of this act was never intended to justify or make one righteous in the sight of God. Rather, circumcision was simply a "sign" and "seal of the righteousness of the faith which Abraham had while uncircumcised" [Romans 4:11]. Thus, we are all called to "follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised" [Romans 4:12]. We are all justified and regarded by God as righteous "by faith in accordance with grace" [vs. 16].

Paul is seeking to convey an important divine principle here, a principle that transcends any outward religious act (even if that act had the power of divine command behind it).

The principle is: we are all sinners; there are none who are righteous; we are fallen creatures deserving of death, and we ourselves are powerless to alter that situation or its outcome. Thus, justification, salvation, sanctification, righteousness is all unattainable by our own effort. Therefore, a loving, merciful, gracious God acted while we were yet sinners, ungodly, and in a state of enmity against Him. He dealt fully, once for all, with the sin problem, and He offers this FREE GIFT of grace to anyone who was willing to accept it BY FAITH.

This gift was not tied to any outward act that a man/woman might perform, for if it were then this blessing "could not be reckoned as a gift, but as what is due" [Romans 4:4]. God owes us nothing, but He has freely given us everything pertaining to an abundant life secured by the Messiah Jesus. We were all "dead in our trespasses and sins," and we were "by nature children of wrath" [Ephesians 2:1, 3]. His wrath was our "due." "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with the Messiah (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavenly places, in the Messiah Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in the Messiah Jesus. For by grace, you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast" [Ephesians 2:4-9].

God's desire for mankind has always been that they would reflect His own nature in their daily lives and in their interactions with one another. However, as fallen creatures with a nature prone to sinful attitudes and actions, we find ourselves incapable of reflecting perfectly the flawless nature of our God and of His son who is the outshining of His glory. Thus, anything we ourselves offer to Him will always come short of achieving His favor. If we are to be counted as righteous and declared justified in His sight, that must come from Him as a gift of grace, for not a one of us can ever earn such a standing, that Jesus did as the only perfect man who has ever lived.

The Jews of Paul's day, however, felt that such divine favour could be had by performing certain religious rites and rituals, with physical circumcision being high on that list. Paul sought to show them, via the example of Abraham, that circumcision did not have that purpose or power. It was a sign and seal, a mere symbol, but it was never designed to be an act by which a grace or blessing was conferred. If Paul reasons, one is declared righteous and justified (and even saved) by a certain religious act (circumcision), then how do these religionists explain that Abraham was declared justified by God, and seen as righteous by God, fourteen years before he was circumcised? "Then Abraham believed in Yehovah; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness" [Genesis 15:6]. Paul quoted this very verse in Galatians, and then stated:

Galatians 3:6-9: "Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, 'All the nations shall be blessed in you.' So then, those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer".

Circumcision, therefore, had absolutely nothing to do with Abraham's standing with God. That standing was by grace through faith, just as it is with us today!

Paul posed this very question in his epistle to the Romans. "'Is the bestowal of a righteous standing before God connected with the observance of ordinances or apart entirely from such things?

Paul answers his question by citing the case of Abraham who was declared righteous in answer to his faith, fourteen years before he was circumcised. circumcision any essential relation to this great blessing.

This methodology and process "has been the same through all history"; it is just as applicable to us today. Our justification, our salvation, our being reckoned as righteous in the sight of God is by grace through faith, and absolutely NO religious rite or ritual is required in addition to that divine process! We can even go back as far as Noah and perceive the same principle: "Noah became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith" [Hebrews 11:7]. Like Abraham, Noah's righteousness was not works-based, it was faith-based. Yes, they showed their faith [James 2], but their standing with God was not based on these works; rather, their standing was based on their FAITH which then motivated their actions. In Ephesians 2:10 we are informed that God desires His redeemed ones to engage in good works. Yet, these good works are not designed to save us, they are simply designed to give us ways to show the depth and genuineness of our faith in and love for Him.

God’s determines to make righteousness available by His amazing grace to those who will humbly accept it by faith. ... For example: far from being the cause of his acceptance with God, Abraham's lifestyle was the result of his acceptance. God did not declare him righteous because his good works, but rather Abraham lived a good life because God had freely justified him according to his faith that all that God had promised him would come true.

Through faith God's grace transcends religious rites and rituals, it transcends ceremony and tradition, it transcends rigid rules and regulations!

God's grace is for those who have a heart of faith, and who then, in love for God and their fellow man, evidence that love and faith in their daily lives.

Just so, baptism today is an outward sign that we are the Messiah's in faith and identification; but how deadly is the delusion that baptism amounts to anything before God! God does not justify those observing ordinances, but sinners who believe, have faith in Him. If you are still regarding baptism, or the Lord's Supper, or 'the Mass,' or 'Christening,' or 'Confirmation,' as having anything whatever to do with God's declaring you righteous, then you do not understand!

Neither baptism nor the lord's Supper (upon both of which thousands have trusted as 'sacraments' commending them unto God) has power to give any standing whatever before a righteous God. 

The nature of Abraham's faith was essentially the same as that of the NT believer, despite the difference in time: Abraham looked forward to something God would do, whereas the Christian looks back to what God has provided in the Messiah Jesus.

The fact that Abraham exercised faith in God whilst still uncircumcised is a proof that the essence of religion does not depend upon externals. (i.e., circumcision): A lesson which we need to learn today, even as did the contemporaries of Paul" "The state of justification was attributed to Abraham himself before he was circumcised. Justification is the result of faith.

Note: Why would Paul spend so much time on this topic when he, like we are today, was under a new covenant? The first new covenant command given by the lord Jesus is: Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel [about the soon coming kingdom of God]. [Mark 1:14-15]

Also: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the holy spirit. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord - Yehovah our God shall call. [Acts 2:38-39]

The reason Paul spent so much time proving that is was no longer necessary to abide by the law given through Moses was because too many disciples of Jesus Christ were being deceived by false “apostles” to make the very same mistake the Jews made when it came to keeping their religious rites and rituals. They had come to place far more significance upon the signs, seals, and symbols than they did on the realities which they signified.

We are saved by grace through faith, just as Abraham was. Yet, when signs and symbols become sacraments, we lose sight of the substance! Circumcision is not what saved Abraham, any more than baptism in water is what saves you or me! Paul declares that the grace Abraham received through faith is available to us as well.

Note: Don’t ever make the mistake that by being baptized and observing the lord’s supper that securing for yourself salvation and a "right-standing" before God. "Yehovah intended the rite of circumcision to be a seal of authenticity on the covenant between a man and his God. Similarly, baptism follows one's decision to trust in Jesus the Messiah. It's a public declaration" of a decision and commitment of faith to die to self already established in one's heart. Thus, "one cannot be saved through the rite of baptism, nor must one be baptized in order to be saved" You in obedience to the lord Jesus seek to be baptized after you have repented and had a complete change of heart and want to die to self in order to be alive in the Messiah Jesus, become a new creation in him! That is simply the purpose of baptism.

Many believe that when one was baptized in water that was the precise split-second of salvation. But, if a person who believed with all his heart in the lord, and had repented, and had confessed him as lord, but died before being baptized, that person went straight to hell to be tortured by forever! Grace and faith couldn't save that person. God know the hearts of all those who desire to come to Him and obey Him and if someone has come to believe in Him with all their heart and being, and in the one whom He has sent, but dies before they are baptized, they will be in the coming kingdom of God!

Baptism is a "sign" and "seal" of the reality of a sacred covenant, just as a wedding ceremony and a signed marriage certificate is a "sign" and "seal" of the reality of a sacred covenant between a loving couple. They didn't make a covenant with one another at the ceremony or when they returned the signed document to the county clerk. The ceremony and the document were a "sign" and "seal" of the reality of that covenant they had already made with one another in their hearts. They didn't "enter into covenant" with one another at the split-second they uttered the words "I do" - those words were simply a public demonstration of and a verbal testimony to a life-commitment they had already made to one another. So also, is baptism. The Jews had elevated circumcision to something it was never intended to be, just as too many Christians have done with baptism. Both were signs, seals, and symbols; neither were sacraments. God's relationship with men is not based on some ceremony or religious rite; our justification and salvation are not tied to a deed performed in compliance with some ordinance or law. We are justified and counted as righteous by faith!

Whatever parallel exists between baptism and circumcision as here stated by Paul argues for faith before baptism and for baptism as the sign and seal of the faith one already had before baptism.

Consider the example of Cornelius, for his acceptance by God was quite like that of Abraham. When did God acknowledge Cornelius? Was it before he was baptized or after? It was before Acts 10: Later, when Peter recounted this event to those assembled at the Jerusalem Conference, he said, "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the Gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are" [Acts 15:7-11]. No mention of baptism.

Yes, baptism served a purpose; it was important; but that purpose was not to impart salvation, justification, or righteousness. In Peter's second sermon, he shared again some of the main points of his first sermon on the day of Pentecost. However, he quite noticeably left out any mention of baptism. "Therefore, repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away" [Acts 3:]. Most assuredly, baptism has its place in the teaching and practice of the lord’s disciples, just as circumcision did among the Jews.

However, many have elevated a symbol, sign, and seal to a sacrament, and we have given it a power that the lord never intended for it to possess. Brethren we need to be careful not to preach and teach tradition as though it were truth, for in so doing we tend to invalidate the truth by our elevation of tradition [Matthew 15:1-9].

Perhaps the apostle Paul summed it up best when he informed the conflicted church in Corinth, "The Messiah did not send me to baptize, but to preach the Gospel [the good news about the coming kingdom of God], ...so that the cross of Messiah would not be made void" [1 Corinthians 1:17]. Paul clearly perceived an important distinction between the act of baptism in water and the "Good News" he was called to proclaim; the former being distinct from the latter A perception much needed today!