** This post represents my summary and understanding of this passage. Before reading, please read Romans 4 so that you can better know if you agree with me or not. I suggest the ESV version. **
Summary [ Verses 1-12]
Paul talks about Abraham’s faith. He was the founder of the Jewish nation. He was made right with God not by his good deeds, but through his faith. When people worked, their wages were not a gift, but something they earned. But with God, people are counted as righteous because of their faith and not their work. David described in the Psalms that people were joyful in receiving God’s forgiveness as a free gift and not something they had to earn. Abraham was counted righteous in his faith before he was circumcised. His circumcision was a seal of his righteousness by faith. This made him the father of all who believed, whether they were circumcised (Jews) or not (Gentiles).
Summary [Verses 13-23]
God’s promise to give Abraham the whole earth was not based on whether Abraham followed all the laws, but based on his faith in God. If inheritance was based on laws, then faith meant nothing and the promise would have been worthless. But the promise is received by faith, it is given by grace and it guarantees that all the descendants of Abraham would receive it (those who followed all the laws and those who lived by faith). Abraham was told by God that he would be the father of many nations. However, Abraham was old and had no children. Abraham believed God, and did not weaken in his faith when he considered his and Sarah’s age. Sarah couldn’t technically have children anymore. But Abraham believed that God would fulfill his promise. Abraham was strengthened in his faith and he gave all glory to God. God counted Abraham as righteous and He will also count righteous all who place their faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was raised back to life to make us right with God.
Righteousness: the quality of being morally right or justifiable.
My Take Away:
In this chapter, Paul is again emphasizing the point that we are saved by faith and not works. God considers us righteous in his sight because of our faith in Jesus Christ, and not because of what we do or don’t do. He uses Abraham as an example of great faith. God had promised him a son, and biologically speaking Abraham and Sarah (his wife) were too old to have children. But Abraham chose to believe God could do what he promised. He did not let doubt cloud his faith. His faith grew even stronger because the only option he had was to trust God. Abraham wasn’t perfect, it took him a while to trust God completely. Abraham tried to take action into his own hands, and that only lead him away from God’s promise. But God brought him back, told him again of his promise to give him a son from Sarah, and eventually Abraham believed and put his faith fully on God. (For more on Abraham’s story, please read Genesis 15-18 and Genesis 21).
So many times in my life God asked me to trust him even when I couldn’t see solution for whatever I was going through. And it is so hard to completely trust Him! When I moved to New Jersey, I felt God telling me to trust him and that this is where he wanted me. But the first 4 years of me living here were extremely challenging! I had very little friends and wasn’t really finding a church and community I connected with. I honestly could not see why he wanted me in NJ. I felt so alone, and because I felt alone, I decided to take matters into my own hands and get in a relationship that was not honoring to God. That lead me further and further from Him. But God is so good and graceful, he stayed with me the whole time, and eventually brought me back closer to him. So I started to fully trust him and decided I didn’t want to try and figure things out on my own. Now I am starting to see why he has me here. He brought me to a church where my heart to serve came back to life, and he brought me an amazing community that was so much better than I could have ever imagined. He placed an amazing man in my life who loves the Lord and wants to live for Him.
I am not saying that things are perfect now, because they aren’t. I still struggle with sin, I still deal with anxiety, I still try to do things on my own. But God has restored my faith and I have learned to lean on Him more and more. I learned to trust that He knows what is best for my life and His plans are much better than my plans. Nothing that I do can change how God feels about me. He loves me no matter what!! And that goes for you too, friend. God loves you no matter how many times you mess up or how many times you forget to trust Him. All He asks for, is that you put your faith in Him. Everything else, He will take care of.
- What is the one thing God is asking you to trust Him with?
- How has God provided for you in the past? Does remembering what he has done for you in the past, help you remember to trust him with your future?
Hope you enjoyed this post! Please leave a comment with your answers, if you want, or any prayer requests!
Simply Julesicle 