Abraham’s Faith

Text

Romans 4 KJV 1900

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Introduction

Paul begins this section of his letter with a question... “What about Abraham?”. As he explains the theology of the gospel to the Christians at Rome he knows they will encounter religious people who will point to the patriarch as an example of a man who’s works played a part in his justification. They will point to a man who “gave tithes to Melchizedek” a man who was revered by even those outside of Jewish culture. Given the importance and influence of such a man, it’s no surprise Paul would go straight for the top of the mountain as he tears down the imbedded idea that man has a part in his own justification.

This idea of God and man working together for salvation is as old as original sin. Man’s immediate response to sin was to hide and cover it with the works of his own hands. This perversion of the gospel runs deep and is the reason Paul spends so much time dealing with the truth so thoroughly and exhaustively.

Transition

Like in many places in Paul’s writings we have a contrast between two sides of a coin and this section of Scripture is no different. In the first half we see Paul outline the idea of trying and working for salvation and in the second half he again brings forward the truth of salvation by grace alone through faith alone!

First we notice...

I. Trying for Salvation (4:1-15)

If there was ever a man that could demonstrate salvation by works, it was Abraham. Abraham was the man chosen by God to be the father of all the righteous. Through his seed would come the Jewish nation and of course the messiah.

So as Paul is teaching this truth of salvation by faith alone, it is fitting that he would use Abraham as an example.

A. Depending on our own righteousness

Romans 4:1–8 KJV 1900

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Abraham -

David - David learned the same thing as Abraham for when he sinned greatly against God he could do nothing but plead for his mercy and grace.

Illustration: Some years ago a wealthy English businessman purchased a Rolls Royce and soon afterward took his new car to France. When in the south of France, it broke down and he phoned the Rolls Royce people in Britain. The manufacturer flew a mechanic to France and the man’s car was repaired. He expected to receive a sizable bill for this unprecedented service, but as months passed and no invoice arrived the businessman wrote to the Rolls Royce company asking for his account to be rendered. By return mail he received a courteous note from the company assuring him that they had no record of anything having gone wrong with his car! In other words, the Rolls Royce company refused to acknowledge any imperfection in their product. That is exactly what happened to David in a spiritual sense. "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." When God forgives, He blots out the record.

B. Depending on our own religiousness

Romans 4:9–15 KJV 1900

Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

The rites of religion - Circumcision was a religious rite that clearly followed Abrahams faith. he was justified 14 years before circumcision was even instituted.

We have many people today that believe something similar - church membership, baptism, confession of sin to a priest, sacraments of the church etc....

The rules of religion - “through the law, but through the righteousness of faith”

The one side of the coin is trying for salvation and the other is of course....

II. Trusting for Salvation (4:16-25)

A. Faith Expounded

Romans 4:16 KJV 1900

Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Faith brings us into God’s favor - grace is unmerited favor - faith is that outstretched arm that reaches out to God to receive his grace

Hebrews 11:1 KJV 1900

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith brings us into God’s family - All who believe are the children of Abraham - the true children of God

Ephesians 4:11–16 KJV 1900

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Quote - There is nothing uncertain about faith! The man who is uncertain about his salvation is not looking at the finished work of Christ with the eye of faith; he is looking with doubt at his own works—and well he might. Paul says that it is of faith so that the promise might be sure. It is sure because the promise is divine, and faith lays hold of that. - Phillips

B. Faith Explained

Romans 4:17–22 KJV 1900

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Abraham received God’s Word -

In Genesis 17 God is giving the covenant again to Abraham - Abraham knew that God could make life from death. If he were to look at his own body his hope wold have diminished immediately. God is using this as an illustration to show us that faith in God comes at the end of human ability.

In Genesis 15 God told Abraham to look at the stars and that he would make a nation that could not be numbered in a similar way that the stars cannot be numbered! Abraham responded with “Amen”. He received God’s Word!

Abraham believed God’s Word -

Romans 4:19–20 KJV 1900

And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

Exercising Faith in Gods Promise - when he considered the possibility of having a child at his age and Sarah as well - he believed God over what he could reason

Exercising Faith in God’s Power - “able to perform” - he knew something and beleived something about God’s ability

What about us?

C. Faith Experienced

For the same purpose -

Romans 4:23–24 KJV 1900

Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

ii. By the same process -

Romans 4:24 KJV 1900

But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

we are faced with the same choice

Romans 10:9 KJV 1900

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Acts 17:32 KJV 1900

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

iii. On the same Principle -

Romans 4:25 KJV 1900

Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Abraham was saved the same way we are - he looked forward to the Cross and we of course look back on it

John 8:56 KJV 1900

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

Conclusion

Are we trusting God alone for our salvation?

Are we trusting in God’s promise to raise us up and to make us like Christ?

Are we trusting in his power and ability to do it?