confusing the cause with the symptom

• Romans 4:4 (ASV)
• Romans 4:5 (ASV)
• Romans 4:6 (ASV)
• Romans 4:7 (ASV)
• Romans 4:8 (ASV)
• Romans 4:9 (ASV)
• Romans 4:10 (ASV)
• Romans 4:11 (ASV)
• Romans 4:12 (ASV)
• Romans 4:13 (ASV)
• Romans 4:14 (ASV)

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Paul here discusses the tendency to place more emphasis on the outward appearance of righteousness than on faith. The Jews did it, by thinking that only the circumcised could be saved, the Romans apparently had the same issue (or why would Paul be writing about it?) and we often do today, as well. It is not the outward appearance of faith... going to church, serving, attending a small group, etc, that saves us, but our faith in the Lord Jesus alone that saves us. All else is merely a symptom, a side effect, of our salvation.

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