📅 January 28: Romans 3-4: The Righteousness of Faith

Daily Bible Readings January
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:date: January 28: Romans 3-4: The Righteousness of Faith

Embracing Grace through Faith

:earth_africa: Introduction
On January 28th, our journey through the scriptures takes us to Romans 3-4, where the Apostle Paul dives deep into the core principles of faith and righteousness. These chapters underscore the transformative power of faith in God’s grace, moving beyond the law.

:open_book: Romans 3: The Righteousness through Faith
Paul addresses the concept of righteousness in Romans 3, emphasizing that it comes from God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. This chapter confronts the reality of human sin and the futility of trying to achieve righteousness through human effort.

:scroll: Key Verse: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” — Romans 3:23-24

:pray: Romans 4: Faith of Abraham
In Romans 4, Paul uses the example of Abraham to illustrate that righteousness is credited through faith, not works. He shows how Abraham’s faith was counted as righteousness before the law was given, establishing the precedence of faith over legalistic observance.

:scroll: Key Verse: *“Abraham believed God,

and it was credited to him as righteousness.” — Romans 4:3*

:sparkles: Key Themes and Reflections:
The Universal Need for Grace: Romans 3 highlights that all have sinned, underscoring the universal need for God’s grace, irrespective of one’s background or efforts in following the law.

Justification by Faith: These chapters emphasize that righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not by adhering to the law. It’s a gift of grace that can’t be earned.

The Precedence of Faith: Using Abraham’s story, Paul demonstrates that faith has always been the basis of a righteous standing before God, even before the law was given.

:bulb: Today’s Application:
Reflect on the role of faith in your spiritual journey. Consider how relying on God’s grace, rather than your own efforts, can transform your relationship with God and your understanding of righteousness.

:mag: Hidden Gem:
Did you know? Romans 4:17 refers to God as the one “who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not,” revealing His power to transform and create anew.

:thought_balloon: Reflective Q&A:
:earth_africa: Romans 3-4: Faith and Righteousness

:question: Understanding Justification by Faith: How does Paul’s explanation of justification by faith in Romans 3-4 challenge traditional views of righteousness?

A: Paul’s teachings shift the focus from compliance with the law to a reliance on faith in Jesus Christ, emphasizing that righteousness is a gift of grace, not a result of human effort or merit.

:question: Learning from Abraham’s Faith: What can Abraham’s example teach us about the nature and power of faith?

A: Abraham’s faith, counted as righteousness, exemplifies unwavering trust in God’s promises, showing that faith involves believing in God’s power and faithfulness, even when circumstances seem contrary.

:speech_balloon: Join the Discussion:
How do Romans 3-4 deepen your understanding of faith and righteousness? Share your reflections and insights in the comments below!

#Romans3 #Romans4 #Faith #Grace #Righteousness #BibleStudy #SpiritualJourney

:date: See You Tomorrow in Romans: Continue exploring the rich theological insights in the Book of Romans and their implications for our faith and daily living.

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Romans 3,4
One of the key words of this epistle is ‘Faith.’ Paul uses the word 39 times in the epistle (although only in 34 verses, as on some occasions it is used more than once in a verse), and 18 times (in 16 verses) are found in these two chapters for consideration. By the use of this word Paul shows what a power faith is and can be in our lives. In chapter 4, to underline this fact, he uses Abraham’s name as an example seven times. • Chapter 3:1-20 continues the thoughts from ch. 2 showing that Jews and Gentiles together need God’s salvation. How important, when reading these words, that we realise our need of redemption is desperate, urgent, and it is only available through the obedient sacrifice of Christ. Verses 21-31 show how we are justified, by grace, through the blood of Christ obtained by belief in and baptism into his death. • In ch. 3 there are a series of questions and answers between the protesting Jew and the apostle. The ritualistic Jew is answered clearly by the apostle quoting the Word of life and interpreting it for them, and on six occasions he quotes from the Psalms. • The end of the chapter shows the Revealed Righteousness. Verse 21 concludes “being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets” and conforms to Isa. 8:20 which states: “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.” The word ‘witnessed’ is the Greek ‘martureo’ and is related to ‘martyr.’ It is found again in Heb. 12:1 in relation to the roll of the faithful in Heb. 11. • The whole of Paul’s argument is then clarified for his listeners in Rom. 4 by using two examples they could not deny. He tells them, Justification by THE (definite article) Faith is not some new doctrine but was before accepted and believed and lived by both Abraham and David. The apostle shows that they were justified by The Faith and were blessed accordingly. • Ch. 4:1-8 shows Abraham Justified by The Faith. Verses 9-12 reveal that Abraham was justified before he was circumcised. Verses 13-22 teach that Abraham was justified apart from the Law. Verses 23-25 reveal that Abraham’s blessings are for all those of faith, and available through the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ. The education in the divine Law of Moses that Paul had received at the feet of Gamaliel is used with great understanding and power in these words being written to ‘all in Rome, beloved of Yahweh, called saints’ (ch. 1:7). Immediately he settles upon them their responsibility in the Gospel, for which he says in ch. 1:16, he was not ashamed. Having ended the previous chapter with the explanation that circumcision has to be of the heart, he then answers those protesters of their attitude that being Jews, God’s people, they surely had advantage (vv. 1-8). He answers by voicing their questions and then giving the scriptural answer. The term used by Paul, some twelve times in his writings, nine of which are in this epistle, is “God forbid” (Gk. Mee genoito) which is better translated “Let it not be; far from it; by no means.” Paul continues, “Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar,” etc. (see Psa. 51:4, one of the penitential Psalms, in which David mourns over his own sins). God’s sayings, His threatenings, are justified by His judgments. They were in the case of David. They were also in the rejection of the Jewish nation, in spite of the promise, when it rejected the Holy One of Israel. In Rom. 3:9-20 Paul puts forward the many scriptures which support his answers. Six Old Testament quotations, each of which have within their context the ‘heart,’ but notice that Paul is describing the ‘whole of man.’ The end of ch. 3 deals with Deity manifest in the revealed righteousness, through ‘His Word and His Word made Flesh,’ which concludes this particular argument. The need for this righteousness is underlined by the statement “all have sinned;” literally ‘missed the mark,’ which relates to the constitution of sin into which all are born. Verse 24 has the phrase ‘justified freely’ which is better expressed as ‘being declared righteous.’ This is performed “through the redemption that is in Christ Yahshua.” The work of redemption is of Yahweh, through His blood-sprinkled mercy seat. Notice the words of v. 25, reveal it is for “the remission (passing over) of sins that are PAST.” The exhortation is that we have to continue to the uttermost to live the Truth in our whole life, being strengthened in this Glorious Hope through our knowledge that this Great Sacrifice of His Son was given that we might attain unto eternal life, by a continuance of well doing. Solomon declared, “Iron sharpeneth iron, So a man should sharpen the countenance of his friends” (see also 5:13). The apostle says “we establish the Law through (the) Faith.” Having proved it by argument, Paul now, in ch. 4:1-12 proves by example, and such example as must have greater weight with the Jews than any other. He declares that justification is by faith; and therefore is free for all, including the Gentiles. Abraham was justified first by faith, before he was justified by works. His faith was reckoned for righteousness. This blessedness of forgiveness is for Gentiles as well as Jews. • In v. 20 the word ‘staggered’ is the same word in ch. 14:23 ‘doubteth.’ However, the Greek is different from the AV translation. The words “not” (the second usage) and “neither yet” should not appear in v. 19, as Abraham was well aware of the circumstances that prevented him from obtaining a seed. Notwithstanding such evident difficulties in both himself and in his wife Sarah, he looked to a greater strength by the power of faith. It was this power that was perfected in the work of God in Christ, who was delivered for our offences (through the sacrifice on Golgotha), and raised again for our justification (by which we walk in newness of life). Further comments are to be found in “The Christadelphian Expositor: Romans.” — Logos.