The Hammer of Abraham

Introduction

Through out this whole chapter Paul makes Abraham the focus of salvation and he does this for a specific reason.

Abraham was held as the example from the OT about having faith and earning our way into heaven by upholding the law and being perfect in it.

If there is any doctrine that the chief enemy of man and of God desires to undercut and distort it is the doctrine of Salvation.

Every false religion of the world has a works based system that earns the persons way into Heaven.

This was even the case with the Jews during the time of Paul.

Paul had three reasons for using Abraham as the example of salvation by Faith.

Abraham lived about 2,000 years before Paul wrote this letter, showing that the principal of salvation by faith rather than by works was not new in Judaism

He lived more than 600 years before the Old Covenant was established through Moses.

He therefore lived before the law was given and obviously could not have been saved by obedience to it.

Paul used Abraham as an example of salvation by faith simply because he was a human being.

Even Abraham messed up, he did things he was not suppose to do, just like us but his faith was still strong just not perfect.

Paul used Abraham as the example of justification by faith because, although rabbinical teaching and popular Jewish belief were contrary to scripture as far as the basis of Abrahams righteousness was concerned, they agreed that Abraham was the OT supreme example of a Godly righteous man who is acceptable to the Lord.

He is the Biblical model of genuine faith and godliness.

By showing that Abraham was not justified by works, Paul is demolishing the foundation of rabbinical teaching.

Which was that man is made right with God by keeping the law, that is on the basis of his own religious efforts and works.

If Abraham was not and could not have been justified by keeping the law, then no one could be.

Conversely if Abraham was justified solely on the basis of his faith in God, then everyone else must be justified in the same way, since Abraham is the biblical standard of a righteous man.

The requirements for salvation are the same for all people.

Abraham Was Not Justified By His Works (vv 1-2)

The first thing that we see here is that Paul uses the phrase “what then shall we say” to start of this chapter.

This is the same thing as saying “therefore” or “Because” he is trying this chapter back to chapter 3 to show that no man is saved by works but it is only through faith that we are saved.

Because Abraham was used by the rabbis as the ultimate example of mans being justified by works, Paul will demonstrate that, to the contrary Scripture clearly teaches that Abraham was saved by his faith alone.

In verse 2 Paul tells what we have been saying a lot over the last few weeks that if indeed Abraham was justified through works then he would have something to boast about but not to God only to humans.

Abraham was Justified By His Faith (vv3-5)

First Paul appeals to Scripture, the divine and infallible truth upon which all of His arguments are based.

Paul here in verse 3 quotes from Genesis 15:6 showing that Abraham had faith in God.

This passage is God reassuring Abraham that He would make good on His promise.

Genesis 15:1–6 ESV

1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

God gave comfort to Abraham and Abraham had faith that the Lord would carry out His promise to him.

All Abraham had to do was believe.

Abraham was remembered for his faith in Hebrews 11:8-10

Hebrews 11:8–10 ESV

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

His faith lead him to new lands that God would settle for his descendants, but it would not of happened if Abraham did not have the faith to go.

While faith often times requires action it is the faith that spurs that action.

actions with out faith is just movements.

Next in verse 4 Paul come with a different example.

He talks about working for money as in a job.

The Jews felt it was the responsible thing to work and earn money.

They would then use that money to support their families and to also help the community.

They saw that as just a big of a responsibility as helping their own household.

What Paul is saying right here is that when you work for something it is not a gift but is due to you.

The person you are working for is required to give you what you have worked for.

This is the opposite of a gift given freely.

No one will work for free.

If we could work for our salvation then it would not be a gift but it would be a requirement.

If we could work for our salvation then once we earned it then we would stop working.

This takes the process of santicifaction out of the picture.

Once we are done then we have no reason to keep going.

Justification Brings Blessing (vv 6-8)

Here Paul changes and brings in the greatest king in the History of Isreal to hammer home his point about salvation.

He shows that David knew and understood that Justification comes from faith alone.

Verse 7 and 8 are davids quote from the psalm that he wrote after being confronted about his sin by Nathan the prophet.

Psalm 51:1–14 ESV

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

Abraham was justified only through faith, David was justified only by faith, and every believer before and after them has been justified only by faith.

A sinners faith is graciously accepted by God and counted for him as righteousness for Christs sake.

Benedictions 089 Benediction

089 BENEDICTION

May the Lord grant you

The love that leads the way,

The faith that nothing can dismay,

The hope no disappointments can dismay,

And the passion that burns like fire.