May 23, 2023 – Tuesday
Romans 4:23-24 NIV
23 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.
Comments
Monday we looked first at verse 17, 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 into being things that were not. We noted, because of his faith, his belief, he was made a father of many nations. Then we next looked at verse 18, 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.”
The next three verses lead us toward our verses for today, 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. Here Paul gives us the reason for Against all hope in verse 18 and also how his faith, his belief persevered. That belief was so great his faith did not waver regarding the promise of God, and somehow, someway, he was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God when there was yet no child. Why was that? Because he was fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
Then immediately following this Paul writes, 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” If Paul had been teaching this in a class, I could imagine him slamming his hand on the desk making sure he had the classes attention because of what was to follow. Our verses for today, 23 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. And then I imagine Paul crossing his arms over his chest and repeating very solemnly those verses once again, 23 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.
Paul would then walk behind his desk, lean forward with his hands on the desk and gazing intently at the class asking, “Are you listening?” And then conclude with the last verse of this chapter, 25 He [Jesus] was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. And thus, we can now understand the words, 23 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. All because Jesus was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.Our justification!
Bottom Line: This is one of most succinct sermons I have ever read. Where Paul shares the Gospel through Abraham’s story by linking it so closely to Jesus dying for our sins and resurrected for our justification. We do not know how Abram came to believe initially, but we surely have many much greater reasons to believe.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for giving Paul the words to teach us and make so clear to us how we are to believe and grow in faith. Abram, then Abraham persevered, and Paul persevered. Help us to persevere in our faith and belief as well. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.,
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek