This chapter of Scripture is very special to me
concerning 3 special occasions: my husband’s literal resurrection – entirely the
loving compassion and grace of Almighty God, Who is the giver and restorer of
life; in 1981, my husband was declared dead after a 25 minutes attempt of
failed CPR by TWO different ambulance teams, as well as the homeowner where he
died before the ambulances arrived. My husband immediately gave his life to
Yeshua following the resurrection. What a happy day!
The other 2 occasions are our grandchildren:
Alyna was a true blessing and a living witness of His faithfulness to hear and
answer prayers, as my daughter was told at age 16 during a physical exam that
she would never have children of her own. But I refused to believe that report, and as soon as we left the doctor’s
office I told her as much; and later at home I started praying and getting busy
on a baby layette for my future grandchildren ;-) By the time our granddaughter was born 4 years later, I had put
together a 100 piece layette of hand knitted, hand crocheted, and a few (less
than 10 things) store bought things that caught my eye! In 2002, our daughter
had ovarian surgery to remove grapefruit sized cysts that could morph into
cancerous growths – 1 ovary was totally removed, and the other had cysts removed
and left in to keep her from being thrown into early menopause, being told, that
the ovary was worthless as far as pregnancy was concerned: it would, hopefully,
stave off the early onset of menopause, but it would not produce viable eggs
for pregnancies and would have to be closely monitored for the recurrence of
cysts. We all mourned the loss of future children/grandchildren. Then in 2014
our family was shockingly blessed when our daughter got pregnant with and
delivered a healthy son/grandson named Azariah! It was a risky pregnancy, but
Elohei was faithful to my prayers that
went up sooooooo long ago for grandchildren :-D
I am gratefully thankful that my husband, before
he passed into glory in December 2018, was given a new lease on life in 2018
and was able to see, hold, and enjoy his grandchildren before he was called
home to the Heavenly realm a few weeks ago – and I am as equally grateful and
thankful that they got to see, cuddle into his arms, and enjoy him before he
was called home. This is Elohim’s legacy to us.
Elohim is faithful to show favor to those who
honor Him with their lives.
THE BOOK OF ROMANS ~Chapter 4
As to Abraham, our ancestor after the flesh, what
shall we say that he found? For if Abraham was justified by his works, he had something
to boast about, yet he could not do so before Elohei. What does Scripture say
about him? It says, “Abraham believed
Elohei and that was credited to him as justification” (Genesis 15:6).
In case a man works, his pay is not considered a
gift but an obligation. But if a man has no good works to his credit but
believes Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accepted for justification.
David said as much when he described the happiness of the man who is justified
by Elohei, apart from his works: “Blessed
is the man whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man against whom Adonai will not record any sin” (Psalm 32:1 & 2).
Is this happiness, then, for the circumcised only
– or for the uncircumcised as well? In the case of Abraham we have heard that
it was his faith that brought his justification. When was he justified? Was it
after he had been circumcised, or was it while he was still uncircumcised? It
was not after he was circumcised, but before. He received circumcision as a
sign, or token, of the justification he had by faith while he was still
uncircumcised, thus to make him the father of all who believe without being
circumcised but who nevertheless receive justification. And, likewise, he was
made to be the father of those who are not only circumcised, but who are also
Believers such as father Abraham was even before he was circumcised.
The promise made to Abraham and his descendants –
that they should possess the Earth – was given, not because of their keeping
The Law, but because of justification by Faith. For if those who live under The
Law are to be heirs, then Faith has no value and the promise means nothing. For
where there is law there is wrath, but where there is no law there is no
transgression.
It all depends, then, on faith in the promise
made as a matter of grace and guaranteed to all of Abraham’s later generations,
not only to those who hold to The Law, but also to those who have faith like
Abraham’s. He is the father of us all. So it is written, too, “I have made you a father of many nations” (Genesis 17:5). This promise was made because he believed Elohei, Who can restore
the dead to life and can call into being things that do not exist. So Abraham
kept on hoping when hope had failed, for he believed that he was to become the
father of many nations, as he had been promised, “So shall your seed be” (Genesis
15:5).
Even when he was about 100 years old, being as
good as dead, and even though Sara was far too old to bear children, his faith
did not weaken. He did not through unbelief question Elohei’s promise, but
remained strong in The Faith, giving glory to Elohei. He was absolutely certain
that Elohei was able to do what he had promised to do. Therefore, this faith
was counted to him for justification.
But this “counted to him for justification”, was
not written for his sake only. These words apply also to us. They will be
applied to us if we believe in Him Who raised our Adonai Yeshua Ha’Mashiach
from the dead. Ha’Mashiach died for our sins, and he was risen again for our
justification.
