The Promise Made of None Effect Romans 4:14

Paul the apostle told the Jews in Rome,“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith”, and in chapter four and verse fourteen of Romans, Paul wrote about “they of the law” and how, “faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect” where we read:

For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

The verse begins, “For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, ...” Paul began with the word, “for” which means “even, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “if they” or “whether Jews or the circumcision” “which are of the law” or “who follow after the rule producing a state approved of God” “be heirs” which means “are ones who receive by lot their allotted possession by right of sonships”, “faith” which refers to “the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ” “is made void” which means “is made empty, deprived of force, rendered vain, useless and of no effect”. Paul said if the keepers of “the law” “inherit” God's blessing, then there is no value in “faith”.

The verse goes on to say, “... and the promise made of none effect:” Paul added the words, “and the promise” which means “and the assent, pledge and divine assurance of good” “made of none effect” which means “rendered idle, unemployed, inactivated and inoperative”. In addition to “faith” being made “empty and vain”, God's “promise” would also be “rendered idle and inactive”.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see how he argues toward the value of “faith” from another angle. If God's promise of “inheritance” was to be provided to those who “keep the law of God”, then there would be no need for “belief and trust” in Him, and God's “promise” to Abraham would be of no value. In other words, it was “faith” that gained the “promise” of God, and not the keeping of His “rule”. People violate the “law of God”, and only Jesus kept God's “law” perfectly. Jesus died for the “sins” or “violations” of God's law, and now everyone who has “faith” in Him shall be saved. “Faith” gains the “inheritance”, and “faith” enjoys the advantage of God's “promise”. Those who are wise shall see and believe - “faith” makes God's inheritance and promise of full “effect”.

Next time Paul tells the people in Rome, “the law works wrath”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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