Reading and meditation on Chapter 4 of the Letter to the Romans:
Once again, to fully grasp the context of Paul’s remarks, it is necessary to reread Romans 2:17–29; this allows us to understand that he is alluding to the pride of the Jews of his time, their understanding of the Law, and their sign of being set apart by God: the circumcision. However, the counter-argument regarding the Law is found primarily in chapter 3 of the Epistle to the Romans, whereas the counter-argument regarding circumcision is found in the present chapter 4:
“That being so, what will we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For instance, if Abraham was declared righteous as a result of works, he would have reason to boast, but not with God. 3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham put faith in Jehovah, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the man who works, his pay is not counted as an undeserved kindness but as something owed to him. 5 On the other hand, to the man who does not work but puts faith in the One who declares the ungodly one righteous, his faith is counted as righteousness. 6 Just as David also speaks of the happiness of the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7 “Happy are those whose lawless deeds have been pardoned and whose sins have been covered; 8 happy is the man whose sin Jehovah will by no means take into account”” (verses 1-8).
Paul introduces his argument by writing that Abraham, the ancestor of the Jews, has been declared righteous because of his faith—and not because of the works of a Law that did not exist and that would have allowed him to boast. He introduces the important concept of undeserved kindness, which gives glory to God’s mercy rather than to the man who might boast of his works to claim salvation (which is impossible). Next, here is what he writes regarding Abraham’s state of uncircumcision, and later of circumcision:
“Does this happiness, then, only come to circumcised people or also to uncircumcised people? For we say: “Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness.” 10 Under what circumstances, then, was it counted as righteousness? When he was circumcised or uncircumcised? He was not yet circumcised but was uncircumcised. 11 And he received a sign—namely, circumcision—as a seal of the righteousness by the faith he had while in his uncircumcised state, so that he might be the father of all those having faith while uncircumcised, in order for righteousness to be counted to them; 12 and so that he might be a father to circumcised offspring, not only to those who adhere to circumcision but also to those who walk orderly in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had while in the uncircumcised state (verses 9-12).
With great sensitivity (towards the sensibilities of the Jewish Christians reading this letter), he shows that Abraham was declared righteous while uncircumcised. The covenant of circumcision ratified this declaration of righteousness established by the Abrahamic covenant—God’s promise to bless his descendants, whether circumcised (the Jews) or uncircumcised (the nations). Abraham became the father of all who have faith, whether circumcised or not.
“For it was not through law that Abraham or his offspring had the promise that he should be heir of a world, but it was through righteousness by faith. 14 For if those who adhere to law are heirs, faith becomes useless and the promise has been abolished. 15 In reality the Law produces wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there any transgression” (verses 13-15).
For those who seek to earn salvation through the works of the Law, the Law produces God’s wrath through transgression; whereas faith produces righteousness through God’s mercy, ultimately leading to eternal salvation.
“That is why it is through faith, so that it might be according to undeserved kindness, in order for the promise to be sure to all his offspring, not only to those who adhere to the Law but also to those who adhere to the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. 17 (This is just as it is written: “I have appointed you a father of many nations.”) This was in the sight of God, in whom he had faith, who makes the dead alive and calls the things that are not as though they are. 18 Although beyond hope, yet based on hope, he had faith that he would become the father of many nations according to what had been said: “So your offspring will be.” 19 And although he did not grow weak in faith, he considered his own body, now as good as dead (since he was about 100 years old), as well as the deadness of the womb of Sarah. 20 But because of the promise of God, he did not waver in a lack of faith; but he became powerful by his faith, giving God glory 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to do. 22 Therefore, “it was counted to him as righteousness”” (verses 16-22).
Towards the end of the paragraph, he explains in concrete terms how Abraham’s faith manifested itself: by trusting that God would revitalize his hundred-year-old body so that he could have a child with Sarah, whose womb was dead. He trusted that God would perform this miracle for him and Sarah—that of having a child at a very advanced age. This faith and trust in God were reckoned to him as righteousness and rewarded with the birth of their son Isaac, who would enable Abraham to have descendants that would grow into a nation.
“However, the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake only, 24 but also for our sake, to whom it will be counted, because we believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord up from the dead. 25 He was handed over for the sake of our trespasses and was raised up for the sake of declaring us righteous” (verses 23-25).
In concluding this chapter, Paul draws a beautiful analogy involving the faith of Abraham—who believed that his and Sarah’s bodies would be renewed so they could have a child, a belief that was reckoned to him as righteousness. Likewise, we who are Christ’s disciples—whether Jewish or Gentile—have faith that God raised His Son Jesus Christ from the dead, thereby guaranteeing everlasting life through resurrection. This faith mirrors Abraham’s; it is reckoned to us as righteousness by God when we place our faith in all that Jesus Christ represents regarding the prospect of eternal salvation (John 14:6).
The Abrahamic covenant is a promise that all humanity obedient to God, will be blessed through his offspring…
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Table of contents of the http://yomelyah.fr/ website
Reading the Bible daily, this table of contents contains informative Bible articles (Please click on the link above to view it)…
Table of languages of more than seventy languages, with six important biblical articles, written in each of these languages…
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