THE KING’S BUSINESS
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faith in God that Abraham had long before he was circumcised. Thus Paul lays all Jewish pretensions in the dust by showing that even the one in whom they made their boast was justified without being circum cised. It is incidentally suggested in this argument that baptism as a mere outward ordinance does not save, but is a seal of the salvation received by faith while one is still unbaptized. Saturday, June 23 . Rom. 4 : 13 - 17 . The promise which God ,made to Abra ham that he should be the heir of the world, was not made through the law, but through the righteousness that God imputed to him simply because he believed Him. If only those which were of the law should be the heirs the promise which was made to Abraham before the law was given at all would be made of no effect. The law, instead of bringing salvation, brings wrath. If the law were perfectly kept it would bring salvation, but the law never was per fectly kept by any man, and so the law brought the condemnation that comes from disobedience. Justification therefore, must come in some other way. It comes out of faith. God’s purpose in this was that it might be “according to grace,” If it had come by the law it would have come accord ing to merit. Coming through faith the promise is made to all of Abraham’s seed, that is, to all of those who are his descen dants, spiritual descendants as well as nat ural descendants, i.e., those who are “of the faith of Abraham.” .Abraham is father of all believers, not only of those who are his lineal descendants, but of those also who have his faith, of whatever nation they may come. The Old Testament Scriptures had themselves declared that Abraham must be the father, not only of the circumcised Jews; but Of many nations. Sunday, June 24 . Rom. 4 : 18 - 22 . Everyone should read the Revised Ver sion of this passage. It presents a won derful picture of true faith and its victory. God had promised Abraham that he would
“become a father of many nations.” This promise was contrary to all natural possi bilities. It was “beyond hope,” i.e., the laws and course of nature left no room .for hope. But Abraham rested upon a hope that was built upon God’s sure and unchangeable word, Abraham believed something beyond all hope that had regard to only natural probabilities or even natural possibilities. The result of his thus believ ing was that he became “a father of many nations.” This was just what had been promised, just what he believed, and there fore just what he obtained. Abraham did. not maintain his faith by turning away his eyes from the difficulties in the case; he looked square at all the difficulties in the case, “he considered his own body now as good as dead,” (R. V.) and he also consid ered the natural impossibility that arose from Sarah’s age and physical condition. As far as becoming the mother of children was concerned, she was as good as dead, naturally speaking. Abraham was not weakened at all in his faith by these things which he saw ; for, looking squarely at these things, he fixed his eyes upon some thing else, viz., God's promise. Because he looked at God’s promise, “he wavered not through unbelief.” The way to keep from wavering through unbelief is to keep our eyes steadfastly fixed on the promise of God. Dead bodies were nothing if God had said it, and God had. Here is the whole secret of triumphant faith, not to shut one’s eyes to difficulties or even apparent impossibilities, but to look right at these and then fix your eyes upon God’s promise and rest assured that what fie promises He is able to do. Because this was the kind of faith Abraham had, real faith, it was reckoned unto him for right eousness. Monday, June 25 . Rom. 4 : 23 - 25 . What is recorded in the Bible regarding Abraham s faith and his justification by faith was hot written merely for Abraham’s sake, nor merely for the sake of the Jew. It is written for our sakes, that we, too,
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