Coming Up: Sonday June 15 2014
Romans 4. Law and Grace Sitting Together
Read Romans 4:1-5
When Paul wrote to the Roman Christians, the Jews still looked to the Patriarch Abraham as their great example. The reverence with which he was held might be comparable to the reverence given to a great Australian sporting hero like Sir Donald Bradman or Wally Lewis.
As such, it’s no wonder that Paul turns to Abraham in chapter 4. Paul’s made the charge in chapters 1-3 that all men, both Jew and Gentile, are under the power of sin. He’s argued that all are therefore saved by grace through the redemption that comes in Jesus Christ. No one can work their way to God.
The question that naturally arose in the minds of the Jews and probably in the minds of the Jewish Christians was, Does this grace then nullify and undo the entire Old Testament? What of Abraham our forefather? What of his obedience? Paul moves quickly forward to show that Abraham did not have any works to hold up before God. Then immediately in verse 3 he adds a scriptural quote from Gen 15:6 to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Abraham was justified by faith, not by works.
The illustration of verse 4 is clear. If someone works then their payment is not grace but an obligation. If Abraham worked for his justification then it was not credited to him by grace but was an obligation that God had towards him.
Verse 5 forms the pinnacle of Paul’s point.
However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.
Abraham didn’t work for his salvation. He trusted the great and mighty God who justifies the wicked! That is an extraordinary statement. It hints at the idea that Abraham was not a model of righteousness but was ‘wicked’. This man didn’t bring his works to God but rather trusted God who justifies the ungodly.
It’s not that God fixes us up and then justifies us. It’s not that God waits until we get our act together and then justifies us. It’s not that God sorts out our problems and then declares us to be right with Himself. God justifies the ungodly. This truth is life changing and affects every thing we do, from our marriage to our work life to our friendships and even how we treat our enemies. This week you’ll find out more.
Prayer:
Given today’s reading jot down your own prayer points:
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks
Supplication:
¥ Ask the Lord to help you and everyone in your church to really comprehend and to take to heart the truth that God justifies the wicked. Pray that this revolution in understanding will transform our relationships, our lives and the way we deal with people, especially those we don’t like.
¥ Pray that the Lord would cause your church to grow and to be flowing outwards in gospel proclamation.
Given Romans 4:1-5 we must never read the OT as a works based religion and the NT as grace filled. The OT was as much about grace as the NT. Read the OT in the light of God’s grace and it will come alive with meaning and application to your life.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. How would you explain Romans 4:5 in your own words?
2. How do you think that Romans 4:5 affects our every day living? Think of relationships in particular.
Intro: Can you think of someone at school/ church etc that is not really well liked? Can you think of someone who is teased a lot? Sometimes as Christians we can treat others like that too. But Jesus never did. He always showed compassion. Compassion is helping and serving people without thinking badly about them.
Share: about a time in your life where you have had compassion shown to you.
Read: Genesis 1:27
Which people are created in God’s image?
How can you show compassion to the people we talked about above?
Pray that you will be able to show true Jesus-like compassion to others.
Intro: Can you think of someone at school/ church etc that is not really well liked? Can you think of someone who is teased a lot? Sometimes as Christians we can treat others like that too. But Jesus never did. He always showed compassion. Compassion is helping and serving people without thinking badly about them.
Share: about a time in your life where you have had compassion shown to you.
Read: Genesis 1:27
Which people are created in God’s image?
How can you show compassion to the people we talked about above?
Pray that you will be able to show true Jesus-like compassion to others.
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