Abraham- Justified by Grace

Over the years many people have done many different things hoping that it would lead them to God.

For example:

In Mexico there is a shrine in Guadalupe where Mary supposedly appeared once.

Ever since then people once a year will crawl on their stomachs for about a quarter of a mile or so to reach this shrine and it is to help their loved ones that are dead to try and to get out of purgatory and get into Heaven.

The hope is that Mary will see the humbleness and the Hope of these people and will intervene with her son for the souls of their dead loved ones.

Abraham was Not Justified By Circumcision (vv 9-12)

At this point in his letter Paul was anticipating the question from the Jews about the act of Circumcision.

“If Abraham was justified by his faith alone why did God demand circumcision from Abraham and all of his descendants?”

Most Jewish men during this time thought that circumcision was not only the unique mark that set them apart from all other men as Gods chosen people but also the means by which they became acceptable to God.

They felt that even a man chosen by God but was not circumcised would not enter heaven.

They still were thinking that salvation was something they could earn.

Most believed that Salvation was based on their obedience to God in being circumcised, and that therefore their eternal security rested in that rite.

They could not understand that Jesus made the act of obedience and outward showing of the truth that was in the heart of every believer.

Much like Baptism does not save a person it is merely an outward sign of the conviction and inner faith of a persons heart.

Many Jews believed that Salvation was based on their obedience to God in being circumcised, and therefore their eternal security rested in that rite.

Such beliefs were so strong in Judaism that many of them were carried over into Christianity by Jewish converts in the early chruch.

Circumcision and following the law of Moses became such issues that a special council of the apostles and elders was called in Jerusalem to settle the matter.

The unanimous decision expressed in a letter sent out to all the churches was that obedience to Mosaic ritual, including circumcision, was not necessary for salvation. Acts 15:19-29

Acts 15:19–29 ESV

19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” 22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

This would be an issue that Paul himself most likely had a problem in the beginning.

Philippians 3:5 ESV

5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;

Paul can speak with such authority on this subject because he would have been one of these people had Jesus not taught him better.

Abraham was Not Justified By the Law (vv 13-15)

Pauls second point in this passage is that Abraham not only was not justified by the rite of circumcision but also was not justified by keeping the Mosaic law.

Again the chronology of the Jewish Scriptures proves his point. As every Jew well knew, the law was not revealed to Moses until more than 500 years after Abraham lived.

This means that Abraham could not possibly know what the Law of Moses would require.

When Abraham was declared right with God, he was neither circumcised nor in possession of the Mosaic Law.

In looking at Gods promise to Abraham, 4 significant factors emerge:

1.) The promise involved a Land:

Abraham would not see the land and it would not possessed until around 500 years after his death.

2.) The promise involved a people:

God told Abraham his descendants would number more than the stars in the sky and out number the durst on the ground.

But he only had one son.

3.) The promise involved a blessing:

That the whole world would be blessed by the line of Abraham.

4.) The promise involved a Redeemer:

The whole world would receive a redeemer through the line of Abraham.

He will bring salvation to the whole world

Justification has never been through the Law.

Also it has never came through circumcision alone.

Justification comes from Grace by Faith in Jesus Christ.

Abraham was Justified By Gods Grace (vv 16-17)

The crux of this passage is verse 16.

God reckons the believers faith as righteousness in order that salvation might be in accordance with Grace.

Were it not for Gods sovereign grace providing a way of salvation, even a persons faith could not save them.

This is why faith and works are not the same thing.

It is because of our faith that we do works and it is because of Gods grace that we have faith.

Grace is the divine power that brings justification in order that the promise may be certain to all descendants.