Romans 4: Heart and Key to the Two Covenants by Dr. Thomas Chung dated 25.6.17

This is a technical chapter where Paul uses legal, accountancy and banking languages.

This chapter is also about spiritual logic, a phrase coined by theologian Dallas Willard. 

Essence of Old and New Covenants

-Old covenant - justification through obedience to the law

-New covenant – justification and righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ (saved by Grace)

Note – John 1:14, John 1:17

Three parts:

(1) Justification by Faith ( vs 1 – 15)

(2) The Grace of God ( in both OT and NT)  ( vs 16 – 22)

(3) Forgiveness of sin through the cross and resurrection – Salvation ( vs 23-25)

Birth of the Nation of God’s people (the kingdom of God) resulted from the faith of one man – Abraham . Romans 4:13, 16

Jesus said ( in this context) :

    “Fear not,little flock, for it is your Father’s good

     pleasure to give you the kingdom” ( Luke 12:32)

To His disciples : “…you will eat and drink with me at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel “(Luke 22:30)

1: Justification by Faith ( vs 1 – 15)

-( as illustrated in the life of Abraham)

-(a) Key Words ( technical terms)

-(i) Reckoned ( RSV) – used in court

-(ii) Counted ( KJV) – accountancy

-( iii) Credited ( Jewish New Testament) – used in banks

All three words say the same thing in three different ways

-Reckoned – in a court of Law means to be considered, declared “ not guilty” by the judge

-Counted – language of accounting,

     in spiritual terms – your sins are forgiven- your

     account book in heaven still has credit

-Credited – language of banking , spiritually Jesus has paid the penalty for my sin. The blood of Jesus washes away my sin and my debt. ( 1 John 1:7)

-Abraham was the father and pioneer of justification by faith

-(i) Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness ( v3)

-Abraham was the first recipient of God’s grace (unmerited favor) . God chose him and blessed him

      ( because of his faith)

-(ii)David also understood the true meaning of Grace

     ( because he believed and trusted God)

-“ Blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not reckon his sin. “ ( v8)

2: The Grace of God ( vs 16 - 22)

-(i) Faith opens the door for Grace to do its work to set us free from guilt and condemnation ( Romans 8: 1-4)

-(ii) Faith also opens the door , through Grace, for us to be ‘born again’ of God’s spirit

-(iii) God’s spirit can now do  the work of transformation, making us more like Jesus.

-(iv) My legacy is now God Himself and God has also made us His legacy ( Ephesians 1: 18 ,19)

3. The Power of the Cross and Resurrection ( vs 23-25)

-“It will be reckoned ( credited, counted) to us who believe in Him who was raised from the dead…who was put to death for our sins and raised for our justification “ (v24)

-Saved, Justified, Glorified

“ Grace also might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”

 ( Romans 5:21)