Romans 3:21-5:11 4:1-8 Paul takes his readers back to Abraham and reminds them that Abraham was not made righteous by works or by law but by believing God when He told him He would give him a son. Righteousness is a gift. It's not wages that are owed to people who work for it. Paul calls two witnesses, Abraham and David, to say that righteousness is a gift from God that is apart from works. v. 9-12 This gift of righteousness is not only for Jews who are in a covenant relationship with God but also for Gentiles. Paul proves this by showing that Abraham was made righteous before he was circumcised. Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6) and then much later, when his son Ishmael was 13 years old, Abraham was circumcised (Genesis 17:23-27). Circumcision was a seal of the righteousness he already possessed before he was circumcised. Therefore Abraham is the father of both Jews and Gentiles. "He is the father of all who believe." v. 13-15 Abraham was made righteous not by the law but by his faith that God would do what He had promised. If law brings righteousness then there's no need for faith. "Law brings wrath" because those who break the law are subject to the wrath of God. v. 16 Since the promise comes by faith it's accessible to both those who are under the law (Jews) and those who are not (Gentiles). Abraham is not the father of only one nation (Jews) but of many nations (Gentiles too). v. 17 God is the one who gives life to the dead (God resurrected Jesus) and calls things that are not as though they were (God spoke the world into being). This is the God that Abraham believed and the one in whom he put his trust. v. 18-25 Abraham's faith in God's ability to fulfill His promise of a son was credited to him as righteousness. But the great news is that not only Abraham is credited with righteousness but also anyone (Jew or Gentile) who believes God, the one who raised Jesus from the dead. 5:1-2 Believers are justified (made righteous in God's sight) through faith in Christ and have real peace with God. This peace is not just a pleasant feeling. They used to be enemies of God and now they are His friends-- no longer under His wrath. So believers rejoice in the hope of the glory of God and will surely share in His glory in the future. v. 3-5 They also rejoice in their sufferings because suffering produces perseverance and character which results in hope. This hope will not disappoint them because it's based on the love that God has for them and His Spirit who lives in them. v. 6-8 Jesus came at just the right time, not too early or too late. He came when people were still powerless because of their sins. This is a very precious thing because few people would willingly die for another person and no one would be likely to die for an evil person. But Jesus was willing to die for godless, evil people. This shows God's great love for humanity. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. v. 9-11 Since Christ's blood has justified them, they are saved from God's wrath. Believers are saved from the wrath of God, not saved from experiencing an unpleasant life on earth. The wrath of God is real and justification through the blood of Jesus is the only way to be saved from that wrath. Believers rejoice in God through Christ because they have been reconciled to the Father through His sacrifice. --Sandy Blank Back...
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