Faith Made Void

For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect…. 

Romans 4:13-14 

If salvation is by works then the people who are working the hardest are the heirs of salvation. If they are the heirs of salvation then faith is worthless. It is a waste of time to have faith when it is the works that matter. Paul is making this stark contrast because the history of humanity has shown that humans love to tout the works they do as what God should accept. This was the crux of the issue between Cain and Abel. Cain offered the fruits of his own labor. Abel offered the lamb, the type of the Lamb of God. God accepted Abel’s sacrifice and rejected Cain’s. Cain was angry enough over this rejection to murder Abel. This shows how much humanity wants God to accept us on the basis of our works. It also shows how the gospel of free grace with justification by faith alone is diametrically opposed to justification by works. Thus, ‘if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void….’ Paul is building his case for Christ brick by brick. He will set Christ forth as being the only appropriate object for our faith. He will set Him forth as being the only One Whose works can fully satisfy the demands of the law. He will continue to make much of Christ Who is the foundation of our faith.  

Our God of grace and glory, 
we rejoice that You have set Christ before us. 
We praise You that He is the Lamb of God who  
takes away the sin of the world. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning