CHAPTER 4

1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Paul continues his discussion of justification by faith, using Abraham as a Biblical example.

What has Abraham found according to the flesh?
Can he say it was by his WORKS that he was saved?
If so, he could brag about it.
But before God, all men are seen in TRUTH!

And the Scriptures says, "And he (Abraham) believed in the LORD; and he (God) counted it to him for righteousness." (Gen 15:6)

The word Paul uses for "believed" (in vs 3 above) is the Greek word pisteuo.
It means Abraham committed trust to God.
Because of Abraham's commitment, or surrender to God; God "counted it to him for righteousness."
In other words, God JUSTIFIED Abraham in His sight.

First, Abraham committed trust to God, then God gave him faith.
Faith is usually transcribed from the Greek noun pistis.
It is something one can hold to, cling to. (See Hebrews 11:1)

It is BY grace we are brought to know that God is, and that we NEED Him.
THEN, FAITH is the GIFT of God to those who believe, or commit trust to Him. (See Ephesians 2:8-9)

Therefore, Abraham was saved the same way all Christians are saved.
God came to Abraham by GRACE.
He made statements pertaining to Abraham's life, and Abraham BELIEVED God.
Then God gave him FAITH, the ability to cling to God and His promises.

Jesus said, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."(John 3:16)

Paul makes more statements about this act of believing and being justified in Romans 4:18-24.

4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

When a person WORKS for something, he is paid what he is OWED.
Abraham did not WORK for salvation, he simply committed his trust to God, and RECEIVED it.

For anyone who believes (commits trust to God), "his faith is counted for righteousness."
He is JUSTIFIED in God's sight!

The believer doesn't WORK for it, he RECEIVES it upon a commitment of trust.
Of course, when he receives it, he'll work BECAUSE of it; that is what faith DOES in and through a person!

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

Paul quotes Ps. 32:1-2, where David says righteousness is imputed "without works".
And the person who receive this is truly "blessed," or blissfully happy!

This "blessedness" doesn't come ONLY to those who are circumcised.
Because, you see, Abraham was NOT circumcised when he received the reckoning of God for righteousness.
Circumcision was LATER performed by an act of FAITH!

The righteousness of God is given to man because of belief, NOT because of works!

The righteousness of God which reckons a man saved, cannot be bought;
neither can it be earned!
It is GIVEN of God to those who commit trust to Him!

11 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:
12 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.

Circumcision was a "sign" which Abraham received AFTER he trusted his life to God.
It was, Paul says, "a seal of the righteousness of faith."

Chronologically, Abraham BELIEVED, was counted righteous before God (justified),
THEN received circumcision which was the sign of faith.

Chronologically, Christians BELIEVE, are counted righteous before God (justified),
THEN receive baptism which is the sign of faith in Christ.

Notice Abraham was "father" not only of those circumcised, but also of those "who...walk in the steps of that faith.."

13 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.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

BEFORE circumcision and the law were received, God promised Abraham "in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."
(See Genesis 12:3)

That promise was "through the promise of faith" not of observing circumcision or of observing the law!

Seeking justification before God because of circumcision, observing the law, or even by baptism would make faith "VOID!"
The word "wrath" comes from the Greek orge (orgay) which implies vengeance or punishment.
The "law" is God's rule of conduct for mankind.

If, God had not introduced the law, there would be no "transgression", or sin.
But, when God did introduce the law, there is a sense of judgment for sin!

16 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,
17(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.

The committed "righteousness of God" to man (justification) is BY grace, OF faith.
That promise is to ALL "the seed", and not only to those who have the "law"!

Here's the way Paul phrases that in another place.
Titus 3:4-7
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

When God met me on my way to hell, it was BY GRACE, and He looked on me with MERCY.
He CONVICTED me of sin against Him.
He CONVINCED me that surrender to Jesus is the ONLY way to receive forgiveness and salvation.

When I surrendered my life to Christ in trust, He gave me FAITH. (See Ephesians 2:8-9)
He "sealed" me in his Holy Spirit. (See Ephesians 1:13)
He made me a NEW person (See 2Corinthians 5:17)
He began to work in me His desires and His will. (See Philippians 2:13)

He has done all this "abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior!"

18 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.
19 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:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Abraham believed God's statements, and became what God promised.
When a person believes God can save them, make them new, and change their lives,
Then God does that very thing!
AND, God makes them ABLE to stand in faith even when the world is AGAINST that hope!

Abraham did not stumble on "unbelief"; instead he was "strong in faith, giving glory to God."
He was "fully persuaded" that God could "perform" what He had "promised."

And, THAT'S why "..it was imputed to him for righteousness."
It was his surrender in trust that God used to seal Abraham in faith by counting him justified.

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

The action of God concerning Abraham was "written" in the Bible for a reason.
It is to exhibit the fact that God can impute righteousness to ANYONE who trusts in Christ.

Christ lived, died and was raised again.
He was "delivered for OUR offences," because it is the only JUST payment for sinners.
He was "raised again for our justification," to show that God will count us righteous when we surrender our trust to Jesus.

God's plan to receive sinners has ALWAYS been to receive them based on their commitment of trust to Him.
Jesus came to "fulfill" the law. (See Matthew 5:17)

Jesus died to make a just payment to a just God for sinners atonement.
Jesus was raised from the dead to: 1) prove that His work was accepted before God; 2) prove that we can be justified through believing in Him.

Jesus has "... abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:"(2Tim. 1:10)

THIS is what "the law and the prophets" always pointed to!
That believing/trusting God's promise we can receive eternal life!

And, God's promise IS: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:31)

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.
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