ABRAHAM AS THE FATHER OF JEWS AND GENTILES (4:1-25)

A. HOW ABRAHAM WAS JUSTIFIED (4:1-5)

1. If by works, then he could boast (1-2)

How does this doctrine of Justification by faith apart from circumcism jive with Abraham, the father of the Jews?

If Abraham was “declared righteous” by his works, he can boast

2. The Scriptures reveal it was by his faith in God (3)

a) One who trusts in works, seeks God's debt, not His grace (4)

b) When one trusts in God to justify him, such faith is counted for righteousness (5)

B. THE TESTIMONY OF DAVID (4:6-8)

1. Even David spoke of God imputing righteousness apart from works (6)

2. Blessed are those against whom God does not impute sins (7-8)

Psalm 32:1–11 (ESV)

1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah 5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah 6 Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. 7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. 11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Imputing (credits) (logizomai) - to reckon, count, compute, calculate

Not imputing iniquity is understood as imputing righteousness

C. ABRAHAM WAS JUSTIFIED BEFORE CIRCUMCISION (4:9-12)

1. His faith was counted for righteousness before he was circumcised (9-10)

Justification before circumcision is in line with Old Testament chronology!

2. Circumcision was a seal of the righteousness he had while uncircumcised (11a)

3. Thus he became the father of all who have the same kind of faith, both circumcised and uncircumcised (11b-12)

D. GOD’S PROMISE WAS GRANTED THROUGH FAITH (4:13-25)

1. The promise to Abraham to be the heir of the world given in view of his faith (13)

The Law was not even in existence until ~500 years later!

The promise therefore did not come from the Law.

2. It was not given through law, but in light of faith, according to grace, to assure that all who are of the same faith as Abraham might be heirs of the promise (14-17)

If by the Law…

faith has no value (kenoo) - make empty

promise is worthless (katargeo) - to render idle,

If by Faith…

Promise… guaranteed (bebaios) - stable, fast, firm

God affects the Promise by bringing Life out of that which is Lifeless!

3. The kind of obedient faith illustrated by Abraham (18-22)

Abraham and Sarah’s physical bodies were dead to natural childbearing

Even though this was true physically, “he did not waver through unbelief” (diakrino) - to learn by discrimination

why…fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised (plerophoreo) – to see the end as completed

4. Abraham's justification by faith assures that we who believe in Him who raised Jesus from the dead shall find justification (23-25)