Abraham and His Faith

Having argued for a righteousness from God, apart from the law, for our justification, Paul asks a very relevant question in Ch.3:31. If righteousness comes from faith in Christ, then what role does the law have? Does faith nullify or cancel out the law? Paul answers vehemently, ‘Not at all!’ Rather, he says, ‘we uphold the law,’ because Jesus met all the demands of the law and it is fulfilled in Christ.

In chapter 4, Paul takes the example of Abraham, forefather of the Jews, to show that Abraham was not justified by the law. God chose Abraham to pass on His blessings to all the families on the earth. Genesis.12:3. When God reassured Abraham that He is his shield and great reward, Genesis 15:1, Abraham did voice his doubt, that he is childless, so who is going to inherit all of God’s blessings?

God assures Abraham that a son from his own body will be his heir and his generations will be countless like the stars in the sky. Bible says, Abraham believed the Lord and His promise to him, and that the Lord “credited it to him as righteousness.” Genesis 15:6. This is the faith which Paul draws on now.

Paul’s argument is, if Abraham were to be justified by works, he had something to boast about before God. But, it was not so. Rather, Abraham believed God and that was counted as his righteousness. Verses 1, 2 and 3.

Paul goes on to explain the concept behind labourer and his wages. A man works and the wages are due to him, and he must be paid for the work he has done. It is not a gift or gratis. If human beings can work their own salvation by their deeds or works, then salvation which God gives to them is not a gift, but are wages, an obligation. Verse 4.

In case a man does not depend on work, but trusts God to justify him, believing that God justifies even the wicked, then this faith is credited to him as righteousness, just as it was done in the case of Abraham. God offers salvation as a gift, if we have faith in Christ and what He did on the cross. Verse 5.

Next, Paul takes another example from the Old Testament times, David, by quoting Psalm 32:1,2. David is talking about people, whose transgressions or sins are forgiven by God and whose sins are covered by God’s mercy and grace and exclaims how blessed are such people. “Blessed is the man whose sins the Lord will never count against him.” Verses 6-8

Such a man is blessed because, though he does not possess righteousness of his own, yet has righteousness accounted to him or credited to him by God, in His mercy. David had committed adultery, murder and tried to cover it all up, but when pointed out by the prophet Nathan, he realized his wickedness and was quick to admit his sin. 2 Samuel 12:13

David cries to God seeking His forgiveness, beautifully expressed in Psalm 51. He was forgiven, for Nathan says, ‘The Lord has taken away your sin.’ Psalm 32 was also written in this context only. David writes in Psalm 32:5, ‘I acknowledged my sin to you … I said, “I will confess my transgression to the Lord” – and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” It is a different matter that David still had to go through the consequences of his sin and suffered.

1 John 1:9 gives us the same assurance. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” In faith when we seek forgiveness, God is faithful enough to forgive us and make us righteous.

The next question is, this blessedness of being credited with righteousness by faith, is it available only to the circumcised Jew or also to the uncircumcised Gentile believer? Under what circumstances was Abraham’s faith credited to him as righteousness? Was it before he was circumcised or after, askes Paul. Verses 9, 10

Abraham lived 430 years before the law was handed over by Moses to the new nation of Israel at Mount Sinai. Circumcision itself was introduced only after the promise of blessings were given to him by God as an everlasting covenant. The promise included the promised land, descendants, and God who will be their God forever. Genesis 17:7-8. Abraham was 75 years old when he received the promises, and was 99 years old when circumcision was introduced. Clearly faith preceded circumcision.

God introduced the rite of circumcision as a personal seal on the body of the covenant people, to claim them as God’s special people. They were set apart from all the other nations, who worshipped other gods. It was an outward sign of the covenant, which was to be adhered to by faith and trust.

Similarly, the church has rituals, introduced by Jesus Christ, the Head and the Lord of the Church. Water baptism is one of them. This again is an outward sign, a reminder of our faith, but has no special merit before God. Focus should always be on the inward transformation by the indwelling Holy Spirit and the saving grace of God. Water baptism will not bring us salvation, but faith in Christ will.

Much before circumcision, Abraham, by faith, had received righteousness, which was credited to him. So, when his faith was counted as righteousness to him, he was uncircumcised, much as a Gentile. Verse 11

Paul now concludes that by this Abraham becomes the father of all those who believe, but not circumcised; and righteousness was credited to them as well. Abraham was also the father of the circumcised, who shared the faith of their forefather and walked in the ways of faith. Verse 12

Reiterating his point, Paul says, it was not through law that Abraham and his descendants received the promise that they would be heir of the world, but through righteousness that came by faith. The promise was Abraham will inherit the world, that is, all the families of the earth will be blessed by him. Verse 13

Further as Paul mentions in Romans 8:17, we, those who believe in Christ, are the children of God and thus are also the heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. This privilege comes only by faith and not by any merit earned by us by our works or services. It is a gift and not a wage.

In the next two verses, 14 and 15, Paul argues that law brings forth the wrath of God and so, if those who live by the law are to become heirs, then faith has no value and the promises are worthless. In Galatians 3:17-19, Paul develops this argument in a clearer manner. If the inheritance depends on the law, which came later, then it no longer depends on the promise, which was given much earlier to Abraham. Thus, if the law is the deciding factor, then the promise is worthless, but that is not the case.

Law brings forth the wrath of God, because human beings transgressed the law. Where there is no law, then there is no transgression also. Law, in Paul’s view, brought the consciousness of sin and thus invoked the wrath of God, when it was transgressed. Where there is no law, the question of transgressing it does not arise and hence no wrath of God too.

Today, we live by faith, faith in the work Christ did on the cross at Calvary, where he paid the penalty for our sins, by shedding his own blood as an atonement. Abraham becomes our father, as he was also declared righteous, because of his faith. Not only the Jews, the direct descendants of Abraham, but also every one of us, who believe in Christ, is declared as the children of God. And we have the privilege of calling God our “Abba Father.”

Praise be to Him for granting us this privilege as a precious gift.