What is the relationship between faith, the law, and our standing before God? In this episode of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive into Romans 4 to explore the “redemptive arc of history” and how the Old Testament substantiates our New Covenant realities.
Using the life of Abraham as a foundational case study, we discuss why Paul points back to the patriarch to explain justification. We examine the crucial distinction between living by the law and living by faith, and how God’s grace is woven through both.
In this episode, we discuss:The Progenitor of Faith: Why Abraham’s justification occurred before the law and circumcision were ever given.
Justification Defined: Understanding our legal standing and identity as being “declared righteous” through faith.
Law vs. Grace: Why the law is actually a gift of grace meant to point us away from ourselves and back to God.
Lessons from Abraham’s Potholes: How to handle moments of wavering faith and the hope found in God’s steadfast promises.
Our Greater Revelation: The comfort of knowing that the same God who worked through Abraham’s “shadow” revelation now works through the full revelation of Jesus Christ.