Exhibit A: Abraham

Romans 4:1-25

Welcome! Today we continue our journey into faith and the gospel through the book of Romans, focusing on Chapter 4. After learning the bad news of our sin and separation from God through Romans Chapter 1, 2, and the first part of 3, we finally learned the good news:

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:21-24

If the grace of God is the means by which redemption, saving from the consequences of our sin, comes from, then what is the mechanism? It is faith. A little later in Romans 3, we have these key verses:

Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. – Romans 3:27-28

There is no way to adequately communicate how radical and shocking a message this must have been to both the Jews and Gentiles at the time Paul wrote this letter. Romans 4 is Paul’s response (inspired by the Holy Spirit) to objections that the Jews in particular would make, and to make this response, Paul turns the reader’s attention to the person they considered as the greatest patriarch of all, the father of all Jews, Abraham.

Before we dig into Romans chapter 4, let me remind you of a few facts about Abraham:

1.  God called him apparently out of the blue to leave his country, his people, and his father’s household and go to a place God would show him. He promised to make him into a great nation, and that all peoples on earth would be blessed through him. This promise was made before Abraham did any of the good works we might think of when we think of Abraham.

2.  It appears that Abraham did not fully or immediately follow God’s command. Based on Stephen’s speech in Acts 7, it appears that Abraham went with his father to Harran after God’s call, and they stayed there until his father died. The fact that Abraham’s nephew Lot also came along seems to additionally violate God’s command. Lot and his family caused many troubles for Abraham that presumably would have been avoided if Abraham had not taken him along.

3.  Abraham feared that the Egyptians would kill him so as to take his wife Sarah. Rather than pray to God or trust God, he had Sarah lie and say she was his sister. In doing this, he put Sarah at risk. God rescued Sarah by punishing Pharaoh with a plague. Pharaoh was angry that Abraham deceived him but let them both go so as to end the plague.

4.  God reappeared to Abraham in a vision and reminded him that he was favored of God, but Abraham questioned God, disbelieving the promise and saying that a servant in his household would have to be his heir, because he was old and without children. God corrected him and told him that no, it would be his own child that would be heir.

5.  Despite this, Abraham still doubted and eventually had a child with Sarah’s servant, Hagar.

6.  Again, God spoke to Abraham, reiterating the promise of a son. Abraham, in response, actually laughed, thinking it ridiculous, given his age, and told God, “If only Ishmael could live under your blessing!”

7.  Abraham used the “Sarah is my sister” trick again, this time with Abimelek, king of Gerar. God came to Abimelek in a dream and told him to return Sarah without touching her or He would wipe him out with his people. This also happened before Sarah had a son – so Abraham’s fears were unfounded because God had promised him a son. This could not happen if he died.

8.  At last Sarah conceived, and the son Isaac was born. Years later, God tested Abraham by telling him to go to a mountain to sacrifice his son, his only son, whom he loved. This time Abraham was faithful and obeyed God fully. At the last moment, an angel prevented Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, and God provided a ram caught in a bush by its horns for the sacrifice.  

I give you these facts to remind you that Abraham, based on his deeds, was far from perfect. Now let’s look at the beginning of Romans chapter 4. Remember the context: Paul has just explained that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.  

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” – Romans 4:1-3

When does this phrase take place? It occurs in Genesis 15:6, long before Isaac is born. It occurred when God reappeared to Abraham, back when he told the Lord that he remained childless and a servant would need to be his heir. God told him, no, indeed his own flesh and blood would be his heir. He had Abraham go outside and look at the stars, and He told him that his descendants would be as numerous as these. In response to this amazing revelation, it was then that scripture says Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Did Abraham have any works to boast about at this point? No. His following God was imperfect at best. He had already done the first “Sarah is my sister” thing. He in this very conversation had started by telling God that his servant would have to be his heir. Yet, when God made the most amazing promise of all, that his descendants would be so numerous as to be uncountable, Abraham believed God. That is, he had faith in Him.

Were Abraham’s later works after this moment perfect? Certainly not. It was after this that Abraham had a child with Sarah’s servant. It was after this that Abraham laughed when reminded by God about the promise. And again, he did the “Sarah is my sister” thing.

Could Abraham ever boast about his works to God? No. The fact that God had Abraham and Sarah name their child Isaac, which means to laugh, would always be a reminder to them that they were far from perfect.

Abraham’s “works” were quite flawed, both before and after He came to God in faith. So are ours! Praise God that we don’t have to depend on our works any more than Abraham did!

Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. – Romans 4:4-5

This is an amazing statement. In a way it is quite scandalous. I am reminded of the parable in Matthew 20 of the workers who all received the same wages, even though some barely worked at all. Remember how the workers who had worked longer were quite upset? This is even more outrageous. Now people are being given wages who didn’t even work at all! And we aren’t talking about a day’s wages here, but an infinitely valuable gift! All we have to do is trust God when He says wonderful things about our future, just as Abraham trusted God when He showed him the stars.

Why can God do this? What is this infinitely valuable gift? It is the gift of the life of God’s own Son, God’s only Son, whom He loves. When Isaac asked Abraham where was the sacrifice, Abraham answered that God would provide it. He was right both with regards to the immediate situation and with regards to the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. The righteousness that is credited to our account by faith is by faith in Christ, because it is His righteousness that is credited to us. The wrath of God, which we deserved, was poured out on Christ, who was utterly without sin. Because of this, Christ’s righteousness is poured out on us when we receive Him by faith.

David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” – Romans 4:6-8

These verses are from Psalm 32. Note that Abraham came before Moses, before the Law was handed down, but David came after. David is saying that the person who does not have to stand before the Lord on the basis of his works (which are sin-filled), but whose sins are somehow, for some reason, not counted nor ever counted against him. Although this passage does not specifically say that faith is the means by which this righteousness is credited, the point is that this righteousness is again credited entirely apart from works. And we know from many other passages in the Psalms written by David that he did have a relationship of faith with God. David was a man after God’s own heart.

Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. – Romans 4:9-12

Why does Paul bring up circumcision at this point? It is because this is the likely where a Jewish person would go to after hearing the shocking claim that justification occurs by faith and not works. Their response would be, “But circumcision makes you part of the family of God! Circumcision clearly is a work – it is something you do, and makes you come into good standing with God. What about that, huh?”

Paul’s response is that they don’t understand circumcision at all. Abraham was the first to be circumcised – he went through it as an old man. But when did it happen, before or after Genesis says that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness? The statement that Abraham believed the Lord, and it was credited to him as righteousness occurs in Genesis 15:6. The circumcision of Abraham occurs in Genesis 17. In other words, God declared Abraham righteous while he was still an uncircumcised, well, Gentile! So Abraham is the father of all … Gentiles? Yes!

Circumcision did not save Abraham or redeem him in any way. It was simply a sign, a symbol, a commemorating act. What did it commemorate? Abraham’s faith! Fortunately for us, Jesus instituted baptism as a similar commemorating act for believers in Christ. I am sure that many people, if they thought about this, would be quite glad that God had them demonstrate their faith through the obedience of baptism rather than circumcision!

Regarding baptism, I think it is important to emphasize that baptism does not save you in any way. It too is a sign, a symbol, a commemorating act. We baptize new believers because we see this pattern in the New Testament. In contrast to Scripture, multiple religious groups have become confused about baptism and made it into something it is not. By way of example, consider the Roman Catholic Church. The following is from a book called “Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma” written in the 1950s by Dr. Ludwig Ott and can be found on pro-Roman Catholic websites. This book is written by an actual Roman Catholic priest and is not a protestant interpretation of Roman Catholic beliefs. In Roman Catholic terminology, baptism is an example of a sacrament. Here is what Ott writes about sacraments in general:

1.  The Sacraments of the New Covenant contain the grace which they signify, and bestow it on those who do not hinder it.

2.  The Sacraments […] operate by the power of the completed sacramental rite.

3.  All the Sacraments of the New Covenant confer sanctifying grace on the receivers.

4. Three Sacraments, Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders, imprint a character that is an indelible spiritual mark, and, for this reason, cannot be repeated.

5.  The sacramental character is a spiritual mark imprinted on the soul.

6.  The sacramental character continues at least until the death of the bearer.

7.  All Sacraments of the New Covenant were instituted by Jesus Christ.

8.  There are seven Sacraments of the New Law.

9.  The Sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for the salvation of mankind.

10.  The validity and efficacy of the Sacrament is independent of the minister's orthodoxy and state of grace.

11.  For the valid dispensing of the Sacraments it is necessary that the minister accomplish the Sacramental sign in the proper manner.

12.  The minister must have the intention of at least doing what the Church does.

13.  In the case of adult recipients, moral worthiness is necessary for the worthy or fruitful reception of the Sacraments.

As you can see, there are many errors here. It is quite a stretch to say that confirmation (a ritual in which a believer confirms that they believe) and holy orders (a ritual to become a bishop, priest, or deacon) were instituted by Christ. And none of the sacraments are necessary for salvation! 

Here is what Ott says about baptism specifically:

1.  Baptism is a true Sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ.

2.  The [remote matter] of the Sacrament of Baptism is true and natural water.

3.  Baptism confers the grace of justification.

4.  Baptism effects the remission of all punishments of sin, both eternal and temporal.

5.  Even if it be unworthily received, valid Baptism imprints on the soul of the recipient an indelible spiritual mark, the Baptismal Character, and for this reason, the Sacrament cannot be repeated.

6.  Baptism by water is, since the promulgation of the Gospel, necessary for all men without exception for salvation.

7.  Baptism can be validly administered by anyone.

8.  Baptism can be received by any person in the wayfaring state who is not already baptised.

9.  The Baptism of young children is valid and licit.

These statements are as opposite of Romans 4 as night is opposite of day. These errors are not limited to Roman Catholics, however. Some Churches of Christ have also maintained that baptism is necessary for salvation. I will add that the Catholic Church is somewhat divided on the issue of the “without exception” clause on the necessity of baptism for salvation. Some other Catholic websites say it is “normally necessary” for salvation. But even in this case, works have been added to faith.

Let’s come back to the topic of circumcision. I am reminded that in Acts 15 we read that some people came down from Judea to Antioch and told the believers that unless they were circumcised, they could not be saved. This led to the meeting of the council at Jerusalem. Peter spoke to the council about how the new Gentile believers (who were uncircumcised) exhibited signs and gifts of the Spirit just as the Jewish believers had. And Paul and Barnabas explained how God had moved through the Gentiles (again uncircumcised) and led many to faith, performing signs and wonders among them. The result of the council was a repudiation of the idea that circumcision was necessary for salvation; indeed, it wasn’t mentioned at all.

Returning to our passage, because Abraham was credited with righteousness due to his faith prior to being circumcised, he is the father of all who put their faith in Christ, both Gentiles and Jews. These verses complement Galatians 5:6 which says that “in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”

Now, fast forward up to the time of Moses, and you see again that circumcision is instituted among the Israelites. Could it save them? No. Then what was the point of it? It was a symbol of the covenant between them and God. It also set them apart as a people. But it, most importantly, was a symbol of something deeper – something we find in Deut. 30. After God warns them that if they forsake Him they will be forsaken by Him and scattered, we have this:

When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where He scattered you. Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back. He will bring you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors. The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. – Deuteronomy 30:1-6

That is, circumcision of the body is a symbol of circumcision of the heart, a spiritual operation that makes you tender towards God. In other words, the physical circumcision should remind the people to remain open to God, to love Him, to serve Him by faith. And note that the circumcision of the heart is an operation done by God in response to returning in repentance to Him. The ritual of circumcision was therefore a symbol showing how God desired to circumcise our hearts by us coming to Him in faith!

Returning to our passage:

It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. – Romans 4:13-15

Just as God credits Abraham with righteousness before he is circumcised, so does God credit Abraham with righteousness before the Law is given. Could the law possibly bestow salvation? If it could, then there would be no point to faith. And because nobody can fully follow the law, this would mean that nobody would have salvation – they would only stand condemned. The law cannot save.

I would also remind you that the law without faith is impossible; Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. How can you possibly do this if you have no faith?

I wish I had more time, and I would show you the details of what God did immediately after Genesis says that Abraham believed the Lord, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Here is the Cliff Notes version – you can read it in Gen. 15.

God had Abraham bring a heifer, a goat, a ram, each 3 years old, and a dove and a young pigeon. In the manner of ancient covenants, animals were collected and the larger cut in half. The two pledging parties would then walk between the smaller animals and between the cut-in-half pieces of the larger ones. But that is not what happens here. God put Abraham to sleep. God then, alone, without Abraham, “walked” through the pieces, symbolized by a firepot with a blazing torch. When Abraham awoke, he saw the charred evidence that God had passed through. But because Abraham did not himself pass through, this meant that God was bound to the covenant unilaterally! This is another symbol of how it is by faith, and not by works, that we are credited with righteousness. It is solely the work of God, through Christ on the cross, that we obtain salvation. Our faith is the means by which we accept the gift.  

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. – Romans 4:16-17

Abraham is our father, but because Abraham’s righteousness was through faith, not works, we do not praise Abraham, but God, who is the one who gives. I love the description of God in verse 17, the one who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that did not before exist. The following verses apply these two descriptions to the events in Abraham’s life:

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” – Romans 4:18-22

God gave life to the dead by enabling Abraham and Sarah to conceive and have a child in their extreme old age. And God called into being a thing which did not before exist, the person Isaac, the person through whom the promise of being the father of many nations would be continued. As people in the line of Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of course would come when Jesus came into the world. And through Jesus, each one of us experiences the twin miracles of God – the giving life to the dead – we were all dead in our sins and now we are alive in Christ – and the being called into being something that was not – as believers we are all recipients of new life, we are all born again, now able to walk and live by the Spirit.

The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. – Romans 4:23-25

We, who were bankrupt, worse than bankrupt, as we owed an impossible debt, have now been credited the very righteousness of Christ! John MacArthur tells the story of a poor farmer in a remote part of the Philippines years ago who saved up his money over many years to buy an ox. When at last he had enough money, he went to village to buy it only to learn that his money was worthless because the government had ordered that all old money be exchanged for new currency, and the deadline had passed for the exchange. He was unable to read or write, so he had a young schoolboy write a letter for him to the president asking that he be allowed to exchange the money so he could buy the ox. The boy wrote please let the man exchange his money because he is just a poor ignorant rice farmer. The letter that came back said that the law must be followed; even the president cannot change this rule. But the president also wrote that he would exchange the money with his own personal funds so that the farmer could buy the ox, and he signed the letter as “Your friend.” This story is a good picture of the futility of trying to store up our own good works for our salvation. They too are worthless. But God gives us salvation with His own personal “funds,” the blood of His Son. And for this, we should worship Him and serve Him and give Him our very lives.

I want to end with an application. By God’s timing, Abraham was the topic of Wednesday’s LiNC gathering. As a result, the team has been thinking about Abraham and his faith all week. What do you think about God’s promise to Abraham? Clearly Abraham had a hard time at first believing that he could be the father of many nations. What about you? The account of Abraham, like most of the Old Testament, is simultaneously history and symbolic truth for us.

Jesus said to His disciples, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” And in the Great Commission He told them to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that Jesus had commanded them. We are the result of that command, and as His disciples in 2019, the command also applies to us. Do you believe that you could be the father of many nations, of people who commit their lives to Christ and who themselves fulfill the Great Commission? It all starts with belief, with faith. Do you believe that God can use you to bring people to Christ and to help them to grow so that they too bring people to Christ? I believe God can use me, and more importantly, I believe that God can use you. More importantly still, God wants to use you. Do you believe it?

As with Abraham, God has an unconditional covenant with us. Do you know what it is? It is the last half of the last verse of the Great Commission, the last half of the last verse of the book of Matthew: And I am with you always, to the very end of the age.  God is with us, and He seeks us to believe in faith that He can use us to contribute to the global fulfillment of the Great Commission. I encourage you to believe that God is really with you, and that because of this, you can be used by Him to help others come to faith in Christ and to grow in Christ.  Furthermore, I encourage you to pray that God would give you opportunities to do so.