The Letter to the Romans...
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Romans 4:1-3
What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
What Paul's Saying...
Paul then begins an analysis of Abraham as an example of his previous point (post #37: Justification by faith) and questions whether Abraham's justification was because of his actions (i.e. "works") or his faith. In other words, Paul is asking what was the *source* of Abraham's righteousness...and notes that scripture says it was Abraham's belief (faith).
If you agree with this interpretation, “like”.
If you disagree with this interpretation, post an alternative for others to agree with.
If you’d like further elaboration of an interpretation, feel free to ask.
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C
I'm not saying it's wrong but I don't see this in the context.
I see grace as an unmerited favor of and a gift from God which is free for us but it's not free and obedience comes from faith. And faith can be rejected by man c.f. 1 Tim 1:19.
Using Israelites in Egypt as an example. Yahweh owed that generation in Egypt nothing. He rescued them out of Egypt not because of their merits but because of His promise to their forefathers. He then promised them the land of Canaan. By faith they could enter but they didn’t because of disobedience. The next generation entered, not because of their merits but because of His promise to their forefathers. Applying to us. Yahweh owed us nothing. He rescued us out of the bondage of sin not because of our merits but because of His promise to “our” forefathers. He promises everlasting life. By faith we could enter – and obedience proves our faith.
I do disagree with this. Today is not the only day of salvation, it is A day of salvation...
Isa 49:8 Thus says the LORD: "In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages;
There are those who have not had their day, yet. People in China 4000 years ago never heard the name of Jesus Christ...
Act 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
There is a second resurrection for these people who have not had a chance. They will be given 100 years of human life again but this time they will hear the truth and know who Christ is and have a chance to accept salvation. If they do not, then it is curtains.
Rev 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
The books (all 66 of 'em - see Mat 13:11-16) will be opened to them. This is a Divine miracle that must take place in every single mind before they are judged. It had to occur in the mind of the disciples in Christ's day (Luke 24:45).
Isa 49:8 Thus says the LORD: "In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages;
There are those who have not had their day, yet. People in China 4000 years ago never heard the name of Jesus Christ...
Act 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
There is a second resurrection for these people who have not had a chance. They will be given 100 years of human life again but this time they will hear the truth and know who Christ is and have a chance to accept salvation. If they do not, then it is curtains.
Rev 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
The books (all 66 of 'em - see Mat 13:11-16) will be opened to them. This is a Divine miracle that must take place in every single mind before they are judged. It had to occur in the mind of the disciples in Christ's day (Luke 24:45).
This is one of the foundations of my belief in a second resurrection for those whom God has not called or opened their mind to the truth in this age. There are those whom God has deliberately blinded in this age so that He may have mercy on them in a coming resurrection...
Rom 11:7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Rom 11:8 Just as it is written: "GOD HAS GIVEN THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES THAT THEY SHOULD NOT SEE AND EARS THAT THEY SHOULD NOT HEAR, TO THIS VERY DAY."
Rom 11:9 And David says: "LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RECOMPENSE TO THEM.
Rom 11:10 LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED, SO THAT THEY DO NOT SEE, AND BOW DOWN THEIR BACK ALWAYS."
Rom 11:11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.
Rom 11:32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
This looks forward to a time in the future when God will have mercy on them, open their eyes and give them an opportunity.
Rom 11:7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Rom 11:8 Just as it is written: "GOD HAS GIVEN THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES THAT THEY SHOULD NOT SEE AND EARS THAT THEY SHOULD NOT HEAR, TO THIS VERY DAY."
Rom 11:9 And David says: "LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RECOMPENSE TO THEM.
Rom 11:10 LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED, SO THAT THEY DO NOT SEE, AND BOW DOWN THEIR BACK ALWAYS."
Rom 11:11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.
Rom 11:32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
This looks forward to a time in the future when God will have mercy on them, open their eyes and give them an opportunity.
Not necessarily, the non Greeks can also be those of Gentile descent who are not Greeks...
Rom 1:14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.
The Barbarians are those not of the Greek culture and not of the Jewish culture. The Greeks are the ones Paul refers to as wise.
Rom 1:14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.
The Barbarians are those not of the Greek culture and not of the Jewish culture. The Greeks are the ones Paul refers to as wise.
I think context is found a few lines earlier in the same passage where Paul says "that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.
A "harvest" is reaped from the work provided. Paul was eager to see the harvest of believers which would strengthen his own faith even more. Like a return on investment of faith.
A "harvest" is reaped from the work provided. Paul was eager to see the harvest of believers which would strengthen his own faith even more. Like a return on investment of faith.
This is in accordance to Christ's teaching about the harvest being at one time...
Mat 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Mat 20:9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Mat 20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Mat 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
Mat 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Mat 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Mat 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Mat 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Mat 20:9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Mat 20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Mat 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
Mat 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Mat 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Mat 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
This sounds so unfair, but after years of meditation and contemplation I see it to be so wonderful for all concerned, and very fair, not that I could ever be in a position to question the wisdom of Our Lord, but, being honest, that is how I did feel for some time. Nope, it is just, good, and fair, because God is always good, amen. Thank you John...
Alternative.
The gospel is: Christ is declared to be the Son of God. . .by his resurrection from the dead.
Grace is: given to Paul to bring about in others the obedience of faith, through his preaching.
In this statement, grace is working in Paul through his preaching, to bring about in others the obedience of faith.
The gospel is: Christ is declared to be the Son of God. . .by his resurrection from the dead.
Grace is: given to Paul to bring about in others the obedience of faith, through his preaching.
In this statement, grace is working in Paul through his preaching, to bring about in others the obedience of faith.
Alternative.
Grace is given to Paul to preach the gospel effectively; i.e., to bring about the obedience of faith in others.
The gospel is: Christ is declared to be the Son of God by the power of God in Christ's resurrection from the dead.
The same resurrection power of God also raises from spiritual death (salvation) all those who believe.
Not ashamed that it is based on Christ's death as a criminal.
Grace is given to Paul to preach the gospel effectively; i.e., to bring about the obedience of faith in others.
The gospel is: Christ is declared to be the Son of God by the power of God in Christ's resurrection from the dead.
The same resurrection power of God also raises from spiritual death (salvation) all those who believe.
Not ashamed that it is based on Christ's death as a criminal.
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Alternative.
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven in God's turning the wicked over to sin,
because the existence of God; i.e., his eternal power and divine nature, are evident in creation,
and they are without excuse for not glorifying him and giving thanks to him as God.
The text is not referring in any way to any kind of righteousness.
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven in God's turning the wicked over to sin,
because the existence of God; i.e., his eternal power and divine nature, are evident in creation,
and they are without excuse for not glorifying him and giving thanks to him as God.
The text is not referring in any way to any kind of righteousness.