Faith and Works

TEXT: Romans 4:1-5:21

I. Background/Setting

Author: Paul

Time: (Probable) 58 A.D. During Paul’s 3-month stay in Corinth, on his 3^rd missionary journey.

Immediate Intended Audience: Christians in Rome

Purpose: To counter the teaching of the Judaizing Christians there and to prepare those non-Judaizing Christians on how to deal with those others who would have them observe the practices/works of the “Old Jewish Law.”

Explanation:

· The first converts to Christ were Jews.

· The transition from law of Moses/Old Law, was tough and slow

· Accepting Gentiles and the fact that they, the Jews, were no longer exclusively God’s people were a new thing. Acts 10—Describes the conversion of Cornelius and his household (the 1^st recorded Gentile Conversion)

· Though they were beginning to understand and accept Gentiles, they were slower in breaking away from the “Old Law”. In fact a group of hardliners—the Judaizers—insisted that the Gentile converts would have to be circumcised and do the works of the “Old Law”. (Acts 15: 1-11; Galatians 5: 1-6; Romans 3-4)

· Judaizers south to make the Church a mere sect of the Jews and the Gospel, a sort of adjunct to the laws Mosses. Adjunct—something connected with and subordinate in position, a function of something larger…

· The Judaizers would have been a lot more successful without the work of Paul.

Terms—There is a need to understand a few terms/concepts before we enter the passages. This will help out quite a bit in our understanding of the scriptures.

Justify—Justified—Justification

[DIKAIOSIS]—Denotes the act of pronouncing RIGHTEOUS, JUSTIFICATION, ACQUITTAL

[DIKAIOMA]—A concrete expression of RIGHTEOUSNESS

[DIKAIOO]—to pronounce, or proclaim to be RIGHTEOUS

RIGHTEOUS (NESS)

[DIKAIOSUNE]—Is the character, or quality of being right or just; conformity to the will of God; FAITHFULNESS; TRUTHFULNESS.

[DIKAIOMA]—JUSTIFICATION

IMPUTE

[LOGIZOMAI]—To RECKON; take into account; metaphorically, to put down to a persons account.

[ELLOGAO]—Denotes to charge to one’s account.

RECKON

[LOGIZOMAI]—Metaphorically, by a reckoning of characteristics or reasons, to take into account; to consider.

LAW of FAITH

(As mentioned in Rom. 3: 27)—Depending on the innocent to justify the guilty.

· In recognizing one’s self as a condemned sinner there is a cause for humility, but no grounds for boasting. The greatest ground for humility is the knowledge that an innocent person dies to save me from my own folly. Instead of being the proud possessor of a spotless character, I have to rely on another to cleanse me from my own defilement. (Whiteside pg. 82)

Note: Before getting into Chap. 4 of Romans, to set the context, we must briefly look at Chap. 3.

Starting in v. 9-18

· Are Jews better than Gentiles? No, ALL are under sin

· There is none righteous, no not one

· There is none that understandeth, none that seek after God

· None that doeth good, not one

· There is no fear/respect for God

v. 19-20

· Before the Law (Law of Moses, Old Law) All mouths would be shut, for there was no defense. All would be found guilty in God’s judgment.

· By the Old Law nobody could be justified—The Law had to be followed perfectly—All have sinned and fallen short (v. 23)

v. 21-22; 24-31

· Righteousness of God w/out the Old Law is made known witnessed by the law and prophets.

· The RIGHTEOUSNESS of God is by fait in Jesus Christ for ALL for there is NO DISTINCTION.

· JUSTIFIED by grace through the redemption that is in Christ.

· Christ’s Death serves as a propitiation (appeasement) to God for our sins. Remitting our sins He reconciled us to God. God justifying us could be considered “Just”. Our sins had been paid for in Christ of course we must believe in Jesus.

· Boasting? No boasting because of the Law of Faith.

· A man is JUSTIFIED by Faith, NOT by the works of the Old Law.

· God is God of the Jew and Gentiles—circumcision or un-circumcision, By Faith we are ALL JUSTIFIED.

· Is the law made void by faith? No, (it was fulfilled at Christ’s death) the Law of Faith has been established.

II Romans 4

Chapter 4 is Paul continuing his discussion from Chapter 3. In chapter 4, Paul going back to Abraham, (someone the Judaizers revere, or honor) to illustrate his point(s) in this discussion.

v. 1-2

• Abraham had no fleshly reason to boast. He was an ordinary man. No particularly special lineage. (Something the Jews really valued)
• Abraham was reckoned JUST, before the law and his circumcision.

v. 3

• Abraham believed (had faith in) God and it was RECKONED unto him for RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Gen. 15: 6)

a It is argued by some that Paul in Romans 4 is speaking about the justification of Abraham as an alien sinner. Some take it for granted that up to the time spoken of in (Gen. 15) that Abraham was an un-forgiven, condemned sinner. Let’s take a look at some facts that prove that Ave had been a faithful servant of God.

• God’s command to Abraham to leave his homeland in Ur, and HIS promise to bless Abraham, make a great nation of him, and bless the whole world through his seed. (Gen. 12: 1-3; Acts 7: 2-3)
• By faith Abraham obeyed, and trusted God going out not knowing where he was going. (Heb. 11: 8)
• At Shechem, God gave the promise of the land, and Abraham built an altar to God to worship Him. (Gen. 12: 6-7)
• Abraham built another altar at a place between Bethel and Ai, and called upon the Lord. (Gen 12: 8)
• After a bad pit-stop in Egypt he returned to the preceding altar and called upon the Lord. (Gen. 13: 3-4)
• When he returned from slaughtering the kings and saving Lot, Melchizedek, priest of God Most High, blessed Abraham saying, “blessed be Abraham of God Most High.” (Gen. 14: 18-19)
• After these things and before a promise of a son the Lord told Abraham not to fear, that he was his shield, and his exceeding great reward. (Gen. 15: 1)

a Through these examples of Abraham’s Faith, Obedience, and Worship of GOD, and God’s Attention, Promises, and Blessings to Abraham, we must conclude that Abraham was a faithful servant of God.

a The language in (Romans 4: 3; Gen. 15: 6)

• Does NOT refer to the JUSTIFICATION of an alien sinner.
• Paul was trying to convince the Jews that the JUSTIFICATION happened before the giving of the law.
• Paul was trying to offset the Judaizers claim that a person had to be circumcised in order to be saved.
• THEIR OWN FATHER ABRAHAM, OF WHOM THEY BOASTED, WOULD BE CUT-OFF ACCORDING TO THE LAW.

a Back to (v. 3) again. The word RECKONED, or COUNTED is used. Remember the terms we covered earlier. Abraham’s faith was reckoned UNTO RIGHTOUSNESS NOT AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

v. 4-5

“WORKETH” in this context is referring to—the works of the Old Law. There is no reason to believe that it is referring to anything different.

• Those who are Practicing the Old Law to get the reward do not consider the reward a gift (grace), but as a debt that the Lord would repay. a The Old Law had to be followed perfectly in order to bring God into debt. A person had to be free of sin. ALL had fallen short (Rom. 3: 9, 23; 5: 12).
• The Old Law wound not JUSTIFY it would condemn (Rom. 3: 19-20).
• He that does not practice the Old Law, but believes in God who JUSTIFIES, apart from the law (Rom. 3: 21-22), through his son Jesus Christ, his faith (belief) is RECKONED or COUNTED unto RIGHTEOUSNESS.
• Remember! The definition of RECKONED. It’s considered towards a person’s RIGHTEOUSNESS not as, or a substitute for RIGHTEOUSNESS.

a Is there a conflict between Paul and James? Let’s take a look.

PAUL—

• He who works not but believes on He who justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness. (Rom. 4: 5)

JAMES—

• “by works a man is justified and not only by faith.” (Jas. 2: 24)

PAUL—

• “For if Abraham was justified by works, he hat where3of to glory” (Rom. 4: 2)

JAMES—

• “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac, his son, upon the altar?” (Jas. 2: 21)—a rhetorical question.

a There is no conflict. Consider this:

• Paul was talking about the works of the law. James was talking about works of faith.
• Their audiences, topics, and purposes for writing were different.
• Paul was showing the Judaizing Christians that no one could be righteous, or justified by the works of the law, for no one kept the law perfectly. To be justified, or righteous a person must believe in Christ. To the one who does not fulfill the works of the law, but believes in God, faith is reckoned unto righteousness. (Whiteside p. 95)
• James was arguing that faith w/out works of faith would not justify.

a To exclude either is to fail of justification. Both Paul and James used Abraham as an example to illustrate their points. Abraham was justified w/out the works of the Old Law; he was justified by his belief (faith) and his actions (works of faith).

V. 6-8

a A reference back to King David

• David describes the blessedness of the man unto whom God RECKONETH RIGHTEOUSNESS (Ps. 32: 1-2) – Apart from works (Rom. 4: 6). Consider David’s context. In David’s time the Law of Moses, Old Law was in place (David was thinking of the future).
• “works” In this verse is still referring to the works of the law. Does Paul change “works” in meaning in the middle of his example? No, that wouldn’t make any sense. Consider the CONTEXT!
• V. 7—“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.” Only through the propitiation (appeasement, reconciliation) of Christ, (the perfect sacrifice) are our sins paid for or covered. (Rom. 3: 25)
• V. 8—“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin.”

WHO? Those that He’s JUSTIFIED through their belief. (Rom. 3: 21-22; 4:5)

a Remember faith is RECKONED unto RIGHTEOUSNESS/ JUSTIFICATION. Keep in mind that Paul’s context that it’s the Law of Faith Vs. The Law of Moses/Old Law, --NOT—Faith vs. The Works of Faith.

a Remember the audience

• Christians, Judaizing Christians—NOT unbelieving sinners.

aWhat’s important about the specifics of who the audience was?

• The point of what was being said was to make the Judaizers stop teaching and trying to enforce the Old Law, i.e.: Circumcision, which had been fulfilled in Christ and now of no effect to them.
• Romans 4 v. 1-8, was not for the purpose of telling alien sinners that all they had to do was believe. Those who say so are misunderstanding and misusing the scripture here as written by the apostle Paul.

V. 9-12

a Paul refers to circumcision (continues his thought from v. 6-8).

• Blessedness just for the circumcised? What about Abraham? Was he reckoned (considered) righteous before or after he was circumcised? Paul answers: BEFORE. Also remember that factors mentioned previously in the outline.
• V. 11-12 can be tricky. 1) Abraham received the sign of circumcision. —Obediently, Abraham was circumcised. 2) A seal of the righteousness of the faith, which he had yet being uncircumcised. —Circumcision stood as the symbol of Abraham’s righteousness, (reckoned because of the faith), reckoned to him before he was circumcised, that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be reckoned unto them also: As righteousness was reckoned unto Abraham for his faith before the law and circumcision, so those who follow Abraham’s example of faith will be reckoned righteous, though they aren’t circumcised, -- and the father of circumcision to then, who are not of the circumcision only, not just Jews, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being uncircumcised. Gentiles also.

V. 13-16 – Faith vs. Works of the Law (Old Law)

• Promise mad to Abraham, not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
• If it was through the Old Law, Faith is void, Promise of no effect. Because the Law worketh wrath. The Law of Moses/Old Law would not establish anyone’s righteousness, but it would make known their sin and condemn them. Remember Romans 3.
• Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace, (not by works as if to bring God into debt to us, that would be impossible).
• The Promise was not just for the Jew, but also for any who like Abraham believed.

a Remember the Promise to Abraham (Gen. 12: 1-3) v. 3 “…and in thee shall all the nations of the world be blessed.”

Romans 5: 1-2

• JUSTIFIED by faith, we have peace with God, through Jesus (Rom. 3: 25).
• By faith we have access to grace, (the gift, which is our JUSTIFICATION/RIGHTEOUSNESS), through Jesus.

III JUSTIFICATION = RIGHTEOUSNESS

a My objective as stated before the lesson was to explain Romans 4, and to discuss some of the issues that might arise from the mishandling of the scripture. In our study I believe it has been prove that it is faith, not the works of the Law of Moses/ Old Law, that justifies or makes one righteous.

a Remember the point that Faith is RECKONED unto RIGHTEOUSNESS or a substitute for it. Faith is RECKONED – (CONSIDERED, or COUNTED) unto—(TOWARDS) RIGHTEOUSNESS. Faith is not the only thing that justifies.

a What else JUSTIFIES?

• Grace – Rom. 3: 24
• Faith – Rom. 3: 26; 5: 1
• Works –James 2: 14-26 – By works was faith made perfect, both working together. Faith w/o works is dead. If faith is dead, it’s no good to you. No access to the gift of grace. No justification/ righteousness (being made free from sin; Rom. 6: 23) Works are necessary to make your Faith Perfect not to earn God’s Grace – Thus the definition of Grace.
• Blood – Rom. 5: 9; 3: 25 – Christ’s innocent blood covers our sins, reconciling us with God – Thus The Law of Faith.

a We explain how they all work together in providing an invitation. Acts 2: 37-38

· Belief – The people, through Peter’s preaching, were pricked in their hearts, believing in Jesus.

· Works—We, as they were, are instructed to Repent and be Baptized; both are works.

· Blood – Baptized in the name of Jesus (Rom. 6) explains symbolic meaning – Baptized into his blood which washes away our sins (makes us righteous)

· Grace – For the remission of our sins. And we shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. – Righteousness and our Reward.

a Faith – “Cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10: 17) What does God want you to do? The same as the people in Acts 2: 38.