Father Abraham, Father of Nations

It was a really silly song that was designed, I guess, to get out our wiggles. It sure didn’t seem to have much meaning to us at the time. But we had fun shaking ourselves all about this way and that.

As an adult, I wondered, what was the purpose of that song? That little song taught us something about God’s grace.

There really is some meaning tied up in that verse. We said “Father Abraham had many sons.”

We’ve been working through a series looking at several of those listed in the lineage of Jesus in Matthew 1. Today we’ll be looking at Father Abraham, one of the most respected men in that genealogy.

When we look at Abraham’s offspring, we know that he fathered Ishmael through Hagar. Ishmael fathered what later became the Islamic group of peoples. Abraham also fathered Isaac, who gave birth to Jacob and Esau. Jacob’s line gave rise to the Hebrews that came to be known as Israel. Esau’s line gave rise to the group of people known in the Bible as the Edomites. To say that Abraham fathered nations is almost an understatement. Abraham’s offspring truly are innumerable.

But there is an interesting portion of Paul’s writings that describes Abraham as our father. Today we’ll look at Abraham through the perspective of the Apostle Paul in Romans 4...

Romans 4:1–25 CSB

1 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. 4 Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness. 6 Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the person the Lord will never charge with sin. 9 Is this blessing only for the circumcised, then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness. 10 In what way, then, was it credited—while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? It was not while he was circumcised, but uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also. 12 And he became the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while he was still uncircumcised. 13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 If those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made empty and the promise nullified, 15 because the law produces wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression. 16 This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee it to all the descendants—not only to the one who is of the law but also to the one who is of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations— in the presence of the God in whom he believed, the one who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist. 18 He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be. 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do. 22 Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, 24 but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

[pray]

Those of you who know the Bible will remember that Abram and Sarai could not have children until God befriended Abram and promised to give him children in his old age. Isaac was the only son of Abraham (as God renamed him) and Sarah (as God renamed her). Isaac was Abraham’s rightful heir and it was through Isaac that the nation of Israel would be born. It was through Isaac that Abraham had many sons and daughters.

You’ll also remember that God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, though God provided another way. He did this as a test of Abraham’s resolve to take actions on the things that God was asking him to do.

While we could look at many aspects of Abraham’s story, I wanted to focus on Paul’s description of Abraham, because he goes to great length to connect us to Abraham. Paul was writing to the Christians in Rome, which likely included both Jews and Gentiles (which is a way of saying non-jewish followers of Christ). However, he seems to be directing his text to Christians, rather than Jewish Christians. Since we are considered gentiles, it begs the question, How are we all considered sons and daughters of Abraham?

Background: Genesis 15

I want to start out this morning by going back to take a look at some of the background of Abram… Genesis 15 is the passage where God had a conversation with Abram in a vision...

Genesis 15:1–6 CSB

1 After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great. 2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Abram continued, “Look, you have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir.” 4 Now the word of the Lord came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

We talked about this idea last week when we were talking about Noah. Just like Noah believed God when he said that rain was coming to cover the land with water, Abram believed God when he told him that he would have a son in his advanced age. Verse 6 points out Abram’s belief...

Genesis 15:6 CSB

6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

This idea of believing what the Lord says forms a foundational principle of our Christian theology.

Paul introduces this in Romans 4. We see it also in Galatians 3:6 and James 2:23.

Let’s look at the first part of Romans 4...

Romans 4:1–5 CSB

Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. This is a big idea.

Paul points out that Abraham was justified to God for his faith, not because of his works.

We’ve talked about this idea of justification before and it’s so important that we keep coming back to it.

Justified - justification is the process by which people are made right in God’s sight.

Principle: We cannot be considered righteous by our own efforts. Righteousness only comes from God.

Righteousness is an unattainable goal when it is founded in our own efforts, because on our own we are considered sinners in God’s sight. On our own we could never approach God and experience His grace.

But that’s not the way God wanted it to be. God wants a relationship with His creation.

Justification is what sets Christianity apart from all the other religious belief systems in the world.

Most world religions consider that the way to reach God is through works. I heard this all the time in the hospital when I would visit with patients. As we talk about spiritual things they tell me, “I’m a good person. I treat people right and my family loves me.” The real question is whether that is good enough to get to God.

The Bible says that it is not works, but God’s grace that allows us to gain access to God. And specifically when God’s grace is met with man’s faith in this grace.

Ephesians 2:8–10 CSB

8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

How can we claim this justification that is promised to us? We get to justification through belief in Jesus Christ and his gift of salvation. When we choose to believe in Jesus Christ, God immediately grants this gracious gift of justification and we are saved from our sins. Justification is a one time event. Our justification gives us indeminity—security or protection against a loss.

However, we continue to grow in our faith and experience spiritual growth throughout our lives. This process is called sanctification. Sanctification is something that we have to work out for the rest of our lives. It is the process of growing closer to Christ and learning how to do the will of the Father God.

Let’s look again at that verse we just read, Ephesians 2:8-10...

Ephesians 2:8–10 CSB

We don’t gain justification by works, but neither do we gain sanctification by works. However, because we are justified and we are being sanctified, this leads us to do the good works for which God has prepared us.

Works are the product of our growing through sanctification.

God did not count Abraham as a friend for anything that he could have done. It was not for works. It was not because he was Jewish. (The nation of Israel didn’t exist yet.) It was not for his circumcision. It was not for the Law, which had not even been written yet. God counted Abraham as a friend and granted him justification and considered him righteous simply because of his faith in God. Abraham believed in God and trusted him with the future of his family and God showed grace on Abraham and made him his friend.

Paul goes on in verse 11B...

Romans 4:11 CSB

11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also.

...and makes the claim that God made Abraham “the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also (Rom 4:11).” We, as Gentiles, come to our belief, not through circumcision, but through our belief in Jesus Christ.

Look at verse 13...

Romans 4:13 CSB

13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Abraham believed God’s promise that He would give him a son. This was a dubious claim for such an old man. Not even Sarah believed God’s promise. Abraham did not earn this promise. But he did believe it. And this is what pleased God.

Continuing in verse 14...

Romans 4:14–15 CSB

14 If those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made empty and the promise nullified, 15 because the law produces wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.

The Law was not given for the purpose of salvation. Nobody was ever saved from sin by their keeping of the Law. The entire purpose of the Law was to show the people of Israel that they needed to be saved. The whole purpose of law, is to demonstrate boundaries to society. Law introduces the idea of being judged as either being guilty or blameless. It also introduces the idea of forgiveness. What the people of God needed was his justification, his forgiveness for wrongs committed.

Continuing in verse 16...

Romans 4:16–17 CSB

16 This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee it to all the descendants—not only to the one who is of the law but also to the one who is of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations— in the presence of the God in whom he believed, the one who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist.

Paul explains that we, the Gentile believers of God, who are not of the Law, but by the faith of Abraham, are granted access into the family. Abraham is our father by faith, and because of his faith and by our own belief, we are allowed access to God by His own grace. Abraham’s physical family is the nation of Israel, but he has a spiritual family too in all true believers of God.

There’s an interesting phrase there in verse 17 that says God “gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.” Remember that Abraham was 99 and Sarah was 89 at the time God made his promise to give them a son. Let’s look at the next several verses that expand on this idea of death and life...

Romans 4:18–22 CSB

18 He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be. 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do. 22 Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness.

God was promising to speak life into parts of Abraham and Sarah that were considered dead, or infertile in modern terms. Paul explains that God was able to create something out of nothing in both Abraham and Sarah.

I love this story told by...

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Three: Father Abraham (Romans 3:21–4:25)

Dr. Harry Ironside, for eighteen years pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago, told of visiting a Sunday School class while on vacation. The teacher asked, “How were people saved in Old Testament times?”

After a pause, one man replied, “By keeping the Law.”

“That’s right,” said the teacher.

But Dr. Ironside interrupted: “My Bible says that by the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified.”

The teacher was a bit embarrassed, so he said, “Well, does somebody else have an idea?”

Another student replied, “They were saved by bringing sacrifices to God.”

“Yes, that’s right!” the teacher said, and tried to go on with the lesson.

But Dr. Ironside interrupted, “My Bible says that the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin.”

By this time the unprepared teacher was sure the visitor knew more about the Bible than he did, so he said, “Well, you tell us how people were saved in the Old Testament!”

And Dr. Ironside explained that they were saved by faith—the same way people are saved today!

And their faith was in God, while our salvation comes through our faith and belief in Jesus Christ.

Paul said it best and applied Abraham’s righteousness to our own situation in the following verses...

Romans 4:23–25 CSB

23 Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, 24 but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

The message is clear: salvation comes through our belief in Jesus Christ and in the God who raised him from the dead.

Conclusion

Some of you might be here today and have some questions about what we have been talking about today. Maybe you are not quite sure where you stand in God's eyes. Maybe you can't specifically remember a decision you have made for Jesus Christ. You need to be absolutely sure of your salvation. We want you to know without a doubt how Jesus will greet you when He returns. Moreover, when the great day of judgment comes, he will say:

This one is one of mine!

I never knew you!

If you're not sure about this, then this message is for you today. There is only one reason for this message today. It is not to scare you about things to come. It is not to scare you into punching your ticket, so you can get into heaven. It is only to remind you that time is short.

What is your destination? If you are not sure, then take the necessary steps to make sure you are saved.

I want to take a moment to extend an invitation to you. It is an invitation that you will hear me repeat over and over again. I repeat it because it is important...

Know Jesus Christ as your Savior.

Get baptized, follow Jesus' command.

Join this church as a member.

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The Lord’s Table

We now move to the Lord’s Table as we remember the sacrifice and the salvific work that Christ completed on the cross. As we do regularly, we come to the table reflecting upon his sacrifice and we remember the reason that He made that sacrifice.

This is an appropriate time to reflect on your readiness and upon your personal condition before God.

[pause]

I know that a few of you come from a tradition of closed communion, which means that only members of the church are allowed to participate in communion. But here at FBC Pharr, we practice open communion. That means that we leave the decision to participate or not participate up to you.

If you are a Christian, who believes in Jesus Christ, and have taken him as your Savior and your Lord, we invite you to participate with us, if you feel it is appropriate.

Scripture teaches us that if there is any sin in your life or conflict with your brother or sister that might keep you from participating in this meal, then do not participate. If this is the case with you or if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please allow the bread and the cup to pass and do not participate.

If this is you, please do not feel guilty or compelled to participate. There is no judgment or condemnation here. However, if this is you, please seek one of us out to get answers to questions that you might have or to correct some things in your life. We are here to serve you.

[pause]

Jesus came to this world to open the doors of Heaven to us by taking our say sin upon Himself and provide a way that we might enter into the presence of Almighty God.

[distribute the elements / pray / send out the deacons]

You’ll notice that you have two cups, one inside the other. The bread is in the bottom cup. You can gently separate the two cups.

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 CSB

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

This is the body of our Lord, Jesus Christ, take it and eat in remembrance of His body broken for for us.

1 Corinthians 11:25–26 CSB

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

This is the blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Take it and drink in remembrance of His blood poured out for us.

For by eating this bread and drinking this cup, we join together in proclaiming the Lord’s life, death, and resurrection until His return to us.

Doxology

Praise God from Whom

All blessings flow

Praise Him all

Creatures here below

Praise Him above

Ye heavenly host

Praise Father Son

and Holy Ghost,

Amen

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