At this point in our discussion of Romans, it is important to recognize one of the key reasons Paul wrote this profound letter. His goal was to unite Jewish and Gentile Christians in the Roman Church, so they could join him in his missionary efforts in Spain.
Paul’s argument may appear dense to readers in 2024, but it was a very important message to convince Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians to be united in the service of the Lord.
Jewish Christians had four boundary markers that distinguished them from the rest of society. Observing these markers was a way to identify themselves as part of the people of God. These boundary markers were the Torah (or law), food laws, the Sabbath, and circumcision.
In the earlier part of chapter 4, Paul addressed the issue of circumcision. He now shifts his focus to the law.
The Law and God’s Promises
It was important to be a part of the people of God in order to receive God’s promises. Jewish boundary markers, such as circumcision and observing the law, were two of the ways people became part of God’s family.
Paul countered this belief with his argument that dependence on God’s work through Jesus and the Holy Spirit was the entry point into the family of God.
For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.
For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.
For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us,
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 (Romans 4.14-17).
Throughout the Bible, the law is celebrated as God’s gift to humanity. It teaches us how to live in harmony with God and with one another.
However, the law’s shortcoming lies in our human inability to fulfill its demands. As a result, it convicts us of our sin and reveals our deservingness of God’s wrath.
If God had not given His Son to take our place on the cross, we would be in a state of great distress.
Jews and Gentiles can work together to serve God’s mission because they are both part of His family. Through Jesus, and by receiving His gift of grace through faith, we are reconciled to God and able to serve Him as His friends.
Abraham’s Faith
We can only imagine the kind of faith it took for Abraham and Sarah to believe that God would give them a child when they were years beyond childbearing age. It was this kind of faith that allowed God to reckon Abraham as being righteous and to make him the father of many nations.
Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “So numerous shall your descendants be.”
He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.
No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised (Romans 4.18-21).
Just as Abraham saw God create a child in Sarah’s womb at an old age through faith, human beings are brought from spiritual death to life by trusting God’s power rather than relying on human resources.
Therefore his faith “was reckoned to him as righteousness.”
Now the words, “it was reckoned to him,” were written not for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
Who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification (Romans 4.22-25).
I believe that billions of people have experienced God’s transforming love simply by trusting in what Jesus did for them on the cross.
I know many who have had this experience, and I don’t know anyone who would say that Jesus has harmed their life. On the contrary, He has given them life on earth and the promise of heaven beyond.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 