The Strand Study Bible

Written From Corinth During Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

ROMANS 4:7 - 5:3

1855

7 Saying, 1 Blessed are they whose iniqui- ties are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 1 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Justification (salvation) is offered to both Jew and Gentile 9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the 2 circumcision only, or upon the 3 uncir- cumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for 4 righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumci- sion, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the 5 father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. The promise of salvation through CHRIST is in total contrast to the keeping of the Law for salvation 13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, 6 but through the righteousness of faith. 14 7 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15 Because the 8 law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith, 6 that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of

the faith of Abraham; who is the 5 father of us all, 17 (As it is written, 9 I have made thee a 5 father of many nations,) before himwhom he believed, even God, who 10 quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spo- ken, 11 So shall thy 12 SEED be. 19 And being not weak in faith, 13 he con- sidered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was 14 imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 15 Who was delivered for our offences, and was 16 raised again 17 for our justification. Romans 5 The results of justification (salvation) Date Written - AD 57 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord 18 Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and re- joice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but 19 we glory in trib- ulations also: 20 knowing that tribulation worketh 21 patience;

1. Quoted from the OT - Psa 32:1-2 (See - Isa 43:25 & 53:6) 2. or, “Jews” 3. or, “Gentiles” 4. or, “salvation” - Gen 15:5-6 5. or, “spiritual father through Christ; seed” - Gal 3:6-9 8. Rom 3:20 & 7:7-14 9. Quoted from the OT - Gen 17:5 10. Rom 8:11 & Eph 2:1,5 11. Quoted from the OT - Gen 15:5 12. or, “Christ” - Lk 2:7-11 13. Gen 17:1,19 & Heb 11:11 14. meaning, “put to the account of” 15. Isa 53:4-5 & Mt 27:45-46,50 16. Psa 2:7 & 16:10 & Isa 55:3 & Acts 13:33-35 & Mt 28:6 17. or, “as a result of our justification” 18. Eph 2:13-14 19. Mt 5:11-12 20. Jms 1:3 21. or, “endurance” 6. Gal 2:16 & Eph 2:8-9,15 7. Gal 3:18

4:9 God accepted Abraham on the basis of his faith (grace), not his circumcision (works). 4:10-12 Abraham was circumcised c. 1868 BC (Gen 17:9-14), at the age of 99. However, he trusted in the promised OT MESSIAH to come and was saved 15 years earlier at the age of 84 (Gen 15:5-6 and Gal 3:6-8), when he was yet uncircumcised . What Paul is emphasizing here is that the covenant of circumcision (the keeping of the Law) has nothing to do with salvation. Abraham was saved (grace) long before he was ever circumcised (works). 4:16 According to Romans 4:1-5,9,22, Abraham was saved on the basis of faith alone. Though he built altars, offered sacrifices, and was circumcised, these acts of devotion were never credited to him as “righteousness.” Abraham was made “righteous” the same way we are today –through faith in CHRIST (the Gospel - Rom 3:19-26 and Gal 3:6-9). The only distinction between OT believers and NT believers is their view of the cross. Whereas O.T. believers looked forward to the promise of Christ and the cross (Jn 8:56 and Heb 11:24-26), NT believers look back on the fulfillment of that promise. Since God saved Abraham on the basis of faith alone, it follows that Abraham’s “spiritual children” ( who is the father of us all ) must be saved the same way. 4:20 Humanly speaking, it was impossible for Abraham and Sarah to have a child at their age (vs 19). But “God made a promise,” and to Abraham and Sarah (Heb 11:11) there was only one impossibility –that God could lie (Titus 1:2). Faith says, “If ‘impossible’ is the only objection, then with God it can be done” (Lk 1:37 & 18:27, Gen 18:14 and Jere 32:17).