Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 1)
Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 4 - He staggered not, but was strong in faith)
Rom 4:3-5 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
In the beginning of Romans, Paul appealed to us (the reader of his epistles) that we should have faith in ‘the faith’; our doctrine that God inspired Paul to write, that contains the principles which should govern our lives. We should have faith not only in the words he wrote, but we ought to have faith that they are the very words of God, 1Cor.14:37; God’s will for us, His desires for us, the way He wants us to walk and function as members of the Body of Christ.
Now, in chapter four of Romans, after having delivered the doctrine of justification: concerning the wrath of God, concerning His righteousness and justice, and concerning His love for us through His Son, Paul writes to us of faith, again, appealing to us to have faith in the gospel, in like manner that Abraham had faith in God, believing that He was able to do what He promised Abraham,
Rom 4:20 He [Abraham] staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; (21) And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. (22) And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Why is faith so important here? Well, faith rests in God. If one does not believe; if one is not fully persuaded, then the only way to left is to do it for oneself, to work for it, to strive in one’s own righteousness and performance. Paul writes,
Rom 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. (5) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
This is the faith that God seeks from us. Just like Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness, so God wants us to rest in Him and believe in His good news to us. God wants us not to stagger in His promise to us, but we ought to be strong in faith, being fully persuaded in what He has promised us through Jesus Christ, and to give Him glory, believing that He will perform what He said. Paul encourages us to have this same faith in the grace gospel that Abraham demonstrated in the promises God gave him,
Rom 4:23 Now it was not written for his [Abraham’s] sake alone, that it was imputed to him; (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; (25) Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Notice the summary of the grace gospel. Paul tells us that we too shall be imputed righteousness IF we believe on Him that raised up Jesus Christ from the dead, having shed His blood for us on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins, and having been resurrected so that we might be receive justification through the imputed righteousness of Christ for us. This is not a debt God owes us because of our work and our efforts. This is a free gift of justification if we choose to believe in Jesus Christ.
Friends, this is the power of the gospel message. Paul said in Romans 1 that he was not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for the forgiveness of ALL who believe, both Jew and Gentile. Notice: All who believe. Are we going to believe what Paul wrote? Are we going to believe that the words he penned are the very words declared by God Himself? Are we going to believe that the grace gospel is a contract that God has established in heaven, a contract that seals us into salvation from hells fires if we receive it as truth. Having this faith means to quit working and striving to do anything to achieve it ourselves, but to give Him glory, being fully persuaded in the good news and the power it holds to save us.
It is on this note, and with this expected faith, that Paul makes a definitive declaration in the very next verse, Rom.5:1, saying, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”. This sets the standard for the rest of the Romans epistle. From this point, Paul is no longer speaking to an unredeemed soul. From Romans 5 onward, the Word of God shifts to speaking to a soul that has been redeemed from death and condemnation. From Romans 5 onwards a believer's education in sanctification starts: to die to the flesh and walk in newness of life, and to grow up in our doctrine unto mature sons of God.
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