BSF Romans Lesson 7 Day 3
Study of Romans 4:6-8 ~ My answers to study questions
“The Jews’ immediate response to Paul’s message of salvation by grace: “This is something entirely new and a contradiction of all that we have been taught to believe. This doctrine is completely incredible.” Paul’s answer is, “So far from being new, this doctrine is as old as the Jewish faith. So far from being a heretical novelty, it is the very basis of Jewish religion.” (William Barclay)
6. David learned the blessedness of grace through faith.
When God sent Nathan, the prophet, to confront David about his sin, David learned at least five things:
- God sees and knows everything we do, think, and feel.
- David recalled how faithfully and generously God dealt with him over the years.
- Through the story of the man and the precious lamb, David saw a picture of his own younger days as the least-loved child whose only companions were sheep and lambs. He also saw a picture of the Lamb of God—God’s precious Lamb who takes away the sins of the world and how much God loves us, watches over us, and cares deeply for us.
- David also learned that despite his repentance, consequences would follow.
David learned this through his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Samuel 11-12). At first, he tried to hide what he had done, but he felt guilty and troubled. When Nathan confronted him, David admitted his sin to God. God forgave him, even though David still had to face consequences.
From this experience, David understood that hiding sin brings pain, but confessing it to God brings forgiveness, cleansing, and peace. He expressed this in Psalm 32 and Psalm 51.
David’s confession and whole-hearted repentance give us a beautiful model.
“When I finally saw my own lies,
I owned up to my sins before You,
and I did not try to hide my evil deeds from You.
I said to myself, “I’ll admit all my sins to the Eternal,”
and You lifted and carried away the guilt of my sin.” (Psalms 32:5 Voice)
The result—
“Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!” (Psalm 32:1-2 NLT)
7a. What I learned
“No sinner, and try he ever so hard, can possibly carry his own sins away and come back cleansed of guilt. No amount of money, no science, no inventive skill, no armies of millions, nor any other earthly power can carry away from the sinner one little sin and its guilt. Once it is committed, every sin and its guilt cling to the sinner as close as does his own shadow, cling to all eternity unless God carries them away.” (Lenski)
“Blessed is the person whose sin the Lord will not take into account.” (Romans 4:8 Voice) emphasis added
“The Greek words that are translated “will not” in this verse are what is called “a double negative, strongly expressing a negation” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary). This is the strongest language possible, stating that those who receive forgiveness will not ever have their sins held against them. He didn’t just say “did not” or “does not” but “will not,” implying that even future-tense sins have been dealt with through the sacrificial offering of Jesus, once for all (Hebrews 10:10 and 14).” (Andrew Wommack Commentary)
7b. God used Christ to restore His relationship with humanity.
My story of being freed from guilt might help someone who is struggling with guilt over past or present sin.
Many years ago, I went through a season of being tormented by the memory of a sin in my past. It often occurred during church worship. Each time, I repented and begged God for forgiveness.
When I confided in a friend, she shared how she also suffered through a prolonged season of recurring condemnation. One day when she repented again, the Holy Spirit replied, “I don’t remember that.”
It is scriptural: Psalm 103:12 — “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
And Isaiah 43:25 — “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”
Once I identified the source of those unpleasant reminders, I learned to thank and praise God for His grace, His mercy, His sacrifice, and for washing me clean in His blood. Funny thing—the reminders soon stopped.
It is important to recognize the difference between being convicted of unrepentant sin and condemnation.
I am forever grateful!
These are my answers and research for BSF study questions BSF Romans Lesson 7 Day 3
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