Romans 4:3  – ^“For what does the scripture say?  “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

The story of Abraham and Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian bondage is fascinating.  In Exodus 12:7, we have God’s directive, “Take some of the blood (of the slain lamb) and put it on the two door posts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it (the sacrificial lamb).”

The blood marked them and kept them.   They had to have Faith in God and His promises.   They had to act on that Faith in obedience.   Paul recounted Abraham’s faith journey in Romans 4 and, in verse 3, declares, “Abraham believed God.”   It began in Faith, and the result of His believing his faith-filled obedience was viewed by God as righteousness.   Faith acts in loving obedience and is motivated to do what is right while shunning evil.

Romans 4:13-25 provides an incredible revelation.  God’s promise was to give Sarah a son.  Their bodies had become reproductively non-functional.  Abraham contemplated that.  He realized the impossibility of the Promise.  In the natural, it was impossible.   Then verse 20, “YET, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God.”

That is incredible!   He knew that the promise was naturally impossible.  YET… Yet?  He weighed his physical incapability against God’s capability and chose God’s promise over his own ability.   Faith!

Romans 4:21 – “And being FULLY ASSURED that what God has promised, He (God) was able to also do.”   In verse 20, we are reminded that he GREW STRONG IN FAITH.  How?  He contemplated his and Sarah’s bodies’ non-functionality and God’s inability to fail.  He kept reminding himself of who God was and trusted Him totally.

It is this kind of trusting, obedient faith that Paul is referring to in Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” Then in verse 2, “through whom (Jesus), also we obtained our introduction by Faith into this Grace in which we stand…”

In Romans 6, we see the power of this faith.   In verse 2, Paul asks, “How shall we who died (by faith) to sin still live in it?”   Faith produces a change on the inside, which is reflected in a changed life!

In verses 4-11, we see the evidence and results of this newness by faith.  Faith and total surrendered obedience in submission produce a life of demonstrated righteousness that introduces us to this storehouse of grace!

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

It begins and ends with the blood of the Lamb by faith that brings us grace!   If we have died to ourselves by surrendering to Him, we live free from sin’s power to control.   If we truly see Him and what He offers, sin has no power, and as we contemplate the contrast between our ability and His, we know the truth that liberates and empowers us to live free!

Jesus offers freedom.  Faith is the key, and grace is the vehicle to get us there!  You are free, so live free!

LORD, help us to have Faith, not faith in faith, but faith in You!