Bible Study May 24 2014
Book of Romans Chapter 4 (ABRAHAM) Bible Study
[Note to Blog Readers: Expositor Notes Are in Bold Italic Font]
Romans 4:1-25 (KJV)
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, has found? (Having stated that the Old Testament teaches that God justifies the sinner on the Faith principle as opposed to the merit principle, the Holy Spirit now brings forward Abraham.) 2 For if Abraham were justified by works (which he wasn’t), he has whereof to glory; but not before God (the boasting of Salvation by works, which God will not accept). 3 For what says the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for Righteousness ([Gen. 15:6] if one properly understands this Verse, he properly understands the Bible; Abraham gained Righteousness by simple Faith in God, Who would send a Redeemer into the world [Jn. 8:56]). 4 Now to him who works (tries to earn Salvation or Righteousness) is the reward (Righteousness) not reckoned of Grace (the Grace of God), but of debt (claiming that God owes us something, which He doesn’t!). 5 But to him who works not (doesn’t trust in works for Salvation or Righteousness), but believes on Him Who Justifies the ungodly (through Christ and the Cross), his faith is counted for Righteousness (God awards Righteousness only on the basis of Faith in Christ and His Finished Work). 6 Even as David (both Abraham and David were progenitors of the Promised Messiah, and as such they held a unique place in the Faith and veneration of the Work of God) also describes the blessedness of the man (a blessed man), unto whom God imputes Righteousness without works (works will never gain the Righteousness of God), 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven ([Ps. 32:1-2] iniquities can only be forgiven by Faith in Christ), and whose sins are covered (the Cross made this possible). 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin (the Lord will not impute sin to the person who places his Faith solely in Christ and what Christ did at the Cross). 9 Comes this blessedness then upon the Circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? (It comes on all alike!) for we say that Faith was reckoned to Abraham for Righteousness (presents Faith alone as the ingredient). 10 How was it then reckoned? (This may be the greatest question of all time.) when he was in Circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in Circumcision, but in uncircumcision (because of his Faith, Abraham was declared Righteous by God before the Covenant of Circumcision [Gen. 15:6]). 11 And he received the sign of Circumcision (Gen. 17:9-14), a seal of the Righteousness of the Faith which he had yet being uncircumcised (plainly states that his Righteousness was by Faith, and was received long before Circumcision): that he might be the father of all them who believe (Jews and Gentiles), though they be not Circumcised (places the ground or Foundation of Salvation squarely on Faith instead of works); that Righteousness might be imputed unto them also (Righteousness has never been imputed on the ground of works, but always on the ground of Faith): 12 And the father of Circumcision to them who are not of the Circumcision only (presents Abraham as being the father of all Believers, whether Jews or Gentiles), but who also walk in the steps of that Faith of our father Abraham (refers to him simply believing God, and God accounting his Faith to him for Righteousness [Gen. 15:6]), which he had being yet uncircumcised (clinches the argument and opens up Salvation to all who come by Faith in Christ, irrespective as to whom they may be). 13 For the Promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the Law (the Law of Moses, which had not even been given during the time of Abraham), but through the Righteousness of Faith (when Paul uses the word “Faith,” without exception, he is speaking of Faith in Christ and what Christ did at the Cross; in fact, Christ must never be separated from the Cross, as it regards His Redemptive Work). 14 For if they which are of the Law be heirs (only those in the Law), faith is made void (Salvation cannot exist in both works and Faith; either one cancels out the other), and the Promise made of none effect (faith in works cancels out Christ and all that He has done for us): 15 Because the Law works wrath (Law has a penalty, so it must work wrath): for where no Law is, there is no transgression (Christ has satisfied the Law, thereby, taking away all transgression). 16 Therefore it is of Faith, that it might be by Grace (Grace functions only on Faith, and we speak of Faith in Christ; otherwise, Grace stops); to the end the Promise might be sure to all the seed (refers to the whole of humanity, at least those who will believe); not to that only which is of the Law (Jews), but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham (everything is by Faith); who is the father of us all (proclaims the Patriarch being used as an example of Faith [Gen. 15:6]), 17 (As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations [Gen. 12:1-3; 17:4-5],) before Him Whom he believed, even God (refers to Abraham believing God), who quickens the dead (makes spiritually alive those who are spiritually dead), and calls those things which be not as though they were (if God has said it to us personally, we can call it; otherwise, it is presumption). 18 Who against hope believed in hope (a description of Abraham’s Faith, as it regarded the birth of Isaac), that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken (the Promise of God), So shall your seed be (Gen. 15:5). 19 And being not weak in Faith (strong Faith), he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old (no longer able to have children), neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb (placed her in the same situation as her husband): 20 He staggered not at the Promise of God through unbelief (he did not allow difficulties to deter him from the intended conclusion); but was strong in Faith, giving Glory to God (his Faith came from the Word of God); 21 And being fully persuaded (no turning back) that, what He (God) had Promised, He was able also to perform (whatever it was, God could do it!). 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for Righteousness (simple Faith in God brought Abraham a spotless Righteousness). 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone (his struggle of Faith was meant to serve as an example), that it was imputed to him (serves as the example of how we receive from God, whether it be Salvation or anything else); 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed (we can have that which Abraham had, a perfect Righteousness), if we believe on Him Who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead (proclaims the condition for Salvation); 25 Who was delivered for our offences (had to do with Jesus dying on the Cross for our sins; He had no sins), and was raised again for our Justification (we were raised with Him in newness of life [Rom. 6:4-5]).
Genesis 15:6 (KJV)
6 And he (Abraham) believed in the LORD (exercised Faith, believing what the Lord told him); and He (the Lord) counted it to him (Abraham) for Righteousness. (This is one of the single most important Scriptures in the entirety of the Word of God. In this simple term, “Abraham believed the LORD,” we find the meaning of Justification by Faith. Abraham was Saved by Grace through Faith, not by his good works. There is no other way of Salvation anywhere in the Bible. God demands Righteousness; however, it is the Righteousness afforded strictly by Christ and Christ Alone. Anything else is self-righteousness, and totally unacceptable to God. Directly the sinner believes God’s Testimony about His Beloved Son, he is not only declared righteous, but he is made a son and an heir.)
John 8:56 (KJV)
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad (in the great Revelation of Justification by Faith given to Abraham by God, he was made to understand that this great Redemption Plan was wrapped up, not in a philosophy, but rather a Man, the Man Christ Jesus, and what He would do at the Cross; the Patriarch rejoiced in that).
Psalms 32:1-2 (KJV)
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. (This Psalm speaks of the terror of unconfessed sin, and then of the blessing of confessed sin. David probably wrote this Psalm immediately after the sin with Bath-sheba, and shortly before the coming of Nathan the Prophet. Once again, the reader will be taken into the heart of God, resulting in the Intercessory Work of Christ, our Great High Priest. In this Psalm, the Lord will speak in His Own Name, as the Great High Priest of His People, on our behalf, as if He Himself were the guilty transgressor. What a consolation it is to have a Priest Who thus makes Himself One with the repentant sinner, pleads and prays as the sinner ought to plead and pray but cannot, and uses the very words which will be acceptable to God. Such an High Priest becomes repentant man.) 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputes not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile (although we are guilty, the Lord will not impute iniquity to us, providing our Faith is in Christ, Who has taken the guilt of penalty upon Himself, all at the Cross of Calvary).
Genesis 17:9-14 (KJV)
9 And God said unto Abraham, you shall keep My Covenant therefore, you, and your seed after you in their generations (this could well be called a “Covenant of Grace,” and as such is everlasting; it is “from” everlasting in the counsels of it, and “to” everlasting in the consequences of it). 10 This is My Covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your seed after you; Every man child among you shall be circumcised (this Covenant had only one outward ordinance, and that was Circumcision; the balance was entirely of Faith). 11 And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the Covenant between Me and you (Circumcision, in a sense, is a Type of the Cross; blood is shed and separation is made). 12 And he who is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he who is born in the house, or, bought with money of any stranger, which is not of your seed (the little boy baby was not to be circumcised until he was eight days old, because at that time the blood would coagulate; before then, he could bleed to death; as well, every male in the family of Abraham must be circumcised, and later that would include the entirety of the Nation of Israel). 13 He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must needs be circumcised: and My Covenant shall be in your flesh for an Everlasting Covenant (this Covenant is everlasting, but only in Christ; under the New Covenant, Paul stated that we are to experience the circumcision of the heart, which is a spiritual work [Phil. 3:3]; under the New Covenant, everything being fulfilled in Christ, of which circumcision was a Type of His Sacrifice, the rite is no longer necessary; in fact, it carries no spiritual meaning now whatsoever). 14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My Covenant (in effect, Israelite men who refused to be circumcised, or mothers who refused to circumcise their baby boys, had broken the Covenant and, if continuing that direction of rebellion, would be eternally lost; it was, and is, the same as disavowing the Cross).
Philippians 3:3 (KJV)
3 For we are the Circumcision (refers to the true Circumcision, which is that of the heart), which worship God in the Spirit (would have been better translated, “which worship by the Spirit of God”), and rejoice in Christ Jesus (refers not only to Who Christ is, but what He has done for us at the Cross), and have no confidence in the flesh (in things other than the Cross, which alone is the guarantee of Salvation and Victory).
Genesis 12:1-3 (KJV)
1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram (referring to the Revelation which had been given to the Patriarch a short time before; this Chapter is very important, for it records the first steps of this great Believer in the path of Faith), Get thee out of your country (separation), and from your kindred (separation), and from your father’s house (separation), unto a land that I will show you (refers to the fact that Abraham had no choice in the matter; he was to receive his orders from the Lord, and go where those orders led him): 2 And I will make of you a great Nation (the Nation which God made of Abraham has changed the world, and exists even unto this hour; in fact, this Nation “Israel” still has a great part to play, which will take place in the coming Kingdom Age), and I will bless you, and make your name great (according to Scripture, “to bless” means “to increase;” the builders of the Tower of Babel sought to “make us a name,” whereas God took this man, who forsook all, and “made his name great”); and you shall be a blessing: (Concerns itself with the greatest blessing of all. It is the glory of Abraham’s Faith. God would give this man the meaning of Salvation, which is "Justification by Faith,” which would come about through the Lord Jesus Christ, and what Christ would do on the Cross. Concerning this, Jesus said of Abraham, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad” [Jn. 8:56].) 3 And I will bless them who bless you (to bless Israel, or any Believer, for that matter, guarantees the Blessings of God), and curse him who curses you (to curse Israel, or any Believer, guarantees that one will be cursed by God): and in you shall all families of the Earth be blessed. (It speaks of Israel, which sprang from the loins of Abraham and the womb of Sarah, giving the world the Word of God and, more particularly, bringing the Messiah into the world. Through Christ, every family in the world who desires blessing from God can have that Blessing, i.e., “Justification by Faith.”)
Genesis 17:4-5 (KJV)
4 As for Me, behold, My Covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations (and so he was!). 5 Neither shall your name any more be called Abram (which means “exalted father”), but your name shall be Abraham (“father of the multitudes”); for a father of many nations have I made you.
Genesis 15:5 (KJV)
5 And He (the Lord) brought him (Abraham) forth abroad, and said, Look now toward Heaven (the answer is from Heaven, and not otherwise), and tell the stars (count the stars), if you be able to number them: and He (the Lord) said unto him (Abraham), So shall your seed be. (While Abraham was worrying about having one son, in fact, the Lord tells him, his seed shall be as the stars of the heavens for multitude. And so it is!)
Romans 6:4-5 (KJV)
4 Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death (not only did we die with Him, but we were buried with Him as well, which means that all the sin and transgression of the past were buried; when they put Him in the Tomb, they put all of our sins into that Tomb as well): that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the Glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (we died with Him, we were buried with Him, and His Resurrection was our Resurrection to a “Newness of Life”). 5 For if we have been planted together (with Christ) in the likeness of His Death (Paul proclaims the Cross as the instrument through which all Blessings come; consequently, the Cross must ever be the Object of our Faith, which gives the Holy Spirit latitude to work within our lives), we shall be also in the likeness of His Resurrection (we can have the “likeness of His Resurrection,” i.e., “live this Resurrection Life,” only as long as we understand the “likeness of His Death,” which refers to the Cross as the Means by which all of this is done):
Lets close in Prayer.
