Monday, March 9, 2009
Chapter 4...5 By End of the Week
Okay, Romans is starting to come together for me. This whole book so far (I think, correct me if I'm wrong) seems like Paul is telling the Jews, "You aren't the only ones who've got a shot at Heaven". They've thought this whole time they were the heirs because of their circumcision and following the Law, and that was what was due them (Romans 4:4-5). But Paul says that Abraham was counted righteous when he wasn't circumcised because he had faith, and that the circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of his faith. Kinda like "I will show you my faith by my works". So, even if we do a ton of good deeds, tons of works-like many of the Jews were doing-works of the Law-if we don't have faith it doesn't matter. Let me know what you think and if I'm missing out on something. I would like for us to get through chapters 4 and 5 by the end of this week!
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3 comments:
So demanding...
You said:
So, even if we do a ton of good deeds, tons of works-like many of the Jews were doing-works of the Law-if we don't have faith it doesn't matter.
I have a question. Do you think the Jews didn't have faith? Did they not believe in God? What do you mean by faith?
I think Paul is addressing a couple instances we face.
- "Do you think the Jews didn't have faith?"
I think they had plenty of faith. I think the real question is what they had faith in. The evidence we have of the Pharasees and Saducees and their zeal to follow the law is a sign of faith... could have been just tradition as well. Something drew them to follow the law, and I believe it was the promise that a king was to come and rule over them and deliver them was the crutch.
- "Did they not believe in God?"
Sure, they believed in him. They did not get it though. They didn't believe in Christ and therfore missed the promise.
- "Faith"
A commitment to things unseen. God's promise had been revealed. It was missed by many of the Jews and so the new law was not known, the promise was not seen and therefore, Faith was stale.
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