Romans Part 14 – Romans 4:9-17
Verse 9-10
• “This blessedness” – righteousness imputed.
• “Circumcision only, or upon uncircumcision also” – Can only the circumcision get the blessedness of having righteousness imputed by faith?
• “When he was in Circumcision or uncircumcision?” – Was Abraham circumcised when faith was imputed to him?
• “Not in circumcision but in uncircumcision” – Abraham had faith imputed before he was Circumcised – Gen 15:6.
Verse 11
• “He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of righteousness by faith” – A sign tells you something and a seal confirms it. Neither the sign nor the seal could make him righteous. It was by faith.
• “the father of all that believe” – Spiritually speaking he is the father of those who believe, not those who work for righteousness whether Jew or Gentile.
• “though they be uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also” – Abraham is simply the pattern or father of righteousness imputed by faith. Paul is a pattern of how you’re are saved today – 1Tim 1:16.
Verse 12
• “father of circumcision” – a different fatherhood regarding his covenant people
• but also those “who also walk in the faith of Abraham ” – Faith has always been the issue – Luke 7:9, Matt 9:22, 15:28.
Verse 13-15
• “The promise” – Gen 12:3, 17:4-5, 22:17-18.
• “not…… through the law” - Abraham wasn’t given the promise under the law but in Gen 12.Abraham was never under the law. This is why Pul is using Abraham and not David as his example.
• “They which are of the law” – Speaking of Israel no doubt, and Israel is the recipient of the Abrahamic promise (thus heirs) Paul is saying the law could not affect the promise and he only speaks of one particular promise and one mans faith. Not all of Israel’s promises or their faith, thus making it that no one could make void this promise which was different than the Mosaic covenant.
• Don’t make the mistake of making us Israel here, that’s not what Paul is saying. He is dealing with righteousness by faith and one promise that was unaffected by law to show that the way Salvation works today is not out of the question.
• “Promise made of none effect” - If the promise was by the law then there is no need for faith and the promise is made of none affect because you couldn’t be sure it would come true.
• “The law worketh wrath” – Rom 3:20, 5:20, Col 2:14, Gal 3:10 – Yet many churches and pastor put themselves under the law.
Verse 16
• “it is of faith” – The promise was by of faith not law
• “promise might be sure” – Because it was of the faith of Abraham not Israel.
• “not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham” Paul’s point is that being of the law is irrelevant. The promise of Abraham was to the seed, both those which are of the law and those which are of the faith of Abraham apart from the law or circumcision.
• “The father of us all” – He is father of circumcision and uncircumcision – This is how both Paul and James can use Abraham as their example.
Verse 17
• “Father of many nations” – by faith.
• “whom he believed, even God” – Abraham believed the true God.
• “who quickeneth the dead” – This is the power of God. He makes alive the dead which Abraham believed – Heb 11:17-19.
• “Calleth those things which be not as though they were” – Example – You will be a father of many nations even though you currently have no children – Gen 15:1-6
If you have any questions: My email - csb33@centurylink.net
