Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Romans 4 and Psalm 100

What shall we say, then, of Abraham, the father of our race? What was his experience? If he was put right with God by the things he did, he would have something to boast about—but not in God’s sight. The scripture says, “Abraham believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous.”  (v.1-3)

In Romans 4, Paul specifically addressed his fellow Jewish Christians in Rome to make sure that they understood that they were not made right with God through being circumcised as Jews, nor by obeying the Law. Rather, everyone who is made right with God is made right with God by faith. No one is made right through obedience to the Law. Such perfect obedience is humanly impossible.

Paul argues that even Abraham, who was acknowledged as the “father of the Jews” and the greatest example to the Jews of one made right with God, was not made right through obeying the Law of Moses, because there was no Law of Moses until many generations after Abraham. Neither was Abraham made right with God through the covenant of which circumcision was a sign, because even before Abraham was circumcised (Genesis 17:1-27), God had already declared him righteous (Genesis 15:6 quoted in Romans 4:9). Instead, circumcision was given to him as a sign that he had graciously been made righteous by God through his faith.

Paul concludes that Abraham was entirely made right with God because of his faith, and therefore he is the spiritual forefather of all who believe and live by faith in the God “who raised Jesus our Lord from death” (v.24). Just as Abraham was made right with God because of his faith, we are made right with God because of our faith. Through Jesus, God has made us the offer of full forgiveness of our every sin and an eternal life of right relationship with Himself. All that we need to do is receive that offer by faith in the Lord Jesus and His death for us.

Life application: Recommit yourself to a life of trusting in Jesus by praying something like this … Almighty God I trust Your promise that the death and resurrection of Jesus has opened the door for me to come home to You, to be forgiven for all my sins, and to live eternally in a right and restored relationship with You. I trust You completely, Lord, and I entrust my life to Your Lordship and love. Amen.