2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. Surely, there must be a copier’s error in the text! spiritually minded. 14For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect. Paul said that God preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham when He promised, “All the nations shall be blessed in you” (Gal. Rather, justification is by faith alone, apart from works, from start to finish (Calvin’s Commentaries [Baker], 1:408-409). Faith means trusting Jesus to be your advocate in court, to plead His shed blood in your case before the bench of God’s justice. Paul’s point is that Gentiles were spiritually dead, but the God who gives life to the dead has breathed life even into the Gentiles. She writes: “Several years ago in Peru, during the insurgence of the Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path), a Wycliffe couple was travelling to show the film in a village. Come filthy, naked, and dirty. Come to Jesus, crucified for sinners! When you compare humans to humans, Abraham was a good guy. The verb, elogisthe, is an accountant’s word. 13 Let every person p be subject to the governing authorities. He explained (ibid. The only fulfillment of the promise that Abraham was allowed to witness was the birth of Isaac—his son and heir. Even though God had promised him heirs like the stars of the sky in number (Genesis 15:1-6), Abraham took matters in his own hands by taking Hagar as his mistress so that he might have a son (Genesis 16). Who can boast of personal accomplishment in the presence of the creator of the universe? Their families mourn the tragic loss of their daughters. Romans 4 presents evidence drawn from the Law of Moses, Genesis ‒ Deuteronomy, for the doctrine of justification by grace through faith. To receive the promise via the law would be to earn it, thus making faith unnecessary and the promise irrelevant (see vv. Justification must be seen for what it truly is: It is essential, but it is only the beginning of the salvation process. On payday, a worker need not beg for a paycheck, but can demand payment for services rendered. Others argue that it should modify “forefather” (NASB & ESV). ), The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987), Sanday, William and Headlam, Arthur C., The International Critical Commentary: The Epistle to the Romans (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1977), Witherington, Ben III with Darlene Hyatt, Paul’s Letter to the Romans: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary,(GrandRapids, Michigan: Wm. Come in your disorder. So the artist found the man and told him that he would pay him well if he would come down to the studio so that he could paint him. IX (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1954), Luther, Martin, Commentary on Romans, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1976), Moo, Douglas, The New International Commentary on the New Testament: Romans (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1996), Morris, Leon, The Epistle to the Romans (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdman’s Publishing Co, 1988), Mounce, Robert H., The New American Commentary: Romans, (Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), Myers, Allen C. She replies, “Because I have devoted my life to serving Him. Faith does not merit God’s favor, or grace would not be undeserved. 5:6). Is it fair (just) for God to forgive an evil murderer who trusts in Christ, but to condemn a loving person who didn’t trust Christ? That, however, is not what Paul says. God justifies only one kind of person: the ungodly. Their vehicle was intercepted by the Senderos, and they feared for their lives (with just cause). 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