Romans 3:27–4:25

Additional Reading from Genesis 15:1-6; 17:1-7

Introduction

Romans 3 is almost as well known as John 3, but now we come to Romans 4, not as well known and not without its problems. It is easily passed over and the temptation is to go straight from ch3 to ch5. Ch4 is like a valley between two peaks – Ch3 the Redemption of Christ Jesus, Ch5 the blessings of justification. But ch4 does not contain any great quotable texts, and its argument seems so remote.

Paul is talking to Jews with their difficulties, and uses illustrations that do not appeal to us very much. We are not Jews, and his illustrations seem rather remote. Yet below the surface we are not so different from the Jews, and if we can be patient with his argument we can see some wonderful teaching about faith. We are called upon to exercise faith. What is it? What does it do? What does it imply?

Meaning of faith as illustrated in life of Abraham

The great truth on which Paul lays stress is justification (accounted righteousness), not because of works but because of Christ’s redemption, received by faith. We need righteousness, but our own righteousness is not good enough for God requires perfection. Therefore God offers us righteousness as a free gift. God has been righteous, and accounts righteousness to those who believe in Jesus.

The average Jew objected to this idea. He wanted to earn salvation by circumcision and in keeping Jewish Law. He thought Paul’s teaching was a crazy, novel heresy. Paul’s reply is that God has always dealt with man like this. Righteousness is put to man’s account when he trusts God and His grace, and renounces all confidence in himself.

Take Abraham for example. Paul makes an important and astute move here. Faith is an abstract idea, and the Jews needed to see faith in action, to help their understanding. Abraham was held in great reverence – founder of the Jewish race, Abraham my friend (Isaiah 41:8), uniquely chosen. The mention of his name was bound to carry weight. Abraham was still childless when he was elderly. Yet he received God’s promise that he would give birth to a great nation in which all families to be blessed. His family was to be as numerous as the stars of heaven. Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness (4:3) ie. God accounted him righteous, declared him to be righteous because of his faith. He was righteous with God because of his faith. Justification for Abraham was a gift, not payment for a debt.

Therefore justification by faith was no heretical novelty, but the very basis of true Jewish religion. Abraham trusted in God and not in his own works, and this made him acceptable to God. He had not earned his salvation, but cast himself just as he was on the promise of God. He was not even circumcised when God accepted him, he was not circumcised until 14 years after response to God’s call. His circumcision was only a sign and seal that the man was already in a right relationship with God. Thus Abraham was father not of the circumcised but of those who have put their trust in God, having taken God at his word. Head of the new spiritual race.

Then Paul refers to later incident of Abraham’s willingness to believe God and take him at his word. When Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 there came a promise that a son would be born to them (Gen.17:17). It seemed the promise was beyond all belief and all hope of fulfilment because of the age of Abraham and Sarah. But again Abraham took God at his word, believed God’s promise to be true, and that what God said, he would do. Once again faith was reckoned to him for righteousness. He believed that God could make the impossible possible. He depended not on his own ability but on God’s grace and power.

So it is with us. It is faith that puts us into a right relationship with God. We must take the promise of God and depend on it. Eg I will come in (Rev 3:20), Whosoever believeth (John 3:16), Come unto me (Matthew 19:14). Accept these promises, even in the face of great difficulties. Accept and act in belief. Rest especially in the power of God as manifested in Jesus, Who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification (4:25). Christ died for our offences. The Lord laid on him the iniquities of us all (Isaiah 53:6). Then he rose again. This shows Jesus is the Son of God, and Lord. God was satisfied with the atonement and placed his seal of approval on it. Jesus paid it all on the cross, resurrection was the receipt from God.

The death and resurrection of Christ are the centre of the message. Died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried, and raised again on the third day according to the scriptures (1 Cor 15:3-4). If there was no resurrection, faith would be in vain and we would still be in sin. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:9). Hence justification is secured here. We are accepted by faith.

Not by visible sign of relationship as with baptism. That is a sign and seal of God’s grace, but it does not convey grace itself. No ordinances confer this status of righteousness with God, but confirm it.

Note the essential unity of Old and New Testaments – the same God; the same way – through grace; the same condition – faith.

Some inferences from this position

There is no ground for boasting. Where is boasting then? Is it excluded… by the law of faith? (3:27). Philippians 1 – Paul’s ground for boasting- circumcised on the 8^th day, stock of Israel, Hebrew of Hebrews. Acts 22- trained at the feet of Gamaliel as a Pharisee. Galatians 1 – Excelling contemporaries in Judaism and its beliefs. Boasting of nationality, birth, training etc. Parading it and despising others. Cf the Pharisee in Luke 18 “I thank thee..” Now nothing in him could commend itself to God. The only grounds of acceptance are Christ and his finished work. Faith depends and leans on Christ, goes outside itself and seeks help from another. Even faith is not the ground for acceptance – It is a condition for receiving acceptance, but it is not the ground or the basis. We must have an empty hand to receive. Salvation is of grace, through faith, Not of works lest any man should boast (Eph 2:9).

Ruskin said: “I believe that the root of every schism and heresy from which the Christian Church has ever suffered has been the effort of men to earn rather than receive their salvation.” Only boasting in Bible is in God and Christ and the Cross, and tribulations, infirmities, and future glory.

Only one way of Salvation for all nations. God is the God of Jews and Gentiles. It is one God who justifies the circumcision by faith and uncircumcision through faith (3:30). “By” and “through” are only stylistic variations. One God, one salvation, one instrument of acceptance. There is no distinction of people. Same in sin and salvation before God. No advantage in being a Jew.

Here is Paul’s problem. It was easier to get Gentiles to believe than Jews. The Gospel is for all. All nations need to hear that only one Gospel can save. Not this religion for the western world and another religion for the eastern world. Incentive to evangelism. Jesus said I am the Way (John 14:6). There is salvation in no other. Religion is not enough, sincerity is not enough, only Christ is enough.

The Christian Gospel is the only religion proclaiming the message of grace. The rest are all about works and human achievements of varying kinds. Only one religion speaks of God incarnate, if the only Son who offered a sufficient atonement for the sins of the whole world. Experience is not enough – though we need experience otherwise our Christianity is a cold intellectual thing. But out experience must be in truth. If it is an experience that does not point to Christ and bring to Christ, then it is not a valid Christian experience.

Only one Gospel. The Gospel of Grace. For all nations and for all ages. We cannot agree with any gospel that claims we are saved by works.

Hereby we establish the Law. This free salvation opens the door to licence. Can we do as we like since we are saved? Away with this thought. The love of Christ constrains us to live for him. How can we revel in the sin that crucified Christ? God forbid. Died in his death, new life in resurrection. This is what baptism signifies. Also we have a new power and desire to keep the commandments. What can we do for him?

Bring Glory to God. The final test that a thing is of God – it brings glory to him. It causes men to boast of him. It is not our planning, effecting or creating, but God’s. God planned salvation, sent his son, laid sins on his son, raised his son, is sending back his son, sent the Spirit of the son in to our hearts.

Christ Jesus has made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, that, according as it is written He that glorifieth, let him glory in the Lord (1 Cor. 1:31).

Conclusion

Very black and white matter here. Only two ways of being saved – either by winning, earning and acquiring merit by our own efforts (in which case our only hope is that we never sinned!), or by depending on God’s grace. Not just believing in God, or doing our best, or even “following Christ”, but seeing entire salvation is in Jesus Christ and him crucified and risen again from the dead. Put trust in the person, not a thing or a belief. In spite of all our sin, we are then accepted in Christ, righteous in him. Look out to Christ, and all we are in Him. By faith we can confidently protest against every voice that assails from within or from hell.

Brownlow North said: “You are shut up to two things. Either make your own God and religion for yourself, and stand or fall by it eternally. Or take the religion of Jesus as revealed to you in his word. Choose now and for ever”. Striking the Bible he said: “God helping me, I will stand or fall by the Lord Jesus Christ. I will put my trust in his truth and teaching as I find it in the written word of God. And choosing that, so sure as the Lord Jesus Christ is the truth, I must be forgiven and saved”.