Romans 4:1-5
Grace or Works
Romans 4:1-5
Romans is truly a building block book. We have up to this point established the only way to righteousness is Jesus; more specifically through faith in Jesus atoning work at Calvary . There is no other pathway for righteousness and justification. Any other avenue is either the works of the flesh or a working of the law; neither of these offer the way to eternal life. Eternal life is found exclusively in Jesus. This passage in Romans 4 is one of the most highly debated asking is it faith or works? What some have called the “great reformation” where Martin Luther declare over again the just shall live by faith stirred debate of works verses grace. This was truly a turning point in church history. However, we need to go back to scripture itself and let it define what we believe.
Romans 4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,
Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. As we dig in we should know Abraham is pointed to as our example of how to believe in God’s Word. God Word is true with or without our life experience added to it. God’s Word is rock solid being the anchor for our soul. When Abraham laid hold of the Word God spoke to him that is when God was able to bring the promise to pass in His life. Sorry, I’m jumping ahead to the end of Romans 4.
Consider the words “Abraham believed God”. The object of Abraham’s faith was rooted in the Word God spoke to him. We will write much more on this at the end of Romans 4. Now lets consider Abraham’s God. The Creator of heaven and earth was walking in relationship with Abraham; God’s desires have not changed, He still longs to walk in fellowship with man. This is the reason Jesus came to declare and bring reconciliation between God and man.
Work is work and grace is grace! So simple yet so profound. I work in a purchasing department for a company. In that company there is no debate over work and grace. They have hired me to do a job; I come in and perform the service the company desires and now they pay what they owe me. The pay check they give me is not by grace; it is no free gift. I have labored and they pay their debt.
Many have, and do try to enter this principle of work for righteousness. Yet if we examine the scriptures they are clear. Romans 4:5
But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness,
Lets not forget the building blocks already added into the mix by Romans 3. The works of the law could not bring righteousness. Faith in Jesus Christ is the exclusive way to receive righteousness. To be righteous is to have right standing between God and man. Verse 5 makes it so clear “to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”
This of course this is not talking about working for a salary of some type; it specifically speaks of not working to gain righteousness. If the object of your faith is in the One who justifies men through the atoning work of Jesus that is accounted as your righteousness. This is not an elusive truth but a legal standing between God the Father and the believer. If you place your faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work performed at Calvary you have a righteous standing before God. The beloved John wrote, he that confesses that Jesus is the Son of God is born of God. Jesus said if you would confess Him before man He would confess you before the angles and His Father in heaven.
The Apostle Peter had to learn about this caliber of righteousness.
Galatians 2:14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews,why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? 15 "We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
See Galatians 2:14 Peter being a Jew begin to live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews. It was all about walking by faith exclusively in Jesus and not believing your righteousness could be derived by works. The early church had said there was a difference between the Gentile believers and how they were to live and the how Jewish believers were to live for Christ. When brethren from James church came Peter reverted back to practicing the law for righteousness.
We see the truth of the division between the Gentiles and Jewish believers in Acts 15.
Acts 15:19 "Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 "but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 "For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath." … Acts 15:24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law"; to whom we gave no such commandment;
The decision was made not to put the Gentiles under the works of the law; however they expected every Jewish believer to continue in the works of the law. Please see this next passage about the Jerusalem church; it can help with any misunderstanding between works and grace.
Acts 21:20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, "You see, brother,how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law;… 23 "Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24 "Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. 25 "But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality."
Here we find it very clear the early church continued in the practices of the law. They talked the apostle Paul into the same by taking a vow which included bringing animal sacrifice and presenting himself to the Levitical Priesthood. Hebrews was written to bring the Jewish church to live like the Gentile Christians, being justified by faith in Jesus Christ alone, without trusting in the works of the law or ones own fleshly works. A righteousness apart from the works of the law; relying completely upon the works of the Savior Himself.
Romans 5:18 Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.
Please note this Bible study does not say do no works; the scriptures teach righteousness apart from your works. We can do no work to make us righteous; however, once made righteous by faith in Jesus Christ you are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do good works. The works that you trust in for righteousness is the One Man’s obedient. “Not of works that I have done nothing but the blood of Jesus”.
John 16:12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
The truths that the apostle Paul share in Romans 4 about being justified before God by faith without works is a truth revealed by the Spirit of God. God raised up the apostle Paul and gave him these revelations. It time for the church to arise and teach the fullness of the grace of God found exclusively in the Lord Jesus Christ.
At the risk of ruffling a few traditional feathers the book of James was not written to the church as a whole. It was written to the twelve tribes of Israel . As we seen in Acts 21 they strongly believed Jewish believers should continue in the works of the law. Most scholars agree that James is the earliest book written. We need to rightly divide the Word of truth.
The church today can not teach what Jesus taught to the leprous man; go present himself to the Levitical Priest and offer the offering Moses commanded for cleansing. The New Testament church today can not ask another minister take a Nazarene vow to prove his faithfulness, in Acts 21 they clearly did. In the same way James was writing to the 12 tribes of Israel and we must rightly divide his writings. The Apostle Paul came with the greater revelation of grace. This also agrees with Jesus words about truths the brethren were not ready to bear.
Ephesians 3:1 For this reason I, Paul , the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles; 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:
What Paul taught about men being justified by grace and not works was what the Holy Spirit revealed to him.
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
Galatians 1: 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Romans 4:5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,
Paul could not make it any clearer. If one is working for righteousness that man will not be justified before God. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. God help us to walk in the greater revelation found in Jesus Christ.
More to come…
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