NOTES for Rom 4:13-25
13 For 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. |
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: |
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. |
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, |
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. |
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. |
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 Sara's womb: |
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; |
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. |
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. |
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; |
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; |
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. |
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The apostle Paul reveals the meaning of Christ's gospel words through the example of Abraham. The promise of salvation was given to Abraham not for his good works, but according to God's mercy, and he received it not according to the law, as though he had taken what was owed to him, but through an astonishing faith in the goodness and almighty power of God. Such faith, such trust, brings a person into a special relationship with God. Then the person's inner system of values changes; evil becomes inwardly repulsive to him, and this is the "righteousness of faith." How much easier it is for us than for Abraham to accept such faith, because God's goodness and almighty power were shown to us by the Father, who gave the Son over to death and raised Him for our justification.
Readings for 18 June 2025
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