Word of life - Rom 4:13

Word of life: “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.” (Rom 4:13 ESV)

What is emphasized?

Faith. We are justified through faith, not through the law. The law first of all convicts man of sin and makes him surrender at last and pray God through faith for His mercy. Man cannot be saved by his own powers or by a mere effort to be good, generous, humane and to observe the moral and divine law. One cannot be saved without humble faith.

What does it mean that Abraham and his offspring will be heir of the world?

In the faith of Abraham is encompassed the basis of salvation. It is the salvific power of Christ’s Blood shed for our sins. The condition for salvation, i.e. justification, on our part is to admit our sins before God and to accept God’s justice. This justice means that Jesus paid a debt of justice for our sins by His death on the cross. God’s justice is tied with mercy through which we obtain forgiveness of sins and eternal glory in heaven.

Injustice and sin reign in the world. The prince of this world is the devil – a liar and a murderer. What God had created as good he poisoned with sin and subdued to himself. Abraham, who is justified through faith, is no more under the sway of the prince of this world. And not only him, but everyone who has this saving faith of Abraham. Through this faith one is delivered from the power of the devil and given God’s power to overcome the world and to deliver other souls perishing in the slavery of sin from the power of the devil too.

The Word of God says about the saving faith of Abraham: “The victory that overcomes the world is our faith.”

In the Beatitudes, Jesus promises His disciples that they shall inherit the earth (Mt 5:5).

Practical application:

Do not be conformed to this sinful world, but in the prayer of faith take hold of God’s kingdom and subdue the world to Jesus.