Why Justification by Faith Matters (Romans 4:13-25)
One of the rallying cries of the Reformation was, "Justification by Faith Alone!"
And for the past 500 years, those of us who trace our theological heritage to the Reformers have internalized the importance of those words.
But why does justification by faith alone matter so much? What problems does it solve?
This week at Grace, we're going to look at Romans 4:13-25, a passage that helps us think about what it means to be justified by grace through faith. That is, what sort of faith does God want from us? How is it demonstrated? And what should we do if we feel like our faith is lacking?
Let's talk about it Sunday at Grace.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
- Romans 4:13-25