The illustration of justification continued.
“But to the one who does not work, but believes in the one who declares the ungodly righteous, his faith is credited as righteousness. Romans 4:5, NET. Jews could not accept that legal justification could be granted to those who did not obey the law of Moses. The Jewish law experts insisted that sinners must obey the law of Moses. They maintained that sinners must repent and ask for forgiveness; if they are obedient, justification is granted. Some Christians today believe that sinners must repent and ask God to justify them to have hope of salvation. These do not recall that God justified us while we were his enemies and sinners. Jews, like most Christians, could not accept that sinners must die to be justified. Paul insists that the sinful life of all people died the second, eternal death in the body of Jesus on the cross at Golgotha. However, because he loves sinners, God raised them with Christ into the new life in Jesus Christ.
Paul continues to emphasize Abraham as a prime example of a sinner who is justified but not righteous yet. He quotes David. “How blessed is the one whose rebellious acts are forgiven, whose sin is pardoned.” Psalm 32:1, NET. David stated, “Blessed is the one…” he did not specify whether the “one” was a Jew or a non-Jew. Accordingly, Paul asks a question. “Is this blessedness then for the circumcision or also for the uncircumcision? For we say,” faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness. Romans 4:9, NET. Paul asserts that blessedness applies to both the Jews and the non-Jews.
All people sinned in Adam, in the garden of Eden. The law of Moses and circumcision were not in place yet. God promised that Abraham would become a great nation many years before he asked Abraham to be circumcised. Abraham believed that God would fulfill what he promised. Abraham did not see the fulfillment of the promise. Despite it, he believed God and God credited it to him as righteousness. Abraham did not only believe God, but he also was convinced that God would keep his promise. Not only so, but Abraham was also convinced that God was able to fulfill his promise to him. “He was fully convinced that what God promised he was also able to do.” Romans 4:21, NET. To be fully convinced is more than to believe. Nothing is difficult for God.
Continued in the next Blog.
