Romans 4:16,17 - The Creative Call of God

4:16

The Greek in this sentence is actually quite difficult to decipher for there isn’t a verb in this sentence. This is part of the reason why different versions of the Bible translate some things differently and why formal translations (seeking to be as true as possible to the original words) are not always more accurate than dynamic translations (seeking to convey the meaning). Faith and grace, not having the law or works, are the means by which the promise comes. It is by grace because it needs to be by grace. Any other way is doomed to failure because of our failure. Works cannot inherit the promise, so it has to be by faith. The salvation is also universal and was always intended to be universal (Gen 12:2,3) (definitely not universalism, just in case anyone is wondering). If it was by Law this could not be so for the Law brought a clear distinction between the Jews and everyone else. Faith and grace means the promise can be received by all peoples, Jews and Gentiles. We are all Abraham’s children for he is the man of faith.

4:17

Paul seals his argument with a quote from Gen 17:5. Note that God said “I have made you ..”, there was no element of doubt in this. It wasn’t something that might happen, but something that was already settled. It was always God’s plan.

God is a God who gives life to the dead, and calls things that are not as if they were. Jesus is the supreme example of God giving life to the dead. Callings things that are not as if they were. Now the Jew may have objected that the Gentiles were lost in a sea of immorality, and would have had some evidence to back that up, but God calls things into being. He announces, or declares, what will happen before it has happened. Indeed, throughout Isaiah that is one of the main features of God that distinguishes Him from the idols. Through the cross Gentiles receive forgiveness and through the Spirit a work of transformation begins.

God calls into being. All of God’s creation comes out of nothing. There was no universe until God called it into being. There was no nation of Israel until God called it into being. So it is with the church, with Jews and Gentiles being God’s people. We are the product of the creative call of God.