Today’s Reading | Romans 4:1-15
Not by Works
Up to this point in his letter, Paul has been working to convince the Romans that salvation was by grace and not by works. How does today’s passage support this position? Paul illustrates it by using Abraham, the father of the Jews, and someone about whom they would have knowledge. In Abraham’s life, salvation came through grace and not as a result of his works. If salvation came to Abraham by grace, then certainly our salvation would come by grace as well. Paul quoted from the Old Testament in verse three to prove this point. He used the Old Testament account to show the readers that Abraham was not even circumcised when God declared him righteous. That alone would demonstrate to the Jews that his works could not have made him righteous, because he was declared righteous before he obeyed the law. Paul also uses another significant man in Jewish history, David. He illustrates from David’s own words that righteousness comes by grace through faith. Realizing that standing righteous before God is nothing we can earn, our hearts ought to be filled with humble gratitude to God for providing salvation through Jesus Christ.
Today’s Questions
Say What?
Observation: What do I see?
So What?
Interpretation: What does it mean?
Now What?
Application: How does it apply to me?
Then What?
Implementation: What do I do?