Resurrection Power and Not Human Effort
By Greg Johnson
http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org
Romans chapter four is a powerful chapter that every believer needs to master. The Apostle Paul continues talking about justification, a term that he introduces in Romans Chapter three. Romans chapter four also has probably the best definition of faith in the entire Bible.
Justification is a legal term that is borrowed from the law court. It means to be declared righteous. Only those that are righteous will spend eternity around the throne of God. Only God can declare one righteous. Only God can justify.
JUSTIFICATION IS NOT BY HUMAN EFFORT.
God’s word says (Romans 4:1-8 NIV) "What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? {2} If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about--but not before God. {3} What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." {4} Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. {5} However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. {6} David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: {7} "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. {8} Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.""
The Apostle Paul uses two Old Testament individuals to illustrate that justification is not by human effort.
First he talks about the faith of Abraham. Abraham believed the promises of God and because of his faith, God declared him righteous. The book of Genesis gives us record of Abraham’s life of faith. God gave Abraham promises and Abraham simply believed that God had the power to fulfill His promises.
When Abraham was an old man, God promised him a child and Abraham believed. (Genesis 15:1-6 NIV) "After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." {2} But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" {3} And Abram said, "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir." {4} Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." {5} He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars--if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." {6} Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness."
The Apostle Paul quotes King David from Psalm 32:1,2 in saying (Romans 4:7-8 NIV) “"Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. {8} Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him."”
David new what being declared righteous was all about. He knew that one could not be declared righteous by human effort. He knew that only God could declare one righteous and that the one declared righteous was truly blessed!
David was a man of God, yet he broke three of the ten commandments in his affair with Bathsheba – he coveted, he committed adultery, and he murdered. Nothing he could do with any human effort could make amends. He could not restore Bathsheba’s chastity. He could not bring life to her murdered husband. David learned what it meant to be justified by God; guilty and helpless, but yet declared righteous.
JUSTIFICATION IS FOR ALL.
God’s Word says (Romans 4:9-12 NIV) "Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. {10} Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! {11} And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. {12} And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised."
One beauty of justification is that it is for all who will believe. God does not discriminate. God justifies Jew and Gentile alike as they place their trust in Him.
Another beauty of justification is that there are no conditions tied to being declared righteous. Many try to place conditions upon salvation. The Jews of Paul’s day was placing a condition upon the conversion of Gentiles. Gentiles were placing their faith in Jesus. They were being saved and declared righteous by God. The Jews began to teach that they had to be circumcised to be saved. Paul argues here that Abraham was saved when he believed God’s promises and he was not circumcised until 14 years later.
THE LAW DOES NOT JUSTIFY.
God’s Word says (Romans 4:13-15 NIV) "It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. {14} For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, {15} because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression."
Always remember that the law was given to reveal that we are sinners and need a savior. The law does not save, it only reveals our sin. The speed sign does not help us not speed. The speed sign reveals that we are a law breaker when we go over the speed limit.
WE ARE DECLARED RIGHTEOUS THROUGH FAITH.
God’s Word says (Romans 4:16-22 NIV) "Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring--not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. {17} As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. {18} Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." {19} Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. {20} Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, {21} being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. {22} This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness.""
It’s all by faith. Justification is by faith. God declares us righteous as we place our total trust in Him. Verse 21 of Romans chapter four is probably the best definition of faith in the entire Bible – “being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”
God’s Word is full of promises to us. Faith is being fully persuaded that God has the power to do everything He has promised in His Word. That is why we choose to make the Word of God the authoritative guide for all of our beliefs and actions. It’s God’s promises to us. As we are fully persuaded that God has the power to accomplish everything He has promised, He credits it to us as righteousness! He declares us righteous!
Beloved, be fully persuaded that God is able! Cast out the sin of unbelief and be fully persuaded that God’s Word is truth and that it will all come to pass!
JUSTIFICATION IS BY RESURRECTION POWER.
God’s Word says (Romans 4:23-25 NIV) "The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, {24} but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. {25} He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification."
Beloved, you are justified by resurrection power! It’s not by human effort; it’s by resurrection power. You are declared righteous by resurrection power! You are saved by resurrection power! Praise be to God! Jesus died for our sins and God raised Him to life for our justification! The tomb is empty! Resurrection power is now resides in you. It has regenerated you! It has justified you! It is sanctifying you! Praise the Lord!
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