Romans 4:16-25 Faith, to be perfect, must be built on grace and love

Romans 4:16-25  Faith, to be perfect, must be built on grace and love

16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. 18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness. 23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

Background

God’s plan to evangelise the world cannot be impeded by human failings. God reached out to Abraham within the idol worshipping community, and Abraham responded in faith. Jesus reached out to the Samaritan woman despised by the church for her permissive lifestyle and she too responded in faith. Indeed, it is through God’s grace and divine initiative that we are saved. Indeed, God alone sees the heart and knows those who have faith. And faith is evident through one’s love for God and for others. Religious laws and traditions tend to veil us from seeing who we really are. And all too often, these same laws and traditions keep people away from God. Today’s devotion teaches us: Faith, to be perfect, must be built on grace and love. 

Observation

For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants

Here, Paul affirms five things:

Firstly, God promise to save every person in the world. And the failure of the Jewish race (racial prejudices, moral decay of the church, cultural and religious barriers, geopolitical issues) will not impede His mission: the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants. God reached out to Abraham in an idol worshipping community and saved him. God sent Jesus to reach out to the Samaritan woman when the Jews (the church of that time) were calling all other races unclean and unworthy of salvation. And Jesus’s the disciples were sent out with great signs and wonders to change the world. If God can save Abraham and the Samaritan woman as well as the rest of humanity through the disciples despite persecutions, He can do the same today. Therefore, the God’s grace to save humanity is sovereign and unstoppable. 

Secondly, salvation is attained by faith alone, not by conforming to religious laws and traditions. A person demonstrates faith when he puts down his ego to love God and fellow men. Conformance to rituals and Christian traditions is strictly speaking, not a demonstration of faith. History tells us that many who claimed to be Christians are in fact perpetrators against humanity and the environment. But if one hears the gospel and exercises faith to love his neighbour to do what is right, he is saved. All too often, Christians judge another by one’s conformance to Christian culture and traditions. For example, if one goes to church regularly and knows about the bible, he is perceived to be a man or woman of faith.

During the time of the early church, circumcision was the key hindrance to people coming to God. However, many received the baptism of the Spirit while uncircumcised. Hence, Apostle Peter came to recognise that one can be saved without being circumcised or initiated into the Jewish community. If people are baptised by the Spirit while uncircumcised and unbaptised in water, then the issue of circumcision (the Law) or water baptism cannot be a hindrance for anyone to be saved: For this reason it is by faith… the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law. Because faith is independent of religious laws or traditions, anyone with a pure heart, and who demonstrates faith in God will be saved. Indeed, faith (as exemplified by Abraham) is the only and necessary condition for salvation regardless of one’s cultural or religious backgrounds.

In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken.

Here, Paul explains faith as exemplified by Abraham, who held on to God’s word despite insurmountable difficulties. For God said to him, “A father of many nations have I made you.” Even though he had passed childbearing age, Abraham walked in the truth daily while believing what God has promised would come to pass. And God honoured his faith by giving him a son.

Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness. Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also.

Thirdly, righteousness is not just being freed from eternal punishment; it is much more: it is the eternal reward for fulfilling God’s calling and mission. In Abraham’s case, to be credited as righteousness is to be predestined as father of many nations. Abraham’s righteousness is made complete by the birth of Isaac and his subsequent sacrifice. As for Jesus, His righteousness is made complete by forgiving those who put Him on the cross without a cause.

However, Paul did not stop here, but applied the reward of righteousness to believers in general: “it was written… for our sake also.” Righteousness is credited to those who walk in the faith of Abraham by fulfilling their peculiar calling and mission. Paul said in verse 16 that the promise was given not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham.

Fourthly, salvation can only be worked out through God’s grace that help believers overcome insurmountable difficulties to fulfil their calling and mission. Indeed, Abraham’s faith is nothing short of supernatural. Given Abraham’s physical condition (the deadness of his own body and Sarah’s), it is impossible for him or any man apart from divine grace to maintain his confidence in God. Thus, it is only through God’s grace that Isaac was born. And if anyone supposes to have fulfilled his calling by his own devices, he either has not fulfilled it or does not know his calling at all. Therefore, apart from God’s grace, it is impossible for anyone to fulfil God’s calling and mission.

To whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

Lastly, God’s grace that sustained Abraham by making him righteous is now freely given to all who call on Jesus. The grace that comes from Jesus’s resurrection has broken the power of sin (our corrupt human ego) that hinder us from fulfilling God’s calling and mission. Therefore, we must continue to depend on the grace of Jesus Christ to walk the narrow path and work out our righteousness (salvation).

Truth

Faith, to be perfect, must be built on grace and love

God promised Abraham that he would leave behind a legacy of faith for the salvation of the world: “A father of many nations have I made you”. Abraham held onto God’s promise with supernatural faith and gave birth to Isaac at the age of 100. What caused Abraham to sustain his faith amid impossible situations? It is God’s grace at work in him and his love for God and humanity. How can we be sure that Abraham in desiring a son had only selfless intentions? It was through Abraham’s obedience to God’s request to sacrifice his only son Isaac. For he did not hesitate but delivered Isaac up to the Lord the next day. The sacrifice of Isaac unequivocally proved Abraham’s supreme love for God. Therefore, it is love that gave Abraham supernatural faith for a miraculous conception. Similarly, it is Jesus’s love for God and for humanity that kept Him on the path of the cross.

Many tried to increase their faith to see miracles and breakthroughs but instead find themselves plateauing. Is it purely the issue of the lack of faith per se? Perhaps, it has to do with one’s love and unwavering obedience towards God. One who loves God supremely desires to detach from all earthly pursuits to see Him face-to-face. And that translates into Christ-likeness, which is to give up one’s rights to help save the world. And that, in turn, translates into miraculous works and mighty exploits.

That said, there are subtle differences between desiring God and desiring the works themselves. Many while professing their love for God did not want to wait upon God to seek His face. What bellies their zealous demeanour is in fact an insatiable hunger for power and achievement. One who loves God supremely does not seek power, but God Himself; to hear, to see and to touch Him. Abraham’s supreme desire is not to bear a child or to be the father of the nations, but to know God, to understand His plans and fulfil it. Hence, God honoured his desire by reaching out to him and giving him a child.

The work of evangelism must be carried out both by divine grace and by human initiative 

In the above passage, Paul said, “… it is by faith… in accordance with grace.” Faith is the result of God’s grace working in the hearer. And believers who live by grace daily make effective evangelists. Communication of the gospel by grace utilises all avenues of hearing, seeing and experiencing the supernatural God. Evangelism by human initiative alone may result in a person committing himself to the gospel but short of experiencing the abundant life of the Spirit. Evangelism by human initiative differs from evangelism by grace in the following:

Evangelism by human initiative

• Goal: to make known the consequence of sin and the need for salvation.
• Strategy: to convince hearers through logical arguments.
• Message: the gospel is communicated primarily by preaching.
• Decision: directed by the preacher.

Evangelism by divine grace

• Goal: to facilitate the hearer’s encounter with God that leads him to repentance.
• Strategy: to make the gospel relevant to the hearer’s present struggles by the Spirit’s power (see John 4, Jesus and the Samaritan woman).
• Message: the gospel is communicated through the evangelist’s lifestyle and by the supernatural presence of God.
• Decision: comes from self-realisation and enlightenment by the Spirit.

In Acts 8:12-17, evangelist Philip preached the gospel to the people in Samaria. But he was focused on making converts. Although the people believed and were baptised in water, they did not encounter God through grace. So much so, Peter had to come to baptise them with the Spirit.

The meeting at Cornelius’s place is unmistakably divine as Peter preached by divine grace. Acts 10:44 records,

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. – Acts 10:44-46

Because Peter depended on the Spirit’s initiative instead of his own, the Holy Spirit graced his preaching with spontaneous baptism of the Spirit.

Application

How to do we evangelise the world by using more of God’s grace and less of our human initiative?

We have to slow down and converse with God more frequently. We must endeavour to live one day at a time. Divine grace is received by way of…

• peace when we learn to cast our cares on Him.
• clarity and wisdom when we seek His counsel concerning all things. For issues of lesser importance, we can discern God’s will through our thoughts. And by sensing God’s approval or disapproval through our emotions. For matters of great importance, we need God to show us physical signs.
• spiritual authority. As we learn to exercise authority over smaller things, God grants us greater authority over greater things.

What is your supreme goal in life? Examine your heart and understand what drives you. Are you willing to obey God even if it means taking the place of insignificance and taking on tasks that are menial?

Dear Lord, I thank you that it is through your divine initiative that I am saved from sin and darkness. Now that I am saved by your grace, cause me to live your grace daily. Let me be the face of Christ to the world around me. Ground me in your everlasting love daily and help me to work out my calling and salvation. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.