Grace and Works...Romans 4

Grace and Works…Romans 4 Posted on September 1, 2010 by billrandles Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.(Romans 4:4-5)

How was Abraham, the father of all who believe in the God of the Bible justified before God? Abraham did not work to earn right standing with God, it was given to him freely , by God himself.

“Abraham believed God and it was accounted to Him for Righteousness.”(Genesis 15:6)

Righteousness from God can only come by faith and as a gift of God offered in His grace.The simplest definition for the word ‘ grace’ is that gift which is given to the unworthy for no other reason than love, it is unmerited favor.God is gracious and abounds with mercy.

Abraham was an idolater, to whom God in grace, revealed Himself, and something of His purposes for humanity.Also in grace, was the fact that that purpose involved Abraham, he didn’t chose God, God chose him!

In response, Abraham “believed God”. Note it doesn’t say that “Abraham believed in God”, but that Abraham took God at His Word. It was this faith in God’s promise, that was “counted for Righteousness”.

Had Abraham had righteousness imputed to him on the basis of his works, law keeping, exemplary service or religious observance, the blessing of righteousness would have been a wage that God owed him. God cannot be indebted, though, he owes nothing to anyone , for ”by the works of the flesh can no flesh be justified in His sight”.

Abraham, the father of our faith, the model and type of all who would “believe unto righteousness”, is counted as ‘the one who works not’, for he did nothing to merit God’s blessing .God justified Abraham solely in grace.

This is the only possible way any can be saved. God has acted in grace,taking the initiative in love to save the ungodly ones. He has made a righteous way to justify the ungodly…(What a miracle!) , so long as they believe only in the gospel of His gracious salvation.

Should we be led to believe that we in any way have helped God, by good works, or any personal righteousness to commend ourselves to him, the Grace of God is diminished, the reward is no longer reckoned of Grace but of debt. No one can possibly put God in debt, He owes nothing to any of us.As it is written;

Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.(Isaiah 45:24-25)

As Paul had said earlier, that both Law and prophets testify of the gospel, and the above scripture is an example of that. Only in the Lord is righteousness attained, Israel justified, and can man glory.

True Abraham is credited by God with obedience, as a friend has pointed out to me,

And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.(Genesis 26:4-5)

But the promise was made without condition in Genesis 12. Abraham was justified in Genesis 15, the obedience occurred over the course of many years, but as a result of his justification, not as a cause of it.

Ever this is God’s pattern. He reveals himself to sinners, they believe in the gospel, by which he justifies them, and this results in a life of good works as an effect of this justification, not the cause.

Abraham found Grace, saving faith, resurrection, and eternal life, not by works but by faith in the gospel of God, who “justifies the ungodly."

Interestingly, both Abraham and Peter were "first called" and their names were both changed and they were both called "rock" which is a specially published Name of God in the Song of Moses.
– Matt 16:17-18
– Isaiah 51:1-2
– Deu 32:1-4
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. – 1 Cor 10:1-4
– Rev 15:2-4

God's Name is I AM.

Peter's name was changed to a diminutive derivative of the NAME "Rock", a NAME of YHvH.
Abram's name was added to with the breath of Elohim in the form of the Hebrew letter "Hey"
The letter "Hey" is known by the Rabbis as the breath of Elohim.
Both Abram and Sarai had their names changed with the Breath of Elohim in Genesis 17.
"Hey" as a suffix in Hebrew feminizes a name and allows it to be fruitful.
"Hey" is formed from Dalet and Yod, it can be a picture of returning to Elohim
by the transforming power of the "Spirit"
Dalet stands for brokenness and "Yod" stands for a hand.
Opening the door to the heart is a picture of Elohim's indwelling the believer.
I do not find Abraham named the Rock.

NAU Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM";
and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel,
'I AM has sent me to you.'"
"I AM is the first person singular of the the verb "to be"
To be used by YHvH himself only.
We on the other hand say HE IS or YHvH.
YHvH is the third person masculine singular of the same verb "to be"
Because of man-made traditions,
we have been blinded to the NAME YHvH;
it has been replaced in English with Lord or LORD
It is printed in the Hebrew text but Rabbinical Judaism
speaks the word Adonai as a spoken replacement for "HE IS" or YHvH.
The NAME of Elohim "YHvH" occurs somewhere between
6000 and 7000 times in the Hebrew text.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

Thank you for sharing your insights, dear Uri’el-2012!

"I AM is the first person singular of the the verb "to be" To be used by YHvH himself only.

I frequently say "God's Name is I AM" to share my joy and declare Him:

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I [am] the Almighty God [El Shaddai]; walk before me, and be thou perfect. - Genesis 17:1

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. – Exodus 3:14

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. - John 8:58

As soon then as he had said unto them, I am [he], they went backward, and fell to the ground. – John 18:6

Remember the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; [I am] God, and [there is] none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: - Isaiah 46:9-10

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. - Revelation 1:8

His Name comes alive to me in the above passages even when it is only implied (e.g. Gen 17:1) - but I do not expect everyone else to see what I see. On the other hand, I cannot contain my joy so I must declare Him.

His Name I AM answers all my deep questions about this life: Why does..." When will...? What are..."

I do not find Abraham named the Rock.

I see Abraham being called "rock" in the first passage below much like Peter is called "rock" in the second, i.e. they were firsts to be called of God:

Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock [whence] ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit [whence] ye are digged. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah [that] bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. – Isaiah 51:1-2

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. – Matt 16:17-18

But again, I do not expect everyone to see what I see.

To God be the glory, not man, never man.

I frequently say "God's Name is I AM" to share my joy and declare Him:

Do you distinguish between when the great "I AM" is describing His NAME
and when He uses the verb form to describe another of His attributes ?
How do you read :
NAU Exodus 3:15 God, furthermore, said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'YHvH, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.
NAU Exodus 6:3 and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, YHvH, I did not make Myself known to them.
NAU Isaiah 42:8 "I am YHvH, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images.
NAU Isaiah 52:5 "Now therefore, what do I have here," declares YHvH, "seeing that My people have been taken away without cause?" Again YHvH declares, "Those who rule over them howl, and My name is continually blasphemed all day long.
NAU Jeremiah 7:11 "Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I, even I, have seen it," declares YHvH.
NAU Jeremiah 7:30 "For the sons of Judah have done that which is evil in My sight," declares YHvH, "they have set their detestable things in the house which is called by My name, to defile it.
NAU Jeremiah 12:16 "Then if they will really learn the ways of My people, to swear by My name, 'As YHvH lives,' even as they taught My people to swear by Baal, they will be built up in the midst of My people.
NAU Jeremiah 14:14 Then YHvH said to me, "The prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name. I have neither sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them; they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility and the deception of their own minds.
NAU Jeremiah 14:15 "Therefore thus says YHvH concerning the prophets who are prophesying in My name, although it was not I who sent them-- yet they keep saying, 'There will be no sword or famine in this land '-- by sword and famine those prophets shall meet their end!
NAU Jeremiah 16:21 "Therefore behold, I am going to make them know-- This time I will make them know My power and My might; And they shall know that My name is YHvH."
NAU Jeremiah 25:29 "For behold, I am beginning to work calamity in this city which is called by My name, and shall you be completely free from punishment? You will not be free from punishment; for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth," declares YHvH of hosts.'
NAU Jeremiah 27:15 for I have not sent them," declares YHvH, "but they prophesy falsely in My name, in order that I may drive you out and that you may perish, you and the prophets who prophesy to you."
NAU Jeremiah 29:9 'For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them,' declares YHvH.
NAU Jeremiah 29:21 "Thus says YHvH of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah and concerning Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying to you falsely in My name, 'Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will slay them before your eyes.
NAU Jeremiah 29:23 because they have acted foolishly in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives and have spoken words in My name falsely, which I did not command them; and I am He who knows and am a witness," declares YHvH.'"
NAU Jeremiah 44:26 "Nevertheless hear the word of YHvH, all Judah who are living in the land of Egypt, 'Behold, I have sworn by My great name,' says YHvH, 'never shall My name be invoked again by the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, "As YHvH GOD lives."
NAU Amos 9:12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom And all the nations who are called by My name," Declares YHvH who does this.
NAU Zechariah 5:4 "I will make it go forth," declares YHvH of hosts, "and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name; and it will spend the night within that house and consume it with its timber and stones."
NAU Zechariah 13:9 "And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, 'They are My people,' And they will say, 'YHvH is my God.'"
NAU Malachi 1:6 "'A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?' says YHvH of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, 'How have we despised Your name?'
NAU Malachi 1:11 "For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations," says YHvH of hosts.
NAU Malachi 1:14 "But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to YHvH, for I am a great King," says YHvH of hosts, "and My name is feared among the nations."
NAU Malachi 2:2 "If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name," says YHvH of hosts, "then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.
NAU Malachi 2:4 "Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may continue with Levi," says YHvH of hosts.
NAU Malachi 2:5 "My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me and stood in awe of My name.
NAU Malachi 4:2 "But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.
NAU Malachi 4:3 "You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says YHvH of hosts.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

Thank you so much for those beautiful Scriptures, dear Uri’el-2012! I just love to read and talk about the Names of God!

Do you distinguish between when the great "I AM" is describing His NAME and when He uses the verb form to describe another of His attributes ?

It's Spiritual discernment, not my studying the text. Sometimes He focuses me on His Name I AM even when it is implied or incidental to the sentence. For instance,

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. - Revelation 1:8

And again,

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I [am] the Almighty God [El Shaddai]; walk before me, and be thou perfect. - Genesis 17:1

Another example of Spiritual discernment concerning the Name of God:

Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. –I Corinthians 12:3

To God be the glory, not man, never man!

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