Everybody, what is going on? You know what time it is. You're listening to join the Journey podcast with your host, Emma, daughter.

Thanks for joining. Have you ever wondered how or if people in the Old Testament were saved or are saved?

Today, we're in Romans 4. And as we're reading through Romans, today's chapter brings about a shift in topic.

In chapters 1 through 3, Paul talked all about sin, but now, in chapter 4, he starts talking about

salvation. If you've grown up in church, you know, like spent your childhood in Sunday school

or VBS, Awanas, you've probably heard of Father Abraham.

You might even know a song about him. And no, I'm not going to sing it. But how well do you

actually know Abraham's story? Regardless of whether or not you're Abraham's biggest fan or have

never heard of him, hang with me because I think, like I've found as I

studied and prepared for this episode, God has something for all of us in Romans 4.

And as a reminder, any time we study the context of a passage, we always want to start by looking

at what came before and or after the scripture we're investigating.

In Chapter 3, we were reminded that when it

comes to being made right with God, nobody gets an advantage or a head start. Everyone is

unrighteous and unfaithful. The Jews aren't less dead in their sin than the Gentiles or the

moral man, because everyone's unfaithful to God. But if all are unfaithful and without excuse,

what was even the point of the Jews getting the law? Paul reminded the Jews that their attempt

at obedience to the law was never meant to validate them. In fact, the law, God's instruction to his

people, actually shows us just how screwed up we all are.

I need help. You need help. I mean, we all do. We can't perfectly obey God.

So where should we turn? In Romans 3, right before Romans 4, Paul showed us we can find help in Jesus

and that the Old Testament, it testifies to this.

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