Receiving God’s Gift

KEY VERSE: “The promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.” —Romans 4:13

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Romans 4:13-25

THE JEWS THOUGHT that because God had given them the Law at Mount Sinai, they were justified in God’s sight by that Law. But receiving a law is not keeping that law. That is what the apostle taught when he said, By the deeds of the Law no flesh could be justified in God’s sight: for by the Law is the knowledge of sin.” (Rom. 3:20) He added, “Where no Law is there is no transgression,” for “sin is not imputed when there is no Law.”—Rom. 4:15; 5:13

Looking at the life of Abraham, Paul saw a compelling example of the kind of faith that all people must have if they are to be able to receive God’s gift of redemption. Abraham was not chosen by God to receive the promised blessing because he was obedient to God’s Law, but because of his faith. If anyone was able to earn God’s promised gift of salvation through obedience to the Law, then there would have been little need for the exercise of faith that righteousness and life could be achieved through the redemptive work of Christ. Paul rationalized that since it is apparent the Law could not save anyone, then the exercise of faith in God’s program for salvation through Christ becomes important and necessary.

All who have such faith are true descendants of Abraham. Speaking to consecrated believers, Paul said, if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3: 29) Pointing to Abraham, Romans 4:17 reads, It is written, I have made thee a father of many nations.” Abraham in type symbolized God, and these words therefore imply that many nations would become children of God. The thought is clouded somewhat by the phrase, ‘before him whom he believed’. The Marginal Translation reads, “like unto him whom he believed,” referring to God, who frequently speaks in other places of things not yet accomplished as if they were accomplished. Abraham was not yet a father of many nations. Paul is here referring to Christ, the antitypical seed of Abraham through whom, during the Millennial Age, all the families of the earth will be blessed and granted opportunity for regeneration as children of God.

Abraham was nearly a hundred years old, and his chances for parenthood at this point in his life was exceedingly slight. Moreover, his wife, Sarah, whom God had decreed would be the mother of the promised child, was not only ninety years of age, but had not borne children throughout her life. Even though he did not understand, Abraham trusted God’s promise to make him the father of many nations and that all the world would be saved through faith, though reason and physical evidence indicated such a thing was impossible.

Hence Paul said, “Without being weakened in faith, he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb: yea, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” (Rom. 5:19-21, RSV) After some initial doubt, Abraham was able to believe with growing conviction that God both could and would fulfill the promise. This was the faith that justified Abraham to righteousness.

And this was not merely for Abraham’s benefit. It was for us too, assuring us that God will accept us in the same way he accepted Abraham—when we believe the promises of God who brought back Jesus our Lord from the dead. Paul points out that “whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (Rom. 15:4) Concerning this, Paul said, “We walk by faith, not by sight.” (II Cor. 5:7) Faith in God and faith in Jesus as our Redeemer is the basis of our justification. “He was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification.”—Rom. 4:25

Had Jesus not been resurrected, he could not have been the means of our justification. “If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins.” (I Cor. 15:17) But, praise the Lord, Jesus was raised again to life! I lay down my life, that I might take it up again.”—John 10:17

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