Romans 4

ScriptureRomans 4:9-10We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. ¹⁰ Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! Observation - What does it say?

The Apostle Paul points out to the Roman Christians the importance of faith when it comes to being made right with God. Using Abraham as an example, he shows that the sequence was: Faith -> Righteousness -> Circumcision. Abraham put his faith in God and therefore was made righteous. He was not made righteous because he was circumcised but because of his faith. Circumcision was a sign that he had already been made right with God.

Understanding - What does it mean?Faith produces salvation and salvation produces good deeds.There are outward signs of being made right with God. For example, circumcision (Old Testament only), a life of good deeds, service to God, etc. But those signs come AFTER God saves us, not before. We can’t forget that Jesus died for us BEFORE we could do anything to deserve it. In other words, “We do good works not so that we can be saved, but because we already are.” The outward signs are responses to, and results of, having been made right with God.

Remember John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God wasn’t moved by our love for him, but by his love for us!

Ephesians 2:8-9 ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.Life ApplicationDon't put stock in my works! It's by faith alone in Christ's work on the cross that positions you in the grace in which I now stand.God, thank you for saving us! Thank you for loving us so much that you died for us even while we were still sinners. We recognize that our works have no bearing on our salvation. It’s only through our faith in Jesus that we are saved. We respond to your great love with a desire to love you in return. Help us to live lives that honor and please you. Amen. To check out the discussion or to join in click here.