And yet again I am deviating from my norm by looking at Romans 4 (ESV) as it relates to our acquiring a new or renewed mind. In the margin of this chapter, I have written Redemption and Justification as our new nature of GODS Character restored within us all. I will in all possibility interrupt with what is inspiration as I have done over the years of this blogs history. And even more so with the new "Mirror Study Bible's" addition to my collection of the external word. As it confirms what I have been sharing though in slightly different language but the same thing none the less, as the Word within us all is expressed by us as we are known.
Romans 4:1-8, 9-12, 13-15, 16-25; 5:1 "What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture (of Genesis 15:6 which states that he believed GOD!) say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom GOD counts righteousness apart from works (of the Law in Psalm 32:1-2): "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the LORD will not count his sin."
Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised (while a gentile). He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
The Promise Realized Through Faith
For the promise to Abram, Abraham, (Where "ha" was added by GOD to indicate the change in both Sara and Abram, this being of Yehovah's [Jehovah's] faith) and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the (Mosaic) Law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the (Mosaic) Law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the Law brings wrath, but where there is no (Mosaic) Law there is no transgression.
That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the Law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written (in Genesis 17:5), "I have made you the father of many nations"—in the presence of the GOD in Whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence (that which is not yet seen) the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarai, Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of GOD, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to GOD, being fully convinced that GOD was able to do what HE had promised. That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in Him Who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification."
This equates to this equation; His cross = our sins, His Resurrection = our innocence, His death brought closure to our fallen nature and worldly mindset; His resurrection is proof of our redeemed righteousness!
Romans 5:1 "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Another translation to this could be: The conclusion is clear: our righteousness has absolutely nothing to do with our ability to keep moral laws; it is the immediate result of what Jesus accomplished on humanity's behalf. This gives context to faith and finds expression in unhindered, face to face friendship with GOD! Jesus as the Christ (our own image and likeness awakened) is Head of this union!
The LORD willing I will look into GOD as our Divine Teacher next time.
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