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Faith over Works | Romans 4 Unpacked (July 17) · 1 Year Audio Bible Podcast

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Paul asks some piercing questions in Romans chapter 4, and we're going to
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unpack those questions today. He asks, was Abraham justified by works, by obeying
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the law? Or was he justified and called righteous because of his faith in God
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and in his promises? And is this salvation, this blessedness that comes
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from the God, is it for Jews only? Or is it also for the Gentiles? How was this
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salvation reckoned? How did it come apart? These are the questions we'll be looking
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at today. Join us. Welcome to the One Year Audio Bible Podcast. Today is July 17th.
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Now let's continue our journey reading through the entire Bible in one year. This
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week we are reading from the Israel Bible for the Old Testament, also known
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as the Hebrew Scriptures, and from the King James for the New Testament, or the
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Apostolic Writings. Numbers 24, 13 to 25.
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And now, as I go back to my people, let me inform you of what this people will do
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to your people in days to come. He took up his theme and said,
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A star rises from Jacob. A scepter comes forth from Israel. It smashes the brow of Moab,
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the foundation of all children of Sheth. Edom becomes a possession. Yes,
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Seir, a possession of its enemies. But Israel is triumphant. A victor issues
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from Jacob to wipe out what is left of Ur. He saw Amalek, and taking up his theme,
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he said, A leading nation is Amalek, but its fate is to perish forever. He saw the
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Kenites, and taking up his theme, he said, Though your abode be secure and your nest
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be set among cliffs, yet shall Cain be consumed when Assyria takes you captive.
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He took up his theme and said, Alas, who can survive except Hashem has willed it?
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Ships come from the quarter of Kittim. They subject Assyria and subject Eber.
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They too shall perish forever. Then Balaam set out on his journey back home,
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and Balak also went his way.
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1 Chronicles 24 1-26 11
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The divisions of the Aaronites were the sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu,
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Eleazar and Itamar. Nadab and Abihu died in the lifetime of their father,
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and they had no children, so Eleazar and Itamar served as Kohanim.
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David, Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Itamar
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divided them into offices by their tasks. The sons of Eleazar turned out to be
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more numerous by male heads than the sons of Itamar, so they divided the sons of
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Eleazar into sixteen chiefs of clans and the sons of Itamar into eight clans.
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They divided them by lot, both on an equal footing, since they were all
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sanctuary officers and officers of Hashem, the sons of Eleazar and the sons of
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Itamar. Shemaiah, son of Nathanael, the scribe who was of the Leviim,
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registered them under the eye of the king, the officers, and Zadok, the Kohen,
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and Ahimelech, the son of Yartar, and the chiefs of clans of the Kohanim and Leviim,
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one clan more taken for Eleazar for each one taken of Itamar. The first lot fell
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on Jehorib, the second on Jediah, the third on Haram, the fourth on Soreim,
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the fifth on Melkijah, the sixth on Majamim, the seventh on Hakaz, the eighth
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on Aviyah, the ninth on Yeshua, the tenth on Shekaniah, the eleventh on El-Yashiv,
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the twelfth on Jachim, the thirteenth on Hupa, the fourteenth on Jashielbeb,
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the fifteenth on Bilgah, the sixteenth on Emer, the seventeenth on Hezer,
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the eighteenth on Hapezez, the nineteenth on Pethahiah, the twentieth on Jekeziel,
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the twenty-first on Jachin, the twenty-second on Gamal, the twenty-third on Deliah,
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the twenty-fourth on Meziah. According to this allocation of offices by tasks,
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they were to enter the house of Hashem as was laid down for them by Aaron their father,
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as God of Israel had commanded him. The remaining Leviim, the sons of Amram,
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Shubail, the sons of Shubail, Jediah, Rehobiah, the sons of Rehobiah,
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Isaiah, the chief, Izharites, Shelomoth, the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath,
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Ambanai, Jeriah, the second, Amariah, the third, Jehasiel, the fourth, Jekamim,
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the sons of Uziel, Micah, the sons of Micah, Shamir, the brother of Micah,
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Ishiah, the sons of Ishiah, Zechariah, the sons of Merari, Mali, and Mushi,
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the sons of Jeziah, his son, the sons of Merari by Jeziah, his son,
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Shoham, Zechar, and Ebri, Mali, Eleazar, he had no sons, Kish, the sons of Kish,
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Jeremiel, the sons of Mushi, Mali, Eder, and Jeremah,
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these were the sons of the Leviim by their clans.
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These two cast lots corresponding to their kinsmen, the sons of Aaron,
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under the eye of King David, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chiefs of the clans
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of the Kohanim and Leviim, on the principle of chief and youngest brother alike.
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David and the officers of the army set apart for service the sons of Asaph,
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of Haman, and of Jedditan, who prophesied to the accompaniment
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of lyres, harps, and cymbals.
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The list of men who performed this work according to their service was
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sons of Asaph, Zachar, Joseph, Nathaniah, Asarila,
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sons of Asaph under the charge of Asaph, who prophesied by order of the king.
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Jedditan, the sons of Jedditan, Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshiah, Hashabiah,
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Mattityah, six, under the charge of their father, Jedditan,
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who accompanied on the harp, prophesied, praising and extolling Hashem.
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Haman, the sons of Haman, Bukkiah, Madaniah, Uziel, Shebuel, Jeremiah,
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Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Yedalti, Romam-Tezer, Jashbet-Kesha, Malathi,
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Hother, and Mahaziah.
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All these were the sons of Haman, the seer of the king, who uttered prophecies
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of Hashem for His greater glory.
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Hashem gave Haman fourteen sons and three daughters.
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All these were under the charge of their father for the singing in the house of Hashem,
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to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of Hashem
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by order of the king, Asaph, Jedditan, and Haman.
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Their total number with their kinsmen, trained singers of Hashem, all the masters, 288.
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They cast lots for shifts on the principle of small and great alike, like master, like apprentice.
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The first lot fell to Asaph, to Joseph, the second to Gedaliah,
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he and his brothers and his sons, twelve.
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The third to Zachar, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The fourth to Isri, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The sixth to Bukiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The seventh to Jezreelah, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The ninth to Madaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The eleventh to Azerel, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The thirteenth to Shubael, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The fourteenth to Matotiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The fifteenth to Jeremitah, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The seventeen to Jashbekinshkash, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The eighteenth to Hananiyah, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The nineteenth to Malathi, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The twentieth to Elithah, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The twenty-first to Hotther, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The twenty-second to Gidalti, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The twenty-third to Mahaziot, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The twenty-fourth to Romanteser, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
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The Divisions of the Gatekeepers
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Korahites
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Meshalamaiah son of Kor of the sons of Asaph.
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Sons of Meshalamaiah
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Zechariah the firstborn
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Jadiel the second
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Zebediah the third
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Jathniel the fourth
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Elam the fifth
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Yakanon the sixth
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Elihonai the seventh
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Sons of Ovid-Edom
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Shemaiah the firstborn
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Jehoshabad the second
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Joah the third
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Sakar the fourth
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Nethanel the fifth
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Amiel the sixth
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Issachar the seventh
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Zechariah the eighth, for Hashem had blessed him.
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To his sons Shemaiah were born sons who exercised authority in their clans because they were men of substance.
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The sons of Shemaiah, Othni, Raphael, Obed, Elzabed, his brothers, men of ability, were Elihu and Shemachiah.
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All these sons of Ovid-Edom, they and their sons and their brothers, strong and able men for the service.
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62 of Ovid-Edom
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Meshulamaiah had sons and brothers, able men.
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18
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Hosah of the Merorites had sons.
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Shemrei the chief.
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He was not the firstborn, but his father designated him chief.
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Chilkiahu the second
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Tebaliah the third
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Zechariah the fourth
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All the sons and brothers of Hosah.
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13
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Romans 4, 1-12
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What shall we say, then, that Abraham our father as pertaining to the flesh has found?
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For if Abraham were justified by works, he had whereof to glory, but not before God.
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For what says the Scripture?
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Abraham believed God, and it was counted him for righteousness.
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Now to him that works is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
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But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
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Even as David also described the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputes the righteousness without works,
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saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered.
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Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
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Comes this blessedness, then, upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also?
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For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
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How was it then reckoned?
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When he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision?
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Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
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And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised,
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that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised,
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that righteousness might be imputed unto them also.
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And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only,
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but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
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Psalm 13, 1-6
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How long will you forget me, O Lord, forever?
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How long will you hide your face from me?
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How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily?
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How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
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Consider and hear me, O Lord, my God.
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Lighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.
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Lest my enemies say I have prevailed against him, and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
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But I have trusted in your mercy.
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My heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
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I will sing unto the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.
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Proverbs 19, 15-16
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Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
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He that keeps the commandment keeps his own soul, but he that despises his ways shall die.
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I want to speak to you today from our reading from the book of Romans, Romans chapter 4.
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And this is another step in the road or the pathway to salvation.
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And so, Paul asks some really important questions in this chapter, and then he unpacks those questions for us.
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He begins with the question, was Abraham justified by works?
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In verse 2, and then he answers the question, what does the scripture say?
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Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.
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Now he's quoting from Genesis chapter 15, verse 6.
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And in the previous verse, verse 5, God brings him out and tells him to look abroad, to look up, look toward heaven, and see the stars.
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And if you are able to number them, and he said to him, so shall your seed be.
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So God is giving him this tremendous promise that his seed would be more numerous than all the stars in the sky.
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And this is before he's had any children at all. Isaac has not yet been conceived.
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And in verse 6, Abraham believed in the Lord, and he counted it to him to righteousness.
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He had faith, he trusted, he believed the Lord and the Lord's word, the Lord's promise to him.
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And that's what justified him, that's what made him righteous.
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So you could say he was the first believer, right there, Genesis chapter 15, verse 6.
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So going on back to Romans chapter 4, Paul asks another question.
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He says in verse 9, does this blessedness then come upon the circumcision only or upon the uncircumcision also?
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For we say that faith was reckoned or credited to Abraham for righteousness.
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So basically what he's asking is, is this salvation for Jews only, also called the circumcision,
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or is it also for the uncircumcision, or that is the Gentiles?
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So one way that the Jews have been known as a set apart people, that they are God's people,
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is that they have certain boundaries that God gave to them to observe and to follow
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that sets them apart as separate and distinct from all other nations and people groups.
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And one of those things that they did to keep them set apart and distinct and separate was
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they followed the procedure of circumcision, the covenant of circumcision.
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And the covenant of circumcision was given in Genesis chapter 17, two chapters later.
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Now remember back in chapter 15 of Genesis, it was credited to Abraham for righteousness that he believed God.
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And two chapters later in Genesis 17, God gives the ordinance of circumcision.
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In Genesis chapter 17 verse 10, this is my covenant which you shall keep between me and you and your descendants after you.
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Every male child among you shall be circumcised.
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And so one way that the Jews have set boundaries to set them apart in following the Mosaic law is the covenant of circumcision.
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So now back to Paul's question that he raises in Romans chapter 4, and he says,
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does this blessedness, this salvation, is it only for those of the circumcision, that is the Jews,
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or is it also for the uncircumcision, that is the Gentiles?
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Well, he answers the question in verse 10.
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How was it then reckoned?
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When he was in circumcision, living in Genesis 17, where it was first instituted, or in uncircumcision?
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Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
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When God credited righteousness to Abraham in Genesis 15, this was before he was circumcised.
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So basically now what it's saying then is because of that, he received the sign of circumcision later.
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And he received the righteousness from God by the faith that he placed in God,
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in placing his trust that he believed God and the promise that God gave him, the word that God gave him,
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that Abraham might be the father of all that will believe, whether they are circumcised, the Jews,
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or they are uncircumcised, the Gentiles, everybody else, anybody who's not Jewish,
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that righteousness might be imputed to them also, that salvation is available to anyone, to all,
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to anyone who should believe and put their faith in Jesus Christ,
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that it's not just for the Jews only, but it's for all of the nations.
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And this is why Abraham is the first of believers that are described, but he's called the father of all nations.
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And this is why in Genesis 12, verse 3, it talks about how, I'll just read it, Genesis 12, verse 3,
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I will bless those who bless you, Abraham, and I will curse him who curses you,
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and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
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And so the descendants of Abraham today are the Jews, the nation of Israel,
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whether they live in the land of Israel or they're scattered throughout the world,
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the Jewish people, the nation of Israel, they are the descendants of Abraham, the genealogical descendants.
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And when we bless Israel, we come under a blessing from God.
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When we curse Israel, we will come under a curse from God.
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So the pathway to salvation is by putting our faith and our trust in Jesus Christ.
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We do not get saved, we don't become righteous in the eyes of God through works, by obeying the law.
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Our righteousness is based in putting our faith and our trust in Jesus Christ.
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We begin in faith, we begin the journey by believing, and also we continue day by day, step by step,
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in our faith journey by trusting in Jesus and walking in faith.
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It's not about performance, it's not about works, it's all about walking in trust in Christ.
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Have a blessed day and we'll see you tomorrow. Shalom.