Romans | Lecture 10 : BC303-Rom-20260908

Welcome back after the break. Okay. Uh so just before we went for our break, we was um looking at Romans chapter 4:es 1 to 3. And we're talking about uh how grace is used differently in different contexts in the uh new test new testament and what it can mean. Okay. And here it's referring to divine >> favor. Okay. Now look at the phrase in verse five. It says what does verse five say? In him who justifies the ungodly. This is very powerful. and even sounds paradoxical, right? How can God justify somebody who is ungodly? Okay, so God declaring the ungodly as righteous. Yet God can do this. Why can God declare an ungodly person as righteous? Because of the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. because of what Jesus did on the cross and what we saw earlier in chapter 3. Okay. And then now he points out to Paul points out to David in verses 6 to8 and then he again quotes from the Old Testament. And in verses 6 to8 Paul quotes two verses from Psalm 32. Uh so we look at you know a few more additional verses in that to understand the context. Okay. So um verses 6 to 8. Okay, we already read that but can somebody again read verses 6 to8 please? Just as David describes the blessedness of man to whom God impute imputes righteousness apart from works. Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whom the Lord shall not impute sin. >> Amen. Thank you. So here you know uh Paul is quoting you know the first two verses from Psalm 32. So you know um uh uh uh we not just read verse one and two but we look at a few more additional verses to understand. So can somebody read Psalm 32:es 1 to5 please? Blessed is who uh whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is a man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity and in whose spirit there is no uh descent. [clears throat] When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my uh groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me. My vitality >> vitality >> vitality was turned into drought of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said I will confess my transgression to the Lord and you forgive the iniquity of my sin. Amen. So Paul points out that even David received his righteousness apart from works. Okay. How he confessed his sin and he received forgiveness. So by faith he received the blessedness of having his sins forgiven. Okay. By faith he received the blessedness of having his sin forgiven. Okay. Now what is the meaning of blessedness of righteousness by faith in verse six? Now just as David also described the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works. Now consider this phrase the blessedness of the man whom God declares righteous. Now being declared righteous mean. So what does this phrase mean? It means that when we are declared righteous, it brings us into a place of what? Brings us into a place of what? According to this verse, being declared righteous brings us into a place of Please look at verse six and answer me. blessedness. Yes. You know, so here he's saying uh being made righteous brings us into a place of blessedness. So a place of blessings cannot be received by any other means. Okay? It's only when we have been made righteous by God. So David declares that blessed is a man whose sins are forgiven, right? Blessed is a man whose sins are forgiven. Psalm 32:1, blessed is a man whose transgression who's forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity. Verses one and verse uh two. Okay. So this is the blessedness of being made right with God not by works but by faith. Okay. So you see how beautifully Paul is bringing about the uh his argument and trying to prove his point. Okay. And then he talks about righteousness given by faith even before circumcision uh as he you know writes in verses 9 to verse 12. Now before we go to verses 9 to 12, anyone has any doubts for verses 1 to verse 8? You have any doubt? So case has any you have any doubt? No. Okay. Any doubts? Verse 1 to 8. Okay. So we'll move on to verses 9 to 12. Can somebody read verse 9 to 12, please? Does this blessed blessness and then then come upon the circumcised only or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. [clears throat] How then was it accounted while he was circumcised or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised but while uncircumcised. And he received the sing of the >> sign of sign of the >> circumcised and sell of the righteousness of the faith. While he had while still uncircumcised that he might be the father of all those who believe though they are uncircumcised that righteousness might be imputed >> imputed to them all also. and the father of circumcise to those who not only are of the circumcised circumcision but who also walk in the step of the faith which our father Abrahams had while still uncircumcised. Amen. Thank you. So Paul asks now he's talking about blessedness that we are blessed because when we are made righteous. So he says he continues by asking does this blessedness come only upon the circumcised or also upon the uncircumcised. So what is the answer then? He points again to whom? He points out to >> Abraham. Why does he point her to Abraham? Huh? Say it loudly. Even if it's wrong, it's okay. Why does he point to Abraham? >> Paul uh Abra So yes, Abraham was, you know, already reckoned or counted as righteous because of his faith. So >> he was blessed. >> He was blessed. Okay. So when [clears throat] did this happen? When was he looked or account when was his faith accounted as righteous and when was he blessed? when he was uncircumcised when he was not yet circumcised and even when the law was not yet given law was given during Moses's time. Okay. So he's saying well Abraham was all his faith was already counted to him as righteousness and he was already blessed by God and the promises was given when even before the sign of the circumcision that is you know the sign of the covenant and the circumcision and even before the law was given. So he points again to Abraham here and he says circumcision came later as a sign and a seal of righteousness of faith that he already had. He already was made righteous by faith and then later on came the sign and the seal of righteousness of faith that he already had. Are you able to understand? Yes or no? So what is the reason? So Abraham, why was Abraham made righteous by faith even before circumcision and the law? It was so that because all who believe in Christ Jesus, both the Jews and the Gentiles can be made righteous. See how beautifully he is coming and see how God even thought of it even before you know all of these things would have come you know Jews, Gentiles and everything. Even before that God thought about it and he has already reckoned uh you know or imputed his righteousness on Abraham by faith even before circumcision and even before the law. So what is the reason here is so that Abraham could be the father of all who believe both the Jews and the Gentiles. Okay. Verse 11 he says he's the father of all who believe even the uncircumcised Gentiles so that righteousness may be imputed to them as well. Now you're able to understand yes verse 12 he says he's also the father of those of the circumcision but not simply because they are circumcised but they must walk in the steps of faith that Abraham had while he was um circumcised. So see how beautifully he's explaining to the Jews. He's saying he's your father because you know of the seal of the covenant that is circumcision but also because that you know like Abraham you must also walk in the steps of faith just like he walked. Okay while he was uncircumcised. You able to understand now? Yes. So Paul is stating two things here. Abraham is a father of everyone who believes, Gentiles included. Even Jews cannot rely on their circumcision alone. Why? Because they must also walk in the faith that Abraham walked in. So this was a radical statement for Paul's Jewish readers. The Jews now would have to admit, yes, I cannot argue with this because scripture clearly says Abraham was made righteous by faith even before the law or the circumcision. Okay? And the Gentiles could rejoice saying, "Yes, through faith I I too am made righteous without being circumcised. So I don't need to be circumcised, but through faith in Jesus Christ, I too are being made righteousness." So circumcision was simply a sign that Abraham already had faith and had already been accepted by God. Amen. Any questions on these verses? Any doubts? No. Okay. If not, we'll move on to verses 13- 16. Can anyone of our online students read uh Romans 4:13-6, please? For the promise that he was the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are hes, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect. Because the law brings about wroth. For where there is no law, there is no transgression. Therefore, it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. Amen. Thank you, Sonia. So, what is Paul saying here? The promise that Abraham would be the hair you know of the world was not given through the law but through the righteousness of faith. Okay. And if inheritance came by the law, if he had inherited, you know, the inheritance that came to him came to the law, then his faith would have been void or useless and the promise would have been meaningless. Okay? But the law brings only what does raw bring? Condemnation, wroth, the judgment of God. Because where there is law, there is transgression. But that means what? Where there is law, there is transgression. Means wherever there is law, we all break the law. We can't keep the law. So therefore, the promise is given to Abraham. How? By faith through grace. According to grace, so that it might be sure to all the seed. seed means inheritance both to the Jews and the Gentiles. Okay. So the promise to Abraham was I will bless you and make you a blessing and this was given before even the law was there but it was given on the basis of Abraham's faith. So Paul is saying therefore everyone who believes in Jesus whether they are Jews or Gentiles circumcised or uncircumcised will inherit this promise only through faith. Okay, faith in Jesus Christ. And that is why Paul says Abraham is the father of us all. That means all the people of faith. Okay, both Jews and Gentiles circumcised and uncircumcised. Okay, any questions? Look at verses 13 to 16. You have any questions? Okay, there are no questions. We'll move on to verses 17 to 21. Can somebody read the >> as it is written I have made you made you a father of many nation in the presence of him whom he believed God who gives life to dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did. Who contrary to hope in hope believes so that he become the father of many nations according to what was spoken. So shall your descendants be. and not being weak in faith, he he did not consider his own body already dead since he was about 100 years old and uh deadness of Sara's womb. Uh he did not uh waver at the promise of God through unbelief but was uh strengthened in faith uh giving glory to God and being fully convinced that what he had promised he was also able to perform. >> Amen. Thank you. Now this passage is a very interesting uh passage because verses 17 to 21 you know are essentially the Holy Spirit's summary of Abraham's life of faith. Now why do we say that is the Holy Spirit's summary of Abraham's life of faith is because the Holy Spirit is the one who's inspiring Paul to write all of this what he is writing. Now notice something powerful here. In these verses, there is no mention of Abraham's in Abraham's faith. Did he have struggles and challenges? >> Yes. >> But is there any mention of Abraham's struggles or mistakes here? >> No. In fact, we do not read about uh you know any of his struggles or challenges in these verses or in fact if we do not read Abraham's life in Genesis. If we do not know about Abraham's life or somebody is ignorant about Abraham's life, they don't read the book of Genesis. They're directly reading Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts and they come to Romans and they're reading about Abraham's faith. Okay, they would say, "Wow, what a man of faith. Oh, wow. The man of such great faith." But we know Abraham's story, right? Because we have read Genesis as well. We know his journey of faith included uh both obedience and making mistakes, right? But when God asked him to leave his father's household, we know that Abraham stepped out in faith. Okay. But we also know that he stumbled, right? Twice fearing for his own life, he told a partial lie that his wife is his sister, right? And in Genesis chapter 15, we see that Abraham was very weary from God's promise. God had promised him. It had almost been 10 years or 15 years. There was no son born to him. And by this time he had been walking with God for almost 15 years. And still there was no promise son. And Abraham questioned God, you know, whether God meant that he will have a son through Sarah or perhaps through someone else in his household that is Eleazar, his servant. And that moment God made a covenant with or cut a covenant with Abraham to confirm his promise. Yes. Even after that we see that Abraham faltered. Okay. He was prompted by Sarah and he had a child with Hagar and Ishmael was born and that was a mistake. Right? So when we look at Abraham's life in Genesis, we see that his faith was not. Was it the perfect faith? >> It was wavering. >> Yes. A wavering faith. Was it the perfect faith? Yes or no? Hello. >> No. No. >> On in-person students wake up. Was his faith perfect? >> No. Okay. We see his fa faith was not perfect. Thank you, Siraj. But here's the amazing truth. When the Holy Spirit looks back at Abraham's life through Paul, none of those failures, none of those low points are mentioned here in the Bible. Right? Instead, the focus is only on his faith and his trust in God. Now, this teaches us a powerful lesson. You know, this is a powerful lesson for us in our walk of faith. We might also have ups and downs but God wants us to keep pressing forward and ultimately like Abraham we are on a journey towards mature perfected faith. Amen. >> Isn't that beautiful? Right? Ultimately like Abraham we will be on a journey of mature perfected faith. Why do I say that we will be on a journey where our faith will be matured and perfected? This is what happened in Abraham's life. What happened in Genesis chapter 22 when God tells Abraham to offer his son Isaac? Abraham obeyed without any hesitation. He could have said, "Is this God speaking to me? I don't think this is God. How can God give me a son of promise and then tell me to take his life to sacrifice him? And it cannot right. There was no hesitation. Without any doubt, without any questions, he sets off on this journey, taking his son, taking the knife, taking the fire, and taking the wood for the sacrifice. Why? Because he was fully convinced that even if Abraham was sacrificed, God could raise him up. Amen. Look at what it says in Hebrews chap 11:1 19. Can somebody read that please? Hebrews 11:1 19 Hebrews 11:19 concluding that God was able to rise uh him up even from the death from uh which he also received him in the figurative sense. >> Amen. So he received him as though raised from the dead. So in Abraham's heart a resurrection had already taken place. He knew that even if he sacrific his son is God has the you know ability and the power to raise him up from the dead. So it says from the dead from which he also received him. So as far as Abraham was convinced, Isaac was good as dead and it was from the dead that he actually received him back in a way that prefigured the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Okay. So this shows us something very crucial or important here that Abraham did not reach this place of being mature or perfected in his faith overnight. Right? It was a faith journey that took many many years. It took 25 years to see the son of promise. When he was 75 years, you know, the the son was promised. But when he was 100 years old, the son was born to him. 25 years of journey of faith. So his faith journey was not smooth. But he arrived at that place of deep mature faith that where he had trust that he could just trust in the promises of God and that God would surely perform his promise. So the Holy Spirit through Paul, you know, highlights this as an example of how we too can journey and become mature in our faith. Amen. So at this point I don't know where our faith is for each one of us. Some of us might be still weak, wavering. Some of us strong, some of us are growing stronger and stronger. Whatever it is, you know, when we keep pursuing our journey of faith, it will bring us to a place of mature faith. Amen. Look at what James chapter 22 says. James chapter 22. Yes. James chapter 2 verse 22. James chapter 2 verse 22. Sorry. >> Do you see that faith was working together with his works and by works faith was made perfect. >> Yes. Says that through Abraham's faith his faith was made perfect. The word perfect here really means mature. Okay. So how do we come to a place of mature faith? We see that in Romans chapter 4 17 to 21 where we follow Abraham's walk of faith. Okay. So walking in the steps of Abraham's faith. Verse 17 quotes God's promise. God says I have made you a father of many nations. Now this was not Abraham's idea. God himself put this promise in Abraham's heart and in God's mind it was already a done completed finished thing. Okay, he had already decided that Abraham would be the father of many nations. So Abraham hears this promise but who is the one making the promise? Who is the one making the promise to Abraham? God. Yes. You know, and how is God described here? Look at the verses. How is God described here? Verse 17. How is God described? Romans 4:17. How is God described? >> Who gives life to the dead and call the things which do not exist. >> Yes. So God is the described as the one who gives life to the dead. Amen. And calls those things which do not exist as though they did. So through thing two things about God that is revealed here. The first one God gives life to the dead. That means things look dead but God he revives it, resurrects it and he can bring it back to life. Okay. And Hebrews chap 11:12 describes this uh beautifully. Okay, can somebody read that? Hebrewsap 11:12. Therefore, from one man and him as good as dead were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, innumerable as the sand which is by the shore. >> Yes. So for one man, who is this one man? >> Abraham. And him as good as dead means what? Him as good as dead means what? From one man and him as good as dead means what? Who is a one man? >> Here in this verse Hebrews 11:12, who is a one man? >> Abraham. Him as good as dead means what? His situation was good as dead. No one can have a a son when they 75 years or 90 or even 100 years. Okay. But out even though he was that age came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and countless as the sand on the seashore. Okay. So this teaches us something very vital, something very important. When things in our life looks hopeless and as good as dead, God can still release something huge, something unimaginable and beyond our expectation just as he did for Abraham. Amen. So that is the first thing that we learn about God here that is revealed. God gives life to the dead. What is the second thing? Verse 17, God calls >> things that do not >> exist as though they did. So he speaks reality into existence. God speaks reality into existence. When he says something, it becomes okay. So what do we mean by that? When we look at ourselves, we can say, "God, I am weak." But when God looks at us, what does he say? I have made you strong. You know when we say that I'm a loser. >> Yes. God says I'm you know when you can you can you can say God you know I'm not a conqueror. What does God say? I've made you more than a conqueror. When we when we can say God I have not yet become what you promised. What does God say? I've already made you that. Okay. So God told Abraham, I have made you the father of many nations. Not that I will make you. I will think about making you or I will try making you. He's saying I have already >> made you. That means it's already >> done completed thing. I have made you already completed thing. Father of many nations. But yet at that time Abraham not even had not even had even one >> son or child and he was not yet a father but called God called him that he would surely become one. Yes. That he's already become the father of many nations. Okay. So we need to declare what God has made us or what God has made you. Now in Genesis chapter 17, God told Abraham to start calling himself what God had made him, right? And God changed his name from Abraham to Abraham and his wife's name from Sarai to Sarah. From that day onward, every time he said his own name, he was declaring God's promise that he's a father of many nations. Amen. So in the same way we must also begin declaring over our lives what God has already spoken about us right we need to keep declaring our identity who we are what God has done for us what he has accomplished for us what blessings we have we need to start declaring it over our lives what God has already spoken over us so in the spiritual realm who we are our identity what God has done for us what we purp what he plans and purpose for us is already done completed thing in the spiritual realm. So when God gives us a promise he's not merely uh you know uh he's not merely um predicting our future but he's calling something into existence that does not exist in the natural but already exists in the spiritual realm. Amen. So our role is to join our faith with God's word. Our role is to join with God's promise. Our role is to join with what is already completed in the supernatural or in the spiritual realm and bring that into our physical realm. It's already done in the in the spiritual realm. We need to speak that, declare that, believe that, you know, and force that into our uh physical realm. Okay. So how did Abraham step into this? He believed God when he said, "I have made you a father of many nations." And by faith, Abraham walked in that reality until it became manifest. Amen. So he walked in that reality until it became a reality in his life. Okay. So we'll move on. Any questions so far? Okay. So just let's do a big quick rep recap of what we looked at in chapter 4. So Paul begins this chapter by asking was Abraham justified by works? And then he quotes from the Old Testament in Genesis 15:6 where he says Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness. That means Abraham received righteousness on the basis of one thing. What is that one thing? He believed God. It was not by works. It was not by rituals. It was not by human effort. It was purely by faith that righteousness was given to him by grace. Then Paul raises a second question. Did Abraham receive righteousness when he was circumcised or when he was uncircumcised? And what is the answer? He received it when he was uncircumcised. Later he received circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of faith. Why did God do this? So that Abraham could be the father of all who believe. All Jews and Gentiles. Before he had circumcision, he had what? Before he had circumcision, Abraham had what? Faith. Very good. Therefore, Abraham is the father of all who believe, both Jews and Gentiles. And then verses 17 to 21 we see a beautiful summary of Abraham's faith by the Holy Spirit. So Paul presents a spiritgiven summary of Abraham's faith. And these verses reveal how Abraham journeyied into God's promise. And God's promise is God gives life to the dead. And God calls things into existence as though they didn't not. So when God speaks his promise into our lives, he's calling into existence something that is not visible, it may not be there, but he says it will be there. Okay? And it is who I have made you to be or this is who I have made you to be. So God's promise, who he has made us to be, our identity is all completed in the spiritual realm. But it needs to become a reality in our physical natural realm. That is our responsibility that we believe, speak and live and walk in that. So Abraham had to journey into that reality and God told him, I have made you the father of many nations. Okay. Now we'll um move on Abraham's journey of faith. Uh verse 18. Can somebody read verse 18 quickly, please? Romans chapter 4:18 >> who contrary to hope in hope believed so that he became the father of many nations according to what was spoken so shall your descendants be. >> Yes. So there was no natural reason for Abraham to have hope. Did he have any natural reason to have hope that he'll have a son or a child? No. But yet what did he do? >> He believed. He hoped. He not only hoped but he also he believed. Okay. Not only had hope but he also believed. Now hope versus faith. What is the difference between hope versus faith? Is there a difference or is this the same? Is there a difference between hope and faith or is the same thing? >> Hope is different. I feel different. >> Okay. >> Hope and faith are different. >> Okay. Hope and faith are different. Hope is what? >> Ah, it's a desire. It's an expectation that something will happen in the future. And hope is something that will happen in the future. But what is faith? >> Yeah. Faith and belief. Belief, faith and belief is in the now. Right? Because uh Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is a substance of what is hoped for." Right? That means when I'm hoping for something, okay, listen carefully. When I'm hoping for something, faith gives that hope, substance, and reality. What does it mean? Now, hope looks into the future. It reaches out for what I cannot see. But faith brings that into the present. Faith says, "I've got it. It's here. Where is it? It's in my heart. Right? It might be in the future. I cannot see it, but I got it. It's here. Where is it? It's in my heart. That means I know that it's going to be accomplished in the future. So, think about Abraham, okay? Humanly speaking, he had no reason to hope about what will happen in the future, but having a son. He was old and so was Sarah. But yet Abraham chose to believe. Right? The words faith and belief come from the same root word. And scripture, you know, it often goes hand in hand in scripture. Now faith is not wishful thinking, but it's trusting in what God has spoken. So if God has spoken a word over our lives, even when there seems to be no reason to hope, we must choose to believe, right? Because Abraham believed against all hope. That's what scripture says. And that's how he became the father of many nations. He did not live to see his in generations as numerous as the stars in the sky, the sand and the seashore. But he had the faith and the belief. The same principle also holds true for us. Right? When God speaks his promise, his word into our life, our faith should anchor hope and make it a present reality in our hearts. That means we believe we have the faith that it is going to happen in the future and we live like with that faith that yes it is going to happen. Okay. And he also says that it is not weakened by the natural. Look at verse 19. Can somebody read verse 19? Verse 19, please. Not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body already dead since he was about a 100 years old and the deadness of Sarah's womb. >> Now Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah's womb was barren. These are facts. But he did not let his faith weaken by focusing on the natural. So does faith deny reality? It faith does not define or deny reality but it refuses to be defined by it. Okay. Fate does not deny the reality. That means yeah this is a reality. It does not deny reality but it refuses to be defined by that reality. Okay. So if you focus on the natural what happens to our faith? If you focus on the natural what happens to our faith? Come on, give me some word. If you focus on the natural, what happens to our faith? >> It decreases. Yes. Huh? >> It brings us down. It weakens us. But if we focus on the promise of God, what what happens to our faith? >> It becomes strong. It becomes strengthened. You know, when we focus on the promise, our faith is strengthened. So for example in Genesis chapter 15 when Abraham was discouraged and he considered his servant as having a hair you know what did God do? Told Abraham get up come out of your tent and he said look up at the stars and count the stars. Why did God tell him to count the stars? Because he knew it is >> impossible. And what does God say? So shall your descendants be. So what is God doing here? He's doing an object lesson with with Paul. Sorry, with Abraham. What is he doing with Abraham? What is the object lesson? He's trying to shift po Abraham's focus from >> the natural to the >> to the promises. Okay. He's Abraham is looking at the natural. God, I'm you know already so old. Sarah's so old. I cannot have a child. You know, Eleaza, I think, will his son will be the hair. But God is moving his focus from the natural to the to the promise. So when your faith feels weak, what should you do? What should you check? When your faith is weak, what should you check? Your focus. Where is your focus? Are you looking at the natural? Are you looking at the facts or you are looking at God's promise? Everyone with me? >> Okay. So, this is what God did in Genesis chapter 15. When Abraham was having one of his low times when he thought that he and Sarah will not have a son, it could be through someone else from his household. He was considering the natural. But God made his promise when he was 75 years. Now he's 90. So, he's saying, "God, I cannot have a son." Okay? and he's considering things in the natural. But what does God do? He takes Abraham out, asks him to look at the stars in the sky, ask him to count his count the stars. And Abraham is not able to count them. And God says that's how many will your descendants be. So what did God do in that conversation? He helped Abraham take his eyes off from the >> natural and helped him to put his eye or focus it on the promise of God. Okay. Now look at verse 20. First part of verse 20 says he did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief. That means Abraham always had a choice. What was the choice? To believe or not to believe. But what did he choose? Not to not to waver but and not to let unbelief take root. Okay. Look at the latter part of verse 20. He says, "But was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God." So what does it say here? Abraham's faith grew stronger day by day as he worshiped God, as he trusted and waited on God. Before the promise was fulfilled, he was already giving glory to God. I'm not saying this. The word of God says, and how does Paul know it? He's not saying through his own wisdom. Doesn't know Abraham. does know it was not reading Abraham's mind is the Holy Spirit saying but Abraham was strengthened in faith giving glory to God that means already worshiping God even though he did not see the promise fulfilled. So I can in my mind just imagine Abraham praying and saying father I thank you that you have made me the father of nations. Thank you for the son that you promised Sarah and me. Thank you that my descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the heavens. You are a faithful God. Just telling just thinking what Abraham would have prayed. So this is a key step of faith. What is a key step of faith? Praising God in advance even before the promise is fulfilled. Amen. >> Look at verse 21. What does he say in verse 21? Being fully convinced what he had promised he was able to >> perform. Who was fully convinced >> that he that what he had promised? Who's the he? >> That God has promised he's also able to perform. So we see Abraham came to a place of mature faith. He was fully persuaded that God was both willing and able to perform his promise. So we need to also come to that place where God we know God is willing and able to perform his promise even though there is hope something in the future but in the present the faith is I have it now it's in my heart okay verse 22 can somebody read verse 22 please >> therefore it was count account accounted to him for righteousness >> and 23 to 25 as well >> now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in him, who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who also delivered up because of our offenses and was raised because of our justification. >> Abraham. Amen. Thank you. So Abraham's story, Abraham's story is not just about him. It's not just written here for him, but it is for whom? It's also about us. It's also for us. Okay. So, just as righteousness was imputed to Abraham or put into Abraham's account, righteousness is also imputed to us when we believe in Jesus. Amen. And this is where Paul is now pointing us to Jesus. Okay? So, he says Jesus was crucified for our sins. He was raised up for our justification. Okay. Amen. So the resurrection of Jesus is the pronouncement of our justification. When Jesus was raised up from the dead, you know, he was when Jesus was resurrected from the dead, it was pronouncing our justification or our righteousness. So Jesus's resurrection from the dead is God's declaration that we have been made right with God. So with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the case against us is >> closed. Okay? We have been acquitted. We have been declared as not guilty. Okay? So imagine a courtroom, okay? where the guilty owns or the criminal you know or the guilty person owns a fine of 50,000 or 50 lakhs. Okay. Someone walks in and says this is the receipt paid in full but the and the judge has no choice but to dismiss the case and to let the person the criminal go. So that is what the resurrection of Jesus Christ did for us. So it proclaims that the payment for our sin is made in full. The case is closed, dismissed and we are justified or made righteous before God. Okay. So this is what the resurrection means for us. When Christ rose, it was God's public announcement that the full price for our sins have been paid and his resurrection is the receipt that guarantees our justification, our righteousness. So no more fear, no more condemnation. The debt is canled and the case is dismissed. Amen. So that is what he says in this last few verses. Okay. So having spoken about Abraham in chapter 4, Paul now turns his focus to see how he's quite slowly bringing in Jesus. Okay. Connecting it with Abraham, you know, and how he's bringing in Jesus here. Now he turns his focus to Jesus. So in chapter five, the emphasis will be on Christ, his work, the grace of God, and righteousness by faith. Okay. And how faith, righteousness, and grace all come together in the person of Jesus Christ. So he shifts the focus to what Christ did in order to justify us. Amen. >> Okay. So just before we close some application, believe God's promise even when the circumstances contradicts them. Do not let your faith be weakened by focusing on the natural. Worship and give God the glory even before you see the promise fulfilled. When God gives you a promise, come to a place of being fully convinced that God is more than able and he's able to do what he has promised and rest in the finished work of Christ because our justification is secure. Amen. >> Okay, we'll end here. No time for questions because I need to rush to the next class. If you have any questions, please keep that in mind and I will answer it um next week. Thank you everyone for joining us. Have a blessed day. God bless you. Thank you.