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Timothy: 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, Your faithfulness always covers me, and Your mercy never ceases to pour down on me. I offer my gratitude and honor to You. I pray that Christ may grant me new strength so that I have enough power to live according to Your Word. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide me to the truth of Your Word so that I may understand Romans 4:1-12. I am thankful to the Triune God.

Dear Father, I understand the calling of Abraham, whom You chose to be the patriarch of Israel, and through Israel, Christ was born, accomplishing the redemption of humanity according to Your holy will and omniscience. You knew that Abraham feared and obeyed You, and completely trusted in You, so You chose him and used him.

Dear Father, I understand that from the moment Abraham showed faith in You, You counted him as righteous because he believed in You. Abraham was counted as righteous not because he never sinned or did any righteous deeds, but because he believed in and obeyed You. For no one is without sin, and no one has the ability or qualifications to perform righteous deeds until they believe in and obey God.

Dear Father, I understand that faith must be demonstrated through action, or else faith will die. Abraham demonstrated his faith in You through action when he obeyed You and circumcised himself and his household. Circumcision symbolizes the cutting away of the sinful nature within humans and has become a visible sign of faith in You that Abraham and his descendants possess.

Dear Father, I understand that because of his faith in You, Abraham was called righteous by You even before he demonstrated his faith through obedience in being circumcised. Therefore, it cannot be said that his circumcision made him righteous in the eyes of God.

Dear Father, I understand that while You chose Abraham as the patriarch of the physical descendants of Israel, You also chose him as the patriarch of Your people in terms of faith, without regard to any particular nationality. Thus, in terms of spiritual lineage, Abraham is the father of those physical descendants of Israel who were circumcised because of their faith, as well as the father of those of other nations who did not undergo circumcision but who had faith in Christ.

Dear Father, I understand that what is truly important to You is that everyone understands that if a person of any ethnicity has faith in God, You consider that person righteous.

Dear Father, I understand that nowadays, anyone who sincerely accepts the Gospel is a person of faith in God, regardless of their ethnicity. That person needs to demonstrate their faith through their actions of obeying Christ and being baptized in the name of the Triune God. That person will be considered righteous by You because all their sins have been forgiven by You. Their sinful nature has been washed away by the holy blood of Christ, and they have been filled with the power from the Holy Spirit, so they have the power of God to live according to His Word, obeying and fulfilling all of God’s commandments and laws.

Dear Father, I understand that God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, dwelling in their body is the seal of proof that they have been saved, that they are righteous in God’s eyes, and that You have granted them eternal life and the right to co-reign with Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven.

I thank You for the Living Word that You have given me today. I am grateful that You have declared me righteous. Please keep me wholeheartedly in Your love and grace. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Timothy Christian Huynh
03/15/2023