Wrestling

By Matt

I read: Romans 4

Today I came across a passage (4:16) in The Message that seemed to be very interesting as I wrestle with the question of where good people go when they die. Here's what it says:
"This is why the fulfillment of God's promise depends entirely on trusting God and his way, and then simply embracing him and what he does. God's promise arrives as pure gift. That's the only way everyone can be sure to get in on it, those who keep the religious traditions and those who have never heard of them. For Abraham is father of us all. He is not our racial father—that's reading the story backward. He is our faith father." Interesting, makes it sound like justification through Christ isn't quite necessary. However, that just didn't seem right to me, especially when I realized I didn't quite know what "God's promise" exactly refers to. So, I checked out the NIV:
"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 are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all."

When you read that one it's very clearly talking about grace v. works. I don't know if this is much mistranslation as much as just being unclear. So, still wrestling :)