Romans 6:1 "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?"
And here we have it, the apostle Paul here is addressing people who ridicule easy believism, they ridicule the true biblical teaching of today as they did then in Paul's time.
Here we have these false teachers creeping in saying stuff like, if Salvation is a free gift from God, given to us by his grace, does that mean we can continue to sin as much as we want?
Can we then go ahead and live our lives anyway we like?
Let me answer that for you, the answer is, it's your choice but be prepared to reap what you sow.
I have explained this time and time again using the bible, so I'll keep it short here.
When a person gets saved, they do not immediately change their outward appearance or attitudes, this becomes a process, called sanctification.
Our bodies did not change, this will happen when the Lord Jesus Christ returns, only our spirit has been quickened (made alive), we become born again of the spirit, our flesh (body) still wars against our spirit and through sanctification, we need to bring our bodies under subjection of the spirit.
Now we have a choice to live righteously, which is what the epistle to the Romans teaches, and we should serve the Lord to further the kingdom of God, we can take up our cross, forsake our father, mother, brother, sister, children, literally give up everything we have and be a disciple of the Lord, known as discipleship or, go on living like the world and face divine discipline.
The truth is, not everyone who gets saved will go on to produce fruit (another saved person), look at the apostles, they saved thousands of souls, did they (the saved) all go on producing more saved people?
No, in fact if they did, the world wouldn't be like the way it is now, full of hypocrisy and false religious institutions.
But if we do continue in sin, grace does abound, do you understand that you cannot lose your salvation you are completely covered by the blood?
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians the following:
Galatians 5:17 "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."
The flesh is at war with our born again spirit, think about it like this, our flesh is older or matured than our spirit (which is a babe) when we are born again, guess which one is going to win more often or have a stronger influence over what decision you are going to make in our spiritual infancy?
You can never reach a state of sinless perfection, Paul the Apostle says he dies daily, everyday he has to bring his body under subjection of the spirit. Have ye not read in the scriptures that they who say they have no sin deceives themselves and are a liar?
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Romans 6:2 "God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"
God Forbid! One of the strongest statements one can make to deny or reject something or a statement. Notice this is a question that Paul is asking, we must be careful not to base a doctrine on a question, but only by clear statements should we derive doctrine from.
So Paul here is asking a question, he is asking that as we are dead to sin, how shall we live any longer in sin?
The next verse is also a question:
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Romans 6:3 "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?"
Paul is asking a question here again, he is asking us if we knew that when we got baptised in Jesus Christ, we got baptised into his death as well.
Baptise means to immerse or submerge, it implies being "all in".
When we are baptised by the Holy Spirit, we are being immersed or put in Christ, completely covered in him. This is the baptism you receive when you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a supernatural event and takes place spiritually, as you become born again.
Then after this (Salvation) happens, one should make the decision to get baptised in water, to get saved? To stay saved? No!
Being immersed in water does not save, FAITH ONLY in the Lord Jesus Christ as your saviour saves!
But water baptism is a public profession of your faith to man that you believe, it is to show the world that you are a believer in Jesus Christ!
So is baptism salvation?
The answer should be no, Salvation is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.
Baptism by immersion in water is a picture of Salvation, not literal salvation. It is a picture of you going into the water dying and when you come up out of the water picturing the resurrection.
Noah on the Ark is a picture of Salvation not literal Salvation.
I'll say it again, literal Salvation is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved!
Here's another question for you baptismal regeneration believers (must be baptised to go to heaven), if you have to be water baptised like what John the Baptist did, was he baptising the people in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?
He couldn't have baptised in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; why?
Because the Godhead was not yet made known, so how could John the Baptist baptise people in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit if the Godhead were not yet revealed?
As a matter of fact, the Godhead was not revealed until Jesus himself came to be baptised:
Matthew 3:16-17 "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
In verse 16 we read that the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) descending on Jesus like a dove, and lighting upon him (Jesus being anointed with the Oil of Gladness): and then verse 17 tells us that a voice (The Father) from heaven can also be heard.
This was all done as a testimony or witness to show that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ. The beginning of the Lords earthly ministry!
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Romans 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
For this reason we are buried with Jesus by baptism into death, the old man, the carnal man; sin had died: and just like Christ was raised up by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life. This is saying as the old you had been buried in the likeness of his death by baptism, we now emerge as the new man, the born again spirit child of God whom should walk in the spirit; the new life.
When Jesus entered Samaria he came to a well and spoke to a Samaritan woman by Jacob's well.
This woman says to Jesus, that the Samaritans worshipped in the mountain; but you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place you ought to worship, let's see what Jesus answers the Samaritan woman.
John 4:21-24 "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
In context, the woman is asking Jesus where they should be worshipping God, she is asking should they be worshipping in the mountain (most likely Mount Gerizim) or in Jerusalem (Solomon built temple).
Jesus says to her that the hour cometh (his death by crucifixion) when man will worship the Father neither in the mountains or Jerusalem.
Jesus says you don't know what you worship: but we Jews know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews, what does this mean?
Salvation is come by the way of the root and offspring of King David, of the tribe of Judah; Jesus is of the tribe of Judah, and Jesus is salvation, of the tribe of Judah; also known as the Jews of the southern kingdom of Israel.
Jesus says true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for that reason the Father seeks such to worship him.
Verse 24 is rather a smack in the face to Mormons who believe the Father is of flesh and bones like man, to deny this scripture is to call Jesus a liar.
From the mouth of Jesus himself, he says God is a Spirit: and they that worship him MUST worship him in spirit (born again) and in truth!
My friends, here is the answer to the question of how do we worship God?
Not in building made with hands, it is not the building or place of worship that matters, it is believers coming together and worshiping the Father in spirit and truth and the start of walking in newness of life!
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Romans 6:5 "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:"
Seeing as we have been planted together in the likeness, notice the word likeness it doesn't mean literally, in the likeness of his death, we shall also be raised up in the likeness of his resurrection, meaning we shall also receive a new body at the second coming of the Lord, glorified the same manner in how Jesus Christ's body was glorified at his resurrection.
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Romans 6:6 "knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."
Knowing that we shall be like him at the resurrection (2nd coming) that our old man (The flesh) is crucified with him (Jesus) that the body of sin (flesh, the spirit cannot sin because it is of God) might be destroyed, that henceforth, the word henceforth means "from this time on" or "that time on" we should not serve sin.
Notice it doesn't say "must not" it says we "should not" serve sin, as man, we are still prone to sin, whether it be wilfully or in ignorance, we will still sin.
Colossians 3:1-4 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
As believers we should set our affections or cares on things above (Heavenly), and not of things on the earth; John says it beautifully in his 1st epistle.
1 John 2:15-17 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
Just beautiful!
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Romans 6:7 "For he that is dead is freed from sin."
When the body dies, as a believer we are free in Christ, free from sin, free from bondage to sin; the Apostle Paul says the following to the Corinthians:
2 Corinthians 5:8 "we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."
Paul says he is rather willing to be absent from the body, so that he could be present with the Lord.
This scripture also punches in the face of false doctrine that teaches when you die you go to a sort of spirit prison to await the 2nd coming and judgement, and then there's the soul sleep crowd where when you die, you stay asleep in the grave to await the 2nd coming of the Lord Jesus Christ; these are false teachings because when we die (in Christ of course), we leave our bodies and go to be present with the Lord, and where is the Lord presently?
The Lord Jesus Christ is presently in heaven sitting at the right hand of his Father!
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Romans 6:8 "Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:"
This verse can be taken two ways, an earthly interpretation of dying physically we believe that we will go to heaven to live with him as explained above.
And the spiritual interpretation of this verse would be because the old man has been crucified with the Lord, or the old man, the carnal man has been buried in baptism with him, then we are risen with him, as a new man of the spirit with him living in us also.
Our new life is in Christ, not in the flesh.
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Romans 6:9 "knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him."
Jesus was risen from the dead, he will no longer die; death itself has no dominion over him. If we die with Christ (believers) we are promised eternal life through faith in him, to never die ever again.
2 Timothy 1:9-10 "who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:"
And we read in 1st Corinthians the following:
1 Corinthians 15:54 " So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."
And Jesus says the following in Revelation:
Revelation 1:18 "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."
Jesus has the keys of hell and of death, they have no dominion over him.
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Romans 6:10 "For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God."
Baptism is a picture of our old man, our old self put to death, and when risen, our new self now lives for God, we should walk in the spirit and do those things that are pleasing to God.
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Romans 6:11 "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Notice how Paul hammers the same thing over and over again?
He is saying here likewise meaning in the same manner reckon that you yourselves be dead to sin, but alive to God by Jesus Christ our Lord, our saviour; by his precious blood is it made possible to live unto eternal life.
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Romans 6:12 "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof."
Because we are now living unto God, we should not let sin reign in our mortal body, our flesh, if we let sin reign in our mortal body then we are going to more than likely obey it according to our lusts.
James Chapter one illustrates this perfectly when we allow our lusts of the flesh reign in our bodies.
James 1:15 "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
What is lust? Our desires, a sense of longing for something, ultimate what the bible calls covetousness, when we desire to have something that does not belong to us.
That beautiful beach mansion, your neighbours wife or husband, heck wishing your husband or wife was more like so and so is covetous, you get the idea.
And God here is saying that when lust has conceived, when we desire something that does not belong to us in our hearts it will eventually outwardly manifest itself in the form of sin: and when sin is finished, it brings forth death.
We should walk in the spirit so that we are not tempted to walk in the lusts of the flesh.
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Romans 6:13 "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God."
God is saying here don't let sin be the master of you, don't let it control the various members or body parts that you have, don't let them be under the control of sin; rather yield or give over your members, yourself to God, as those that are alive whom are no longer dead, yield your members as instruments or tools of righteousness to God.
It is in our own power or freedom of choice to decide whether we want to yield ourselves to sin or to God, either your master is sin or the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Romans 6:14 "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."
If we yield our members over to God, sin will no longer have dominion over us: for we are NOT under the law, but under grace.
The law was never meant to save us, man could not keep the law it was impossible under the Old Testament, the law itself was holy and righteous, therefore the law cannot be broken as in James chapter 2 it says that whosoever offends in one point of the law, has offended in all. For man it was impossible and it became a curse for man.
Since it cannot help anyone to keep God's moral standard; it can only show the standard, and thus rebuke, convict and condemn those who fail to keep it.
We are under grace, by grace we are saved through faith, and it is not of our works lest any man should boast. It is by God's grace we have been saved through faith, by the goodness and righteousness of God, salvation is a free gift, it is not earned by any man. Even though we do not deserve it, God has freely given it to those who believe on his Son.
We have been clothed in the righteousness of Christ, it is Jesus' blood that washed away our sins and inequities, and he will remember them no more.
By grace when establish the law, and begin the process of sanctification.
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Romans 6:15 "What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid."
Paul continues on in his train of thought about us being under grace and not the law, and asks the question, because we are not under the law but under grace shall we continue in sin?
Paul says God forbid!
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Romans 6:16 "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"
Again Paul is repeating what was said before, his question he is asking is do you not know to whom you yield yourselves to obey, is your master sin which is unto death or of obedience unto righteousness?
As a believer, after salvation, if you are living for sin, in the flesh you will face divine discipline, God will scourge and punish EVERY son he receives.
And just because you sin, and nothing happens immediately don't think that recompense isn't coming.
Think not that God has not killed people and taken them home (Heaven) because they consistently refused to obey, and live according to God's will.
So chose your master, sin or God?
For believers, this can mean being removed sooner from this earthly life or living a long fruitful life in serving the Lord to further the kingdom of God.
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Romans 6:17 "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you."
BUT GOD BE THANKED! PRAISE THE LORD!
We believers used to be servants of sin, we read in Romans chapter 5 that all men have sinned.
Thank God we do not have to remain in sin.
We who believe in Christ have taken on the righteousness of Jesus Christ and no longer serve sin.
We obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine, Faith on the Lord Jesus Christ who imputes his righteousness to you, a sinner who is now clothed in the righteousness of the Lord.
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Romans 6:18 "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."
We are made free of sin by the blood of the Lamb, our Lord Jesus Christ who died for all our inequities, if it were not for the selfless sacrifice the Lord had done for us, we would all still be in bondage to sin, and we will all be appointed wrath; for there is none righteous, no not one.
But now we have been freed from our bonds, we have now become the servants of righteousness, since Christ has clothed us in his righteousness we are able to become his servant.
The Corinthian's are told the following:
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
On Salvation, the believers has become a new man in Christ, a new creature!
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Romans 6:19 "I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness."
Paul is speaking after the manner of men or in human terms, most found it difficult in grasping divine truth so Paul would use this master/slave analogy to try to convey what he is saying with more clarity.
Our members was explained in verse 13, our different body parts that we have in our physical bodies, and that before we yielded these body parts as a slave to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity: in other words like a vicious animal when you feed it, the appetite to sin only grows when it is being fed.
Even now we should give our members over to be servants of righteousness and from righteousness to holiness.
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Romans 6:20 "For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness."
Notice how Paul just keeps on hammering this down hoping it hits home with everyone?
When we were servants of sin, before Salvation we were in bondage to sin, free from righteousness. We were living in the flesh.
1 John 2:16 "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."
Galatians 5:17 "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."
James 4:4 "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."
If we are living in the flesh, we are living in the world, and James states that if any therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
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Romans 6:21 "What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death."
The life you lived before in sin, what fruit did you have, that fruit that you are ashamed of?
Living in sin and iniquity only leads to death. James put it well:
James 1:15 "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
Sin begins with the thoughts of our hearts, our desires and when it has conceived in the heart it will manifest out in the form of sin, and when you follow through with that sin, it will bring forth death.
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Romans 6:22 "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."
A servant obeys his master, obedience is better than sacrifice. God wants our loyalty and our love, and the very reason for creating us, for fellowship with him.
1 Samuel 15:22 "And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."
We see here the problem is not the offerings but the disobedience of God's commands and the desire for approval of people rather than the approval of God.
We are servants of God, and our fruit unto holiness, we should be soul winners, a soul winners fruit is another soul won to the Lord. At the end everlasting life.
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Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Great soul winning verse to explain after telling someone that we all fall short of the glory of God, and that there is none righteous, no not one, they have all gone out the way.
And the wages or payment for sin is death, not any death as we might know it, but the second death; but the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Salvation is a FREE gift, Amen.
Romans 4
Authorized (King James) Version
Romans 4:1 "What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?"
As you recall, chapter 3 ended with a call to establish the Law by or through faith, Jesus did not come to abolish the Law and the prophets, he came to fulfil.
The Law is still in effect and by no means gone. Paul said for us to "establish" by faith the Law, the word "establish" means to set up on a firm or permanent basis or foundation, and who is that foundation?
That foundation is no other person than the Lord Jesus Christ of course!
1 Corinthians 3:11 "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
In the book of the prophet Isaiah we read the following:
Isaiah 28:16 "therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste."
This scripture is quoted in many other books of the bible, one of them being recorded by Matthew chapter 21 in the words of Jesus himself:
Matthew 21:42 "Jesus saith unto them, did ye never read in the scriptures, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?"
The Lord Jesus Christ is the rock, the foundation, he is the head or chief of the corner stone where the church must build its foundation upon.
Now Paul starts Chapter 4 using the patriarch Abraham, whom God promised his seed would be a father of all nations as example to explain faith.
"As pertaining to the flesh, has found?" near the end of Chapter 3 the context was about boasting, Paul asks the question where is boasting then?
So what works of the flesh did Abraham have to boast with?
The scriptural answer would be none, before God for the scriptures says, there is none righteous, and they have all gone out the way. As the next verse explicitly tells us.
Romans 4:2 "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God."
This scripture concludes that "IF" notice conditional proceeds Abraham's justification by works, so if Abraham were justified by his works, what works does he to glory in?
Well, Abraham had the works of circumcision, and the notable event of when he proceeded to offer up his son Isaac to the Lord. But the scriptures says, these works he had to glory in, but not before God. If not before God, then who?
Abraham would glory in works before man, NOT God.
You know, I've had people challenge me on the whole Works Vs Grace issue and say to me, that this event with Abraham which is also mentioned in James chapter 2, was him being justified by his works, and use this to prove that we have to have good works to get into heaven.
They'll say nobody else was around when Abraham offered up Isaac, which is correct; but the event was written down so that man may read of how great of the faith of Abraham must have been in the Lord to do such a thing. Not many of us could do such a thing with our own child.
When we read this event, we can conclude to ourselves that this man, Abraham had such great faith in the Lord by his WORKS.
James 2:23 "And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God."
Who is calling him the friend of God?
Man is calling him the friend of God. If you interpret this scripture some other way, you create a contradiction, and there is no contradiction in light of other scripture because James is talking to his fellow man, to the saved.
The scriptures tell us that Abraham was justified before God long before he got circumcised, Abraham got circumcised around the age of 99 recorded in Genesis 17:24 but we read earlier of the account when he was imputed righteousness by God in Genesis 15:6 which is referred to in the next verse.
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Romans 4:3 "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."
So we can see here that Abraham was counted to righteousness before God, because he BELIEVED.
The word counted has many synonyms in the bible and are used interchangeably such as, imputed, and all convey the meaning of crediting to an account, or chalk up, or accredit.
According to scripture we see no reason why Abraham was justified in the sight of God, but to the fact that he believed, this scripture references Genesis 15:6.
In fact, some people will say that the Old Testament you had to follow the Law and in the New Testament it is all about grace, this is not true as the bible teaches from the beginning of the cover to the end of the cover that it has always been by grace that man is justified in the sight of God.
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Romans 4:4 "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt."
To those who work, or try to justify themselves before God for Salvation by their own deeds, believe that it is because we feel we owe God something, a debt; this is NOT grace.
Salvation is a free gift from God, by his grace he will impute righteousness to anyone who believes, even to those who are dead in sin.
Regardless of what we have done, by God's grace, salvation is obtain through faith, and it is not of our own works, lest any man boasts.
The Apostle Paul put's it perfectly in the epistle to the Ephesians in chapter 2:
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 not of works, lest any man should boast."
Mockers will call this cheap grace, what a heresy! Grace is unmerited favour and not achieved by any man's deeds, no man can boast of his own works to obtain salvation, it is given freely by God's grace to those whom do believe on him.
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Romans 4:5 "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
I love this verse, it's straight to the point, and every time someone decides to defend their works based beliefs and they say, show me where in the bible does it say that you don't have to do works to be saved?
And I put on a big smile and say turn to Romans 4:5 and boom! It says plain as day, to him that worketh NOT, but believe on him, who?
God, who justifies the ungodly, who is the ungodly?
Mankind…of course, unless you think you're godly enough to come to God on your own good works?
Sinners, all of mankind, if you believe on him who justifies the ungodly, YOUR FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Love that verse!
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Romans 4:6 "Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,"
Even King David, a man who is said to be a man after God's own heart back in the Old Testament who too was dead in sins, was saved by faith.
Remember, David committed adultery with Bathsheba the wife of Uriah and had him murdered to cover up his sin with Bathsheba, whom God punished for that act of sin for a season.
The doctrine of Imputation is described as being given, inherited or accounted something by another source, or person because you satisfy a condition.
David describes this in the book of Psalms Chapter 32:
Psalm 32:1-2 "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile."
Interesting that this verse recorded in Psalm at the end says to those whose spirit has no guile, if you ever give the gospel to someone or when you're out soul winning, you can come across people who pretend to get saved, or don't really believe it even when they say they do (generally just to get you off their backs) but they really don't believe at all.
Or you come across people in other religions and you're trying to evangelise them, especially religions based on works salvation who just won't let go of their religion, these people will not get saved until they do this, it's Faith Alone.
Ever tried evangelising to the cults? It's very difficult to get past their indoctrination of their institution of manmade (Or satanic) fables.
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Romans 4:7 "saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered."
Upon belief, God has forgiven all iniquities committed by the sinner, and whose sins are covered, meaning any future sin you are going to commit will also be covered.
When you get saved, you don't automatically stop sinning, you will continue to sin in the flesh.
This scripture reinforces the doctrine of eternal security, you cannot lose your salvation.
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Romans 4:8"
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."
Again, the scripture states how blessed is the man whom the Lord will not IMPUTE sin, which emphasises the fact that all believers will still sin, God knows this until the day of redemption, the Lord's Day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns; known as his second coming.
Knowing this, God will not impute or account any sin to the believer that they will commit in the future, but you say, you can't just keep on sinning, and the cheap grace promoters will say you can't just live anyway you want to when you get saved!
What these works based Salvationist heretics don't understand is what the bible teaches true believers is what is called the doctrine of Divine Discipline.
I will cover this in another post at another time.
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Romans 4:9 "Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness."
If we say that Abraham was made righteous by his faith, was it then only given to the circumcised only or upon the uncircumcised as well?
Could you only be justified by God's grace ONLY if you got circumcised?
We'll find out the answers to these questions in the following scriptures.
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Romans 4:10 "How was it then reckoned? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision."
The word "reckoned" means to "count", "add up", "and establish calculation", "figure", or it's synonyms are "believe", "think", "be of the opinion", "be of the view", "be convinced".
So here in this scripture, it is written, that Abraham was imputed righteousness when he was uncircumcised and NOT before; also referring back to Genesis 15:6.
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Romans 4:11 "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:"
Abraham received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of his faith when he was still uncircumcised. When Abraham got circumcised, God made a covenant or a promise with him that he would be father to all people that believe, from all nations, kindred's and tongues.
The false teachers we're running around trying to pervert the Gospel and undermine Paul by saying to the people that they had to get circumcised or they couldn't be saved, that they had to follow the laws and ordinances to be acceptable to God.
But the truth is, God is not a respecter of persons, it doesn't matter what colour you are, what nationality you are or whether you are circumcised or not, if you believe on him, that is good enough!
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Romans 4:12 "and the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised."
Abraham was made a promise of God that he would be a father to all as discussed in the previous verse, be it of the circumcision or uncircumcision it doesn't matter, those who walk in the same steps of faith as according to Abraham when he was made righteous before he received the sign of circumcision, and that Faith, is to believe on the Lord God, whom we now know his name to be Jesus.
Romans 4:13 "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."
For the promise, what promise?
The promise that he should inherit the world, was NOT made to Abraham and his seed, note the word "seed" is singular not plural, this seed is the Lord Jesus Christ, that the promise was not made through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith, notice how it wasn't worded as just faith?
The promise was made through the righteousness of faith, does that not mean that to have faith is to have righteousness?
Bingo!
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Romans 4:14 "For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:"
Now read this carefully, those who think keeping and doing the law will get them into heaven, and gives them the right to be heirs are sorely wrong, you couldn't be more wrong than wrong, look at what it says next, FAITH IS MADE VOID, and the promise is made of none effect, that right, the promise is cancelled out.
If you try to approach the Holy God by your works of righteousness, this act in itself cancels out Faith, it means you have no faith at all, and you are not under the promise, because the promise was given by the righteousness of faith.
If you trust in your own works to get you into heaven, then you don't have faith in God, and there would have been no reason for him to come in the form of man to sacrifice himself would there?
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Romans 4:15 "because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression."
The Law works wrath, this is God's wrath, and those who trust in their own works will meet in the end with God's wrath, not something I'd be looking forward to…
For where there is no law, there is no transgression. What does that mean? Does that mean that if you have never heard of the law, you cannot sin?
God forbid! The answer to this verse is actually found in Romans Chapter 2!
Romans 2:12-16 "For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 16 in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel."
So here Paul is contrasting those who had the law, the Jews and those who didn't have the law, the Gentiles. We read that the law is written in the hearts of the gentiles, so there is no excuse.
Chapter 4 verse 15 is stating that there is no transgression if there is no law; but if we know that the law has been written in our hearts then there is transgression, because God wrote those laws into our hearts, and our conscience either convicts us or allows us to make excuses for our transgressions towards God.
This internal law by the way I believe is our moral compass, our boundary that we would normally not step over, and in the case with reprobates: those people who constantly rejects God's calling, God removes this moral compass and gives them over to their own lusts.
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Romans 4:16 "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,"
For that reason, it is of faith, and by grace through faith, the promise which was made with Abraham can also be given to all the seed.
So it is not only given to the Jews, but it is given to all who believe, because Abraham was imputed righteousness by faith, and so are all who come to the Lord by faith because he is the father of us all.
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Romans 4:17 "(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."
As it is written in Genesis 17:5 where Abram gets his name changed to Abraham by God because he has been made a father of many nations!
What's interesting about the last part of the verse, "even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were."
God whom quickens the dead, the word quicken means "to make alive", but the most interesting part of this verse is what comes next, where it is said that God calls all those things which be not as though they were; this means that God speaks and tells us of these as if though they had already happened, even though it actually hasn't happened yet, this is true of biblical prophecy and that we can know, that the Holy bible is God's word because there is no other book in the world that accurately predicts, and is proven to be true with the prophecies written within this holy book.
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Romans 4:18 "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."
Against hope believed in hope, this is faith:
Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Abraham believed on the Lord God and was given the promise that he shall be father of many nations, and that same promise is given to his seed, that seed being the Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord and God.
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Romans 4:19 "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:"
Being not weak in faith, to a works based Salvationist heretic a person with weak faith would be someone who had very little works, this would be their point of view, however, Salvation is not by works, it is by faith, and to say in a biblical truth one who has weak faith is someone who trusts in their own works, rather than completely trusting in the Lord.
Trusting in only the Lord is strong faith, we place our trust and hope in something that is not seen, yet hoped for, and it is described in Hebrews chapter 11 as a substance, not nothing.
Even at his age of an hundred years old consider he himself not dead, along with his wife's womb to be dead (She was about 90 years old) especially when the angel of the Lord came to tell him and Sarah would born a child at such an old age; this event is recorded in Genesis 18:10.
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Romans 4:20 "he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;"
The last few verses expound more on verse 19, he staggered not, meaning he was not shocked or amazed at the promise given to him by God because of unbelief; but was strong in faith, what we talked about before, his strength of his faith by placing it all on the Lord God, and giving him all the glory!
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Romans 4:21 "and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform."
Abraham being fully persuaded, it is his faith that he is able to be fully persuaded, and Abraham knowing that God cannot lie, will keep his promise enabling Abraham to perform, or to do God's will.
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Romans 4:22 "And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness."
And for that reason, what reason? His Faith of course, he was imputed righteousness. By faith we have been justified by our Lord God's grace.
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Romans 4:23 "Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;"
It was not just written for Abraham's sake alone, that it was accredited to him, this is the doctrine of Imputation. We have inherited by faith, righteousness, not ours, but God's righteousness.
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Romans 4:24 "but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;"
So not just for Abraham's sake, but for us also, for those who believe, whom have faith in He that raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead.
This passage reflects on how I got saved, I was in the Old Testament and I believed on Him that raised up our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said I and the Father are one, and also if you have the Son, you have the Father. Jesus is God manifest in the flesh, he is the God of the Old and New Testament.
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Romans 4:25 "who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."
Jesus Christ died for our sins, and the sins of the whole world, and God the Father raised him to life so that we all might be justified in his sight.
Amen.
Continuing on from chapter 2, in chapter 3 Paul begins with asking a series of questions.
Romans 3:1 "What advantage then hath the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision?"
Now we know that being born a Jew doesn't make you one of God's people in light of Romans Chapter 2:28-29. And we also know that circumcision profits nobody, and being so does not make you part of God's people either according to Romans 2:28-29 as well.
So what advantages does being a Jew have, Paul gives the answers in the following verse.
Romans 3:2 "Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God."
Paul here is saying that the Jews had a greater exposure of God's word, it was delivered to them via the prophets through visions and revelations, and they really experienced what God said he would do in his prophecies!
Romans 3:3-4 "For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged."
Paul asks a series of questions here about what if some of them did not believe, shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? The fact that some reject the Truth does not make it any less the Truth. Without faith it is impossible to please God.
God will fulfil all the promises He made to the nation of Israel, even if individual Jews are not able to receive them because of their unbelief.
If some did not believe, it doesn't nullify God's faithfulness, it doesn't impact the faith of God at all, Paul answers his questions by saying absolutely not, he says let God be true, but every man a liar.
As it is written:
Psalm 116:11 "I said in my haste, all men are liars."
Psalm 51:4 "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest."
We see above that men are liars, but it is impossible for God to lie, since He is the Truth. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Every man and woman shall stand before this absolute Truth and be judged. We will be justified by Jesus Christ when we Christians stand before Him.
Those who rejected Jesus as their personal Saviour will be without excuse!
Romans 3:5-8 "But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) 6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? Whose damnation is just."
What we're reading here in verse 5-8 is that Paul is anticipating and then answers the objection that his teaching actually impeached the very holiness and purity of God's character.
Verse 5 says we have no righteousness except that what was purchased for us by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Because we are unrighteous, do we presume to judge God for taking vengeance on our unrighteousness?
Those who do not accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour will not take on His righteousness; and they are they, whom are without excuse and deserve God's vengeance.
Verse 6 says for then how shall God judge the world? Well, if God condoned sin, He would have no justifiable, righteous basis for judgement would He?
Verse 7, for if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
We might try to justify our sin before God, telling God that our lie makes His truth even greater, but He will not go for that poor, weak excuse.
Verse 8, Paul is saying that some liars are going around saying that He says to do evil so that God's good will be greater. Paul just simply says they are lying, they not only lie, but their condemnation is just.
Heartbreakingly, the apostle's gospel message of salvation by grace through faith alone had been perverted by his opponents who argued it provided not only a license to sin, but outright encouragement to do so.
In no way does the true gospel encourage us to do sin, and that is what you will hear from the opponents who reject the simplicity of the gospel.
No One is Righteous
Romans 3:9 "What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;"
The "We" Paul is referring to would be fellow Christians in Rome; Christians do not have an inherently superior nature to all the unsaved people which Paul has shown to be standing under God's condemnation.
Both Jew and Gentile are ALL under sin, meaning completely enslaved and ruled over by sin, ALL unbelievers are appointed to Wrath.
Romans 3:10 "as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"
The verse should always be part of a soul winners arsenal, short quick and cuts deep, it says what is says, there is none righteous, no, not one!
The Jews could not and did not keep the law and the heathen did not even have a law to keep. All have sinned, but praise and all glory be to the almighty living God, He provided us a Saviour named Jesus. His righteousness is what we must have.
Our righteousnesses is but filthy rags.
Isaiah 64:6 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
Continuing on…
Romans 3:11 "there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God."
This verse clearly implies that the world's false religious systems are clearly a result of fallen man's attempts to escape the true God, not to seek Him.
Man's natural tendency is to seek his own interest, to appease his own pride and self-worth, but his only hope is for God to seek him. It is only as a result of God's work in the heart that anyone seeks Him.
This describes our generation perfectly. It seems there is no one seeking after God; or at least very few. If we seek God we will find Him.
Romans 3:12 "They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."
Another self-explanatory verse, we have all gone out the way and certainly we have all at one point in our lives that we have been unprofitable, not one of us does good, no not one!
Romans 3:13 "Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:"
Their throat is an open sepulchre, a sepulchre is a tomb or cave where a body is placed inside for the body to decay, and it is usually sealed at the entrance.
Now this analogy is talking about a sepulchre that is open, and you can imagine the stench of the decaying body coming out of that tomb; absolutely putrid, he likens the open sepulchre to the vile putrid things that come out of their mouths.
"With their tongues", we read about our tongues being a little member of our body but can be used as an instrument of evil especially when it comes from someone with an evil heart. James explains this really well, let's take a look:
James 3:6-8 "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
In verse 8 we read a profound statement that no man can tame the tongue; when we receive Jesus as our Saviour, the very first member of our body that we should turn over to Jesus is our tongue.
The natural tongue is very evil, if not controlled by the Spirit.
Romans 3:14 "whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:"
Let me ask you something, which generation do you think from all human history would probably be guiltier in cursing and bitterness than any other generation in all the worlds' history?
I would tell you it is this generation we are living in now, this current period, when I grew up it was so bad, but now my heart sorrows for this generation we are living in now.
Every movie, every song, every idiot box we see it, cursing and bitterness are on every hand. Cursing and bitterness against parents is perhaps #1 on the list.
Psalm 10:7 "His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity."
The Psalmist is referring to wanting the worst for someone and publicly expressing that desire in scathing, scornful language.
Romans 3:15 "their feet are swift to shed blood:"
The wicked are swift on their feet to shed blood, some of the Jewish leaders wanted all followers of Jesus killed; they even thought they were doing God a favour.
Romans 3:16 "destruction and misery are in their ways:"
Man damages and destroys everything he touches, leaving a trail of pain and suffering in his wake. In fact, if we did things that were for the good of each other, we wouldn't have filthy rich people would we?
And let's be honest, these people didn't get like that because they were God fearing Christians. In order to get to the top and stay at the top you've got to be ruthless, think of how many people would've gotten hurt and ruined along the way to being the number one person in the world?
It's like a politician, when they're running for candidacy they're smooth talking right?
They tell you what you want to hear, and they'll even say the right things to different groups, even if the groups being spoken to have conflicts of interest…but when they get into power or that position of authority, they don't even care about what they said they would do, in fact most of them would do the opposite of what they promised to do!
Romans 3:17 "and the way of peace have they not known:"
Not the lack of an inner sense of peace, but man's tendency toward strife and conflict, whether between individuals or nations.
Romans 3:18 "there is no fear of God before their eyes."
Biblical fear of God is knowing that he is all powerful, all mighty, all seeing, all everywhere (can I say that, does that make sense?), and knows everything, and knowing this that there is also a penalty for transgressing His Holy character, His Laws; the wicked do not have this fear of God, the world has turned, they have all gone out the way.
Romans 3:19 "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."
What law?
God's Law, them 10 commandments you keep hearing about, that's right, and the other laws that hung off it, Moses Laws, and what does it say to them that are under the Law?
Who is under the Law? Every single human being on this Earth who has not been redeemed by the saving grace of the Father through faith, through belief on his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Just because the Jews had the Law didn't make them any more immutable to the convictions of the Law, they had the Law and didn't keep it, neither are the gentiles are without excuse, it was written on their hearts, you say what about the people that did not hear the Word, well I say, and the bible says it was written on their hearts.
The bible says in Hebrews Chapter 9 the following concerning what happens to man when he dies.
Hebrews 9:27-28 "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
We are appointed once to die, but after this Judgement, now does this say that when we die we have a second chance to be redeemed after we die here without the Lord?
No!
Every mouth will be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God, meaning there will be no excuse for anyone who will be judged guilty by God.
Romans 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
Therefore, means for that reason or consequently by the deeds or works of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight. If you try to come to God by your own works or deeds and say to him, but look at all my good works, I am righteous expecting to get into Heaven, expect to be very, very, very, very, very, very, very disappointed.
I mean how clearer do you need to read this?
For by the Law is knowledge of sin, this means that the Law is to show us that we are sinners, it is our school master our guide to show that we cannot measure up any way or fashion. Through the Law, we are made aware of our sins.
Romans 3:21 "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;"
The righteousness of God without the law, he is forever righteous, by his grace has been revealed being spoken of by the law (which was used to show that we are sinners and that we needed a saviour) and the prophets in the Old Testament all testify to the coming of the Messiah.
Romans 3:22 "even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:"
Interestingly, it is not because of our faith that saved us, but the Faith of Jesus Christ which is the whole reason why we can be saved. Our righteousness is but filthy rags.
Our righteousness that is acceptable to God is the righteousness of Jesus Christ that we put on when we accept Jesus as our saviour and Lord.
And it says to all, everyone in the world, and upon all them that believe: there is no difference, no difference for what?
Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
For this, whether you are unsaved or saved, believer or non-believer there is no difference, no respecter of persons for ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God!
No one can live completely free of sin. By the way, great verse to employ if you are soul winning!!!
Romans 3:24 "being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"
Being justified freely, meaning declared righteous freely by God's grace through the redemption, that is, through the work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:25 "whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"
This great sacrifice was not accomplished in secret, but God publicly displayed His Son on Calvary for all to see!
Verse 24 ended with a colon (:) meaning verse 25 is going to define or expound more on what he meant in verse 24. Whom?
The Lord Jesus Christ of course, had been set forth or to give an account of, Jesus being the propitiation or appeasement through faith in his blood.
Christ's violent death satisfied the offended holiness and wrath of God which was appointed against those for whom Christ died.
Forbearance means to hold back. Rather than destroying every person the moment he or she sins, God graciously holds back His judgment. God's justice demands that every sin and sinner be punished.
God would have been just when Adam and Eve sinned, to destroy them, and with them, the entire human race. But in His goodness and forbearance, He is withholding His judgment for a certain period of time.
Romans 3:26 "to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
To declare what?
His righteousness, through the incarnation, sinless life, and substitutionary death of the Messiah, whom is Jesus.
By the wisdom of God's plan allowed Him to punish Jesus in the place of sinners and thereby justify those who are guilty without compromising His justice.
Romans 3:27 "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the law of faith."
Boasting is excluded, it plays no part in Salvation, our efforts play not part; do you get it?
God holds in contempt human wisdom, not only by not allowing it as a means to knowing Him, but also by choosing to save the lowly.
He does not call to salvation many whom the world would call wise, mighty and noble.
What was said to the Ephesians sums it all up perfectly:
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 not of works, lest any man should boast."
God came to reveal his wisdom to the poor, the meek and the weak, those who were considered by the so called "elites" of the world nobody's who place their faith, their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
God clearly received all the credit and the glory for causing such lowly ones to know Him and the eternal truths of His heavenly kingdom.
No saved sinner can boast that he has achieved salvation by his own intellect or efforts.
Romans 3:28 "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."
Do I really need to explain this verse? It says what it says and you better believe it!
Romans 3:29-30 "Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith."
God is God of all, we are all part of God's family. There is one God and Father of us all.
Keeping the ordinances of the law will not do away with sin and will not save anyone. Without faith it is impossible to please God.
Hebrews 11 is the bible hall of faith, read through that chapter to get a grasp on what faith can do for you.
The circumcision are the Jews and the uncircumcision refers to the Gentile, and both can only be saved by faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:31 "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."
Salvation by grace through faith does not make the law any less of importance, but emphasizes its true importance:
- By providing a payment for the penalty of death, which the law required for failing to keep it;
- By fulfilling the law's original purpose, which is to serve as a tutor to show mankind's utter inability to obey God's righteous demands and to drive people to Christ; and
- By giving believers the capacity to keep it.
The law is not done away with by Jesus, but fulfilled in Him. The law is good, the law is perfect. The law declares the need to be righteous.
Jesus makes it possible to be righteous in Him. The law showed us our great need for Jesus as our Saviour, THE MESSIAH!
