Today’s devotion comes from Romans 4:9-15.
“9 Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
10 How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;
11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,
12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;
15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.” Romans 4:9-15.
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We should pause at the phrase: “the Law brings about wrath”. Why would we still cling to the Law as our means to obtain righteousness?
Scripture makes it clear that righteousness comes through faith and that “by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight” (Romans 3:20). That teaching alone should makes us seek to live by faith.
But, there is this warning in today’s Scripture in addition to that teaching: “the Law brings about wrath”. Why would we still cling to the Law as our means to obtain righteousness?
“For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.” Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.” Galatians 3:10-12.
Now. let us be clear that this Law is not just some obscure Jewish custom or ritual, Romans 7:7 makes it clear that the Law includes the Ten Commandments. Thus, we can’t cling to the Ten Commandments as our hope for righteousness and still think that we escape this wrath.
“What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.” But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.” Romans 7:7-11.
Now, we know: “… the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.” Romans 7:12. The problem is the sin within us. The Law will stay holy and righteous and good, and the Law will not budge and make allowance for our sinful, frail nature. The Law will only bring about wrath.
What hope is there?
The Scripture for today provides a clue: “… but where there is no law, there also is no violation.” Romans 4:15.
“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. ” Romans 7:4-6.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 