Prelude & Rom 4:2

I just feel led to put a few things out there, my hopes are that at some point we can progress in this study to some of THESE books, because they are completely essential to the Christian walk and are some of the most misunderstood and most overlooked books in the New Testament.

We've just ended Rom 3 and yesterday covered the first verse of Rom 4, where the word, "flesh" was mentioned. There are many different books in the New Testament that mention the word "flesh" or some derivative of the word. Rom 7 gives us an idea of our frailty as human flesh, probably better than most passages. Many mistake this book to be Paul's writings and reference to his life and struggles BEFORE conversion, not so. This entire chapter deals with his life after conversion to Christ, by attempting to gain the victory over the flesh by the FLESH, (which will always end in severe failure.)

Rom 7:15 Here, he tells us how he hates his sin. Most Christians will not even so much as come to the place where they HATE their sin, thus, leaving them in bondage, that is until they are able to have a repenttive attitude in this regard. That word Repent means "to turn." We have got to desire Gods' way and not our own sinful fleshly desires. By admitting this to the Lord, and putting our faith and trust in Him and what He has done for us, we are able to effectively overcome in our lives, but NOT without His Holy Spirit leading in these situations. So, Romans 7 talks about the struggles of the flesh and the endless efforts that we try to produce our own righteousness by means of "works based" religion, rather than reliance and full surrender to the Holy Ghost. It is absolutely no mistake that Paul put THIS CHAPTER in the middle of 6 & 8.

Gal 5:16-26, the word, "flesh" should be translated as "sin nature," and would actually give a greater understanding if replaced when reading in these chapters. Through these chapters, Paul describes how the flesh is aroused and motivated by desires that find expression in a variety of ways: sexual immorality, etc.

1 Cor 3:1-4 Describes the word "carnal," in the Greek, "fleshly," or doing things that are contrary to the Word of God, because of one's yielding to the sin nature, (of which we all do at times).

The reason i bring up "flesh," is because we were just discussing Rom 4:1, "WHAT SHALL WE SAY THEN THAT ABRAHAM OUR FATHER, AS PERTAINING TO THE FLESH, HATH FOUND?"

So...we already discussed that scripture, now onto verse 2: "FOR IF ABRAHAM WERE JUSTIFIED BY WORKS, HE HATH WHEREOF TO GLORY; BUT NOT BEFORE GOD."

Matthew Henry (a well known bible commentator) says regarding this: "external priveliges and performaces? Now what did he get by these? was he justified by them? was it the merit of his works that recommended him to God's acceptance? No, by no means." and he makes a reference to a scripture that i think is brilliant here, concerning us glorying (or boasting) in our flesh:

Phil 3:3 "For WE ARE the CIRCUMCISION, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have NO CONFIDENCE in the flesh."

The "3 guys" commentary i use say "if works were the ground of Abraham's justification, he would have matter for boasting; but as it is perfectly certain that he hath none in the sight of God, it follows that Abraham could have been justified by works."

Translation: works were not Abraham's justification, it wasn't because he was circumcised, it wasn't because he was righteous in himself, it was because of the faith that he had that God would have a plan to justify him through the blessing that he would send on his seed, and that was Jesus Christ. Christ Himself even told the religious Jews, "Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it." He was giving reference to Abraham offering up his promised son, Isaac, which was a type and shadow of the One and Only Son of God to be offered up to Heaven for us...Jesus Christ is the Ram that God provided for Himself. (nice, huh...this is why i love the Word of God...everything in old and new point to Christ!!!)

So, if Abraham had his own righteousness, or works that he could present to God, he would have no need to be justified by God as Righteous instead of being seen as what he was, and we all are...a sinner in need of a savior.

And that is SO correct, our total reliance should be on the Lord and the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives.