Some Key Words (7/15/00-7/16/00)

Promise (epaggelia [1860]):

to declare upon, report upon, a legal term denoting a summons or a promise to do or give something, used of God's promises, the thing promised, a gift graciously given as opposed to a negotiated pledge; announcement, promise, a promise given or to be given, a promised blessing; an announcement for information, assent or pledge, especially a divine assurance of good

Heir (kleronomos [2818]):

one who has a lot, one who has something in one's power, an inheritor, or an inheritance divided by lot; one who receives by lot, an heir, one who receives his allotted possession by right of sonship, one who has acquired the portion allotted to him; one who gets by apportionment, a sharer by lot, inheritor, possessor

Righteousness (dikaiosune [1343]):

the essence of that which is just, that which fulfills the claims of God, as the higher authority, conformity with the claims of higher authority, the state commanded by God, conformity to all He commands, God's uprightness, God's standard, God's right upon man; the state of one who is as he ought to be, the condition acceptable to God, the doctrine of the means of attaining God's approval, integrity, correctness of thinking, feeling, and acting; equity of character or act, Christian justification

Faith (pistis [4102]):

being persuaded, belief - implying knowledge of, assent to, and confidence in the divine truths of the Gospel leading to good works, knowledge without the works - false faith, miraculous faith, faith in Christ accompanied by the working of miracles, the doctrine of faith, Christian religion, fidelity, assurance, proof; conviction of the truth of a thing, belief regarding God and divine things - with the idea of trust and holy fervor accompanying, the conviction that God exists as creator and ruler of all things and provider of salvation through Christ, the conviction that Jesus is the promised Messiah, through whom comes salvation in God's kingdom, Christian beliefs, fidelity, the character of one who can be relied on; persuasion, moral conviction of religious truth, reliance upon Christ for salvation, constancy in profession of the same, the system of Gospel truth

Made void (kenoo [2758]):

to make empty, to bring to naught, not accomplishing what one set out to accomplish, vain; to deprive of force, render vain or useless, to cause a thing to be seen to be empty, hollow, or false; to abase, neutralize, falsify

Nullified (katargeo [2673]):

to make to cease, to abrogate, make void, do away with, a complete non-temporary ceasing; to render idle or inoperative, to cause to have no further efficiency, to deprive of force, to put an end to, do away with, abolish, to cease, be done away, to be severed from anyone, to terminate all intercourse with one; to be or render entirely idle and useless

Wrath (orge [3709]):

anger as a state of mind as opposed to a revengeful outburst of such a state of mind, the desire to punish one who has hurt us in a wrongful manner, the effect of anger - punishment; anger as a natural disposition, temper, or character, agitation of the soul, any violent emotion - especially anger, indignation, anger exhibited in punishment; desire - as an excitement of the mind, violent passion, ire, justifiable abhorrence, punishment

Violation (parabasis [3847]):

an excessive act, a transgression, a more serious transgression than sin [266]; a going over, a disregarding, violating, disregard for Mosaic law, the breach of a definite law, to create transgressions, to intensify the issue of sin and so arouse a desire for redemption; violation

In accordance with (kata [2596]):

down from, down upon, down in, motion from a higher to a lower place, upon towards, through, of, throughout, that toward which a thing tends, in respect to, near or adjacent to, pervading all parts of the whole, because of, for, by, in accordance with, in respect to, similar to, after the manner of, by way of; down from, throughout, according to, toward, along; down in place or time

Grace (charis [5485]):

a favor done without expectation of return, absolute freeness of God's lovingkindness to men, unearned and unmerited favor, that which brings joy and thankfulness; that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, grace of speech, good will, favor, God's merciful kindness in turning us to Christ and keeping us in faith, knowledge, and affection, the spiritual condition of one governed by divine power, the proof of grace, a gift of grace, benefit, thanks, a recompense, a reward; graciousness of manner or act, the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life

Guaranteed (bebaios [949]):

fixed, certain, that upon which one may rely or trust, used of objects rather than people, that which does not waver, immovable, that on which one may rely; stable, fast, firm, sure, trusty; stable

Presence (katenanti [2713]):

over against, opposite, before, before the judge

Gives life (zoopoieo [2227]):

to make alive, vivify, to raise the dead to life; to produce alive, bear living young, to cause to live, make alive, give life, to invigorate by spiritual power, to restore life, to give increase of life, to quicken the spirit, endue with greater powers of life, germination and growing; revitalize

Dead (nekros [3498]):

dead - naturally or spiritually, separated from God's grace, having one's soul separated from the influences of divine light and spirit, having no hope of life eternal; lifeless, deceased, departed, destitute of life, inanimate, spiritually dead, destitute of recognition and devotion to God, because of sins, inactive in doing right, inactive, inoperative; literally or figuratively dead

Calls (kaleo [2564]):

call, invite, name, to be called by name; to call aloud, to invite, to call by name, to give name to, to receive as a name, to give name to, to bear a title, to salute by name; to call aloud

Exist (on [5607]):

being; from (eimi [1510]): to be, exist, have existence, to happen; to be present; I exist

 

Paraphrase: (7/14/00)

13 The promise made to Abraham and renewed with his descendants, to be heirs of the world, was not made through the Law, but through the righteousness that comes of faith. 14 After all, if the inheritance came by the Law, then faith is made empty, and the promise is cancelled; 15 because the Law brings only the wrath of judgement, whereas without law, there can be no violation to judge. 16 So we see that it must be by faith joined to God's grace that the promise is assured to all descendants, not only those of the Law, but those who are sons of Abraham by way of their faith. For Abraham is father of us all, 17 just as it was said "I have made you father of many nations." He is father in God's sight, in whom he believed. It is God who gives life to the dead. It is God who creates that which now exists from that which did not exist.

Key Verse: (7/14/00)

4:16 - Righteousness comes by faith - in tune with grace - to all who come by that faith and grace to God.

Thematic Relevance: (7/14/00)	God's promise is to all the descendants of Abraham, all who come in faith to Christ.
Doctrinal Relevance: (7/14/00)	Faith and grace are the means to righteousness. Grace is from God, and faith is from grace, so our righteousness is from God, not from ourselves. God is the creator of all life. He is the only One who has made anything from nonexistence.
Moral Relevance: (7/14/00)	We must come in simple faith. All too often, we try to come before God with our efforts displayed, as though they would somehow commend us to Him. But our righteousness, our efforts are as filthy rags. Only His righteousness upon us commends us to Him.
Questions Raised: (7/14/00)	Do I come to God by simple faith?

People Mentioned: (7/14/00)

Abraham

see III.G.1

 

Some Parallel Verses (7/16/00)

4:13

Ro 9:8 - Fleshly lineage does not determine heritage, but rather the lineage of promise. Gal 3:16 - These promises were spoken to Abraham and his one seed: Christ. Gal 3:29 - As Christ's possession, we become Abraham's offspring, and thus heirs to the promise. Ge 17:4-6 - Abram's name is changed to Abraham, as God declares he will be the father of many nations and kings. Ge 22:17-18 - Abraham's descendants shall be beyond counting, and shall be a blessing to all the nations.

4:14

Gal 3:18 - If our inheritance is by law, then it can't be by promise, but God granted it to Abraham by promise.

4:15

Ro 7:7 - Without the Law, we wouldn't recognize sin for what it is. Ro 7:10 - The Law serves to make sin sinful to us. 1Co 15:56 - Sin brings death, and it's power is the law. Gal 3:10 - All who come to God by works of the Law are under a curse, for none has fully abided in the Law and done all it commands. Ro 3:20 - Nobody is ever justified by the Law, for it serves to bring knowledge of sin [- in a way that serves to show us our true situation without Christ.]

4:16

Ro 3:24 - Our justification is a gift of His grace. Ro 9:8 - the children of the promise are chosen as Abraham's descendants. [This both eliminates some who are of his fleshly lineage, and adds those who are of like faith.] Ro 15:8 - Christ came to help the Jews understand the truth of God's promise to Abraham. Gal 3:7 - Abraham's sons are those who share his faith in God. Lk 19:9 - Salvation came to Zaccheus and his house because he showed himself a son of Abraham by faith.

4:17

Ge 17:5 - Abram becomes Abraham - the father of a multitude of nations. Jn 5:21 - As the Father, so the Son: giving life to whom he will, reviving the dead. Is 48:13 - God's hand made the earth and the heavens, and together they stand at His call. Is 51:2 - To Abraham and Sarah, God declared a multitude of offspring to come, although the natural would say it was not to be. 1Co 1:28 - God chooses that which doesn't yet exist to nullify those things that do exist.

 

New Thoughts (7/17/00)

There's that nagging question, again...do I come to Him in simple faith? Or do I think there's something to recommend me in the things I do? I cannot help but think that at least in part, I still haven't quite come to recognizing my best efforts as worthless. And, in truth, they aren't worthless. They just have no power to enhance my position before Ha Kadosh. They can't make me holy. They can't even make me better than I was before. But we are called to work for His kingdom. We are called to put forth great effort. Ge 3:19 says that we will eat bread by the sweat of our face. His Word is our bread! If we won't put forth the effort to be in that Word, with the Holy Spirit guiding us; to dig in and understand His Word, then we will be spiritually starved. James tells us that our faith must show itself in works, not because it's some legal clause, but because real faith can't help but do the work of the Father. Why do I worship? Truth be told, it's in part because I love music, plain and simple. But there are other factors. It's an opportunity to offer something of myself to God. It's an opportunity to recognize that it wasn't "of myself" at all, but rather allowing my will to submit to His will, and bring His own praises out of my meager talents. It's an opportunity for me to recognize how hard even that small step is to take. Why do I practice in preparation for worship? Because, if I am to give God anything, I want to give Him the best I can offer; if I am to provide myself to Him to play through me, I want to give him a capable instrument to play. Why do I find myself wanting to put these studies out on the Web? Is it because it will somehow commend me to others? Show them what a sharp thinker I am, how Spirit led? May it never be! God has built this hunger to study to new heights in me. He has given me tools to dig deep and long in the gold mine of His Word. He has had in me the burning and aching desire to do something with what He's been giving me, to take this gift and use it for something. This seems to my thinking, to be the direction He's heading me in.

So, God, I pray that You guide me firmly and truly in the direction You want me to go. Father, if one other of Your children is brought to a deeper life in You, a stronger foundation on the Rock of Your Word, then this is the right way. But, Lord, if this causes any change in the openness of the conversations we have had across these pages, then I would not have it so. I feel You directing me not to omit these more private sections, to share these studies in a transparent way. You are wise beyond knowing, my Father. Would that You find some use in these pages, that You make them fruitful as You send them out through these electronic means. And, Lord, don't stop working on me. Don't stop walking with me in this closeness we have discovered here.