Romans – A Treatise
Chapter Four
OF FAITH, BY GRACE
Scripture Reading: verses 13-16
FOR THE PROMISE, THAT HE SHOULD BE THE HEIR OF THE WORLD, WAS NOT TO ABRAHAM, OR TO HIS SEED, THROUGH THE LAW, BUT THROUGH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FAITH. FOR IF THEY WHICH ARE OF THE LAW BE HEIRS, FAITH IS MADE VOID, AND THE PROMISE IS MADE OF NONE EFFECT: BECAUSE THE LAW WORKETH WRATH: FOR WHERE NO LAW IS, THERE IS NO TRANSGRESSION. THEREFORE IT IS OF FAITH, THAT IT MIGHT BE BY GRACE; TO THE END THE PROMISE MIGHT BE SURE TO ALL THE SEED; NOT TO THAT ONLY WHICH IS OF THE LAW, BUT TO THAT ALSO WHICH IS OF THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM; WHO IS THE FATHER OF US ALL.
The line of legal argument the apostle now pursues has the definite purpose of demonstrating that justification is on the principle of faith and not works. He has shown that the happiness of David the king subsisted not in his glorious exploits, not in his good works but in the forgiveness of his sins, which he received by faith. The apostle has further shown that Abraham, from whose loins the entire nation of Israel came, was not justified because of good things he had done, but because he believed God – thus, it was counted to him for righteousness. Moreover, Paul goes on to demonstrate that “circumcision,” the distinguishing mark of the nation of Israel, did not entitle the Jews to a place of favor before God because it did not remove the guilt of their sin.
The question here is the authenticity of the promise of God in view of these facts. Keep in mind that all the hopes of Israel were based on God’s promises and His promise to Abraham in the first place was, “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” Continuing the line of argument, Paul shows that the promise made to Abraham was not in consequence of the law, but before the law was given, and therefore apart from law. So he says: “The promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” God made the promise to him because Abraham believed God, and thereby stood in the presence of God in righteousness. In the midst of the idolatry of a godless world, God found a man who was willing to take Him at His Word, to believe Him, to step out, confident in God alone. Because of that God made the promise to Abraham and to his seed. So, in verse 14, Paul goes on: “for if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect.” Let all those who are basing their hope of standing in favor of God through keeping the law carefully consider this verse.
God has promised an inheritance to His people. We are still dealing with legal matters, and Paul is calling in question the title deeds to this inheritance. When a home is purchased, legal papers are assembled and turned over to an escrow company, which makes a diligent historical search of the property, making sure it is clear, providing an unquestioned title to ownership. Only after the title deed is clear and in the buyer’s possession can there be a feeling of surety about moving into the new home. That is what is set forth here in the Epistle to the Romans. An inheritance – a property eternal in the heavens – for the Christian is in view, and Paul is searching the true title to the property in order that we may rest with absolute assurance regarding our claim to it. In presenting the title deed he indicates that our inheritance comes not on the basis of law-keeping, but on grace. He finds the inheritance is not something we purchase, but it is a gift. Here is the promise of the Giver: it shall be accepted by faith on the principle of grace and no one can bring a successful claim to the property on the principle of keep-ing the law – no one can pay for it by good works.
The logical consequence of all this is revealed in verse 14: “For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect.” The inheritance has been donated by the God who has promised, and we must accept it by faith, otherwise the promise is of none effect.
In spite of this clear teaching, a large number of religious people are still professed law keepers, and think that by keeping the terms of law they will enter into the inheritance. This reference is a flat contradiction of that claim. If the inheritance is promised as a gift and we try to work for it, then faith is made void. In other words, we do not believe the promise of the Giver.
Law-keeping friends are often heard saying that the law is holy, just, and good. No one denies that. Indeed, it is because the law is holy, just, and good that when applied to life, it quickly becomes evident that we are not holy, just, or good. In other words, the law condemns us because we are none of them. The only way in which we can keep the law is in a fragmentary way. It may be easy for some people to keep the seventh-day Sabbath by resting, but which one of us keeps with meticulous care that part of the law that says, “Thou shalt not covet”? We live in a world of covetousness. So if we keep the whole law and yet offend in one point, we are guilty of all. What then shall be the legal claim to the inheritance? Will it be on the basis of law, a broken law, a holy, just and good law which we are unable to keep? Or will it be accepted as a gift from God by faith, that is, believing that God gives it on the principle of grace? Paul here says it must be on that principle, and not by law. His teaching is clear as crystal and may we learn to take God at His Word.
