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Priscilla: Romans 4:1-12
Abraham Justified by Faith

1 What then shall we say our father Abraham to have found according to flesh?

2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has a boast, but not with God.

3 For what does the Scripture say? “And Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” Gen. 15:6

4 Now to one working, the reward is not counted according to grace, but according to debt.

5 But to the one not working, but believing on Him justifying the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

6 Even as also David says of the blessedness of the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

7 “Blessed are those whose lawlessnesses are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;

8 blessed the man to whom the Lord will in no way charge sin.” LXX-Psa. 31:1, 2; MT-Psa. 32:1, 2

9 Is this blessedness then on the circumcision, or also on the uncircumcision? For we say the faith “was counted to Abraham for righteousness.” Gen. 15:6

10 How then was it counted? Being in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision!

11 And he received a sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of faith while in uncircumcision, for him to be a father of those believing through uncircumcision, for righteousness to be counted to them also,

12 and a father of circumcision to those not of circumcision only, but also to those walking in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham during uncircumcision.

[Literal Translation of the Holy Bible]

Dear God, my Beloved Father, today I offer to You what I understand through meditation on Your Word in Romans 4:1-12 about how Abraham was justified by faith.

Dear God, I understand that Abraham’s justification by You was not due to his adherence to Your commandments and laws in a physical sense; rather, it was because Abraham believed what You said to him, and thus he was declared righteous by You. Abraham believed in You and demonstrated his faith by obeying every word of Yours. The pinnacle of his obedience was when he offered Isaac, his beloved son, as a burnt offering, in accordance with Your command. The Bible states that Abraham obeyed You because he believed that You had the power to raise his son from the dead.

Dear God, Your Word affirms that “And he believed in Jehovah. And He counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).

Dear God, before I believed in You, I was an unrighteous person who lived in sin and violated Your commandments. I understand that I am not justified by my works of the flesh, or by obeying the laws of man, or even by following Your commandments. I was justified by my faith in Your grace of salvation through the redemptive death of Jesus Christ. I demonstrate my faith by obeying the commandment of Christ to be baptized in the name of the Triune God and by living according to the teachings of the Bible. Baptism is a visible sign of my identification with Christ’s death and resurrection. I died to my old sinful nature and was raised to a new life in Jesus Christ.

Dear God, I understand that those who are justified by You must love a holy life according to Your Word, have faith in You, be obedient to You, and not desire to violate Your commandments. This is the seal of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, giving us the ability to joyfully live in and obey Your commandments. Only those who have been made anew in Christ, who have sincerely repented, abandoned sin, and received the Gospel can produce good righteous works that please You.

If a person believes in You but continues to violate Your commandments, then that person is still living in sin and not truly repentant. Faith cannot be shown through words alone; it will die without producing salvation. In Genesis 15:6, it says that Abraham believed in You, and in Genesis 26:5, You said, “Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees, and my laws.”

Dear God, I know that Abraham was declared righteous by You because he truly trusted and obeyed You, living according to Your will. He was blessed by You to become the father of the physical nation of Israel and the father of faith for all nations. Today, as believers in God, we follow all that is taught in the Bible, and we also become children of Abraham by faith. We obey Your commandments not to earn rewards but out of a heart of love and respect for You. But You are just, and if anyone suffers for living righteously or for preaching the Gospel, then You promise to reward them, as it is written: “But answering, Jesus said, Truly I say to you, There is no one who forsook house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My sake and the gospel, that will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the coming age, eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30).

May the Holy Spirit help me to understand the truth of God every day so that I may live joyfully in God’s love and grace. I thank You, Father. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Priscilla Christian Huynh
03/15/2023