Theology for Everybody: Romansنموونە

Abraham is named roughly 300 times in the Bible and remains popular throughout history. This man was just another 75-year-old pagan having a regular life when God showed up and began speaking to him in Genesis chapter 12. God told Abraham to leave everyone and everything that was certain and known for an uncertain and unknown future. Abraham trusted what God said. In Romans 10:17, Paul writes, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Faith precedes sight. Abraham believed God internally and obeyed God externally by doing what God commanded.

Referring to Abraham, Genesis 15:6 says, “He believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” This verse is so important that it’s repeated multiple times in the New Testament. Abraham models biblical faith for us. Faith is an internal conviction leading to external action. Faith is something you believe—a conviction— on the inside, and it affects how you behave.

Historically, there is a bit of a debate among theologians because, in Romans, Paul says we are saved by grace through faith, not by works. In the book of James, which Jesus’ own brother penned, James says, “Faith apart from works is useless” (2:20). Some people, including the great Protestant reformer Martin Luther, believed these notions to be in conflict. But they are not. Paul focuses on the internal conviction of faith in belief, while James focuses on the external action of faith in behavior. Paul is writing about how people come into relationship with God. James is writing to people who know the Bible and know God, but they don’t do anything. For the latter, their faith is private, not public. It is theoretical, not practical. True faith starts inward and works itself outward. The work of the Holy Spirit demonstrated through a new nature and a new relationship with God reflects faith.

Today’s Reflection

What risks and losses has God asked of you as acts of faith?