Read: Romans 4-7
Paul goes to great lengths to say there is no difference between the circumcised and the uncircumcised. The blessings of Abraham were given to him before he was circumcised. Circumcision was given to Abraham as a seal of his righteous faith that he had before he was circumcised. The promise was not one of law but faith. Abraham was the father of faith because he believed in hope against all hope. He knew he was too old to have a son, yet he believed he would because God said it.
Paul says the same thing James does about tribulation. Trials and tribulations work patience which give us experience, which give us hope. We gain patience waiting for God’s deliverance. When it comes we have the experience that God does come through. Then we have hope for the next time we are in a trial. We can look back and see that God answered our prayer last time so he will do it again.
Adam was the figure or type of him who was to come. Sin entered through the first Adam and would exit through the second Adam - Jesus. Death entered in with sin and reigned until Moses brought the law. The law taught them how to atone for their sins through obeying and sacrifices. Adam’s sin made us all sinners but Jesus’ obedience made us all righteous. Ironically, the law made men more sinful, but the grace of the cross makes us righteous and gives us eternal life.
When Jesus died, we died with him and when he rose, we rose with him to eternal life. Once you die, sin has no power over you so we should not let sin reign over our bodies.
In Chapter 7, we read that the law is spiritual which means that every law has a deeper meaning.
Lord, help us to fight the war against sin and win over our lusts.
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