Righteousness Through Faith

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Romans 4:13-25

 

Romans 4:13

For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.

(ESV)

 

Please continue praying for the people of Ukraine. Their courage is an inspiration to us all, but they need God’s intervention and a miracle to have victory over the evil unleashed against them. Also, please pray for the people of Russia who do not condone the actions of Vladimir Putin but fear the repercussions of speaking out.

 

In Romans 4:13-25, the Apostle Paul teaches that the promises of God are not realized through one's works of obedience to the law, but by grace with the work done by Jesus on the cross. This does not mean believers are not to strive to live obediently to God’s law but that no amount of obedience to the law of God will result in one receiving justification from sin by God (Isaiah 64:6). Paul uses the example of Abraham and how God counted him righteous not by his obedience to the law through circumcision but by his faith, because the command for him to be circumcised had not occurred yet (Romans 4:11). This passage teaches that,

 

1)      Righteousness by obedience to the law nullifies faith (Romans 4:13-15) – Since the law of God existed before the birth of Christ, justification by obedience to the law would have meant there was no need for Jesus to come since one could achieve a right standing with God through obedience to the law. However, the historical account of the nation of Israel, especially in the book of judges illustrates the failure of the law to bring about salvation. The purpose of the law is to define the righteous standard of God and the consequences of disobedience. The law also defines transgression and that there would be no transgression without the law.

2)      A position of righteousness with God depends on faith (Romans 4:16-25) – Therefore, a position of righteousness is only available through faith. For Abraham, it was faith that God would fulfill his promise of making him the father of many nations even though he and Sarah were beyond the age of having children (Romans 4:19). For those of us living after the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, faith involves looking back at the finished work of Jesus on the cross and placing our faith that this work of grace covers our sin.

 

In a world that rewards based on achievement, it is normal to believe achievement from God requires effort on our part to realize our salvation and justification from God. However, God’s ways are not like our ways with salvation coming through God’s grace and Jesus’ death on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9). This, however, does not permit us to continue sinning as an illustration of God’s grace for as believers we are dead to sin and alive in Christ (Romans 6:1-4). The work of grace was providing a position as a righteous child of God through faith (Philippians 3:9). However, a gospel gap exists between our righteous position in Christ and how we live our lives tainted by the flesh. The objective of every believer is to close this gospel gap by losing conformity to the world and sin and allowing God to transform us through His Word and the work of the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:2).       

 

We must ask ourselves a question if the government arrested us for our faith in Jesus Christ, would there be sufficient evidence to convict us of Christianity based upon how we live our lives. While no Christian is perfect, if there is no discernable evidence of change demonstrating a loss of conformity to the world and transformation to a Godlier life, a jury may not be able to return a guilty verdict. Evidence of transformation in the life of a believer is one living a life that bears the fruits of the Holy Spirit for this demonstrates one belonging to Christ that has crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:22-24).

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

If you just prayed with me, you have a position with God of righteousness and adoption into the family of God. Even though one cannot achieve a position of righteousness by works of obedience to the law, the grace of God is not a blanket excuse to sin but a reason to respond out of love to God for what He has done for us. Living a fruitful life (Galatians 5:22-24) should be evidence of this transformation in one’s life. May God challenge and bless all reading this post. 

Turning Mourning into Joy

By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Jeremiah 31:1-30

 

Jeremiah 31:13

Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,
    and the young men and the old shall be merry.
I will turn their mourning into joy;
    I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.

(ESV)

 

I urge everyone reading this to continue praying for the people in Ukraine. While the bravery and courage of the Ukrainian people are inspirational, victory will require a Godly intervention like the intervention by God for Israel when they found themselves backed up to the Red Sea with the Egyptian army advancing towards them (Exodus 14). The situation seemed impossible for Israel, but God provided a way to escape the Egyptian army and the means to destroy the enemy of God’s people. Prayer is a powerful thing and a tool the people of God must use (James 5:16).

 

The Word of the Lord given by Jeremiah in Jeremiah 31:1-30 is a word of encouragement for the people of Judah and Israel living in exile. The text is in four sections that provide encouragement and comfort by,

 

1)      God reminding His people of His relationship with them (Jeremiah 31:1-6) – Even though Israel and Judah have been rebellious by worshipping other gods, they are still the people of God and dearly loved by Him. It was never the intention of God to destroy His people but to discipline them, bringing them to repentance. God is a good Father who disciplines His people for repentance and not their destruction because his plans for His people are for their good and not their destruction (Jeremiah 29:11).

2)      God stateing His intention to bring His people home (Jeremiah 31:7-14) – The people in exile are in mourning and perhaps beginning to believe their exile would become permanent due to its protracted length. This passage begins by encouraging the exiles to begin singing aloud and to shout for joy to the Lord (Jeremiah 31:7). The Lord promises to bring His people back to their land on a straight path by brooks of water (Jeremiah 31:8-9). This return of Israel and Judah to their land serves as a demonstration of the mercy and love of God towards His people (Jeremiah 31:10-14).

3)      God promising the lament of Israel and Judah will be turned into joy (Jeremiah 31:15-20) – The exiles are weeping over their situation with the Lord promising a reward for their work and hope for the future (Jeremiah 31:15-17). The Lord has heard the lament of Ephraim and his relenting or repenting of his sin and reminds Ephraim of His love and the yearning of His heart towards him (Jeremiah 31:18-20).

4)      God reminding those in exile that the path to restoration is repentance (Jeremiah 31:21-30) – God encourages Israel and Judah to set up road markers and guideposts leading them back to their land (Jeremiah 31:21). The Lord then challenges His people in exile by asking them how long they will waver in turning back to God (Jeremiah 31:22). God then provides a picture of what life will be like once Israel and Judah return to their land (Jeremiah 31:23-25). At this Jeremiah awakens from his pleasant sleep with the Lord reinforcing his intention to return His people to the Promised Land (Jeremiah 31:26-30).

 

The nation of Israel and Judah has gone into exile for rebelling against God and worship of other gods. Exile is the consequence of this rebellion (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). While exile is the consequence of rebellion against God, God is merciful and promises restoration when Israel repents of their sin (Deuteronomy 30:1-3). In Jeremiah 31:21, God urges His people to reflect on their pathway of rebellion, return to God, and once again live in the cities God gave to them. Upon doing this, those preserved in exile will once again experience joy instead of mourning (Jeremiah 31:15-29).

 

The Jews in exile did not stop being God’s chosen people but due to rebellion suffered a time in exile to bring them to repentance. As Christians, we have a position as righteous and children of God because of what Christ Jesus has done (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, we live in a fallen world full of temptation and can succumb to this temptation and fall into sin. Thankfully, God’s mercy forgives and brings restoration to those that repent and turn back to God (1 John 1:9). If you are reading this and have never invited Jesus to be your Savior, I invite you to pray with me and receive salvation from your sins,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

For those that know Jesus as Savior but have drifted away from Christ, I urge you to repent and receive restoration. May God challenge and bless everyone reading this.

Justified by Faith

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Romans 4:1-12

 

Romans 4:4-5

Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in[a] him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

(ESV)

 

Before beginning this study, I want to take a moment to urge those reading this post to continue praying for the people of Ukraine. This is a modern David (Ukraine) and Goliath (David) situation. While military experts placed the odds of victory with the stronger Goliath, David did prevail in his confrontation with Goliath (1 Samuel 17) giving hope Ukraine can prevail in this situation. James 5:16 reminds us that prayer has great power, so I urge everyone reading this to keep praying.

 

The discussion in Romans now shifts from establishing the guilt of humanity culminating in Romans 3:23 establishing the fact that all have sinned to how one can become guiltless through God’s provision of righteousness. The discussion begins with Paul asking what Abraham gained according to the flesh (Romans 4:1). If Abraham gained his righteous standing with God through works of the flesh, he would have had something to boast in as would we all if our salvation was due to our works (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 4:2). However, Genesis 15:6 states that Abraham was counted as righteous because he believed in God (Romans 4:3). The passage then compares the difference between one working for their wages versus one who does not work. For one working for a wage, the money is what he or she is due for their labors (Romans 4:4). For one that does not work for their reward, the receipt of their reward is a gift based on belief in the one who justifies the ungodly (Romans 4:5). David spoke of one receiving this righteousness apart from works as a blessing for their lawless deeds of sins are forgiven and covered with God no longer counting them against him or her (Romans 4:6-8).

 

The discussion then shifts from righteous justification apart from works to who can receive this gift. Paul asks the reader to consider if the blessing of the gift of salvation is only for the circumcised or also available for the uncircumcised (Romans 4:9). To answer this question, we must consider the timing of God’s calling Abraham righteous, and the implementation of the requirement of circumcision. We find God’s declaration of Abraham as righteous in Genesis 15:6 with the implementation of circumcision in Genesis 17:1-14. Since Genesis is a chronological account of history from creation to Israel going to Egypt escaping circumcision comes after God declared Abraham righteous. Therefore, God’s declaration of Abraham as Righteous has nothing to do with his works of adherence to a religious ritual and everything to do with his belief or faith (Romans 4:11). From this position, Abraham is the father of all who believe without circumcision but also the father of the circumcised who also walk the footsteps of faith Abraham had before his circumcision (Romans 4:12). 

 

Abraham was declared righteous by God in (Genesis 15:6) but this was before he was circumcised (Genesis 17:1-14). Therefore, the declaration of Abraham as righteous before God occurred by faith and was not due to religious adherence to the Law or observance of a religious ritual like circumcision. There is only one righteous man, Jesus Christ and while Abraham did not see Jesus on earth, he lived in anticipation of Messiah coming with that belief counting him as righteous (Galatians 3:5-6).

 

We live under the New Covenant and instead of looking forward to Messiah’s coming, we can look back at the cross (Ephesians 2:14-16; Galatians 6:14; Romans 5:8). However, this still requires faith for we were not present at the cross as eyewitnesses to the crucifixion or the resurrection. I invite those reading this who have not done so to take a moment to pray to receive by faith the gift of salvation and justification offered by God,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

While we look back at the cross for salvation, we do look forward to the return of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom on earth, words we are to encourage each other with (1 Thessalonians 5:11). As we continue to witness events in Ukraine and other parts of the world, have, we have hope for God is in control and will return to bring peace. May God bless and challenge everyone reading this post.