Romans - The Faith of Abraham

The Faith of Abraham

Romans 4

“Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way.” Romans 4:1-2

            “The Jews were proud to be descendants of Abraham. Paul uses Abraham as a good example of someone who was saved by faith. By emphasizing faith, Paul isn’t saying that God’s law was unimportant but that it is impossible to be saved simply by obeying it. When some people learn that they are saved by God thru faith, they start to worry...’Do I have enough faith?’ they wonder. ‘Is my faith strong enough to save me?’ These people miss the point. It’s Jesus Christ who saves us, not our feelings or actions, and he is strong enough to save us no matter how weak our faith is. Jesus offers us salvation as a gift because He loves us, not because we have earned it thru our powerful faith. What then is the role of faith? Faith is believing and trusting in Jesus Christ and reaching out to accept His wonderful gift of salvation.” *

            Verse 6 leads into a quote from a Davidic Psalm by saying: “David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it.” It says: “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!” 

            Paul once again states in the form of a question if this blessing is just for the Jews or is it for the uncircumcised Gentiles as well? Abraham was counted as righteous prior to being circumcised, so it wasn’t being circumcised that made anyone righteous. Paul notes that Abraham is the spiritual father to both the circumcised and uncircumcised. This means that all who are right with God are recipients of all His promises.

            God made Abraham the father of many nations because he “believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.” (v.17) Because Abraham was fully convinced that God was able to do whatever He promised he was named righteous by God. So it is our faith and subsequent trust in God that makes us all righteous. Christ had to die to cleanse us from sin and was raised to new life to make us right with God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

* Chapter notes from p. 2481 of The Life Application Study Bible.