Romans 4:25

Copyright Ó 2015 J. Neely

Romans 4:25

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25 Who [hos] was delivered [paradidomi] for [dia] our [hemon] offences [paraptoma], and [kai] was raised again [egeiro] for [dia] our [hemon] justification [dikaiosis].   KJV-Interlinear

25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.   ESV

Four things occurred in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 

First there is the judgment of sin.  This occurred while He was hanging on the Cross, beginning and noon on Passover day, and lasting for three hours.  The day turned dark and judgment was executed against Christ, in our behalf. This paid the price of sin.

When the judgment was over, He declared it was finished and that made way of the second event, which was His physical death.  That occurred and then He was taken to the grave where he laid for three days and three nights, after the pattern of Jonah.

Then after the three days, He arose, the third event.  This is the victory over death.

And then the fourth event which came a little later, He ascended, and this is the ultimate victory and the fulfillment of Gods promise to us that we too, will ascend into heaven and forever be with the Lord.

But the resurrection and ascension could not take place until sin and death and been cleared out of the way.

The cross was where the payment occurred, and the resurrection was the completion of that victory over death and the resulting justification of us.

The punishment was part of the work, and the resurrection was the completion of that work, for Jesus Christ had to rise up again in order to complete His work on the Cross.

This proves His power and authority over death.

In order for His work to be complete and correct, it had to be acceptable to the Father, who authored the entire plan.  And the resurrection is proof that the Father approved and accepted as complete, the entire work of Christ.

Nothing and no one else, has that acceptance, or proof, or work.

Romans 4:24

Copyright Ó 2015 J. Neely

Romans 4:24

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24 But [alla] for [dia] us [hemas] also [kai], to whom [hos] it shall be [mello] imputed [logizomai], if we believe [pisteuo] on [epi] him that raised up [egeiro] Jesus [Iesous] our [hemon] Lord [kurios] from [ek] the dead [nekros];   KJV-Interlinear

24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,   ESV

Pauls message continues.  Abraham had faith in Gods promises.  And that faith was credited to him for righteousness.  Righteousness is salvation.  Abraham was saved based on His belief in Gods promise, not due to his own personal life or reputation, or anything he had done.

Abraham knew the purposes of the scarifices.  This was handed down from generation to generation since the time of Adam.

Cain and Abel went in separate directions because of their different sacrifices.

Adam and Eve received new clothes made of animal skins because of the sacrifice of an animal.

Adam was promised a savior who would be God, and Eve was promised that the savior would come from the seed of the woman, making the savior a man, a human born child.  Thus making Him both God and man, the unique person of the universe.

Abraham was tested in the giving of his only son, reflecting the sacrifice of the Son of God, who is the only person qualified for the Cross.

Abraham was promised that His seed would sprout into many nations, and number as the stars of the heavens.  This promise would take many generations, of people believing in Christ, and many people coming from all nations around the world.

This promise was not genetic, but from the pattern of faith.

And while some groups claim Abraham as their father, their claim is in ignorance and misapplied.  His fatherhood is due to faith, and we become his children through our faith, following the pattern, which he demonstrated.

Our faith is applied to Gods promise to us, just as his faith was applied to Gods promise to him.

Both are credited as righteousness.  Both result in salvation.

And these things are written so that the many generations after him, can learn, and distinguish faith in Gods Word, from the efforts of man.

Romans 4:23

Copyright Ó 2015 J. Neely

Romans 4:23

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23 Now [de] it was [grapho] not [ou] written [grapho] for his sake [dia] [autos] alone [monon], that [hoti] it was imputed [logizomai] to him [autos];KJV-Interlinear

23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone,   ESV

And Paul makes it very clear that this faith of Abrahams, and the resulting salvation, was not just for him, but is the pattern by which we all have been saved.

Adam was saved in this manner, and every person in every generation who has believed in Christ, and every person in the future who will believe in Christ, will be saved in the same fashion.

And all who believe, are credited with Gods righteousness.

As far as that goes, there are many blessings that we receive at the moment of our salvation, but for now, if you have believed in Christ, then at that first moment of your faith, you received and you now possess, Gods righteousness by virtue of your faith in Christ.

That is imputed into you and is a permanent part of your essence.  You cannot get rid of it.  No one can take it from you.  You cannot lose it.

Once saved, always saved.  You cannot un-save yourself.

Romans 4:22

Copyright Ó 2015 J. Neely

Romans 4:22

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22 And [kai] therefore [dio] it was imputed [logizomai] to him [autos] for [eis] righteousness [dikaiosune].   KJV-Interlinear

22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”   ESV

Imputed means to credit, as in an accounting entry when a credit is entered onto ones account, to be recognized or accounted for as in when taking an inventory. It is recognized, assigned, and made a part of a permanent record. A record of fact which cannot be undone or changed or altered or cancelled.

And so, when Abraham believed in Christ, who then he looked to as the Savior, but later we have come to know Him by the name, Jesus Christ, then Abraham’s faith initiated an entry onto his life record.  Namely into his soul as a permanent record of Gods righteousness.

Note, that God did not credit Abraham with Abraham’s righteousness.

This righteousness is the perfect righteousness or perfect state, which can only come from God.

Our relationship with God, comes only through Christ.  We receive this imputation of Gods righteousness, at the first moment of our faith in Christ.  It is this righteousness that is necessary in order to have a relationship with God.  Perfect God can only have a relationship with a perfect object.

And our perfection was made possible by the work of Christ, on the Cross, when He paid the price of sin and death, for us, in our place. A debt that we could not ever possibly pay ourselves.

And since Abraham is the pattern of faith by which we follow, then we too, and everyone who believes in Christ, likewise, receives Gods righteousness, imputed to us as a permanent record.  This is further documentation of our eternal security.

What God gives us is permanent.

He gave us life and that is permanent.

He gave us the gospel and that is permanent.

He gave us doctrine and that is permanent. 

When we believe, then He gives us His righteousness, which means a permanent relationship with Him, which is eternal life because God is eternal and therefore our relationship is eternal.  And all of that, too, is permanent.

And it is all possible not through mans works, but by means of faith.

Faith relies on Gods work, never mans work.

Romans 4:21

Copyright Ó 2015 J. Neely

Romans 4:21

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21 And [kai] being fully persuaded [plerophoreo] that [hoti], what [hos] he had promised [epaggello], he was [esti] able [dunatos] also [kai] to perform [poieo].   KJV-Interlinear

21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.    ESV

Far too often people makes comments, that are a result of phony emotional expressions, and not through legitimate spiritual growth.  Their comments are more for the ears of others, to impress others, rather than from the source of a genuine spiritual edification.

Being thoroughly persuaded, is a result of being thoroughly educated through doctrine.

The big difference, is in the degree of tests that they have or have not, experienced in life.

It is easy to say all of the right things, so others can hear.  But it is a far different thing, when life crushes you, where others cannot see, and it is only you, your thoughts, and God.

And it is an even far different thing, when you face the impossible odds, where there is no immediate or obvious solution, and you are totally helpless.

Abraham was totally helpless.  Both he and his wife, were completely and physically unable to have children.  All of the physical apparatus was shut down, and the ideas of surrogacy or adoption of course were not available.   But then, Gods promise was for a child through the marriage between Abraham and Sarah, and from no other source.  So all alternatives were out.

Abraham had to rely on a miracle, something that was far beyond his control.

The closest that you can come to that sort of helplessness is being in a war zone, where there are bullets flying all over the place, and you have no control over whether or not a bullet will find you.

And the more difficult situation comes from life itself, when you have bills, no money, no job, and life has shut down all around you. Then you have to wait through days and weeks and months, and perhaps even years, while not knowing what or when things will come your way.

At least in a war zone, you know where the enemy is.  But in day to day life, you do not know what tomorrow will bring.  And the tomorrows never stop, and the worry and wondering seems to never let up.

Day to day life is the most difficult test of them all, when everything is uncertain and nothing is clear.

So, then you are in Abrahams world of tests, or Jobs world of tests.

And the longer you are in the test, the more difficult time you will have with faith.

But, stick with a daily study and you will persevere.  Ignore your daily study and all of your pretense will fade.

No test is effective until the test is very real.  And real tests are not generally publicized for others to see and to be impressed with you or your life.

Romans 4:20

Copyright Ó 2015 J. Neely

Romans 4:20

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20  [de] He staggered [diakrino] not [ou] at [eis] the promise [epaggelia] of God [theos] through unbelief [apistia]; but [alla] was strong [endunamoo] in faith [pistis], giving [didomi] glory [doxa] to God [theos];   KJV-Interlinear

20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,   ESV

Did you ever wonder about the magnitude the real magnitude of the promises that you have or could have from God?  Abraham was not moved, did not waver, did not doubt God for even an instant.  He did have his failures, but that is common for everyone.  Life is tough.

The important thing in life is your ongoing pattern of adherence to the principles and promises of God as they apply to your life.

There will always be times of doubt and worry and anxiety, because the world can be harsh more often than not.

But remember one important thing.

Remember what Jesus said to Thomas after the resurrection, when Thomas had to see before he believed.  How much greater are those who do not see and yet believe.

Now, recall all of the Old Testament believers who have at one time or another seen Jesus, when He was manifested before men, or when they had dreams, or visions, or even witnessed phenomenal miracles.

And in our dispensation, now that the Bible has been completed when John finished writing Revelation, and we have none of those things.  We do not have dreams.  We do not have visions.  We do not have any conversations with Jesus or angels or anyone beyond our own realm.  We have the words written in the Bible and that is all.

But then God has magnified His word above His name.

And why is that?

His word has always been magnified and has always been the object through which people learned doctrine and grew up in their spiritual life and faith.

But today, that is all that we have.

God creates all life.  God placed you into this world now in this time, and did not place you into history at any other time.  Why?

Because your faith will be better served through not seeing and not hearing anything from the beyond, but only through the written word.  That is all we have for now.

And that places anyone who listens and learns and complies with Gods spiritual process, among the greatest of the greats.  To fail in this is to miss out on a phenomenal opportunity.

None of us are perfect and none of us can claim heroship, nor should we, but we do live in the most unique dispensation, in all of human history.

After the Rapture, the Age of Israel will resume, and there will be many miracles and events that will help convince peoples minds and help them to believe.  Remember that the Tribulation will last only seven years, so all teens and adults and so forth who live in the Tribulation, will have had their chance to believe during our dispensation, but they will not.  Thus they will remain when the rapture occurs.

And the last age, the millennial reign of Christ, will have Jesus here on this earth as King for all to meet and greet and see and so forth.  And that age will have its phenomenal miracles such as perfect environment, extremely long life spans, the absence of wild animals and more.

So, our dispensation, is an age that is unique, and potentially, for you, if you get your act together, and stick with a daily study and advance to spiritual maturity and stick it out when all hell enters into your life, as it most likely will from time to time, to test your spiritual toughness, then your eternal blessings and rewards will likewise be beyond phenomenal, beyond imagination.

And beyond imagination has huge, huge, huge possibilities.  Just in case you were wondering.

And, you will have them forever.

Abraham had huge promises given to him and he had direct access to the Lord.

We have only the word, and prayer and our compliance with that which we cannot see, or hear, or detect.  Our promises are greater.

Romans 4:19

Copyright Ó 2015 J. Neely

Romans 4:19

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19 And [kai] being not [me] weak [astheneo] in faith [pistis], he considered [katanoeo] not [ou] his own [heautou] body [soma] now [ede] dead [nekroo], when he was [huparcho] about [pou] an hundred years old [hekatontaetes], neither yet [kai] the deadness [nekrosis] of Sara's [Sarrha] womb [metra]:   KJV-Interlinear

19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.  ESV

From the last verse, hope against hope, is now described.  Abraham had hope in the promise, but could see his own biological predicament.  He was old and incapable of having children.  Sarah was likewise beyond menopause and no longer fertile.

So, as far as the human viewpoint and facts of life go, they were not likely parental candidates, and never would be.

But God is not bound by human deficiencies or handicaps or human limitations.  God is capable of doing anything. After all He did design and invent the entire universe and all that is in it.

Just look at humanity.  We came from dust, and from that dust there are all types of examples of beauty and form and talents and such.  Can anyone else take a handful of dust and create a phenomenal singer or athlete or mental genius?

And yet God takes dust and forms people, and the means of promoting the race from generation to generation.

God creates out of nothing, human life and the intellect and mentality and emotional characteristics and more, that go along with it.

Look no farther than yourself. 

You think, but the substance of your life cannot be seen or measured or even contained in anything apart from the soul in which God placed it.  He gave us a physical existence so that we could interact with the world around us, a brain that filters the capabilities of the soul, down through the physical body.

And all of this and far more, is beyond our understanding, even in our scientifically advanced era.

And so, Abraham had a promise, that he would have a son.  He looked at his own situation, and he looked at God, and he waited and waited knowing that when the time was right, God will make good on His promise.  And, he did this without any clue as to how it would all happen.

And so, we too will face difficulties and hardships and situations that will seem impossible, as far as we are concerned.

But Christ put us into this world, and Christ did not place us here arbitrarily.

We have to pursue our faith, through learning, and we have to face the impossible sooner or later, if we are ready, and then Gods promise to us or purpose for us, whatever that might be, will come together.

And there is nothing the world can do to prevent it.

God always does His part, we need only do our part.  And our part is to stick with a daily study and learn and continue doing that until we mature, and are then ready and usable by God, to do His purpose.

Our purpose or what we might think our purpose is, and our timetable, is of no consequence. God has a greater purpose.

Romans 4:18

Copyright Ó 2015 J. Neely

Romans 4:18

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18 Who [hos] against [para] hope [elpis] believed [pisteuo] in [epi] hope [elpis], that [eis] he [autos] might become [ginomai] the father [pater] of many [polus] nations [ethnos], according [kata] to that which was spoken [ereo], So [houto] shall [esomai] thy [sou] seed [sperma] be [esomai].   KJV-Interlinear

18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”   ESV

Faith has an object in which one can trust.  Faith is supported with knowledge and understanding and confidence.  Hope is in a future thing anticipated, an unknown.  Hope is always surrounded with uncertainty and anticipation.

Abraham had no children at the time of the promise.

Abraham looked to God who made the promise, knowing that God is outside of the bounds of hope and faith.  For, God does not need to hope, because God does not need to anticipate anything. God simply knows all that is and was and will be.  With God all things are certain.

And even though Abraham did not have any understanding as to the details of his biological inability to have children, especially when many others around him were having children right and left. He still looked to God and to Gods promise, that children would be there when the time was right, and according to Gods timetable.

But God has a plan, that through Abrahams life, the world and history would be taught the lesson of having one son, of the emotional difficulty of having to sacrifice that only son, that had been so long hoped for, and so deeply loved, in order to save the entire human race.

It took a long time to bring Jesus into the world, and it took a great deal of effort to let history bring Him to the Cross.  A series of events that man caused, and God coordinated.

And so too, Abraham would be the father of many nations through the biological activities that are common to man, but also, Abraham would become a father of many more, who would believe as he had believed, setting the pattern for generations to follow.

Romans 4:17

Copyright Ó 2015 J. Neely

Romans 4:17

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17 (As [kathos] it is written [grapho], [hoti] I have made [tithemi] thee [se] a father [pater] of many [polus] nations [ethnos],) before [katenanti] him whom [hos] he believed [pisteuo], even God [theos], who quickeneth [zoopoieo] the dead [nekros], and [kai] calleth [kaleo] those things which be [on] not [me] as though [hos] they were [on].   KJV-Interlinear

17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.  ESV

The word for have made, ‘tithemi,’ means to give to, to grant. to set, to constitute.  And, here it is used in the past tense.  But more significantly, the words for called, ‘kaleo,’ those things which be not, ‘on me’ as though they were, ‘hos on.’  And these refer to Gods power to bring things into existence, out of nothing.

And this is a reference to the creation of the angels, who were not and then were, and the universe, which was not and then was, and then Adam, who was not and then was life.  And Gods power continues in the ongoing creation of human life which is imputed to each and every individual who is born alive into this world.

You, for example, did not exist prior to your birth, and God created your human life and imputed it into your soul.

There was a time when you did not exist, and of course you know nothing from that time, because you did not exist.  It was by Gods grace that you were created and now exist as a living human being.

But before you existed, God had plans for you and your life.

Long ago, in eternity past, God laid out the divine decrees and there are pages within that content, that lay out your life, as well as everything that has ever or will ever exist.

So, God made Abraham a father of many nation, by means of the pattern of his faith, which others will follow in suit when they believe in Christ.  And, this will occur with many peoples from all walks of life, from all cultures, from all races, from all backgrounds and so forth.

And God had that plan long before time existed, since eternity past.

God made this comment to Abraham, long before he had a child. Long before he was obedient in circumcision, long before he himself believed.

But God knew he would believe, therefore He is able to say with hindsight certainty, that the things of future, will occur.

God is able to do anything.

God is able to create an entire universe, complete with all of its attributes, and detail, and governing laws or rules, and size and such, and do it from nothing.

There was no big bang out of existing material.  No assimilation of material into dust and stars and planets and mush and life over eons of time.

There was God, then there were the angels, then the universe, and the angels sang when that occurred, then the rebellion of Lucifer and the fall of the angels.  Then the destruction of planet earth.  It became null and void.  The key phrase for that is, ‘And the earth was.’  God did not create the earth void, it became that way, and it became that way as a result of Satans destructive efforts.

And then we have the six day restoration of earth and then the creation of a new species, called man.

And then Abraham represents yet another and the last created species, but this time a spiritual species.  And that creation was and is instantaneous, uniting man with a human spirit, which makes man body, soul and spirit, when faith in Christ is exercised by the individual.

So, when you believed in Christ, God created in you, your human spirit.  Something that you knew nothing about at the time and something that you did not feel or sense in any way.  The physical world cannot sense or detect the spiritual world.  We can only know about it.

God is able to create life out of nothing. That occurs when any person is born.

God is able to restore life to that which is dead.  That occurs in the spiritual sense when one believes in Christ.  We are born again, and made new.

And God can restore life after physical death, and that occurs at the resurrection.  And that life will continue forever, never again seeing death.

Romans 4:16

Copyright Ó 2015 J. Neely

Romans 4:16

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16 Therefore [dia] [touto] it is of [ek] faith [pistis], that [hina] it might be by [kata] grace [charis]; to the end [eis] the promise [epaggelia] might be [einai] sure [bebaios] to all [pas] the seed [sperma]; not [ou] to that only [monon] which is of [ek] the law [nomos], but [alla] to that also [kai] which is of [ek] the faith [pistis] of Abraham [Abraam]; who [hos] is [esti] the father [pater] of us [hemon] all [pas],   KJV-Interlinear

      

16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,  ESV

And so Paul makes his conclusion that faith alone serves as the main and only valid mechanism of salvation.  That opens the way for Gods favor or grace.  For if salvation depended on mans works or effort, then it would be based on the merits of human effort, and not on Gods effort.

However, man is incapable of doing what it takes to pay the price of sin.  Man is incapable of conquering death.  Man is incapable of controlling his immediate environment, much less the universe.

Therefore we are all dependent on God and on Gods plan, which is Jesus Christ, securing our eternal life by means of His effort, which He alone could do.

And that opens up the door of salvation to all of humanity, not just to those who had custody of the scriptures, or the Law, namely the Israelites, but it is open to all of humanity, because salvation depends on Christ, not man.

Lest the Jews would claim ownership and exclusivity of Gods plan, and then come up with all manner of works, requiring adherence to their wishes, rather than Gods.  Which they did through Judaism.

So, God the Father, planed the plan, Christ carried out the plan, and the Holy Spirit preserves and communicates the plan, making the plan of salvation fair and available to all.

With man in charge then people become excluded.

With God in charge, no one is excluded.

Abraham set the pattern of faith, and when we follow in that pattern, then he becomes our father because of that pattern.

Romans 4:15

Copyright Ó 2015 J. Neely

Romans 4:15

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15 Because [gar] the law [nomos] worketh [katergazomai] wrath [orge]: for [gar] where [hou] no [ou] law [nomos] is [esti], there is no [oude] transgression [parabasis].   KJV-Interlinear

      

15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.   ESV

Law brings wrath, meaning causes or leads to punishment.  And where there is no law, then there is no punishment because there is no transgression.  The law is merely a written rule.  If you violate that rule then there are consequences.  If there is no written rule, then there is no violation.

Suppose you are walking down the street.  If there is no rule saying that you cannot walk down the street, then you are not violating any law or rule. You can walk as you please with no worry as to legal consequences.

But if someone writes up a law that makes it a crime to walk down the street, then you are placing yourself in legal jeopardy if you walk down the street.

In the Garden, there was no written rule except one, which was that Adam and Eve could not eat of the forbidden fruit.  Other than that, they could do anything they wanted.

But of course they ate and were caught and were sentenced to spiritual death as well as physical death, ‘dying thou shalt die.’

That led to eternal condemnation and separation away from God, unless there was some solution to correct that separation.  And God provided the answer.  A member of the Trinity would take our place as a man, and pay the price of sin and death.  We have only to believe in Him in order to be saved and thus freed from our eternal condemnation.

Now the clock races forward, and man makes lots of laws and rules and regulations.  God places in front of us the rules of righteousness, which is presented in the Mosaic Law.  All of the thou-shalt-nots and so forth.

Mans laws demonstrate that man will always violate the law in one way or another.  And that man can come up with some pretty worthless and unfair laws.  Even laws designed to regulate humanity itself.  Even those laws violate themselves.

Gods rules demonstrate that all of humanity will not only violate the rules of righteousness, but that no one is capable of living by them.

If you have written rules and know of them then you are all the more bound by them.

Even the uneducated world, that lacks written rules, has the laws of nature and/or common sense, which they recognize and lived by.  And this has been true for many centuries especially in ancient times.

Then there are the jungle laws where you are either big or strong or quick or dead. Predator or prey, makes no difference, because those laws get you sooner or later.

But the whole point to all of this is, that if you choose to live by a law, then you are susceptible to its punishments.  And the law of works, has a punishment that causes you to lose everything.

On the other hand, if you choose the law of Christ, which is grace through faith, then there is no violation, no condemnation, no eternal loss, because those penalties have already been paid for in full and no longer apply.  You are exempt from the law of works, by adhering to faith.  And as Paul states, no law means no violation.

Therefore, believing in Christ cancels the law in your life, which also cancels eternal condemnation, which means eternal security.

Now, you can believe in Christ and be saved and then in your stupidity turn back to works for your spiritual growth, but guess what?  The law of works in spirituality means no benefit, because works are rejected in Gods plan for the spiritual life.

Grace applies across the spectrum of the spiritual life. You have to be consistent, and cannot flip-flop back and forth, from faith to works, and expect anything from that pattern of life.

Romans 4:14

Copyright Ó 2015 J. Neely

Romans 4:14

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14 For [gar] if [ei] they which are of [ek] the law [nomos] be heirs [kleronomos], faith [pistis] is made void [kenoo], and [kai] the promise [epaggelia] made of none effect [katargeo]:   KJV-Interlinear

      

14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.   ESV

There are two approaches to God. The first is through your own works or effort, and the second is through faith.  Each rejects the other.  You cannot have it both ways.

And here in this verse we have that principle.

For those who believe that they can live by the law, there is no faith option. 

For those who look to God in faith, there is no works option.

Abraham received a promise from God. Actually he received several promises.

Now, if God made a promise, then it is a given.  It is already in place.  You do not have to do anything to earn that promise, because the promise has already been made.

So, if you work for the promise, then you in effect reject the promise and are therefore excluded from the promise.  You do this by yourself, by deciding that you need to do something to earn the promise.  Meaning that you are looking to your own self, to earn something that God has already made available for free.

And furthermore, anyone who looks to or claims the law, doesn’t really know what they are doing, doesn’t really understand the law or what it stands for.  They seem to want to restrict the law to only the ten commandments, but in fact the law encompasses the whole personal effort, thoughts, intents and so forth, concept of ones life.

You cannot say that you have not murdered anyone or stolen anything, and claim adherence to those commandments, when in fact any anger directed at anyone, any pattern of life wherein you believe that you deserve something that God has reserved for others who do comply with His plan, are not yours to claim.  So in effect you have stolen, or murdered through your own attitude of rejecting Gods plan and by placing your own beliefs in that place.  And failure in the rest of the commandments follows the same principle.

The greatest error of them all, is the belief of not needing any instruction in Gods word, and thereby presuming that whatever it is that you are doing, is acceptable to God as a valid substitute for His mandates.

So, looking to works, means rejecting Gods promises.

God has promised salvation to all who believe.

God has promised spiritual growth to all who learn through instruction.

God has promised production to all who live their life in fellowship.

So, rejecting faith, rejecting instruction, rejecting confession, means that you lose all of the spiritual benefits of that which you have rejected.  That is, no faith in Christ, then no salvation.  No daily study through instruction, then no spiritual learning or growth. No confession on a regular basis, then no functional spiritual life, which by the way shuts down all spiritual learning, use, growth, etc.

Pursuing works, means faith or the promises of God, which are based on faith, are void as far as your life is concerned.

God made no such promises based on works.  There are no benefits for works.

Romans 4:13

Copyright Ó 2015 J. Neely

Romans 4:13

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13 For [gar] the promise [epaggelia], that he should be [einai] the [autos] heir [kleronomos] of the world [kosmos], was not [ou] to Abraham [Abraam], or [e] to his [autos] seed [sperma], through [dia] the law [nomos], but [alla] through [dia] the righteousness [dikaiosune] of faith [pistis].   KJV-Interlinear

      

13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.   ESV

The promises given to Abraham are all summarized here as the sum total of the promises given not only to Abraham personally but to His descendants or seed, as it is expressed here.  For the promises to Abraham likewise belong to his descendants as well.

But those promises were not made as dependent on works, but were made as dependent on faith.

The promises came to Abraham long before circumcision ever existed.

The summary of the promises are that God would make of him a great nation, Gen. 12:2,  that in him all the families of the earth should be blessed, Gen. 12:3,  that his posterity should be innumerable as the stars, Gen. 15:5,  and that he would be a father of many nations, Gen. 17:5.

But also in the New Testament this is extended to the Messiah, Gal. 3:16, as his descendant, and to all his followers as the spiritual seed of the father of the faithful. When Paul calls him, the heir of the world, he sums up in this expression, all the promises made to Abraham, indicating that his spiritual descendants, i.e. those who possess his faith, shall be so numerous that they will possess all lands, namely the entire world, or all that exists.  This concept is extended to the entire universe and heaven combined when the new universe is created to replace this one.  And, whereas there will be only believers in the new universe then by default they inherit it.

The final inheritance or reward, is synonymous with salvation, or that which will be given to Abraham and to all believers in eternity, Heb. 11:10-16, Rev. 21-22.

Romans 4:12

Copyright Ó 2015 J. Neely

Romans 4:12

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12 And [kai] the father [pater] of circumcision [peritome] to them who are not [ou] of [ek] the circumcision [peritome] only [monon], but [alla] who also [kai] walk [stoicheo] in the steps [ichnos] of that faith [pistis] of our [hemon] father [pater] Abraham [Abraam], which he had being [en] yet uncircumcised [akrobustia].   KJV-Interlinear

      

12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.   ESV

Just as circumcision served as a reminder of the obedience of Abraham in his faith, so too, today we have additional reminders of our faith in Christ, namely baptism and the communion table.  Neither of these save, but they serve to remind us of our faith in Christ, which is the source of our eternal life.

And so too, the Israelites and today also called Jews, have that tradition which they can claim as direct descendants of Abraham, even though there is no true or pure race on this planet, given the many movements or peoples and wars and such that have served to comingle all races in some form or another, into a mixture that has long ago eliminated purity as a claim by anyone.

But the true descendant of Abraham is through his example of faith.  Neither race nor circumcision, nor even gender can be claimed as a direct tie to Abraham, or anyone else for that matter.

There is but one true connection, and that is through the Christian connection which is by faith, that we are all connected as being saved and destined for heaven.  And that throws out all differences due to race, color, culture, social status, class, gender, etc., etc., etc.

Abraham was saved long before he was circumcised.  He was saved by faith just as Job, Noah, Methuselah, Enoch, and Adam were saved by means of their faith.  The only difference was that Abraham was given the privilege of confirming his faith through the reminder of circumcision so as to help teach and remind others who would come after him. And since Abrahams time, there have been many, many generation right up until the present day and beyond, of people who can learn and believe as Abraham did.

Romans 4:11

Copyright Ó 2015 J. Neely

Romans 4:11

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11 And [kai] he received [lambano] the sign [semeion] of circumcision [peritome], a seal [sphragis] of the righteousness [dikaiosune] of the faith [pistis] which [ho] he had yet being [en] uncircumcised [akrobustia]: that [eis] he [autos] might be [einai] the father [pater] of all [pas] them that believe [pisteuo], though [dia] they be not circumcised [akrobustia]; that [eis] righteousness [dikaiosune] might be imputed [logizomai] unto them [autos] also [kai]:   KJV-Interlinear

11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,   ESV

A seal is a legal mark that ratifies and makes binding, an agreement between two or more parties.  Typically wax was used and then a mark of some sort was imprinted in the wax.

The ritual of circumcision, is a symbol of the seal of the promise from God to Abraham.

Today we have notaries who validate the signatures, and the contract they sign is binding when recorded on some public record for all to see and acknowledge.

Back in Abrahams day, God made the circumcision, which is an irreversible mark on the male, as the symbolic seal, ratifying the agreement between God and Abraham, which agreement was extended to all of humanity.  Gods promise dates back to Adam, and before that, the divine decrees which were written in eternity past.

Later, after the Cross, the seal was changed to a more binding seal, which is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which comes to everyone who believes in Christ, and it occurs at the moment of their initial belief. The seal is binding and irreversible.

And thus, Abraham became the father of all believers, by means of this pattern of faith.

Adam believed.

Abraham believed.

All believers believe in order to receive salvation.

Once saved, always saved.

Faith is irreversible.

Gods fulfilment of His promise is irreversible.

Birth is irreversible and the rebirth is likewise irreversible.

You cannot unborn yourself.

You cannot undo your initial act of faith.  Once done, it is done.

Romans 4:10

Copyright Ó 2015 J. Neely

Romans 4:10

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10 How [pos] was it [logizomai] then [oun] reckoned [logizomai]? when he was [on] in [en] circumcision [peritome], or [e] in [en] uncircumcision [akrobustia]? Not [ou] in [en] circumcision [peritome], but [alla] in [en] uncircumcision [akrobustia].   KJV-Interlinear

10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.   ESV

Righteousness came to Abraham, by means of His faith, which is his belief in Gods promise, and it came to him before he was circumcised, Gen. 15:6. 

It was not until much later, Gen. 17:10, that God commanded him to be circumcised, which then became a sign or recognition, of his faith, not the means or method of salvation.

And so, works is rejected as the means of salvation, and by the same principle, works is rejected in all facets of the spiritual life.

Human works does not gain you any credit or brownie points with God.

Only faith.

And by faith, which is a general expression, is the means of all aspects of the spiritual life.  Whether you are confessing, studying, learning, memorizing, praying, whatever.  This is all by means of faith.

For the basis of faith is that you believe all that God has promised.

Believe and you will be saved.

Confess and you will be forgiven and restored into fellowship.

Ask and you will receive.

Study and you will learn.

Advance in your spiritual life and you will become mature.

Whatever it is that you do, (helping the little old lady across the street, changing diapers, working at your job, driving your car, sleeping in bed, taking out the trash, Bible study, praying, giving, etc. etc. etc), when in fellowship, you then are credited with divine good.

The key is, when in fellowship.  Then your effort is divine good (gold, silver, precious stones).

But when out of fellowship, and be careful of your intentions here too, for wrong intentions are a sin, then your efforts whatever they may be, are not divine good, but human good, and no spiritual credit is given for human good (wood, hay, stubble).

Therefore the date of circumcision is important, in that it came after Abraham had already believed and had already been credited.

Circumcision is representative of works, human works, or so many people would have you believe.

But actually, circumcision is an overt recognition of God and His promises, and of the faith that has already occurred. The recognition comes after the fact, and is not the cause of the fact.

Today we have many such recognitions, baptism, communion, Christmas, Easter, memorials, and so forth.  These things are there to serve as reminders of faith and of Gods faithfulness and promises, and entire realm of the spiritual life.  They are not the cause of salvation or of the spiritual life.

Romans 4:9

Copyright Ó 2015 J. Neely

Romans 4:9

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9 Cometh this [houtos] blessedness [makarismos] then [oun] upon [epi] the circumcision [peritome] only, or [e] upon [epi] the uncircumcision [akrobustia] also [kai]? for [gar] we say [lego] that [hoti] faith [pistis] was reckoned [logizomai] to Abraham [Abraam] for [eis] righteousness [dikaiosune].   KJV-Interlinear

9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.  ESV

In making his point, in this discussion, Paul asks the obvious question.  Does the blessing of salvation, belong to the circumcised only, or does it belong to the uncircumcised as well?

And in the next several verses, Paul will support his position by asking whether Abraham, the man to whom the entire Jewish race, looks, as the father of their race, and as the precedent of their faith.  Then, which came first, the circumcision or the promise?

If the circumcision came first, then works could potentially have an argument as to its validity of producing salvation.  But, if salvation came prior to circumcision, than faith is the object in view.

For the scriptures quote, that Abraham believed, and that resulted in righteousness being credited to him.

So, again, was that belief before or after circumcision, and if circumcision came second and therefore not an issue in salvation, then what was the purpose of circumcision.  Surely it was done for a reason.  But what?

God does not do anything without a reason.  So, what would be the reason for circumcision?

And of course the answer will come up in just a couple of verses.