ADDRESSES ON ROMANS c \ "Boasting excluded, pride I abase; I'm only a sinner saved by grace," TWO OLD TESTAMENT ILLUSTRATIONS OF REDEMPTION 4: 1~25 Let us remember that Rom. 3:21~4:25 forms one logical division of the epistle; therefore, in chapter f~ur, with .'lo break in the thought, Paul follows up the theme of the right~ eousness of God as revealed in Christ Jesus with two Old Testament illustrations. He presents Ab'raham and David as examples of the truth that justification apart from works of any kind has been God's method of saving sir.ners from the beginning. Both of these men were declared righteous, and Paul shows that the way they were made righteous is the same way we are justified. Let us remember that many of the Roman Christians were Jews, and that many of them did not fully understand the Old Testament Scriptures. They neglected to study, just as many Christians do today. Because of their ignorance of the Scriptures, some of the things Paul wrote sounded very strange to them. For example, since boasting was excluded, what about Abraham? He was the great progenitor of Israel. What about David, the man after God's own heart? Surely these had whereof to boast! But no, Paul continues; Abraham and David believed what they foresaw, and they saw what God was going to do for them. They believed, and God counted it unto them for righteousness. Abraham and David and all the Old Testament saints were justified before God because they put their faith in the promised Messiah of Israel and Saviour of the world. The Lord Himself said to the unbelieving Jews, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad" (John 8:56). Abraham and David were sinners like you and me, but by faith they foresaw Christ's day; they Page 58]
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