Father of the Faithful

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This is a sermon based on Romans chapter 4. It is part of a series of messages on the book of Romans and it discusses the role that Abraham plays as an example of someone who was justified by faith.

Written Excerpts:

In our last sermon covering the final 11 verses of chapter 3, we noticed that the author (Paul) has begun to describe the salvation provided by God for everyone, whether Jew or Gentile. In those verses (21-31), Paul has explained what Justification is. We learned that it literally means that we have been acquitted of all charges against us because of what Christ has done in our behalf. It means that our record of offenses has been wiped away.

The song writer says, “They are covered by the blood.”

In the explanation given by Paul, we also learned that this action is done for us on account of our faith in Christ, not because of our obedience to the law.

Today, we are going to move into chapter 4 and discover how that Paul used the “icon” of Jewish history as an example to illustrate what he has been trying to explain. Abraham was the one person that all Jews looked back to as the “founder of Judaism,” so to speak. Therefore, it is only natural that Paul would include him as an example of this “new theology” so his readers can see that it is not “heresy” but it was part of God’s plan from the beginning.

For those of you who are following the outline that is available, we will be looking at the section of the outline under III. God’s righteousness is revealed through justification. (3:21-5:21)

B.    The reality of justification is illustrated. (4:1-25)

                       i.    It is apart from works. (4:1-8)

                     ii.    It is apart from circumcision. (4:9-12)

                   iii.    It is apart from the law. (4:13-15)

                   iv.    It is by grace through faith for all. (4:16-25)

Let us begin our discussion of chapter four and discover how Abraham illustrates the all-important topic of justification.

i.   It is apart from works. (4:1-8)

As you may have already noticed (if you’re glancing back up the outline to what we covered last week), this point is repeated from chapter three. Paul is essentially saying that Abraham discovered (or experienced) this blessing called justification. How so?

Because the Scripture (a definite hint about Paul’s opinion of the OT) says, “He believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness.”

“counted” – (Reasoner) A key word in this chapter is (logizomai) which occurs eleven times. It means to reckon, credit… calculate, consider… decide, or impute. It is a bookkeeping metaphor, but a legal act.

Paul reasons… If that was done for him on the basis of his works, then he would have something to boast about, but not in the presence of God. (Because God knows Abraham was not good enough to be declared righteous on his own.)

Paul also points out the simple logical fact that if you work for something, then what you received is like a debt that is owed to you; a payment for what you earned, and not a gift of grace at all. But if someone doesn’t work to earn the favor and simply believes in the One who promises to justify (acquit) the ungodly, then the act of faith is credited or counted to him for righteousness. His faith in Christ is “marked down in the ledger” as righteousness before God.

(vv. 6-8) Paul uses a quote from the Psalms written by David to validate what he has just been affirming. Since David doesn’t mention animal sacrifices, some scholars feel that he prophetically praises the true spiritual benefits of Christ’s sacrifice as he reports the blessedness of forgiveness.

Dear friends, we too must remember that we can only be justified when we believe in the sacrificial death of Christ and not through any other efforts of our own.

ii. It is apart from circumcision. (4:9-12)

In these verses Paul addresses a related, yet distinct issue.

He points out that Abraham was declared righteous on account of his faith before he was ever circumcised.

BTW - Circumcision was an outward sign required by God to separate Abraham and his descendants from the heathens around him (including his own relatives). And this “sign” was ordered by God to validate the inward “seal” of righteousness. (v. 11)

Paul is attempting to establish the fact in the minds of the readers that, while most Jews (and Gentiles) thought of Abraham as the “father of the Jews (or the circumcision), he actually was the “father of the those who believe” long before he ever became the father of the circumcision.

What does that mean for the believers?

Everyone who is justified by faith in Jesus Christ, is the spiritual descendent of Abraham and enjoys the blessings that God promises to “his offspring.”

The main emphasis of this section of Scripture is this: the fact of faith comes well before the “sign” of faith. And, it is the fact of faith that God counts for righteousness, not the sign.

Yet, the “sign” is a necessary follow-up in order to confirm that faith was really active.

iii. It is apart from the law.

The Apostle Paul is truly covering every possible objection or question that his readers might raise. After speaking about faith vs. works and faith vs. circumcision, he brings up the topic of the law.

He is explaining that “The promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him, was not based upon his keeping either of the natural law or the Mosaic law, which would come 430 years later (Gal 3:17). If we must, then, keep the law in order to enter into a right relationship with God, the promise to Abraham is destroyed.

“To add the law as a condition would raise questions over God’s character, since he justified Abraham without the law.”(Reasoner)

The law doesn’t justify. It only brings judgment and wrath. (v. 15)

iv. It is by grace, through faith, for all. (4:16-25)

(v. 16) “Therefore” – links with all three of the previous points. Since it is not works, and not circumcision, and not the law, therefore it is… of faith.

“of faith” – faith is [the instrument or] channel through which God sends His saving grace. (Reasoner)

“according to grace” – all of God’s work for us and in us is purely because of His marvelous grace. It is His decision to grant us something that we do not deserve and cannot earn.

“promise is made to all” – everyone who follows Abraham’s example of faith is a recipient of the promise of righteousness.

So we say, it is by grace through faith for all.

Paul affirms three things in this final section of chapter four.

a. The object of his faith – God. (v. 17)

b. The strength of his faith – he was not weak (v. 19), did not waver (v. 20), and was strengthened (made stronger, v.20).

c. The content of his faith – he did not focus on the natural human conclusion about his and Sarah’s own bodies, but instead focused his faith on One who is able to perform anything He promises (v. 21) because He gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that had not previously existed (v. 17) [e.g. creation of the world]. In other words, God can do the “impossible.”

“With God all things are possible.” – State Motto of Ohio.

Conclusion:

There are a couple of points I want to emphasize as we summarize and conclude the message this morning.

1. Abraham became the “father” of many more people or “nations” [as God promised] because of his faith in the promise than he ever could have been by simply following the commandments.

If you and I will truly believe God and live by that faith, we can never tell what kind of influence that will have on our families and our friends.

I need to be reminded over and over that there are many people that are looking for someone to stand up and be counted and show the example of faith, so they can follow as well.

2. Look at the final verses of this chapter and the emphasis on Abraham’s faith.

His faith was in God.

His faith was strong.

He knew God could do whatever He pleases, even things that we think are impossible. When God sees that kind of faith in you and in me, He will respond with grace to save us and miracles to glorify His holy name.

Our closing song is a song about faith. This is a song that I believe Abraham would whole-heartedly sing along with us if he were here, because he discovered it wasn’t works, it wasn’t circumcision, it wasn’t the law, but it was Christ that was the only foundation for his salvation.

On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand!