ROMANS 6
13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be. – Romans 6:13-18
ROMANS 6 GOD’S PROMISE RESTS ON GRACE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
The promise of salvation was placed on an unworthy man
Despite his sinful state, Abraham was chosen for God’s plan
Abraham came from a pagan country and was a sinner like us
But it wasn’t his righteousness that counted but his faith and trust
It wasn’t anything special about him, only his obedience was amazing
He followed what he was instructed to do without complaining
He didn’t question anything even though it seemed impossible
He believed that God would use him and make all things possible.
In this letter, Paul presents to the Roman church why the promise of salvation rests on God’s grace alone and not on anything else. He reminded them that Abraham was chosen to be the one whom he will make a covenant with to fulfill his salvation plan for mankind. Abraham was from the country of Ur, a pagan nation and yet God chose someone who is not worthy to carry out his plan to redeem man from their sinfulness. He chose an ordinary sinful man to exercise his grace so that through Abraham, God manifested his power and glory to make possible the impossible. Nothing that Abraham did, made him God’s choice to be the father of all nations. It was grace that was given to an undeserving person that allowed him to obey the Lord without question and resistance. In his sinful natural state, Abraham could not have said “yes” to God. He didn’t even know where he was to go. He was only asked to follow where he leads him and leave everything behind.
Many other people in the bible that God chose to use were unworthy people. Some were criminals like David, prostitutes like Rahab, pagans like Ruth, killers like Paul and many others. This just goes to show how God can turn around any sinner and make them slaves of righteousness through his grace alone. He calls the dead in sin to become alive in righteousness through his Son’s work of salvation on the cross. If God gave us Jesus to free us from the bondage of sin, how can we not accept that gift of grace? Why would we want to continue living that old life instead of embracing the new creation in Christ?
REFLECTION
- How does “grace” change your perspective in navigating the life you were given?
