The Promise Realized By Faith

Romans 4 serves as an illustration for the truth presented in Romans 3:28. To prove his point, Paul calls on the most revered figure in Judaism, Abraham, and demonstrates that Abraham was justified (declared righteous) by God on the basis of faith, not works.

So many ask the question, how were people saved in the Old Testament? The answer is simple, the same way they were saved in the New Testament, by the shedding of blood, grace and faith. The one sacrifice a temporary dealing with the sins of people in the Old Testament, and a shadow of a more permanent sacrifice to come. When sacrifice was presented, it was by faith. Christ’s death permanently dealt with the guilt of sin both past (O.T.) and present (N.T.).

It acknowledged the presenters or comers’ inability to obtain favor of God on their own merit.

It was an act of ultimate faith in the promise of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The doctrinal truth of justification by faith is the same in both covenants or both testaments; Old and New. In the Old Testament justification by faith made possible through temporary sacrifices, in the New Testament, justification by faith made possible by the death of Jesus Christ, the ultimate and more permanent sacrifice for sin.

Both Abraham and his descendant, King David, enjoyed the status of righteousness solely by believing God.

Abraham was called and credited with righteousness while a Gentile, it is clear that both Gentiles and Jews are justified the same way: by faith.

The promise given to Abraham was not by the keeping of the law, but through faith.

Romans 4:13-25

Romans 4:13 is the thesis of this section of Romans 4, the promises made to Abraham by God were realized and became a reality by faith, in spite of the fact that they were yet to be fulfilled.

Paul’s argument is clear, if a person is not justified by works and only by faith, the promises of God are not obtained by the doing of the law, but by faith as well. The promises of God were not contingent upon obedience to the law.

Circumcision happen 14 years after Abraham was counted righteous.

Law was given 430 years after the promises were given to Abraham by God.

Galatians 3:17-18 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Galatians 3 makes the point that the law did not replace the promise, but The promise continues beyond Abraham, beyond the Hebrew slaves in Egypt, and beyond the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai.

Galatians 4:13 “heirs of the world.”

1. Nowhere did God promise Abraham that he or his descendants would be “heirs of the world.” Genesis 15:5-21; 17:4-8; 18:18-19; 22:17-18.

2. Geographically, God promised the land of Canaan, Genesis 12:1; 13:14–15, 17; 15:7; 17:8; 28:4; 35:12.

a. A land which would stretch from “the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates” Genesis 15:18.

3. Neither was he promised that he would rule over domains encompassing all the world’s peoples, though he was promised that he would be the father of “many nations” Genesis 17:4–6.

What does “heirs of the world” mean?

1. Genesis 12:3 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. God promised Abraham a blessed world.

2. Abraham’s descendants (plural) are view singular, Galatians 3:16, 19. “and to your seed,” is reference to Christ.

a. Genesis 3:15, the protoevangelium (“first gospel”)

b. Christ must be seen and understood as the “seed” of Abraham.

3. Christ will indeed exercise universal rule over the earth in the future, and in that way fulfill the promise to Abraham universally.

4. The spiritual ramifications of those who are Abraham’s children by faith “inheriting the earth,” and reigning with Christ, are clear, Matthew 5:5; 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 5:10; 20:4, 6; 22:5.

The promise does not come by the Law. Faith has no value if promise is obtained by the Law.

“Law-language (‘you shall’) demands our obedience, but promise-language (‘I will’) demands our faith. What God said to Abraham was not ‘Obey this law and I will bless you’, but ‘I will bless you; believe my promise’

Romans 4:15, the Law brings wrath. Promises would never be fulfilled if obtained by Law. The Law reveals transgressions, brings an enormous weight of guilt, offers no hope only condemnation.

1. As soon as Abraham sinned, wrath unleashed, and benefits of the promise retracted.

2. Faith does not deny or ignore sin, but does not prevent the benefits of the promise from being fulfilled.

3. It simply means that there is no transgression being watched for as a basis for annulling the blessings of the promise. Why is this? Romans 4:16.

Romans 4:16-17 the promise is fulfilled by grace through faith, Ephesians 2:8-9.

The only way for these promises to be fulfilled is for God to be the initiator and fulfiller of these promises.

As God continues to forgive, by his grace, the failures of Abraham and his descendants, the promise remains in effect.

What kind of faith did Abraham exercise in the promise of God? Hebrews 11:1. Abraham hope against hope.

1. Paul refers to the deadness of Sarah’s womb, Romans 4:17 who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

2. Abraham was full persuaded that what God had promised He would fulfill, Romans 4:21.

Romans 4:18-21, Abraham had no other alternative, forced to walk by faith and not by sight. Faith is all Abraham had!

Despite the odds being stacked against him and his wife Sarah, Romans 4:18-20, Abraham did not waver in what God had promised He would do. In spite of circumstances not in their favor, God is able, Romans 4:21.

1. Such limitations, many setbacks and restraints on our lives, our own individual weaknesses, and short comings.

2. Faith is all we have in a God who is able! God is neither restricted or by any means weak!

Romans 4:22-25 God will credit righteousness to anyone in the world today who believes in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

Just as Abraham trusted God to bring life from his and Sarah’s “dead” bodies, so those who trust in Christ and his resurrection from the dead will be justified by faith.