turbosixx
New member
Do you believe that the word "worketh" in this verses is strictly referring to the ordinances, the religious life of Israel?:
"Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt" (Ro.4:4).
I cannot see how that could be possible since these words are found in the context of Abraham and that was before there was such a thing as the ordinances which governed the religious life of Israel.:
"What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt" (Ro.4:1-4).
Yes, I understand the works he is talking about to be the works of the law of Moses. If you look at the end of the previous chapter, he is talking about works "of the law". That is Paul's point, we are saved by faith and not works of the law of Moses.
3:28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
He uses Abraham to prove, to those who want to rely on the law, that righteousness can come apart from circumcision and the law.
4:10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!
He then goes on to say since the promise came by faith (before circumcision and the law), it is for everyone not just Jews.
4:16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
Same thing in Galatians, he shows that we are justified by faith and people who rely on the law are cursed.
3:10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”
He makes it even clearer that inheritance is through the promise and not "the law."
Gal. 3:17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.