Salvation by Faith Alone: The Book of Romans

The Faith of Abraham

Lesson #5 for November 4, 2017

Scriptures: [Genesis 15:6; 2 Samuel 11; 12; Romans 3:21-23,31; 4:1-17; Galatians 3:19; 1 John 3:4][1].

1.The Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide for October 28 says: “In many ways Romans 4 gets to the foundation of the biblical doctrine of salvation by faith alone.” The clear focus of this lesson is on justification by faith alone. It should be noted that the word alone is not found in the original Greek manuscripts of that verse, but rather, it was added by Martin Luther in his German translation. So, what do we mean when we say that salvation is by faith alone?

2. Read Genesis 15:6[2]. This is the famous verse regarding Abraham that was quoted by Paul in Romans 4:3. In the Greek New Testament, Paul used the word logizomai to describe that transaction. The Greek lexicon or dictionary goes out of its way to point out that this word means “it is really so.” So, what does that, in turn, mean? If salvation is by faith alone, then the trust that Abraham placed in God’s promises of an heir were sufficient in God’s eyes, and probably in light of the rest of the evidence that God knew about the life of Abraham, that he could be trusted as a future citizen of heaven. What evidence does God need to know if one is safe to admit?

3.    Why did God pick Abram, later to be called Abraham? (Ed 187.2) Why is Abraham so often used as a great example of faith? (Hebrews 11:8-19; Romans 4; Galatians 4; James 2:21-24)[3] In the original context, it suggests that Abram trusted God’s word that he would be given an heir. In Genesis 17:17[4], after Abraham had tried to help God out by taking Hagar as a secondary wife (Genesis 16)[5] and when God repeated His promise, Abraham just laughed. In Genesis 18,[6] when God repeated His promise again in the presence of Abraham and Sarah, Sarah laughed and then lied that she had laughed. (Genesis 18:9-15)[7] They got their son anyway, so they named him “Laughter”! So, what does trust mean in the context of people who laugh at God’s promises? And what does this story tell us about the plan of salvation?

In Romans 4 Paul reveals three major stages in the plan of salvation: (1) the promise of divine blessing (the promise of grace), (2) the human response to that promise (the response of faith), and (3) the divine pronouncement of righteousness credited to those who believe (justification). That’s how it worked with Abraham, and that’s how it works with us.—Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide,* October 28, 2017.

4.    What is the meaning of “Abraham believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous”? (Romans 4:3, GNB) Was that a legal transaction? Did any real change take place in Abraham? Why do you think God “accepted” him? One’s understanding of both faith and justification are involved in how one understands this phrase.

We need to remember that Romans 3:4 says:

God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (KJV*)

Certainly not! God must be true, even though every human being is a liar. As the scripture says, “You must be shown to be right when you speak; you must win your case when you are being tried.” (GNB*)

5.    In what sense does God need to be justified? He certainly does not need forgiveness from His sins! This is the same word in Greek that is used for our word justification. It means to be “set right” or “put right.” Does this help us to understand the real meaning of justification?

6.    The Greek word translated justify is dikaioo. But, scholars have done an interesting thing when translating that word. Dikaios is translated as righteous. Adikos, the negative form is translated unrighteous. Dikaiosune is translated righteousness. But, when scholars translate the verb form of this word, they say, “Justify.’’ Why is that? We need a word, right-ify. But, in the history of Christianity, the gospel moved west; Rome became the headquarters of the Christian church. So, they eventually wanted the Bible to be in Latin. Jerome spent years translating the Bible into Latin; that version has come to be known as the Vulgate. In Latin the word for right is iustidia from which we get justify. In the verb form, it means to be “put right,” “set right,” or “made right.” But the meaning of justice in English has dramatically changed over the years. It now has to do with the court system, the police, and legal correctness. We need to go back to the original meaning of the word. Do we ever misrepresent God as we talk about Him?

7.    What does it mean to be “accounted righteous” or “accepted as righteous”? Abraham was later called God’s friend. (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23)[8] So, why was he called God’s friend? Was it not because he chose to do what God asked him to do? What are the requirements for friendship? Don’t friends talk together and agree on things? Speaking to Isaac after Abraham’s death, God said: “I will bless you, because Abraham obeyed me and kept all my laws and commands.” (Genesis 26:5, GNB*) That was long before the law from Sinai!

8.    To be justified is not some legal or accounting process. It means that God, despite knowing all about our past in detail, sees that we really want to be His friends, and He treats us like friends. We may not be able to do all the things that we should. Abraham lied about his wife, twice that we know of. (Genesis 12:10-20; 20:1-18)[9] He took Hagar as a secondary wife in order to get a son. (Genesis 16:1-16)[10] But, Abraham trusted God and was even willing to offer his son Isaac on an altar when God asked him to do that. (Genesis 22) Under those circumstances, God considered Abraham His friend. Faith is just a word we use to describe a relationship with God as with a good friend. Abraham was a prime example; and so, God called him a friend.

9.    Human beings who take God seriously are very concerned about how they will be saved. Martin Luther, a lawyer, was preoccupied with it. This brings us to a question which has been raised many times on this subject: Does God declare that we are savable because we are? Or, are we savable because God declares it? How does the divine pronouncement actually affect us? Does it matter how sinful we were before God made such a pronouncement?

10.    In our previous lesson discussing Romans 3:1-4,25-26[11], we saw how God took His case into court-the court of the universe-and won because all the evidence was on His side. Through His “blood”-which is a code word for His sacrificial death-Jesus demonstrated the trustworthiness of God’s words despite the fact that He had apparently overlooked men’s and women’s former sins. Notice carefully that Paul repeated this declaration three times! Finally, after this triple pronouncement he said, Oh, yes, and God will put us right if we have faith in Him. Doesn’t this suggest that God’s righteousness is more important than our justification?

11.    In this context, it might be easy for people to jump to the conclusion that obedience to the law is no longer required. Has God, in fact, taken care of everything? Paul came back with one of his most emphatic statements in all of Scripture: “Does this mean that by this faith we do away with the Law? No, not at all; instead, we uphold the Law.” (Romans 3:31, GNB*)

12.    When these words were written, Paul was fully aware that a short time earlier he had written Galatians 3:19,24 regarding the purpose of the law. There, Paul indicated that it is to protect us and guide us until we grow up enough and become mature enough so that we know that the right thing to do is to go to Christ.

13.    But, returning to the example of Abraham, we notice some very interesting facts: 1) This famous promise was made to Abram before the law-as we know it-was given at Sinai. (Exodus 20:3-17)[12] Furthermore, 2) Abraham was descended from a group of pagan idol worshipers! (Joshua 24:2) And 3) Abraham had not yet been circumcised. (Genesis 17:10-14,23-27)[13]

14.    David is cited as another example of righteousness by faith. We know a great deal about the life of David. At one time, he had idols in his home. (1 Samuel 19:9-16)[14] He committed adultery and arranged for the murder of Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah. (2 Samuel 11)[15] He was determined to number the children of Israel to see how big an army he could build even though his general advised against it. (2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21)[16] But, one outstanding thing we do know about David is that when his sins were pointed out, he immediately confessed them, forsook them, and returned to his faith in God. Paul went on to say that happiness came to David because of his trust in God. (Romans 4:6-8)[17]

15.    It is very easy to allow religion to become focused on our own behavior. One of the important things to understand about righteousness by faith is that it should focus us away from ourselves and to God. If we do that, we will inevitably be changed by what we see. (Great Controversy 555.1)

The sinner must come in faith to Christ, take hold of his merits, lay his sins upon the sin-bearer, and receive his pardon. It was for this cause that Christ came into the world. Thus the righteousness of Christ is imputed to the repenting, believing sinner. He becomes a member of the royal family, a child of the heavenly King, an heir of God, and joint heir with Christ.—Ellen G. White, Review and Herald,* April 5, 1898, par. 11; compare Selected Messages,* book 1, 215.1.

16.    If faith is just a word we use to describe a relationship with Jesus Christ, how does one “come in faith to Christ”? How does one “take hold of His merits”? What are Christ’s merits? How does one “lay his sins upon the Sin Bearer”? These are metaphors that we use all the time; however, do we actually understand what they mean?

17.    Think for a moment what salvation means. First of all, remember that the Greek word itself means “healing” or “saving.” When God saves us and takes us to heaven, He is saying that we can be trusted to live a life without rebellion, without sin, and without selfishness for the rest of eternity! How could any of us ever in our short lives on this earth demonstrate that level of trustworthiness? Many Christian theologians have looked at this dilemma and suggested that the solution is a legal transaction. The perfect record of Christ’s life on this earth is copied and credited to our account. Thus, it looks like we have lived such a life! If God does that, is He deceiving Himself? Is He trying to deceive the onlooking universe?

A legal religion can never lead souls to Christ; for it is a loveless, Christless religion. Fasting or prayer that is actuated by a self-justifying spirit is an abomination in the sight of God. The solemn assembly for worship, the round of religious ceremonies, the external humiliation, the imposing sacrifice, proclaim that the doer of these things regards himself as righteous, and as entitled to heaven; but it is all a deception. Our own works can never purchase salvation. —Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages* 280.2.

A legal religion has been thought quite the correct religion for this time. But it is a mistake. The rebuke of Christ to the Pharisees is applicable to those who have lost from the heart their first love. A cold, legal religion can never lead souls to Christ; for it is a loveless, Christless religion. When fastings and prayers are practiced in a self-justifying spirit, they are abominable to God. The solemn assembly for worship, the round of religious ceremonies, the external humiliation, the imposed sacrifice-all proclaim to the world the testimony that the doer of these things considers himself righteous. These things call attention to the observer of rigorous duties, saying, This man is entitled to heaven. But it is all a deception.—Ellen G. White, Review and Herald,* March 20, 1894, par. 9; Selected Messages,* book 1, 388.1; 5SDABC* 1098.5.

18.    For many of our Christian friends, the solution to this problem is to do away with the law! If we could eliminate the law, then we would not have to worry about meeting its requirements! If we do away with the law, have we done away with sin? (1John 3:4)[18] Then it would not have been necessary for Christ to die. So, one wonders, if God can actually do this, why didn’t He do it immediately after Adam and Eve sinned? Or, even better, when Lucifer first rebelled in heaven?

19.    Read Romans 4:13[19]. This verse clearly points out that Abraham was not saved by keeping the law. Did Paul overlook Genesis 26:5 (GNB) where it says: “Abraham obeyed me and kept all my laws and commands”?

20.    Read Romans 4:14-17.[20] Let us try to take apart verse 14 and understand it. It seems to say that if those who try to keep the law are heirs of salvation, then faith is made void and the promise is useless. Why is that? Was Paul assuming that-as we have learned by hard experience-no human being could keep the law, and therefore, none would ever be saved? Compare two other translations of this verse (Romans 4:14):

For if the heirs are produced by legalism, then trust is pointless and the promise worthless. Jewish New Testament*

If those who get what God gives them only get it by doing everything they are told to do and filling out all the right forms properly signed, that eliminates personal trust completely and turns the promise into an iron-clad contract! That’s not a holy promise; that’s a business deal. The Message*

21.    There are several verses in Scripture suggesting that the principal function of the law is to point out sin. If we turn to considering the ceremonial law and the sacrifices in the Old Testament, the author of Hebrews says plainly that the sacrifices can never take away sin. (Hebrews 10:34)[21] If the law is what condemns us, how could it possibly be what saves us or takes away our sin? This leads to the conclusion that since keeping the law could never save us, faith is the only means by which we can be saved. There is no legal system that can save anyone!

22.    To many Protestant Christians, the most significant event in the life of Abraham was the time when he was willing to take his son to Mount Moriah and sacrifice him. (Genesis 22) This terrible test came to Abraham apparently because he had failed in other tests earlier in his life. In Genesis 12:10-20, he lied about Sarah being his wife and allowed her to be taken by the Pharaoh as a concubine. In Genesis 20, he did the same thing with Abimelech! In Genesis 16, he thought God was not able to keep His promise; so, he took Hagar as a secondary wife, and thus, Ishmael became his firstborn son. Finally, in his old age-about 120 years of age-Abraham was given this final terrible test. No doubt, Satan was laughing at God and God’s friend here on this earth. He must have toured the universe pointing out Abraham’s sins saying:

“Look at the kind of people that God calls His friends!” (See 2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23.)[22] But, when Abraham faithfully went through that terrible three-day ordeal without sleeping a wink and finally took the knife in his hand to actually kill his son, God said: “Are there any more questions about the trustworthiness of my friend Abraham?” And the onlooking universe realized that Abraham could be trusted to follow God’s directions explicitly. (PP 155)

23.    The principle that man can save himself by his own works lay at the foundation of every heathen religion; it had now [in Jesus’s day] [36] become the principle of the Jewish religion. Satan had implanted this principle. Wherever it is held, men have no barrier against sin.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages* 35.236.0. [Words in brackets are added.]

24.    What is implied by this passage? In what sense do followers of pagan religions try to save themselves? Aren’t the idols they set up just glorified images of themselves? (Psalm 115:1-8[23]) If a man never looks higher than a glorified image of himself, he will inevitably sink lower. If there was such a thing as a law that could make us righteous or bring life, then, theoretically, everyone could be put right. But, not even God’s law can do that. We are left with no alternative but to turn to God’s promise, following God’s way of righteousness; by beholding we become changed.

25.    Have you ever thought that you were capable of keeping the Ten Commandments? All ten of them? Shouldn’t it be possible to keep ten simple rules? If anything is clear in the Bible, it is clear that we cannot succeed in doing that ourselves. But then, amazing as it sounds, if we trust God, He can transform us into the likeness of His Son. Is that just a legal transaction? Or, are we really changed? Is God just pretending? What does it mean to be “saved”/“healed”?

26.    Read Romans 8:3[24] especially the last portion. How does God “deal with sin”? 1 John 3:4 tells us that sin is “lawlessness” or “rebelliousness.” Can a legal transaction overcome rebelliousness? What does it take to overcome rebelliousness?

27.    If we take the time to study the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ and understand what actually happened in the light of the great controversy over God’s character and government, what effect would that have on our lives? We would learn that: 1) Sin does indeed lead to death. 2) Sin can even lead to the death of innocent victims. 3) Satan was wrong in all his accusations and claims against God. 4) It is sin-not God-that kills the sinner in the end. 5) By coming forth from His grave in His own power, (John 10:18) Jesus proved that He, in fact, is God, and thus, Lucifer never was on an equal plane with Jesus, thus refuting Lucifer’s earliest claims. 6) If we claim Jesus as our Savior and trust Him with our lives-being completely willing to follow His directions, recognizing that they are always what is best for us-then He will be more than happy to welcome us into His coming kingdom. Thus, the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus make it abundantly clear that God has always been righteous, has always told us the truth, and can be trusted. On the other hand, Satan has lied (John 8:44) and has tried to kill as many of God’s children as he could, even trying to kill God Himself in human form on several occasions. If we accept his temptations, we have chosen him as our leader.

28.    God had told the truth when He warned that the wages of sin is death. [Genesis 2:17][25] In His Son He was dying that death. But God was not executing His Son.

He only “gave Him up,” as He will give up the wicked at the end. And though by rights we should have died, God did not ask us to prove the truthfulness of His Word. He sacrificed Himself in His Son.

What more could God do to warn us from our sin and win us back to faith?

If you are a believer and are seeking to do God’s will, what makes you willing to obey?

Could you say, “I do what I do because God has told me to, and He has the power to reward and destroy”? Is this why you don’t murder or commit adultery, because God has said you mustn’t? You would otherwise, but you can’t afford to incur His displeasure.

This might be all right for a beginner or a little child, but it suggests that God’s laws are arbitrary and do not make good sense in themselves. That does not speak very favorably of God.

Would you rather say, “I do what I do as a believer because God has told me to, and I love Him and want to please Him”? Is this why you don’t steal or tell lies?

You would see nothing wrong or harmful about doing these things. It is just that you want so much to please God. For some reason He does not like it when you steal or lie, and since He has been so good to us, you feel under some obligation to please Him. It would only be grateful and fair.

Again, this might be all right for a beginner or child. It might even be progress beyond the obedience prompted only by fear of punishment and desire of reward. But it still implies an arbitrariness in God’s commandments and does not speak so well of His character and government.

There is another possible approach to obedience. Could you say this? “I do what I do because I have found it to be right and sensible to do so, and I have increasing admiration and reverence for the One who so advised and commanded me in the days of my ignorance and immaturity.” Then hastening to add, “Being still somewhat ignorant and immature, I am willing to trust and obey the One whose counsel has always proved to be so sensible, when He commands me to do something beyond my present understanding.”—A. Graham Maxwell, I Want to Be Free 34,35. [Content in brackets is added.]

29. This lesson has focused on the fact that we are saved by faith alone. But, the Bible also teaches that we are to be judged by our works. Is that why so many people are concerned about the law? (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Revelation 20:12-13)[26] If, in fact, we are saved by faith, does it matter that we are judged by our works? Could we be judged guilty and still be saved? Since we are all sinners, aren’t we all guilty and judged guilty? (Romans 3:23,10-18)[27]

Righteousness is obedience to the law. The law demands righteousness, and this the sinner owes to the law; but he is incapable of rendering it. The only way in which he can attain to righteousness is through faith. By faith he can bring to God the merits of Christ, and the Lord places the obedience of His Son to the sinner’s account.—Ellen G. White, Review and Herald,* November 4, 1890, par. 7; 6SDABC* 1073.8; Selected Messages,* book 1, 367.1; FW* 101.1; AG* 265.3.

If Satan can succeed in leading man to place value upon his own works as works of merit and righteousness, he knows that he can overcome him by his temptations, and make him his victim and prey. Lift up Jesus before the people.

Strike the door-posts with the blood of Calvary’s Lamb, and you are safe.—Ellen G. White, Review and Herald,* September 3, 1889, par. 20.

© 2017, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution of all or of a portion of this material such as to a Bible study class is encouraged. *Electronic version.    Info@theox.org

1-Gen 15:6 NIV Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

2Sa 11:1-27 NIV In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. (2) One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, (3) and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, "She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite." (4) Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home. (5) The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, "I am pregnant." (6) So David sent this word to Joab: "Send me Uriah the Hittite." And Joab sent him to David. (7) When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going. (8) Then David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him. (9) But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master's servants and did not go down to his house. (10) David was told, "Uriah did not go home." So he asked Uriah, "Haven't you just come from a military campaign? Why didn't you go home?" (11) Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my commander Joab and my lord's men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!" (12) Then David said to him, "Stay here one more day, and tomorrow I will send you back." So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. (13) At David's invitation, he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his master's servants; he did not go home. (14) In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. (15) In it he wrote, "Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die." (16) So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. (17) When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David's army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died. (18) Joab sent David a full account of the battle. (19) He instructed the messenger: "When you have finished giving the king this account of the battle, (20) the king's anger may flare up, and he may ask you, 'Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn't you know they would shoot arrows from the wall? (21) Who killed Abimelek son of Jerub-Besheth? Didn't a woman drop an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?' If he asks you this, then say to him, 'Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.'" (22) The messenger set out, and when he arrived he told David everything Joab had sent him to say. (23) The messenger said to David, "The men overpowered us and came out against us in the open, but we drove them back to the entrance of the city gate. (24) Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king's men died. Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead." (25) David told the messenger, "Say this to Joab: 'Don't let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.' Say this to encourage Joab." (26) When Uriah's wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. (27) After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the LORD.

2Sa 12:1-31 NIV The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. (2) The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, (3) but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him. (4) "Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him." (5) David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this must die! (6) He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity." (7) Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. (8) I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. (9) Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. (10) Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.' (11) "This is what the LORD says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. (12) You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.'" (13) Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. (14) But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the LORD, the son born to you will die." (15) After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and he became ill. (16) David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground. (17) The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them. (18) On the seventh day the child died. David's attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, "While the child was still living, he wouldn't listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate." (19) David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. "Is the child dead?" he asked. "Yes," they replied, "he is dead." (20) Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. (21) His attendants asked him, "Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!" (22) He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' (23) But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me." (24) Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved him; (25) and because the LORD loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah. (26) Meanwhile Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal citadel. (27) Joab then sent messengers to David, saying, "I have fought against Rabbah and taken its water supply. (28) Now muster the rest of the troops and besiege the city and capture it. Otherwise I will take the city, and it will be named after me." (29) So David mustered the entire army and went to Rabbah, and attacked and captured it. (30) David took the crown from their king's head, and it was placed on his own head. It weighed a talent of gold, and it was set with precious stones. David took a great quantity of plunder from the city (31) and brought out the people who were there, consigning them to labor with saws and with iron picks and axes, and he made them work at brickmaking. David did this to all the Ammonite towns. Then he and his entire army returned to Jerusalem.

Rom 3:21-23 NIV But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. (22) This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, (23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Rom 3:31 NIV Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Rom 4:1-17 NIV What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? (2) If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about--but not before God. (3) What does Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." (4) Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. (5) However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. (6) David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: (7) "Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. (8) Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them." (9) Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness. (10) Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! (11) And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. (12) And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. (13) It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. (14) For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, (15) because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. (16) Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. (17) As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

Gal 3:19 NIV Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator.

1Jn 3:4 NIV Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.

2-Gen 15:6 NIV Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

3-Heb 11:8-19 NIV By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. (9) By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. (10) For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (11) And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. (12) And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. (13) All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. (14) People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. (15) If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. (16) Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. (17) By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, (18) even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." (19) Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

Rom 4:1-25 NIV What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? (2) If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about--but not before God. (3) What does Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." (4) Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. (5) However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. (6) David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: (7) "Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. (8) Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them." (9) Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness. (10) Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! (11) And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. (12) And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. (13) It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. (14) For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, (15) because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. (16) Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. (17) As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. (18) Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." (19) Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead. (20) Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, (21) being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. (22) This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." (23) The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, (24) but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. (25) He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Gal 4:1-31 NIV What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. (2) The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. (3) So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. (4) But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, (5) to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. (6) Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." (7) So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. (8) Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. (9) But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? (10) You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! (11) I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. (12) I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. (13) As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, (14) and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. (15) Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. (16) Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? (17) Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. (18) It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. (19) My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, (20) how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you! (21) Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? (22) For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. (23) His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise. (24) These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. (25) Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. (26) But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. (27) For it is written: "Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child; shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband." (28) Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. (29) At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. (30) But what does Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son." (31) Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

Jas 2:21-24 NIV Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? (22) You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. (23) And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. (24) You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

4-Gen 17:17 NIV Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?"

5-Gen 16:1-16 NIV Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; (2) so she said to Abram, "The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her." Abram agreed to what Sarai said. (3) So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. (4) He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. (5) Then Sarai said to Abram, "You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me." (6) "Your slave is in your hands," Abram said. "Do with her whatever you think best." Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. (7) The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. (8) And he said, "Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?" "I'm running away from my mistress Sarai," she answered. (9) Then the angel of the LORD told her, "Go back to your mistress and submit to her." (10) The angel added, "I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count." (11) The angel of the LORD also said to her: "You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery. (12) He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers." (13) She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me." (14) That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. (15) So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. (16) Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.

6-Gen 18:1-33 NIV The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. (2) Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. (3) He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. (4) Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. (5) Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way--now that you have come to your servant." "Very well," they answered, "do as you say." (6) So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. "Quick," he said, "get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread." (7) Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. (8) He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. (9) "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "There, in the tent," he said. (10) Then one of them said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. (11) Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. (12) So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?" (13) Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' (14) Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son." (15) Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh." But he said, "Yes, you did laugh." (16) When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. (17) Then the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? (18) Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. (19) For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him." (20) Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous (21) that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know." (22) The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. (23) Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? (24) What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? (25) Far be it from you to do such a thing--to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (26) The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake." (27) Then Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, (28) what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?" "If I find forty-five there," he said, "I will not destroy it." (29) Once again he spoke to him, "What if only forty are found there?" He said, "For the sake of forty, I will not do it." (30) Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?" He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there." (31) Abraham said, "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?" He said, "For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it." (32) Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?" He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it." (33) When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.

7-Gen 18:9-15 NIV "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "There, in the tent," he said. (10) Then one of them said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. (11) Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. (12) So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?" (13) Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' (14) Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son." (15) Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh." But he said, "Yes, you did laugh."

8-

9-Gen 12:10-20 NIV Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. (11) As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "I know what a beautiful woman you are. (12) When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me but will let you live. (13) Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you." (14) When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. (15) And when Pharaoh's officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. (16) He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels. (17) But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife Sarai. (18) So Pharaoh summoned Abram. "What have you done to me?" he said. "Why didn't you tell me she was your wife? (19) Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!" (20) Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.

Gen 20:1-18 NIV Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, (2) and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. (3) But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman." (4) Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? (5) Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister,' and didn't she also say, 'He is my brother'? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands." (6) Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. (7) Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die." (8) Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. (9) Then Abimelek called Abraham in and said, "What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done." (10) And Abimelek asked Abraham, "What was your reason for doing this?" (11) Abraham replied, "I said to myself, 'There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.' (12) Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. (13) And when God had me wander from my father's household, I said to her, 'This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, "He is my brother."'" (14) Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. (15) And Abimelek said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like." (16) To Sarah he said, "I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated." (17) Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again, (18) for the LORD had kept all the women in Abimelek's household from conceiving because of Abraham's wife Sarah.

10-Gen 16:1-16 NIV Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; (2) so she said to Abram, "The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her." Abram agreed to what Sarai said. (3) So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. (4) He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. (5) Then Sarai said to Abram, "You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me." (6) "Your slave is in your hands," Abram said. "Do with her whatever you think best." Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. (7) The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. (8) And he said, "Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?" "I'm running away from my mistress Sarai," she answered. (9) Then the angel of the LORD told her, "Go back to your mistress and submit to her." (10) The angel added, "I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count." (11) The angel of the LORD also said to her: "You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery. (12) He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers." (13) She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me." (14) That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. (15) So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. (16) Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.

11-Rom 3:1-4 NIV What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? (2) Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God. (3) What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God's faithfulness? (4) Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge."

Rom 3:25-26 NIV God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood--to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-- (26) he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

12-Exo 20:3-17 NIV "You shall have no other gods before me. (4) "You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. (5) You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, (6) but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. (7) "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. (8) "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. (9) Six days you shall labor and do all your work, (10) but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. (11) For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (12) "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. (13) "You shall not murder. (14) "You shall not commit adultery. (15) "You shall not steal. (16) "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. (17) "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

13-Gen 17:10-14 NIV This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. (11) You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. (12) For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner--those who are not your offspring. (13) Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. (14) Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant."

Gen 17:23-27 NIV On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him. (24) Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, (25) and his son Ishmael was thirteen; (26) Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised on that very day. (27) And every male in Abraham's household, including those born in his household or bought from a foreigner, was circumcised with him.

14-1Sa 19:9-16 NIV But an evil spirit from the LORD came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the lyre, (10) Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape. (11) Saul sent men to David's house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, warned him, "If you don't run for your life tonight, tomorrow you'll be killed." (12) So Michal let David down through a window, and he fled and escaped. (13) Then Michal took an idol and laid it on the bed, covering it with a garment and putting some goats' hair at the head. (14) When Saul sent the men to capture David, Michal said, "He is ill." (15) Then Saul sent the men back to see David and told them, "Bring him up to me in his bed so that I may kill him." (16) But when the men entered, there was the idol in the bed, and at the head was some goats' hair.

15-2Sa 11:1-27 NIV In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. (2) One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, (3) and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, "She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite." (4) Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home. (5) The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, "I am pregnant." (6) So David sent this word to Joab: "Send me Uriah the Hittite." And Joab sent him to David. (7) When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going. (8) Then David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him. (9) But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master's servants and did not go down to his house. (10) David was told, "Uriah did not go home." So he asked Uriah, "Haven't you just come from a military campaign? Why didn't you go home?" (11) Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my commander Joab and my lord's men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!" (12) Then David said to him, "Stay here one more day, and tomorrow I will send you back." So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. (13) At David's invitation, he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his master's servants; he did not go home. (14) In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. (15) In it he wrote, "Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die." (16) So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. (17) When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David's army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died. (18) Joab sent David a full account of the battle. (19) He instructed the messenger: "When you have finished giving the king this account of the battle, (20) the king's anger may flare up, and he may ask you, 'Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn't you know they would shoot arrows from the wall? (21) Who killed Abimelek son of Jerub-Besheth? Didn't a woman drop an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?' If he asks you this, then say to him, 'Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.'" (22) The messenger set out, and when he arrived he told David everything Joab had sent him to say. (23) The messenger said to David, "The men overpowered us and came out against us in the open, but we drove them back to the entrance of the city gate. (24) Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king's men died. Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead." (25) David told the messenger, "Say this to Joab: 'Don't let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.' Say this to encourage Joab." (26) When Uriah's wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. (27) After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the LORD.

16-2Sa 24:1-25 NIV Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go and take a census of Israel and Judah." (2) So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, "Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are." (3) But Joab replied to the king, "May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?" (4) The king's word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel. (5) After crossing the Jordan, they camped near Aroer, south of the town in the gorge, and then went through Gad and on to Jazer. (6) They went to Gilead and the region of Tahtim Hodshi, and on to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon. (7) Then they went toward the fortress of Tyre and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to Beersheba in the Negev of Judah. (8) After they had gone through the entire land, they came back to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. (9) Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king: In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand. (10) David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, LORD, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing." (11) Before David got up the next morning, the word of the LORD had come to Gad the prophet, David's seer: (12) "Go and tell David, 'This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.'" (13) So Gad went to David and said to him, "Shall there come on you three years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me." (14) David said to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands." (15) So the LORD sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. (16) When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The angel of the LORD was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. (17) When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the LORD, "I have sinned; I, the shepherd, have done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family." (18) On that day Gad went to David and said to him, "Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." (19) So David went up, as the LORD had commanded through Gad. (20) When Araunah looked and saw the king and his officials coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground. (21) Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" "To buy your threshing floor," David answered, "so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped." (22) Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take whatever he wishes and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. (23) Your Majesty, Araunah gives all this to the king." Araunah also said to him, "May the LORD your God accept you." (24) But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. (25) David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

1Ch 21:1-30 NIV Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. (2) So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, "Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are." (3) But Joab replied, "May the LORD multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord's subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?" (4) The king's word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem. (5) Joab reported the number of the fighting men to David: In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword, including four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah. (6) But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, because the king's command was repulsive to him. (7) This command was also evil in the sight of God; so he punished Israel. (8) Then David said to God, "I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing." (9) The LORD said to Gad, David's seer, (10) "Go and tell David, 'This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.'" (11) So Gad went to David and said to him, "This is what the LORD says: 'Take your choice: (12) three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies, with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the LORD--days of plague in the land, with the angel of the LORD ravaging every part of Israel.' Now then, decide how I should answer the one who sent me." (13) David said to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into human hands." (14) So the LORD sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead. (15) And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But as the angel was doing so, the LORD saw it and relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was destroying the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The angel of the LORD was then standing at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. (16) David looked up and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand extended over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown. (17) David said to God, "Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I, the shepherd, have sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? LORD my God, let your hand fall on me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people." (18) Then the angel of the LORD ordered Gad to tell David to go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. (19) So David went up in obedience to the word that Gad had spoken in the name of the LORD. (20) While Araunah was threshing wheat, he turned and saw the angel; his four sons who were with him hid themselves. (21) Then David approached, and when Araunah looked and saw him, he left the threshing floor and bowed down before David with his face to the ground. (22) David said to him, "Let me have the site of your threshing floor so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped. Sell it to me at the full price." (23) Araunah said to David, "Take it! Let my lord the king do whatever pleases him. Look, I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for the grain offering. I will give all this." (24) But King David replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing." (25) So David paid Araunah six hundred shekels of gold for the site. (26) David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He called on the LORD, and the LORD answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering. (27) Then the LORD spoke to the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath. (28) At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, he offered sacrifices there. (29) The tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time on the high place at Gibeon. (30) But David could not go before it to inquire of God, because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

17-Rom 4:6-8 NIV David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: (7) "Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. (8) Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them."

18-1Jn 3:4 NIV Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.

19-Rom 4:13 NIV It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

20-Rom 4:14-17 NIV For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, (15) because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. (16) Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. (17) As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

21-Heb 10:34 NIV You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

22-2Ch 20:7 NIV Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?

Isa 41:8 NIV "But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend,

Jas 2:23 NIV And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.

23-Psa 115:1-8 NIV Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. (2) Why do the nations say, "Where is their God?" (3) Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. (4) But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. (5) They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. (6) They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. (7) They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. (8) Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.

24-Rom 8:3 NIV For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh,

25-Gen 2:17 NIV but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die."

26-Ecc 12:13-14 NIV Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. (14) For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

Rev 20:12-13 NIV And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. (13) The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.

27-Rom 3:23 NIV for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Rom 3:10-18 NIV As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; (11) there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. (12) All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." (13) "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips." (14) "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." (15) "Their feet are swift to shed blood; (16) ruin and misery mark their ways, (17) and the way of peace they do not know." (18) "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

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