Romans 4:1-25
Now, in verses 9 through 12 of Romans chapter 4 the issue is one of
circumcision and uncircumcision. Paul's argument is one and the same
as that of chapter 2 verse 25 "For circumcision verily profiteth,
"IF" thou keep the law." Friends, the same can be said of those
who are being taught and told that it is their righteousness, it is
their works, it is their believing that puts them in rightstanding with
God. I believe that good works will benefit and profit the individual
person, and if they want to boast about their works, well let them party
to themselves, because God is not going to party over what we do or
don't do.
The Jews, like many today love to party and have their own feasts of
self-righteousness. "Look what I've done. Look how God has blessed me
because of what I've done. I am a Jew and I will show you the part of
my body that proves it." Friends, thank God that circumcision and acceptance
with God is of the heart. As Paul says in verse 29 of Romans chapter
2. Thank God that justification is by the faith of God. Galatians 2:16.
Thank God that He used the prophet Isaiah to declare "There is
none righteous, no not one." Thank God that Jesus appeared to
Paul on the road to Damascus and taught him the true Gospel.
Thank God that Paul knew the old testament good enough to make us all
understand the difference between law and grace. Between faith and works.
Thank God! Paul finally got the revelation of grace, and knew that the
love of God had been shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost so that
he would come to the conclusion that circumcision or uncircumcision
availeth nothing. Friends, we don't gain anything with God by our works.
One can shave their heads, grow a beard, wear a veil, a covering over
their head, sacrifice an animal, make a vow and even cut their little
head, but it all adds up to filthy rags.
The same way that God reckoned righteousness to Abraham, apart from
any of his performance, is the same exact way that God has imputed righteousness
to the whole world. In verse 10 of chapter 4 God imputed righteousness
to Abraham while he still had his foreskin hanging. In God's eyes Abraham
became the father of all without being circumcised under the demands
of the law. In verse 11 we are told that we too have been imputed the
same righteousness apart from any of our performance or obedience to
a law already fulfilled in Christ.
In verse 12 we are told that Abraham became the father of those who
were not circumcised (under the law) as much as he had been appointed
a father of faith to those who had been circumcised. We have to go back
to Romans 3:22 and read again the part that says: "for there
is no difference." In God's eyes, and being that He is no respecter
of persons, the good and the bad are just as good because of the righteousness
of Christ who is in all and through all and for all. Romans 11:36. It
was Paul who said in the books of Acts "For in Him we live, move
and have our being."
Now, lets no forget verses 6 through 8 of Romans. If you ever wondered
why in the Evangelical Church the song: "When the Spirit of The
Lord moves in my heart I will dance like David danced" is
often sung, it is because God has imputed His righteousness upon ALL
men apart from all of their works. He has forgiven all of man's iniquities
and covered all of man's sins, and if there was ever a reason to sing
the above song it is now. Unfortunately the Evangelical Church believes
that this song only belongs to those who have believed, confessed Jesus
and are doing good things.
David was a dancer. He often danced before The Lord. Even thought he
made a mess of his life, like every other prophet, disciple and what
have you, yet David could still dance before the Lord because he knew
that the Lord had blessed all men by not holding their iniquities and
sins against them. The Jews on the other hand got all puffed up, like
religious people today, thinking that because the oracles of God had
been committed to them, and they are "Christians," that they somehow
are something special. Well, as we read the letter to the Romans Paul
tends to differ with them, and he calls them on the carpet and lets
them know that their works are just as filthy as those they accuse of
doing evil.
Thank God that Abraham became the father of the Gentiles apart from
being under the laws of circumcision. I love what verse 13 of Romans
chapter 4 says:"For the promise, that he (Jesus) should be the
heir of THE WORLD, OF THE WORLD, OF THE WORLD, (John 3:16-17...
for God so loved the WORLD, that the WORLD through Him might be saved,
for God did not sent His Son to condemn the WORLD, but that the WORLD
through Him might be saved) was not to Abraham, or his seed, THROUGH
THE LAW, but through the righteousness of the faith of Jesus."
Then verse 14 makes me want to shout "For if they (Jews)
which are of the law be heirs only, then faith is made void (canceled
out) and the promise (not promises) is made of none effect (rendered
useless)."Friends, if this Gospel of the grace and
peace of God in Christ Jesus is only for those who believe and do it
all good, then Jesus died in vain, we are the most miserable people
on earth and all are going to hell. Granted! -- it is difficult for
the mind to conceive that God has forgiven those who we have read over
the years in our newspapers, that have committed horrific crimes.
But if God has forgiven those who killed the Lord of glory, His own
Son, why wouldn't God forgive those of us who have killed others? Friends,
it was Jesus who said to the Jews "Truly, truly I say unto you,
if you hate your brother you have committed murder." As one
who once served under the Evangelical Religious Doctrinal, bias system
of "good gets God and bad gets beat," "Jew gets God Gentiles get beat,"
"Circumcised gets God uncircumcised gets beat," I learned to hate more
than I ever learned to love. This may not be true of every Evangelical,
but I would venture to say that a good 90% of organized
religion are people full of hate.
And I cannot close it on a better note than to quote verse 15 "Because
the law (self-righteous works) worketh (promotes) wrath (anger, hatred)."
Thank God that the verse ends on better news "But where there
is no law (the law was crucified in the body of Christ) there is no
transgression (sin)." If overall religion and the Evangelical
Christian Church ever gets a hold of this truth, and would come to understand
the meaning of this verse, they would go out and burn all their legalistic
demonic and bias religious and self-righteous literature, tapes and
books. Thank God for the fulfillment of the law, "For where there
is no law, there is no sins."
To be continued...
Grace N Peace
Eddie Narvaez