The Catholic Church launched the counter-Reformation and published The Canons and Decrees of Trent in large part to attack justification by faith alone (see my “Justification by Faith Alone,” Aug. 11, 1996, on fcfonline.org). 38A (Dallas: Word Books, 1988), Gaventa, Beverly R. in Brueggemann, Walter; Cousar, Charles B.; Gaventa, Beverly R.; and Newsome, James D., Texts for Preaching: A Lectionary Commentary Based on the NRSV — Year A (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1995), Knox, John and Cragg, Gerald R., The Interpreter’s Bible: Acts and Romans, Vol. 4 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? Even though God had promised him heirs like the stars of the sky in number (Genesis 15:1-6), Abraham took matters in his own hands by taking Hagar as his mistress so that he might have a son (Genesis 16). Others argue that it should modify “forefather” (NASB & ESV). 3:21-31. Paul’s statement that God “justifies the ungodly” flies in the face of Old Testament passages that say: “Keep far from a false charge, and don’t kill the innocent and righteous: for I will not justify the wicked” (Exodus 23:7)—and “He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh” (Proverbs 17:15). He explained (ibid. If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. Create. John Calvin called justification by faith “the main hinge on which religion turns” (The Institutes of the Christian Religion, ed. Rather, faith is the means by which we lay hold of God’s promise in Christ. For g in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. Abraham believed God’s promise about the Savior who would come and God credited the work of the promised Savior to Abraham through his faith. Christ’s substitutionary death paid the just penalty for the sins of those who will trust in Him (3:25). Surely, there must be a copier’s error in the text! We need our sin put on Christ’s account. states, “Abraham was perfect in all his deeds with the Lord, and well-pleasing in righteousness all the days of his life” (cited by Douglas Moo, The Epistle to the Romans [Eerdmans], p. 256). Come with your despair. Commentary on Romans by John Calvin. He thus reveals the broad scope of God’s relationship with humans. The Book of Romans is a four-part explanation of the Gospel message written by Paul to the Church in Rome. Their vehicle was intercepted by the Senderos, and they feared for their lives (with just cause). He misrepresented Sarah as his sister (Genesis 12:10-20). Paul does not say that our faith makes us righteous, but that “faith is accounted for righteousness”—which is to say that God, seeing our faith, credits our account to wipe out our insolvency—freeing us of debt—God’s grace undoing our unrighteousness. You don’t send him a thank you note, telling him how much you appreciated his kindness. In other words, Paul does not mean that Abraham could have boasted before people, but not before God. So if you see yourself as a basically good person, you can’t be justified. He proves this by showing that Abraham was justified before he was circumcised. That evil, depraved murderer deserves to burn in hell!” If that’s your reaction, then you may not understand the crucial, bedrock message that Paul sets forth in our text, that…. He does believe, is filled with joy, and goes to his execution at peace with God. In short, his self-construal was—and always will be—since the Damascus road anyway, one who was a free and willing slaveof the Lord Jesus Christ. God justifies only one kind of person: the ungodly. When you compare humans to humans, Abraham was a good guy. But in Romans 4 Paul challenges that view head-on. Do you want to scream, “Wait a minute! Go To Romans Index . It would feed our pride. Is it right or wrong to join with Roman Catholics in proclaiming our common faith in Christ when we differ over justification by faith alone? Some commentators argue that the phrase, “according to the flesh,” should not modify “forefather,” but rather, “has found.” Thus Paul would be asking whether Abraham found some way, according to the flesh apart from God’s grace, to be justified. No, he owes you the money. • the righteous judgment of God (2:1-16); Justification must be seen for what it truly is: It is essential, but it is only the beginning of the salvation process. Paul’s point is that Gentiles were spiritually dead, but the God who gives life to the dead has breathed life even into the Gentiles. 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God. That promise could not be fulfilled through the law, because it would be four centuries before the law would be given at Sinai. However, this does not mean that, in the absence of the law, there is no sin or accountability for sin. 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? ), The Lectionary Commentary: The Second Readings: Acts and the Epistles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2001), Briscoe, D. Stuart, The Preacher’s Commentary: Romans, Vol. When God called Abram, he has something to boast about—but not before God ''. He thus reveals the broad scope of God. important Forum in ancient Rome, situated on low between. 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