Faith Is The Way, And All Is Given, By Grace

 "If GOD promised Abraham, or rather his descendants, that the world would belong to him, this was not because of his obeying the law, but because he was just, and a friend of GOD, through faith.

For that reason, faith is the way, and all is given, by grace; and the promises of Abraham are fulfilled for all his descendants, not only for his children according to the law, but, also, for all the others, who have believed.

Abraham is the father of all of us, as it is written: I will make you the father of many nations.  He is our father, in the eyes of HIM, who gives life to the dead, and calls into existence, what does not yet exist, for this is the GOD in whom he believed.

Abraham believed, and hoped against all expectation, thus, becoming the father of many nations, as he has been told: See how many will be your descendants.

This was taken into account, for him to attain righteousness." - Romans 4:13. 16-18. 22 

(Paul then asks his Jewish brothers to go back to the sources of revelation.  Long before the law was given to Moses, there was the faith of Abraham.  That means that faith is both more fundamental and universal.  The law, is a form of religion proper to the Jews and of value only for a period of their history.  He asks: "How did Abraham become the friend of GOD and why is he taken as the model of believers?  Was it because he believed in GOD's promises, or because he had received the rite of circumcision?"  It is like asking a Christian today: "What is important, to believe in CHRIST, or to be baptized?" 

The answer is clear; we become the friends of GOD by believing in HIS promises.  The rite of baptism ratifies with a divine seal the gift of GOD and our commitment to HIM.

Therefore, baptism and the other sacraments are the "signs" of faith and have no value without faith.  Baptism is the beginning of our living for GOD in the Christian community.  Communion has no meaning unless we live in unity and share the fullness of the life of the Church.

Worthy of notice is the fact that Christian people are now less concerned with rites and devotions that were so important to past generations.  At the same time renewal movements give more stress to essentials: our faith and surrender to CHRIST.)

On-Site