Abraham Justified by Faith
March 4, 2019
Commentary
This chapter is perhaps one of the greatest chapters in the Bible on salvation by faith alone. Many religious groups claim to believe in salvation by faith, but not in salvation by faith alone. It is even common to find people in good churches who are not sure if they are saved or not because of something they may have done since they made their decision for Christ. If our salvation depends on something we have done, or have not done, then it is of works and is not by grace through faith alone as stated in Ephesians 2:8-9.
One of the biggest fallacies in the church today is that man has some spark of goodness which needs only to be fanned into a flame. The Jewish Rabbis taught that Abraham had a surplus of merit from his works that his descendants could draw on. Paul proceeds to show in this chapter how this is not so. He points out that if Abraham was justified by works, then he had something to boast about (vv. 1-5). However, his boasting could only be before other people and not before God (v. 2). Paul then asks, “What does the Scripture say?” He referred to Genesis 15:6 where we are told that “Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness“ (v. 3). He pointed out how a worker’s wages are what is owed to him because he earned them and are not given to him as a gift (v. 4). The opposite is true with Abraham. He was not justified because he worked for this but because he trusted God.
Paul then used David as an illustration of this same truth (vv. 6-8). He quotes from one of David’s Psalms after his terrible sin with Bathsheba (Psalm 32:1-2). Here David gives a description of God’s gracious dealing with him. He explains how instead of his sin being credited to his account, God credits righteousness to him. This meant that his sins were forgiven and covered.
Application
When I look back in my Christian life, I realize that my righteousness was a gift and not something I earned. I know various people today who are trying to work their way to heaven. What can I do to help them see from God’s Word that it is strictly faith, and not works, that saves a person?
Romans 4:1– 8 (NET)
1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh, has discovered regarding this matter? 2 For if Abraham was declared righteous by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God. 3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited due to grace but due to obligation. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in the one who declares the ungodly righteous, his faith is credited as righteousness.
6 So even David himself speaks regarding the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;
8 blessed is the one against whom the Lord will never count sin.”