Chapter 4
When it comes to reading and studying the Bible…chapter and verse breaks give the Bible a structure that makes things easy to find…breaking down long passages of Scripture into manageable reading…for example in the Greek Ephesians chapter 1 verses 3-14 is one long sentence…it’s hard to imagine a Bible without chapter and verse breaks.
BUT…when reading the Bible at times chapter and verse breaks make it difficult to follow the author’s thought process…the problem with chapter and verse breaks in the Bible is they often times interrupt the story’s plot or the author’s line of thinking.
Starting in chapter 4 Paul is continuing on in his discussion of justification by faith that he actually started in verse 21 of chapter 3.
The chapter break at the end of verse 31 implies that Paul is starting a new thought but in reality the entire fourth chapter of Romans surrounds Abraham and continues to show Abraham as the ultimate example of someone being justified or counted righteous by faith.
The reason Paul dedicates so much time to Abraham is because the majority of Jews in Paul’s day believed that Abraham was made right with God because of his own righteous character…they believed God chose Abraham to be the father of Israel because he was the most righteous man on earth during his time.
This is seen in the often quoted rabbinic saying that says… “Our father Abraham observed the entire Torah before it was given to Israel”.
https://people.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/Shokel/871201_Abraham.html
The idea gets presented that Abraham was a worshipper of God…not even close. Abraham lived in Ur of Chaldea [Gen. 11:31; 15:7]…a thoroughly pagan city… he was a sinful heathen who grew up in an unbelieving and idolatrous society.
Truth is…Abraham wasn’t any different than any other heathen who lived during that time…Abraham had no knowledge of the true God.
Why then did God call Abraham? …we don’t know exactly how…when…or why God first made Himself known to Abraham…nowhere in Scripture is the reason given why God selected that particular pagan from the millions of others in the world at that time.
Most Christians’ knowledge about Abraham is that he is the patriarch…the father of the Jewish nation…but he’s also the father of Islam.
Here’s the single KEY event that makes Abraham special even today… Abraham trusted God when many of us wouldn’t have.
That’s what it comes down to in the life of every believer…why some seem to have a more vibrant Christian life…it’s because they trusted God when many others…don’t…won’t…are unable to…refuse to…don’t have time to…or are too rebellious to do what God asks.
As a result, we miss out on the blessing God wants to give us because of our inability to be faithful to His calling…in Abraham’s case there was no specific mention of what God had planned for Abraham in the future…all God said was:
Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house and I will bless you [Gen 12:1]
Jewish thought was that Abraham was righteous because he obeyed God by being circumcised…Paul says no…Abraham lived 600 years before the Law of Moses ever existed…if salvation came from keeping the Law then how could Abraham ever be right with God seeing that the Law did not even exist yet?
Paul shows Abraham was declared to be righteous by faith before he was ever circumcised…Abraham was declared righteous before the Law was ever given.
What does that mean to be righteous by faith…here’s the problem…the Church has twisted Scriptures to the point that we cannot understand how faith and righteous living both are necessary for salvation.
The one trustworthy sign of sincere faith in Christ is godly behavior…you can tell me how much you pray…how often you go to church…you’re taking communion…helping in the church…giving money…BUT…apart from godly behavior there is no salvation because godly behavior is salvation.
By that statement it would seem to imply that somehow works…or doing ‘stuff’ also plays a part in our salvation…it does.
So many times people’s only focus on the Bible is “getting into heaven” …far too often people’s focus is thinking about being carried away into heaven to live forever in a mansion…and about how great heaven is going to be.
We are so focused on the afterlife that we neglect the development of our Christian character…while going to heaven is important and something we all look forward to…our desire should be more centered on our present life with God in Christ here on earth.
The Church today bases the promise of heaven solely on our profession of faith in Jesus apart from any actual living by faith in God…that’s incorrect.
It is a weak and ineffective faith that says, “I’m saved by faith” [Eph 2:8] OR “John 3:16 is all I need to know” …if you are banking eternity on those statements as the promise of going to heaven because you think that’s all that’s needed for Salvation…that is wishful thinking.
The idea that I’m going to live in a mansion in heaven simply based on my profession of faith regardless of how I lived while on earth…that’s dangerous living.
The faithful person is someone whose personality and behavior are acceptable to God…by how they think…speak…act…living as someone who loves…seeks… relies on…hopes in…obeys…and trusts God…that’s all contained in faith.
This is the definition of faith as James saw it…a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. (James 2:24).
HOLD IT…are you suggesting that how I live my life is also a contributing factor to how righteous God sees me…YES…here’s what that’s stating…all who are saved through faith by God’s grace will participate in good works.
The Church has watered down the Bible to the point that at times it’s unrecognizable…I’m not suggesting that faith is not the means through which we receive God’s grace…because it is:
…Faith is the thing that sets people apart for God
…Faith is the thing that shows us to be in a covenant relationship with God
…Faith is the mark that shows that you’re in God’s family.
BUT…both Paul and James are saying that a so-called ‘faith’ which results in no actions is not genuine faith.
Paul mixes works and faith together to show that being in a covenant relationship with God does include both faith and works because faithful living is an extension of faith…Someone can’t claim to have faith without faithful living…the two cannot be separated from one another:
James emphasizes this same point in his letter [1:22-25].
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers
who deceive themselves. 25 …the one who…becomes… an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
Is a person saved by faith…YES…Bible says so [3:28]
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith.
But that faith also includes a faithfulness to God’s obedience…that’s why Paul emphasized the importance of testing your faith to see if it’s genuine:
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith: test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test. [2 Cor. 13:5]
The Book of James…whole purpose…is for professed Christians to test their faith…do you identify with those things that identify you as being a Christian?
Both James and Paul are saying…you say you’re a Christian…test your faith to see if it’s genuine or false…if a person is truly saved there will be outward evidence of it in their lifestyle.
If they are not saved…there will be no evidence…that doesn’t give me the right to make judgment on someone…but it does give me a right to question their relationship with God.
This brings up the controversial issue in the Church today…something John MacArthur has proposed…Lordship Salvation…if a person claims to be a Christian yet does not show evidence of good works, are they truly a Christian?
Lordship Salvation argues that the Bible teaches faith in Christ will cause a person to live differently.
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” [2 Cor. 5:17 / Gal. 5:22 / James 2:14]
The Bible teaches that a person who has been saved will not desire to continue to live in sin (Romans 6:2).
People ask me…do you think I’m saved because I do such and such…that’s not for me to comment on…BUT…A person should want to change…if a person is truly saved there will be outward evidence of it in their lifestyle.
Good works are the biproduct—the result—of salvation, not the reason…good works are evidence of salvation…not in any way a part of salvation.
This whole 4th chapter is awkward to read and at times difficult to understand but is for one purpose…to use Abraham as the scriptural example of justification ….to demolish the rabbinical teaching that a person is made right with God by keeping the law…or…on the basis of his own religious efforts and works.
Abraham was not and could not have been justified by keeping the law because there was no Law at the time Abraham lived.
Abraham was justified both by works and faith…his actions proved that he believed God…he lived a lifestyle that demonstrated his trust in God…NOW… did he always live a lifestyle that demonstrated a trust in God?…NO.
—First…God told Abraham to go forth from your relatives…he took his nephew Lot with him.
—Second…when famine came on the land instead of consulting with God on what he should do he made the decision to go to Egypt.
—third…on two separate occasions Abraham lied about his wife…referring to her as his sister that in both cases almost cost him his life.
—fourth…when Sarah was beyond childbearing age, Abraham took matters into his own hands by committing adultery with Hagar the servant girl that produced a son that has been an aggravation to Israel for thousands of years.
KEY – The story of Abraham and Hagar is an example of listening to so called good advice during a time of darkness rather than waiting for God to send the light…never try to help God fulfill His Word.
Abraham’s faith was not perfect…the thing about the Bible is it never flatters its heroes…it tells the truth about each one of them…God chronicled the history of the Bible as it occurred…not as we’d like for it to have been…or…as those who penned it would like to see their lives portrayed in it.
As a result, when we study the Bible we often find ourselves looking into a mirror.
BUT… despite Abraham’s failures he is still the biblical standard of a righteous man because ultimately it was his faith in God that caused him to be righteous in God’s sight.
Abraham being justified by faith is the entire theme of Romans 4…‘imputed righteousness.” …here’s what this means…God imputes Christ’s righteousness to us at Salvation…and took our sin and imputed it onto Jesus.
Here’s why that’s important…no matter how good we think we are…or try to be…we will never meet God’s standard of perfection on our own…it is only because God imputes or places Jesus’ righteousness on us that makes us righteous in God’s sight.
That by no means is an excuse to continue in sin…Jesus’ righteousness is only credited to us when we by faith get serious about living a lifestyle that is in obedience to God’s Word.
That’s what Abraham did…he believed in God…had faith…but at the same time was obedient to God’s leading in his life…the importance of this chapter is significant…if there is any doctrine that Satan desires to undercut and distort, it is the doctrine of justification—grace—faith—redemption—propitiation—and forbearance…all contained in just three verses. [3:22, 24, 25]
Faith–being certain about realities we believe are true but we cannot see with our physical eyes.
Justification–the act of God where He pronounces a sinner to be righteous.
Grace–God not treating me as I deserve to be treated.
Redemption–sin separated us from God…Jesus’ death paid the price to buy us back.
Propitiation–the turning away of God’s anger…wrath…and condemnation of sin which we rightfully deserve.
Forbearance–God’s patience toward us by passing over our former sins.
If Satan can cause confusion in us in regards to that doctrine…he has succeeded in keeping people in their sin and condemnation.
In these three verses Paul elaborates on what some consider to be the pillar of the gospel…the proper understanding of these words are the core of the Christian faith…these verses are at the heart of the Gospel message.
Misunderstanding /misinterpretation of these key words is part of the reason there are so many different types of religions and why people are confused about salvation.
How God worked in the life of Abraham is the same way He still works in the lives of people…nothing changed in 5000 years.
It’s the same process with believers…the Holy Spirit enlightened Abraham’s mind and heart to recognize the true and only God…it’s because of that “enlightenment” that enabled Abraham to respond in faith…Abraham was immediately receptive to God’s calling in his life.
The writer of Hebrews says:
Abraham by faith being called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. [Heb. 11:8].
Here we see the importance of obeying…I think we all at various times in our life sense the call of God to do something…God doesn’t call us into a relationship with Him so we can just breathe air the rest of our lives.
God has a plan and a purpose for every person in this room…Abraham was the example in how we are to respond.
In the Greek, the wording “being called” is a present participle…the translation could be, “when he was being called” …in other words as soon as he understood what God was saying, he started packing.
It was instant obedience…nothing about “well, God at 75 it’s going to take a while…got to sell off some household effects…get my house sold…get things packed…it’s really a bad time of the year to be traveling…it may take several days, or even weeks or months, to make final preparation for the trip.”
NO…in his mind he was already on the way…KEY — with only the guarantee of God’s word…Abraham left…his homeland…his friends….his security… most of his relatives…probably many of his possessions…to go to a land that he would inherit…at some time in the future.
FAITH…is trusting God when He reveals only what you need to know … then waiting with patience and trusting Him for the rest.
In Abraham we see God’s pattern for every person who is called…God’s calling is the invitation…first of all are you going to accept that calling…NOT…well God…you need to reveal to me a little more information, then I can make an informed decision…NO.
It may take time…even years before God is ready to use you…God wants you ready…not willing to get ready…He needs you now…your job is to continue on in your initial calling until such time as God is ready to use you.
Here’s how the Lord works in the heart of every true believer…Abraham is the example…the disciples are the example…this is especially emphasized in our Sunday night movie.
God demands a total willingness to leave everything behind…that’s the importance of accepting Jesus as Lord of your life…when you do that
in essence you’re saying to God:
…Lord, I am bought with a price…I am Your purchased possession
…Lord, You redeemed me…I am Yours…use me
…Lord, do with me as You want…I am totally and completely Yours
…All I am, and all I have belongs to You
…I am ready to do what You want…to go where You want
…I am nothing of myself.
This is what Jesus says every one of us must do toward self…for us to be successful as Christians…anything less than that is a compromise.
The life of faith begins with the willingness to leave one’s own place of sin and unbelief—to leave the world system.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind [Romans 12:2]
It includes accepting by faith the role God has prepared for you.
It includes being obedient to what God is asking you to do in that role.
It includes living a lifestyle that glorifies God.
A life that is good, acceptable, perfect and pleasing to God…the Christian with a renewed mind will know how to walk through life with an understanding of the will of God and will be able to obey him.
When we accept those four points by faith…and by faith make them a part of our life…that is the faith that is credited to us as righteousness [4:5].