Righteousness Explained

OSS: [Evangelistic with a secondary hint of devotional] {I want the hearers to embrace righteousness through faith in Christ- not by works.} Cognitive: I want the hearers to know that righteousness is not granted because of anything they do. Affective: I want the hearers to feel relieved that righteousness is not dependent on them. Psycho-Motor: I want the hearers to embrace righteousness through faith in Jesus.

PQ:

What points are clarified or explained in the example of Abraham?

UW: Points

Intro.:

TS: Let us examine together a few points of clarification now:

The point is faith. [vv. 1-8]

Not circumcision/uncircumcision.

There is some sort of a play on words in verses 4-5 between the words pay/gift and works/faith. [1] What is the point being made?

Pay is something owed to one who works.

Gift is something given by no merit of the recipient but simply an act of grace by the giver.

The important point to be grasped here is that a person is not justified as or declared righteous by any merit of his own doings (works; circumcision/uncircumcision); rather, by faith in God. This is also reiterated in the example of David quoted from Ps. 32, a Psalm of confession after his relationship with Bathsheba. The Psalm reiterates that forgiveness and justification are acts of God’s grace, not any merit of the sinner.

APPLICATION: We must trust in God. Our justification has nothing to do with what we do. It is totally an act of God’s grace.

The point is grace. [vv. 9-17]

Not the law.

The difference between the two is that one resulted in wrath upon violation [law] whereas the other resulted in pardon upon violation [grace]. [2]

Verses 9-17 discredit any claim that righteousness was only granted through the law or through circumcision. It claims the following:

Abraham was uncircumcised when he was declared righteous.

His faith is what granted righteousness.

Thus, circumcision/the law is not the path to righteousness.

Thus, anyone having faith in God is declared righteous and a child of Abraham (not by seed or descent, but by faith in God).

Notice specifically, verses 13-17- the promise (that Abraham would be the father of many nations and his offspring be numerous…) comes through faith- not through works; thus, it is a gift of grace to all who believe- not a payment for work.

APPLICATION: Righteousness is a gift of God’s grace credited to us through our faith; not a payment for our works credited because of our labor. We need to trust God’s grace.

The point is what God has done. [vv. 18-25]

Not what Abraham (or we) did.

When God made the covenant or promise with Abraham, the means to which the promise would come seemed to be humanly impossible- Abraham and Sarah were well beyond child bearing years.

Notice, though, Abraham hoped against hope and did not weaken in faith.

Notice also, this righteousness, credited to Abraham- was not only for him, but for all who believe in God. [v. 23-24]

Thus, it is important to understand that Abraham’s righteousness came when He believed against human will and into the power of God to do what He said He would do (v. 21)

APPLICATION: Likewise, righteousness comes to us not through any means of human capability; it comes through the power of God doing what only the power of God can do- when we trust it.

Takeaways:

[1] Do you embrace the power of God for your life or do you still feel the need to prove yourself to God? You will never be good enough.

[2] Are you confident enough in God that what He said He could do, He has done through Jesus? Can you say, like Abraham, “I believe you can do what You say you can do!”

Bibliography:

[1]Edwin A. Blum, “Romans,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1786.

[2] Paige Patterson, “Salvation in the Old Testament,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1788.

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