Chapter 4 - Faith Works
Jul 17th, 2008 by Neil
Based on Paul describing in chapter 1, describing what the decrepit condition of man looks like without a relationship with God; And that in Chapter 2 he reminds us that not meeting God’s standards is not confined to those who don’t believe in God and the problem is universal; and that in chapter 3 he affirms that all have sinned that all will die and there is none good, not even one the question is raised then “How CAN we be justified before God?”
The progression is logical and systematic… by faith, not by works. That’s how Abraham did it, that’s how his kids did it, that’s how we do it.
4:1-8 We are Justified by Faith, not by Works
4:9-12 We are Justified by Faith, not by performance
4:13-17 We are Justified by Faith, not by DNA
4:18-22 We are Justified by Faith, not by what we see
4:23-25 It is God who credits righteousness