◄ What Does Romans 4:9 Mean? ►

The book of Romans gives a step by step logical sequence to show that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ. It tells us that there is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus (to those that are born again), because they are positioned in Christ, imputed with His righteousness, baptised into the Body of Christ (which is the Church) and accepted in the Beloved. And it is all by grace through faith in Him.

Paul uses the great historical figures of Abraham and David to demonstrate that it is not through righteous living or good works that we are declared righteous, but by faith in the Son of God Who died for the sin of the whole world. And it is not by being born a Jew or by being circumcised on the 8th day as the Law required that qualifies sinners to be declared righteousness, but by faith in the Son of Man Who loves us and gave Himself for us.

As a Hebrew of the Hebrews and a highly educated Pharisee who held the most advantageous Jewish pedigree, Paul took pains to emphasise that although the Jewish nation was God's chosen people, they do not hold a monopoly on God's justification and redemption. Justification and redemption is by grace through faith in Christ to Jew and Gentile alike.

To hammer this truth home, Paul reminds all those who seek to elevate the physical genealogy of Jewish people to their forefather Abraham above the rest the nations and to magnify their importance in God's redemptive programme, that they are misguided. Paul reminds them that Abraham was an uncircumcised Gentile when God called him out of the Ur of the Chaldees, and Abraham believed God and was credited with righteousness, due to his faith in God's promise.

It was by grace though faith in the coming Messiah that Abraham and David were credited with righteousness, and it is by grace through faith in the finished work of the Messiah that you and I are credited with righteousness.

Praise God that He is no respecter of persons and all He requires of you and me is to trust His Word and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Should we not seek to glorify His holy name in all we say and do, for without Him we would have remained dead in our trespasses and separated from God forever, but IN Christ we are imputed with His righteousness, by God's grace through faith in Him.

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are no respecter of persons, and that You stooped down to save the whole world, Jew and Gentile alike, from our sins, by grace through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord. Thank You for the wonderful examples throughout Your Word, that repeatedly demonstrate that salvation is through faith in the death and Resurrection of Christ, and that I am imputed with His righteousness and indwelt by His Spirit, by grace through faith. May the new resurrection life of Christ in me glorify You, in thought, word, and deed. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.