Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Rom 4:1-2. Indeed, when a ladder is too short to reach a high-placed object, a man mounted on the highest bar has no easier time seizing it than those below him. “There is no difference,” we read(Rm 3:21-28); Jew nor Greek is deprived of the glory of God. No one accesses it on the scale of justice itself; it will always be insufficient. The proof of this is that even Abraham (v. 3) and David (v. 6), who undoubtedly would have had the right to stand at the very top of this ladder of works, did not use them to be justified before God. And if they didn’t, who could claim it? To make it clear that salvation by grace has nothing to do with the carnal claims and “pretension” of the Jewish people, vs. 9 and 10 recall that Patriarch Abraham received righteousness by faith before the sign of circumcision (Gen 15:6; Gn 15.2-6; Gn 17.23-27). At the time God justified him, he was still like the Gentiles. To be saved, one must begin by admitting oneself guilty, in other words declaring oneself to agree with the divine sentence rendered in the previous chapter. It is “the wicked,” and he alone, whom God justifies (v. 5; Mat 9:9-13).
If God is powerful to fulfill what He has promised (v. 21), man on his side is totally powerless to fulfill his own obligations. That is why the promises made to Abraham (and to the Christian) have no conditions, it is enough to believe. All appearances seemed to contradict what God had assured Abraham. But this one “did not form any doubt… being fully persuaded…” (vs. 20, 21). Where did this unwavering faith come from? From what he knew the One who had made the promises to him and he gave Him total trust. The signature of someone we respect is more valuable to us than that of a stranger and guarantees his commitments. Faith believes promises because it believes God who made them (vs. 17 and 3 Rm 4:1-3; comp. 2 Tim 1:6-14). It seizes the great truths affirmed by His Word: the death of the Lord Jesus to atone for our faults, his resurrection to give us justice (v. 25). Dear friend, at this point in your reading, can you say with all believers: I possess this faith that gives salvation. It was for my sins that Jesus was delivered; it was for my justification that God resurrected him?
Thus, after exposing the contrast between law and faith, Paul comes to speak of the state of the believers of the Old Testament, before the preaching of the gospel of Jesus to the whole world. The apostle retains the example of two men: Abraham and David because they were of particular importance to each Israelite. The first had received God’s promises and the second was the representative of God’s kingship. All of Israel’s hopes were tied to these two men. The Messiah was indeed the son of David, and david was the son of Abraham (Matt 1:1). The apostle’s argument is confirmed in these two men, especially in Abraham. Paul asks a first question: “What shall we say, then, that according to the flesh, Abraham our father found? For if Abraham was justified on the principle of works, he has something to glorify himself, but not in relation to God; for what does Scripture say? “And Abraham believed God, and this was counted to him in righteousness.”
Abraham obtained righteousness as well as the “promise to be heir to the world” (v. 13), on the principle of faith. There was no question of works done by Abraham. So there was nothing in which he could boast. Everything was a gift from God. God spoke and Abraham believed. God promised a blessing in grace, and Abraham glorified God, believing against all hope, and his faith was counted to him to justice.
In chapter 2 of his epistle, James seems to contradict the above. He asks, in fact: “Was not Abraham, our father, justified by works, having offered his son Isaac on the altar?” Now, this apparent contradiction disappears if we remember that James wrote his epistle to the twelve tribes of Israel, therefore to mostly inconverted men, possessing a profession of faith, but not a true faith of the heart. That is why he exhorts them to ensure that their works correspond to their profession of faith. Isaac’s sacrifice proved Abraham’s faith. It was by faith that he offered this sacrifice, and he made it perfect (James 2:22). By receiving the spies and letting them go in peace, Rahab also manifested his faith, but in a different way; by this act she proved the reality of the profession of faith she had made before the spies. In these two cases, it is not a question of justification before God, but before men; we find in it clear proof that the professed faith was very real. Abraham, by sacrificing Isaac, and Rahab, by letting the spies leave in peace despite the dangers she was running, manifest an operative faith; their acts were not works of law—neither murder nor treason are approved by law; nor were they good works, in the usual sense of the word, but they were works of faith, which proved the reality of faith; indeed, a faith without works is dead: it is only an intellectual faith. This is the side of the truth that James establishes.
Let us note that we are led here to take a step further than in chapter 3. We are told in Romans 3 that God is righteous in justifying the one who is of the faith of Jesus; it is about our justification. Our sins had deserved the righteous judgment of the holy God and had to be judged according to this divine holiness, otherwise God would not have been able to deliver the sinner from judgment. In our chapter 4, it is not, as we have said, about God’s satisfaction and our assurance of deliverance from judgment, but about our justification before Him. In other words: By the death of Christ, on the one hand, we escaped judgment, as israel was once preserved, by the blood of the Passover lamb, the sword of the destructive angel, and on the other hand, the victory obtained for us over sin and death makes us a justified and delivered people: we are, like Israel on the other side of the Red Sea, delivered from the power of all our enemies, and we can sing the song of deliverance.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
- Good works, unable to ensure salvation
Mat 7:22-23 Many will say to me on this day: Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied by your name? have we not cast out demons by your name? and have we not performed many miracles by your name? 23 Then I will say to them openly: I have never known you, withdraw from me, you who commit iniquity. Rom 3:20 For no one shall be justified before him by the works of the law, since it is by the law that the knowledge of sin comes. Gal 2:16 Nevertheless, knowing that it is not by the works of the law that man is justified, but by faith in Jesus Christ, we too have believed in Jesus Christ, that we too may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law. Eph 2:8-9 For it is by grace that you are saved, by means of faith. And it doesn’t come from you, it’s God’s gift. 9 It is not by works, so that no one may glorify himself. Tit 3:4-5 But when the goodness of God our Savior and his love for men were manifested, 5 he saved us, not because of the works of righteousness we would have done, but according to his mercy, through the baptism of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Spirit,
- Abraham called the father of believers, characteristics: Gal 3:6 As Abraham believed in God, and this was imputed to him justly,
-Obedience Gen 12:5 Abram took Sarai, his wife, and Lot, son of his brother, with all the property they owned and the servants they had acquired from Sharan. They left to go to the land of Canaan, and they arrived in the land of Canaan.
-altruism Gen 13:9 Isn’t the whole country in front of you? So separate yourself from me: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.
-courage Gen 14:14 As soon as Abram learned that his brother had been taken prisoner, he armed three hundred and eighteen of his bravest servants, born in his house, and pursued the kings to Dan.
-Generosity Gen 14:20 Blessed be the Most High God, who has delivered your enemies into your hands! And Abram gave him the tithe of everything.
-incorruptibility Gen 14:23 I will not take anything of yours, not even a thread, nor a shoe cord, so that you do not say: I have enriched Abram. Nothing for me!
-fervor in prayer Gen 18:23-33 : Pl see lesson on the seven pylons of prayer
-admirable faith He 11:17 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac, when he was tested, and offered his only son, he who had received the promises,
- Justification by Faith
Ha 2:4 Behold, his soul has swollen, it is not straight in him; But the righteous will live by his faith. Rom 5:1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; Gal 3:6 As Abraham believed in God, and this was imputed to him in righteousness; Phil 3:9 and to be found in him, not with my righteousness, that which comes from the law, but with that which is obtained by faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God by faith; Hel 10:38 And my righteous will live by faith; but if he withdraws, my soul does not take pleasure in him. Heb 11:4 It was by faith that Abel offered God a sacrifice more excellent than that of Cain; it was through her that he was declared righteous, God approving his offerings; and it was through her that he still speaks, though dead.
- Justification by faith
Gen 15:6 Abram trusted in jehovah, who justly blamed him for it. Acts 13:39 and that whoever believes is justified by him for all things that you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Rom 5:1:18 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 18 Thus, as by a single offense condemnation has reached all men, so by a single act of justice the justification that gives life extends to all men. Rom 9:30 What shall we say, then? The Gentiles, who did not seek righteousness, obtained righteousness, the righteousness that comes from faith;1 Co 6:11 And that is what you were, some of you. But you have been washed, but you have been sanctified, but you have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God. Gal 3:24 Thus the law has been like a teacher to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.
From all the above, we note that ifAbraham had been justified by works, this justification would have been conferred on him by virtue of his merits. How would this be possible before a holy God, before whom the very heavens are unclean? No, Scripture does not report anything good about Abraham, nor about the works on the basis of which God could have justified it. But what does it say? “Abraham believed God”; this is what we find written in it and which is in perfect agreement with the Gospel: God still acts in the same way today. Since Christ died for the ungodly and sinners, God can accept in grace whoever believes. He is now a God “who justifies the ungodly.” To Him all the glory. Thus, there is little need to notice that the resurrection of Christ is presented to us as a resurrection from the dead, that is, as the wonderful intervention of God to deliver in righteousness the One who had glorified him, suffering the consequences of sin, that is, death. Forthe resurrection of the dead in general is also presented as a consequence of christ’s resurrection. And Isaac’s sacrifice proved Abraham’s faith. Our prayers support you all in your efforts to follow the example of our Patriarch.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may be shining in my life right now.
Thank you Lord Jesus for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby watering point to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow on “the fruits of justification by faith, sin and grace.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.