Romans 4: 13-22

(Romans 4: 13-22)

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 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,  (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.  And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:  He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;  And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

 

From Romans 1:18 to 3:20, Paul describes Abraham as an example of a desperate and sinner life. The Bible reveals that the life of a sinner is the source of blessings through God's promise. The sinful life is a state of helplessness, impossible, and despair, but they know that there is nothing but God's promises and grace, so the faith to deny themselves before the Word of God and hold on to and rely on God's promises is faith.

 

Abraham's self-belief, the faith that began on his side, is shaken, shaken, resigned, and despair, but the faith that denies himself and is desperately held only by that grace is given from God. Faith that one believes in is faith for one's own righteousness, but faith comes from God when he denies himself before the Word of God. The act of the law that the Jews boast of is faith that reveals their righteousness. But when people repent of what their righteousness does not lead to salvation, God will show them grace. There is no body to be justified before God by the acts of the law.

 

Jesus' disciples had no doubt believed that Jesus was the Son of God for three years. They experienced miracles, learned the words of the Bible, and grew in faith in amazing experiences. But this is only an opportunity for repentance. The faith to go to heaven is the faith to be transformed into a person worthy of heaven. None of the disciples had this transforming faith. What about many church people today? They will try to solve problems in the same way as in the world. The Lord said, "When the Son of Man comes, will he see faith?" That belief is a faith that changes. The faith that the Lord said, “All tonight will forsake me” is not a faith that is transformed. Faith to be transformed is faith that is united with Christ crucified.

 

The disciples believe that "Jesus is the Son of God," but Jesus told them, "All tonight will forsake me." Faith that is transformed is faith that is united with the dead Jesus. This belief is only one, a belief that cannot be reached without self-denial repentance. Repentance is not a matter of time, not a matter of number. Peter replied, "I will die with you, but I will not deny it." Relying on one's own knowledge and experience is the result of not repenting. First, accepting the word of the Lord is the way to repent.

 

However, many churches today erroneously teach "faith that this decision leads to salvation." They must teach that "we cannot do it", not determination and determination. They must teach us that we cannot attain righteousness, because in us there is an evil thing of self. If we do not crucify greed, we cannot reach God unless we deny this. So, only those who are united with Jesus Christ can approach God. Most people try to be united with Jesus Christ without self-denial repentance. But the Bible says this is illegal.

 

Salvation does not come from our decision, but because God accepts those who repent. Salvation depends not on our hearts and decisions, but on the Lord. Even if we learn the knowledge of the Bible and we believe and know the Lord, we cannot be saved if the Lord does not know us. All the Lord knows are those who repent, united with Jesus Christ, who died on the cross. If we do not repent, we are perished in a wilderness life. If we believe that we will be saved someday without repentance of self-denial, and live our faith hard, we can fall into self-righteousness.

 

This belief can be understood well through the example of Abraham. When Abraham first believes, he hears God's voice saying, "Leave your hometown relatives father's house and go to the land where I will direct you." Abraham makes a remarkable decision to leave his hometown, but brings his relative Lot out. If we don't give up our mastership, we continue to believe in our own will. We discern the Lord's commands only as much as we obey. He has a dispute with Lot, and everything is taken away from Lot. Those who repent are also exposed to matters of finance. Even though Abram is robbed of everything from Lot, God does not say that Abram is righteous. To say that you are righteous is not a change of attitude, it is an inner change.

 

God made a promise to Abram. God made Abraham split the offering and showed him the fire coming down from heaven and coming and going into the offering. He couldn't help but believe it. Abraham then receives the covenant. Despite receiving the covenant, Abram gives birth to Ishmael. It is impossible to obey the word of the Lord. When he heard Sarai, he took Hagar and gave birth to Ishmael. Until Abraham became like a dead man to God's promises, God no longer spoke. This is until 99. The apostle Paul explained in Romans 4 that Paul explained, "The faith that was justified by faith was obtained when Abraham was 100 years old."