ROMANS 10
We will begin this lesson in Romans 4:14 "For if they which are
of the law [be] heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of
none effect:"
We see the law is totally different from the justification by
faith that came from Abraham. Abraham was not promised to bless all
nations through the law which was given to just one nation, Israel)
but the promise came through faith. His seed that we have mentioned so
many times before in these lessons, is all believers in Christ.
Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond
nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in
Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:29 "And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye
Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
You can easily see, if you can see heirship by work, it would not
be by promise. Law is exacting and must be obeyed to the letter, but
the grace of Jesus Christ leaves opportunity for repentance and new
life. Abraham did not earn the right, he believed God and that was
enough. God wants us to trust Him. Actually Abraham's promise from God
was two fold. He was promised in the physical the promised land
(Israel). In the spirit these promises went much further. The promise
of the spirit was not of this earth, but for the promised land
(heaven) for all who believe.
Romans 4:15 "Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is,
[there is] no transgression."
How can you break a law, if there is no law? If you break the law
(that you are living under), you will be punished (wrath). If there is
no law, you are not punished. (There are no laws written down on paper
for Christians. God's laws are written in our heart. We are pardoned
by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Romans 4:16 "Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by
grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to
that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith
of Abraham; who is the father of us all,"
The following Scripture speaks of this grace I Corinthians 1:4
"I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is
given you by Jesus Christ;"
Grace (unmerited favor) was offered to each of us (not because we
were worthy) but because God loved us each one.
II Timothy 1:9 "Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy
calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose
and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"
Just the love of God provided Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord for
each of us. Our obligation is to reach out and receive this gift of
grace in Jesus Christ.
Romans 4:17 "(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many
nations,) before him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth the
dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were."
This Scripture has been greatly misunderstood by many. Some
believe that this is saying that you can have anything you want by
just claiming it for yourself. I personally believe this is speaking
of the Gentiles when it is saying those who were not. Many nations
could not be just Israel. Israel is just one nation. This Scripture
is speaking of the Jew and Gentile. The Gentiles were not, because
they were heathen people. Through Jesus they are the family of God,
which they had not been previously. This is, also, speaking of the
resurrection of the dead. I Thessalonians 4:13 "But I would not have
you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that
ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." I Thessalonians
4:14 "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them
also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." I Thessalonians
4:15 "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which
are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent
them which are asleep." I Thessalonians 4:16 "For the Lord himself
shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall
rise first:" I Thessalonians 4:17 "Then we which are alive [and]
remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet
the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." I
Thessalonians 4:18 "Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
You should, also, read 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 35 through 58.
Romans 4:18 "Who against hope believed in hope, that he might
become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken,
So shall thy seed be."
When the promise was given to Abraham that he would become the
father of many nations, it seemed impossible. Here he and his wife
Sarah were very old people and have never had any children. For a
person who thought with a carnal mind this would be an impossibility.
Sarah had passed the age of women have children. Abraham did not
listen to the carnal mind, but believed all things were possible with
God. His faith in God and nothing else completed his righteousness to
God. God honored his great faith and gave him a son by Sarah (Isaac).
Isaac was the beginning of the promise that Abraham was to become
father of many nations.
Romans 4:19 "And being not weak in faith, he considered not his
own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet
the deadness of Sarah's womb:"
You see Abraham did not think with his carnal mind. He knew all
things were possible with God. God had created him in the beginning
and he knew God could restore his and Sarah's youth enough that they
could bring forth a child. (All men have their measure of faith.)
Abraham had great faith beyond the measure each man requires. He
believed so strongly, he became known as the father of the faithful.
Romans 4:20 "He staggered not at the promise of God through
unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;"
Jesus' own words Matthew 19:26 "But Jesus beheld [them], and
said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things
are possible." Abraham knew in his heart that nothing was impossible
to God. His faith was not of this world, but in God.
Romans 4:21 "And being fully persuaded that, what he had
promised, he was able also to perform."
Abraham knew whatever God said˙he would do, He was perfectly
capable of doing.
Romans 4:22 "And therefore it was imputed to him for
righteousness."
The number one meaning for impute above was compute.
Righteousness is not earned but received by faith. We are made
righteous in God's sight when we are washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Romans 4:23 "Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it
was imputed to him;"
This just means that not only is faith full payment for Abraham`s
righteousness, but any one who has faith in Jesus Christ is counted
righteous, as well. Our faith makes us in right standing with God.
Romans 4:24 "But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we
believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;"
Look at Romans 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth
the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised
him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." This leaves absolutely no
doubt what it takes to be saved.
Romans 4:25 "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised
again for our justification."
Jesus was without sin. He was innocent of all sin. He took our
sins on his body and paid our penalty in full. I should have been
crucified. My sins help put Jesus on the cross. I Corinthians 15:3
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how
that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;" Jesus
bought us and paid for us with his own precious blood. Our salvation
lies in him.
QUESTIONS 10
1. In verse 14, faith is made void and the promise of none effect if
who be heirs?
2. Who was the law given to?
3. How many nations does it consist of?
4. Who are Abraham's seed?
5. Where do you find the Scripture that tells who Abraham`s seed are?
6. What is the physical promised land?
7. What is the spiritual promised land?
8. We find in verse 15, that the law worketh what?
9. If there is no law, there is no ___________.
10. Where are God's laws written for the Christians?
11. In verse 16, it is of faith that it might be of_________.
12. Who is the father of all who believe?
13. How was the grace of God given˙us?
14. What is grace?
15. Why did God offer us this grace?
16. When was this grace provided for us?
17. Who quickeneth?
18. What two Scriptures speak of the resurrection?
19. In verse 18, was it the written or spoken Word which
brought this about?.
20. Why did it seem impossible for Abraham to be father of many?
21. Who was the beginning of the promise fulfilled in?
22. About how old was Abraham when Isaac was born?
23. Who did Abraham give glory to?
24. In Matthew ch. 19 verse 26, what does Jesus teach us about God?
25. What was imputed to Abraham for righteousness?
Notes
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