WHO IS IN THE FAMILY OF FAITH?
Romans 4.9-17a
Romans: How Man Is Made Right – Part 10 of 11
v. 6 “… the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness …”
v. 9a “Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised?” (esv)
ABRAHAM IS THE FATHER OF THOSE WHO PUT FAITH IN …
GOD’S PROMISE RATHER THAN Our Pedigree
v. 12 “… our father Abraham …” (esv)
v. 9b “… faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.” (esv)
v. 10 “How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.” (esv)
vv. 11–12 “The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised … and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had …” (esv)
v. 11a “He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith …” (esv)
GOD’S PROMISE RATHER THAN Our Performance
v. 13 “… Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world …” (niv)
Psalm 2.8 “… I will make the nations your inheritance and the ends of the earth your possession.” (csb)
vv. 14–15 “… if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, because law brings wrath.” (niv)
v. 16 “That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring … to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all …” (esv)
John 11.25–26 “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (csb)
John 10.28 “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (esv)