By God’s Grace
Romans 4:9-17
📖 Scripture
9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.
10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!
11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.
12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,
15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
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.
17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
📝 Scripture Summary
Paul answers the question of whether the blessing of righteousness is only for the circumcised. He explains that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness before he was circumcised. Therefore, he is the father of all who believe, both circumcised and uncircumcised. The promise comes by faith so that salvation may be by grace and guaranteed to all of Abraham’s offspring.
💡 Memory Verse
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 5:1
🔎 Reflection
Blessedness for All (4:9–12)
Abraham was called righteous by faith before he was circumcised, and he later received circumcision as a sign of that righteousness. In this way, he became the father of both the circumcised and the uncircumcised—solely on the basis of faith. This has been God’s plan from the beginning: to extend His blessing to all who believe in Him. Therefore, there is no room for boasting before God—not even for Abraham or David. Likewise, no matter how long we have been Christians or how much we have served in the church, there is no place for pride or discrimination. Instead, we are called to humbly walk in unity with those who share the same faith, extending grace to one another along the way.
What challenges do you face when interacting with different groups of people in your church? Reflect on God’s grace, and ask Him to help you walk in unity with them.
Promise Through Faith (4:13–17)
Paul also uses the example of Abraham to speak about promises that come by faith. God promised that Abraham would become a great nation and be a blessing to all the peoples of the earth, and He promised that Abraham’s descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Abraham believed God, and in the end, God’s promise was fulfilled. Now, a way has been opened for all people to receive the benefits of God’s promise as descendants of Abraham through the same faith that he had. This is God’s grace: that we may receive His promise by faith and become heirs of His blessing. May we remember this and continue to live in the blessedness of the promise that comes by faith.
Take a moment to reflect on the truth that you are an heir of God’s blessings through faith. What blessings of faith are you particularly grateful for in this season?
🌟 Today’s Inspiration
“The church is called to be a genuinely “countercultural” institution, in which the usual barriers to association—race, national background, economic status, etc.—have no relevance at all.” – Douglas J. Moo
🙏 Prayer
Dear God, thank you for the grace of becoming an heir of Your abundant blessings. Help me to respond in faith in every moment of my life and to live in harmony with others who share the same faith for the work of Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.
✍️ Essay
Grace-Driven Life
My mother once asked me, “What is the happiest thing about being a missionary?” The question really caught me off guard. I paused for a moment and replied, “I became a missionary to obey God’s calling, not because I find anything particularly happy about it.” I do love being a missionary and serving in the field, and I make the daily effort to commit myself to where I am and to work hard at what I am doing.
Years ago, a book called The Purpose-Driven Life gained much popularity among Christians. The book answers the question of purpose—“What am I here for?”—and emphasizes living out God’s purpose for us. I think the word “purpose” could also be replaced with “grace” for a Grace-Driven Life: a life formed by God’s grace to fulfill the work of God on this earth. As a missionary, this is the life I pursue—living by and living for His grace.
God’s grace urges me to choose what pleases Him. It pushes me beyond my comfort zone to reach those who have not yet experienced this grace. It compels me to surrender my ambitions and humbly obey His will. God’s grace made it possible for Jewish and Gentile Christians to accept one another in love, and it continues to enable us to love, forgive, and accomplish what our sinful nature resists—not because it is always easy, but because God’s grace is at work in us.
Written by Juyoung Kim