Romans 4- Father Abraham

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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, (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations” ) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 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. Romans 4:16-18

If you ever went to Sunday School as a kid, you might have sung or heard the song “Father Abraham”, you might wonder what does Abraham have to do with the Church? Well Abraham is a spiritual Father to us all, as the Apostle Paul writes here “Who is the father of us all” As it is written “I have made you a father of many nations (Gentiles/Church)” So you might ask how? How is Abraham, the patriarch of Israel, the spiritual Father of us all? Well its by the grace of God through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8)

The seed/the Messiah/The Christ (Jesus) came through the promise of Abraham. As the Apostle Paul says “He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” (Galatians 3:14) The Promise from God to Abraham was not just a piece of land, but was salvation to the entire world through Jesus Christ. As scripture says “So shall your descendants be” In Christ you are a descendant of Abraham, think about that

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: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Romans 4:19-22

The Promise which seemed impossible, for Abraham to have a son at hundred years old, the promised son Isaac, however as the Apostle Paul says “He did not waver at the promise of God” Abraham had true faith in God and was credited to him righteousness (Genesis 15:6) Do you have the faith of Abraham in Christ? Do you believe Jesus Christ has given you eternal life, the Promise? Notice Abraham also “giving glory to God” , Thanks be to God for this unspeakable gift of salvation from Christ alone

False teachers tell you to “unhitch from the Old Testament”, how can you do this as a child of Abraham? When you read the pages of Genesis, you are part of this story, you are part of Gods salvation plan, the Promise given through Jesus Christ our Lord, sealed by the Holy Spirit, reconciled back to our Heavenly Father, Amen!

Romans 4- Seed of Abraham

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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. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Romans 4:13-15

So what is the promise and how do we obtain it? The Apostle Paul spends alot of time speaking about Abraham and how this relates to our salvation. The Promise was initially spoken to Abrham as scripture says “The promises were spoken to Abraham and His seed” (Galatians 3:16) and “I (God) will make You (Abraham) a great nation and I will bless you (Abraham) (Genesis 12:1-3) 

The promise made to Abraham that through His seed (Christ), God will make a great nation, multiply it as numerous as the stars and the grains of sand (Genesis 22:17-18) The Promise that all the nations (the entire world) would be blessed through Abraham seed (Genesis 12:3) And as the Apostle Paul says here “the heir of the world” not just Israel. 

The Apostle Paul also makes clear this Promise was not fulfilled through The Law, but through the righteousness of faith. As the Apostle Paul says “The Letter (Law) Kills, but The Spirit brings Life” (2 Corinthians 3:6) Salvation never came through The Law, it actually brings death. Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8) The Promise given to Abraham and his seed was by faith and not by any works, otherwise it would void the righteousness of faith

Who is the seed of Abraham? The Apostle Paul interprets this prophecy for us , “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ” (Galatians 3:16) The seed is Christ , who came through Israel, God  incarnate through the virgin, to die for our sins and rise again on the 3rd day. Salvation comes through Christ alone, the promise seed of the entire world

This Promise is only obtained by faith in Christ. As Paul says “If those who are of The Law are heirs, faith has been made void, The Promise made no effect” If salvation was able to be obtained by works or “Keeping The Law”, then faith would be made void and the promise of salvation would be broken. It’s only by the works of Christ on the cross, that salvation made be possible, its only by faith in Christ that you can receive The Promise

Because The Law brings wrath, but as the Apostle Paul also says “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” (Galatians 3:13) Amen!

Romans 4- All Nations Will Be Blessed

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Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 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: 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. Romans 4:9-12

So who can be saved? Is salvation only for the Jews (the circumcised) or also for the Gentiles (the uncircumcised)? As the Apostle Paul reveals, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit , “He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” (Galatians 3:14) What most Christians don’t realize is the promise of salvation, which is Jesus Christ, came through Abraham (Israel) and we are also grafted into the New Covenant (Romans 11) Everyone who calls upon the name of The Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13)

The next question is, was it the act of circumcision that saved Abraham? Circumcision was a sign or a seal of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 17:10-14) While circumcision is an act of faith, its a sign of obedience, the act of circumcision doesn’t save you. Many who were circumcised were not saved, many who were not circumcised are saved. As talked about previously in this chapter, salvation is by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8) As scripture says “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe,” (v11)

Abraham was already declared righteous by His faith, even before He became circumcised. (Genesis 15:6) The act of circumcision didn’t save Abraham, but it was a sign He made a covenant with God. This is the same with baptism in the New Covenant, its a sign you are professing faith in Christ and are in the New Covenant. (Romans 6:3-4) However the act of baptism doesn’t save you, you are saved also by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8)

Therefor, Abraham is the spiritual father of all those who are saved in Christ, as the Apostle Paul says “Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”  So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (Galatians 3:7-9) All nations will be blessed through Abraham because of Christ by faith and not of our own works, Amen

Romans 4- Saved By Faith

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But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Romans 4:5-8

While faith without works is dead faith, we can’t do anything to save ourselves. The fact that any of us are saved at all is because of God’s grace and mercy. As the Apostle Paul said “He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we have done, but according to His mercy , through the washing of the new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5) Any works that we do produce is because of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. As Paul says here “But believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness” Faith in Christ is what saves you, not by any of our own works, its all because of the grace of God

The Apostle Paul used Abraham alot as a great example as being saved by faith, and that obedience being accredited as righteousness. Now he quotes King David as an example also of being saved by faith. David says “Blessed are those whose iniquities/transgressions/lawless deeds are forgiven, who sins are covered” (v7, Psalm 32:1-2) What an amazing thought, that God is willing to forgive our sins, that Jesus Christ became flesh and took our place on the cross. The sacrifice of Christ covered our sins, that we are justified before the Father because of Christ, that Christ has given us the Holy Spirit to live inside of us

King David also says “Blessed is the man who The Lord shall not impute sin or count sin against us or has cleared us of sin” (v8, Psalm 32:2) What have you done to have your sins forgiven, to have your sins erased? Nothing, you have no power to save yourself, its by the grace of God, through faith in Christ, that you are saved (Ephesians 2:8) As the Apostle Paul said “For He made Him (Christ) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Christ) (2 Corinthians 5:21)

This reminds me of the parable Jesus told about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, The Pharisee prayed “Thank God I’m not a sinner like other people, including this tax collector” I do all these works to justify I’m righteous. The tax collector said “God have mercy on me , a sinner”  Who do you think was justified before God? Jesus said it was the tax collector because they were humbled with repentance. (Luke 18:9-14)

King David had committed great sins in his life, however God declared him righteous because of his faith and repentance. Salvation can never be earned, its only by faith in the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, trust in Him and not yourself, don’t be deceived like the Pharisee, have faith like Abraham, like David, like the Tax Collector, Amen!