Scripture for Sunday, Feb. 20th
Romans 4:1-5
Abraham Justified by Faith 1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? 2If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about–but not before God. 3What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.
Romans 4:13-17
13It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, 15because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
16Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring–not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed–the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. (Eugene Peterson Translation)
Was Abraham crazy to follow God into a strange land? Our ancestors, too, crossed the dark Atlantic risking their lives in small boats to reach America.
Paul's seeming distinction between salvation by "faith" and "works" has been much debated in recent years. All Protestants, from Martin Luther to John Wesley have made this the cornerstone of our "individual" faith. Paul, however, may have been thinking differently. He saw his mission (his calling) to bring the Gentiles into the Kingdom of God (as well as the Jews). But, how could he get around the idea that Moses had given "the Law" to only the Israelites? In this text from the 4th Chapter of Romans, Paul indulges in some very sophisticated "midrashic" scriptural commentary. While it may not seem all that important today, this was bound to be a huge "sticking point" between Jewish scholars and the early Christian movement. In his commentary, Paul cleverly points out that God had called Abraham long before the coming of the Law. Abraham, therefore, was accepted by God "on faith." This then, Paul argues, is the same for all Gentiles who do not have to become "Jews" to be accepted by God through Jesus Christ. Abraham, as Paul notes, was to be "the father of all of us."
Abraham is also seen, then, as one of the greatest examples of "faith" in the Bible. For us today, as with our ancestors who "journeyed" like Abraham to America, we must ask "what journey are we on in life?" Is it a physical journey from place to place, from job to job, in pursuit of "success?" Or is it a spiritual journey as we grow in "faith?" Or is it a bit of both?
Ask yourself today ... "where am I going?" Ask yourself ... "Where is my spirit going?" What does having "faith in God" mean to me?
Abraham Justified by Faith 1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? 2If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about–but not before God. 3What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.
Romans 4:13-17
13It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, 15because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
16Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring–not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed–the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. (Eugene Peterson Translation)
Was Abraham crazy to follow God into a strange land? Our ancestors, too, crossed the dark Atlantic risking their lives in small boats to reach America.
Paul's seeming distinction between salvation by "faith" and "works" has been much debated in recent years. All Protestants, from Martin Luther to John Wesley have made this the cornerstone of our "individual" faith. Paul, however, may have been thinking differently. He saw his mission (his calling) to bring the Gentiles into the Kingdom of God (as well as the Jews). But, how could he get around the idea that Moses had given "the Law" to only the Israelites? In this text from the 4th Chapter of Romans, Paul indulges in some very sophisticated "midrashic" scriptural commentary. While it may not seem all that important today, this was bound to be a huge "sticking point" between Jewish scholars and the early Christian movement. In his commentary, Paul cleverly points out that God had called Abraham long before the coming of the Law. Abraham, therefore, was accepted by God "on faith." This then, Paul argues, is the same for all Gentiles who do not have to become "Jews" to be accepted by God through Jesus Christ. Abraham, as Paul notes, was to be "the father of all of us."
Abraham is also seen, then, as one of the greatest examples of "faith" in the Bible. For us today, as with our ancestors who "journeyed" like Abraham to America, we must ask "what journey are we on in life?" Is it a physical journey from place to place, from job to job, in pursuit of "success?" Or is it a spiritual journey as we grow in "faith?" Or is it a bit of both?
Ask yourself today ... "where am I going?" Ask yourself ... "Where is my spirit going?" What does having "faith in God" mean to me?
posted by Anonymous at 9:10 AM
2 Comments:
We might think not only of journeying but of the kind of journey we want to make. Right now, we are journeying through Lent. We can slide by and get to the chocolate bunnies very easily or we can do all the hard stuff--read devotions, attend the extra services, make some sacrifices. Maybe after that, we'll find we have something more than a basket of candy! (Elaine H.)eek, no spellcheck!
I get hung up on the term of "being justified." I think of "justified" as in the sentence, "Well, was your action justified by the facts of the situation?" Can anyone give me another usage of the term, or a word to substitute for justification?
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