Romans 4 Class Notes

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TLC Women’s Bible Study Romans 4 Paul Spurlock 2/13/18

Chapter 4 Notes & Commentary To a Jew, the phrase “the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms” would be a common way to refer to the whole of the Old Testament (OT). Drawing classic examples from all three of those major sections (one in chapter 1 and now the final two here), Paul now builds upon his theme of “the righteous living by faith [-fulness to Jesus]” in a manner that can only be described as masterful! His goal is to demonstrate to his Jewish brethren that salvation by faith is not new—it’s been in their Hebrew Old Testament Scriptures all along! 4:1-3 Beginning with a book from the Law / Torah (1st 5 books of the OT), Paul cites Genesis 15:6 which tells us that “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” So then, a book from the Law agrees that salvation is by faith. Paul agrees with the Law. Check. 4:5 Some may say “That’s o.k. for Abraham (justified by faith), but he’s pre-Mosaic Covenant.” So Next Paul goes to the Psalms (32) to demonstrate grace through faith that David received. How so? David lived during the age of the Mosaic Covenant. And watch this: nowhere in the psalm (or any other Scripture) does David offer a Law-commanded sacrifice for his sins. And he could not have done so even if he wanted to do so. That’s because no sacrifices existed for murder or adultery—the Law commanded the death sentence—so David couldn’t satisfy the Law. In the end David did not nor could not rely on the Law at all! He was forgiven by grace through Faith! So then, the Psalms—and king David for that matter —agree with salvation through faith. Check. As for the Prophets aspect of his trifecta, Paul has already established that at 1:17 where he quoted from the prophet Habakkuk: “But the righteous man shall live by faith” (2:4). The Prophets. Check. Some may have still been looking for a hole in Paul’s argument (so as to argue that justification was not by faith but by continuing to keep the Law). For example: “But Abraham was circumcised! David too! “So circumcision is still required!” Well, in fact, Abraham received justification while not-yet circumcised! (ch. 15). He was not circumcised until roughly thirteen years later (ch. 17), when his name was changed from “Abram” (“lofty father”) to “Abraham” (“father of nations”), signifying the inauguration of the Abrahamic Covenant. And by way of review, Paul had already echoed Deuteronomy 30:6 (a remarkable text showing that circumcision was always mostly about the heart—even in the OT(!)) by stating at Romans 2:29 “…that he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit….” 4:13 “steps of faith” suggests just that, that we grow in steps, over a life time. Popular prophecy teachers focus intensely on the land of Israel / Palestine due to their understanding of the Abrahamic Covenant (which included land promises—e.g. Gen. 17:7-8) to Abraham and his descendants. But here Paul indicates that the descendants are actually “heir[s] of the world” (& not merely the tiny land of Israel)! In Galatians 3:29 Paul makes clear what an ultimate “descendant” is: “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants.” Matthew 5:5 says “the meek” (or “gentle” aka Christians) will “inherit the land / earth.” The universal-sounding descriptions of the new heaven and new earth in chapters 21-22 in Revelation suggests Christians eventually inherit the whole cosmos!

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4:15 “Law brings about wrath” = the Law reveals sin. “no violation” doesn’t mean that committing evil deeds isn’t possible, but that now offenses are named and adjudicated. 4:16-18 Paul reiterates that Abraham is both the literal “father of many nations” (“many nations” = “ethné” from which get “ethnicity”), but also the spiritual father of “us all” “who are of the faith.” 4:19-24 An example of Paul’s typical use/meaning of “dead” (“as good as dead” here) may, but does not necessarily, support the Calvinist interpretation (“dead” meaning total lifelessness). Paul’s meaning here & elsewhere does not suggest that anything was earned via works, but neither total lifelessness: —Romans 8:10-11 “body is dead” & “life to your mortal bodies” (means lost without Christ but not totally lifeless). —Those who were once “dead in trespasses & sins” (Eph. 2:1) were “alive” enough to hear the gospel and respond—not by behaviors that earn justification—but in faith. —Hebrews 11:11-12 describes Abraham “as good as dead” though quite literally, he was not. 4:25 That Christ was “raised” provides a solid, credible, evidential basis on which we can trust that we can indeed be forgiven and justified before a death-defeating God—because He really exists! Jesus’ resurrection is everything! Concerning it, St. Paul shares these incredibly inspiring words from 1 Corinthians 15:50-58… Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.  Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

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Class Small Group (around the tables) Questions: 1. What are the three major portions of the OT that Paul draws from to make his case that the gospel is not really new, that it’s been in the Jewish Scriptures all along!? Why is this so profound & strategic in persuading his fellow Jews that the gospel wasn’t about the Law but about grace? 2. What is the revolutionary meaning of Romans 2:29?: “…that he (or she) is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit….” 3. Part of the “the promise to Abraham” (4:13) was the land of Israel / Palestine. It was part of a sort of “package deal” that included: -“the land as an everlasting possession.” -“I will greatly increase your numbers... and I will make you into a great nation.” -“an everlasting covenant to be your God and the God of your descendants.” -“all people of the earth will be blessed through you.”

But in light of the land serving ultimately as “type” (foreshadow1) of a later & greater fulfillment (being in Christ as opposed to merely being in the land), do you think popular prophecy teachers have missed the point with so much focus on the literal present-day land of the state of Israel? For insight into the ultimate fulfillment of these promises and more, view the chart to follow. Do you see how initial individuals, religious practices and even places served as “types” that are ultimately fulfilled in Jesus? The following are major “types” in the OT and their N T fulfillment through & in Christ: OT type (primarily literal & physical)

NT fulfillment (greater & primarily spiritual)

1st Adam (physical father of all) Abraham (physical blessings to descendants) Isaac (an only son offered in sacrifice) Cov. of Circumcision (physically & lit.-Gen. 17) Jacob/Israel (literal father of chosen nation) Joseph (rejected; physical savior of people) Moses (savior of people; passover lamb) Exodus (saved from physical slavery) Manna (physical food for God’s people) Snake on a stick (salvation for all who look upon) Atoning animal sacrifices for sins Joshua & Judges (physical deliverers of Israel) Ruth “redeemed” by Boaz (he paid for her) Temple/Tabernacle (domain of God’s presence) Tithe (literally had to give 10% to offering) Being in the land of Israel = physical blessings Land of Israel was literally to Abe’s descendants Sabbath rest (physical “lasting ordinance”) Salvation (primarily = restoration to land)

“2nd Adam”/Christ (spiritual father of all who believe) Jesus (spiritual blessings to all in Christ) Jesus (God’s only Son offered in sacrifice) “Circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit”(Rom. 2:28-9) Jesus (spiritual head of the nation of all believers) Jesus (rejected by own; savior of all in Him) Jesus (physical & spiritual savior; Lamb of God) Jesus (saves us from spiritual slavery) Jesus (spiritual food for His children) Jesus on cross (salvation for all who trust upon) Jesus the ultimate atoning sacrifice for sins Jesus (deliverer of new people of God) Jesus (paid debt of sin to spiritually redeem us) “Temple” (in NT is now “Body of Christ”/Church) Tithe obsolete; now give all to Jesus we desire/can! Being “Israel of God”/“in Christ” = spiritual blessing “Israel of God” now the point (& receive all cosmos) “Sabbath rest” = lasting salv. in Christ (Heb. 4:8-11) Salvation = restoration to heavenly Father via Jesus

4. Why is a literal & physical resurrection so critically important for Christianity to be true?

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Here’s a mental picture helpful in understanding what a “type” is: picture the relationship between a cake mold and the finished product, a cake. Old Testament / Old Covenant types are the cake mold. The New Testament / New Covenant is the cake, the ultimate intent & fulfillment (e.g. animal sacrifices are moot because the ultimate sacrifice they were a type for—Jesus— ultimately fulfills the need for a sacrifice for our sins). This is why, other than forever-relevant morals, the civic & ceremonial commands of the Old Covenant are obsolete for us in the New Covenant.

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