Abraham - Jeremiah's Vow

Romans Series (Pt. 19) – Romans 4:22-25

Salvation is a Simple thing, but it is not Easy(4:22-25)
Paul concludes his defense of genuine faith by telling us why Abraham is a part of the story. Abraham was the first to receive the imputation of righteousness that comes because of faith in the work of Christ.

Salvation, in the end, is not about doctrines or philosophies. It is not about the right words, or prayer or denomination. Salvation is the joining of two hearts, the heart of God and the heart of each individual that trusts in Him [John 17:20-26]. The events of Abraham’s life were written so that when the time came and some nutty preacher said, “If you believe on the Lord Jesus you will be saved,” you would actually believe Him and be saved. Not because the preacher said so, but rather because Abraham stands as the great example of what true faith in a faithful God looks like.

If the faith like that of Abraham is what God said we need to exercise in order to be justified, then maybe we should agree with Abraham and hope that it could be said of us:

He didn’t tiptoe around God’s promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said. [Romans 4:20-21, The Message, emphasis added]

Salvation is a simple thing. God has not made the matter complicated or difficult. He tells us to believe and salvation will come. Paul’s description and explanation of Abraham’s faith helped the Romans to understand two things. First, there was nothing that they could do to be saved. Salvation of any soul is an act of divine intervention. There is nothing that we can do to merit God’s love for us. What God does is that God extends an invitation to journey with Him throughout our lives.

Second, there was nothing that God desires for us to do to be saved. Faith is not a work because it is not something we do, it is something we are, or better yet, it is is someone we are becoming. As a result the Holy Spirit’s work to conform and transform us [Romans 8:29, 12:2], there will emerge from within us corresponding actions that serve as proof, as evidence of the inner reality that we have been born again [1 Peter 2:11-12]. But these “doings” proceed from our changed hearts. They do not precede our change of heart.

Romans Series (Pt. 18) – Romans 4:17-21

The Content of Genuine Faith (4:17-21)
What we find in the next few verses is what Abraham believed, what was the content of his faith, that was counted to him as righteousness. It is important to remember that faith, in order for it to be Biblical faith, must have a specific content. Faith is not supposed to be ambiguous. Faith is not like trying to grab the fog, but rather it is more like grabbing hold of something solid.

It is almost funny the way that Paul writes it. The Message paraphrase does a good job of capturing the emotion of this moment in both Abraham and Sarah’s lives.

¹⁷We call Abraham “father” not because he got God’s attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn’t that what we’ve always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, “I set you up as father of many peoples”? Abraham was first named “father” and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. ¹⁸When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said he would do. And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples. God himself said to him, “You’re going to have a big family, Abraham!” ¹⁹Abraham didn’t focus on his own impotence and say, “It’s hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child.” Nor did he survey Sarah’s decades of infertility and give up. ²⁰He didn’t tiptoe around God’s promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, ²¹sure that God would make good on what he had said. [Romans 4:17-21, The Message, emphasis added]

These are some remarkable words. When we begin to understand the story of Abraham and the circumstances of God’s interaction with him, we get a clearer picture of what faith truly is. Whatever we call faith, if it is going to be worthy of that name, must be based on something that is true (God’s Word), undeniable (God’s Faithfulness), and outside of myself (God’s Character) . That is why faith is not a “work” on our part, but a work of God in us [Ephesians 2:8-9]. When we look at the heavens, when we take God at His word and agree that it is only God who is able to do what He has said and promised, then faith has been exercised.

Do we trust in ourselves too much? Are we living according to what we see and not what God has promised? Have we taken the plunge into the promises of God and come up reassured that God is not a man that He should lie about what He is able to do ?

¹⁹God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? [Numbers 23:19, ESV]

These are the questions that should confront us when we consider the life and faith of Abraham. Paul does well in taking us back to him. Any proper and biblical understanding of faith must begin with Abraham. When each of us can embrace this faith, then we too can be considered among the children of Abraham!

Romans Series (Pt. 17) – Romans 4:13-16

Who Do You Trust? (Romans 4:13-16)
The reason that Abraham received the inheritance of being the father of many nations and the reason that his children also were beneficiaries of that promise was not because of who they were, but because of who they believed in. They believed in God and it was counted as righteousness. And this faith had nothing to do with what God wanted them to do—the law. The law were and are the standards of life for those that believe. They point to the covenant that exists. They are not the sign for the covenant. Something that we looked at before. Faith is what makes any command meaningful. Based on this inter-relationship between faith and law as exemplified in Abraham one can say that faith precedes law. Faith was the “means” by which any benefit of the promise of God was honored.

If it is about what we do then faith doesn’t matter and every person that does good would benefit from the covenant made to Abraham. But that isn’t the way that God has structured the relationship that we enjoy with Him . The kingdom is not established according to the works of men, but the work of Christ on the cross [Ephesians 2:4-7, cf., Romans 11:6; 2 Corinthians 5:18; 1John 2:2, 4:10]. The cross of Christ counteracts the effects of the law upon men. Paul tells us as much in verse 15 and 16.

For the law produces wrath; but where there is no law, there is no transgression. This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee it to all the descendants—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all [Rom 4:15-16, HCSB, emphasis mine]

The Ever-Present Law (Romans 4:15-16)
One way of looking at what Paul is saying is historically. “The Law” had not been given yet during Abraham’s life (the Law was given about 500 – 600 years after). Paul was not saying that there was no sin [1 John 1:8, 10]. What he is saying is that the special revelation of the Law given to Moses was not present, but because the general revelation of creation was all around them it still served as a sign post to God. Therefore, men were still without excuse (Rom 1:20).

I have often wondered why God took Abraham outside and showed him the stars [Genesis 15:5-6]? God was saying, “If I did this, don’t you think that I can give you an heir.” The heavens were God’s “proof” that nothing was outside of His reach or ability. The God that we are dealing with is not one to go back on His word. That which He says He will do will be done. Look at what the Psalmist says:

⁵He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved. ⁶You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. ⁷At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight. ⁸The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them. ⁹You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth. ¹⁰You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills; ¹¹they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. ¹²Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. ¹³ From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. [Psalm 104:5-13, ESV]

Our God is not one to back down from any challenge or to be intimidated by any “difficult” circumstance.

One of the implications of the text that Paul addresses is a common philosophy of today — relativism. If there is no standard there can be no wrong. Paul was reminding the Roman readers that there was no such thing as individualistic understandings of reality. God, the ultimate reality, standardizes our experiences and provides a continuity and congruency to life. This is the idea of correspondence (there is a more technical definition of correspondence here).

In the mind of Paul we have to remove the Law from the picture if grace is to be seen in its purest form. (This doesn’t mean that the law is thrown out. The law just can’t serve as a lens for looking at or for understanding the path of or the journey to salvation). This shift will in turn liberate both direct (those of the law) and indirect (those not under the law) descendants of Abraham to receive the grace that God offers. That is why Abraham is called “the father of all who believe” and not “the father of those who obey” (even when obedience is implied as a result of faith).

Romans Series (Pt. 16) – Romans 4:9-12

The Seal of Righteousness (Romans 4:9-11a)
What was the purpose for all of that has transpired thus far in Abraham’s life? Why did God go through all of this trouble so long ago? Why did God make a man who had faith go through the trouble of circumcision if the act had no power in the salvation event? It was because all people need to have moments of commitment. It is during these moments that we come face-to-face with ourselves and with our God and are made to decide where we will stand. Listen to the way that Paul phrases it:

He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. [Romans 4:11a, ESV]

Abraham received the sign not to establish or prove his faith, but so that through that act of sealing, or better understood as covenant, Abraham would never forget that he would never be the same. After that moment of faith, there was no turning back. There was no returning to the Land of Ur. He and God has set out on a new path, in a new direction.

In the Footsteps of Abraham (Romans 4:11b-12)
Paul takes the example and definition of true faith back to Abraham and clearly shows the Roman church that circumcision was circumstantial. Circumcision was not necessary for their faith to be recognized and approved by God. Abraham is the father of those that understand that circumcision is not what saves and of those that live out what circumcision stands for, even if not circumcised.

Any person that walks in the faith of Abraham has been approved by God. That is a startling and wonderful truth. That is why every nation and tongue who surrenders to the name of Jesus will be saved. Because Abraham was one of those outside and was brought into the family of God. This is the heart of salvation — adoption through faith.

Romans Series (Pt. 14) – Romans 4:1-3

Abraham our Father (4:1)
This first question serves two purposes. First, Paul is linking back the heritage of true faith (faith in the one true God) to the father of faith, Abraham. This will be a significant person for Paul because it will help to make the point that all Jews and Gentiles must express faith, in a way just like Abraham in order to be justified before God. Second, this is a question that takes the argument of works verses grace to another level. Because Abraham is seen as “the father of all that believe”it is important, from Paul’s perspective to identify what it was that Abraham “did” so that God accepted his faith as genuine. If Abraham is the prototype of faith, all that have come after him must understand what Abraham had or did that gave rise to the faith that pleased God.

True Faith does not Boast (4:2)
After having considered in the previous chapters the futility of works Paul points us to the example of Abraham, that will serve as the measure of genuine faith. If what Abraham did was according to works, then he had reason to boast. But, Paul tells us that boasting is futile with regards to salvation because God is the one saving [Ephesians 2:8-9]. Paul is telling us that whatever Abraham did it was not something that could give him reason to take pride. Abraham’s faith was grounded in something, rather, someone else.

Here is the heart of genuine faith. Faith that originates within me is not true faith. Faith must be grounded in something sure, something unchanging in order for it to have any power. When we recognize the awesome nature of God faith springs forth from inside of us because we can be sure of what we have believed in. The human heart is designed to resonate at the frequency of hope which is the frequency that God operates on [Colossians 1:27]. This is what made Abraham’s demonstration of faith so amazing. This man from Ur heard God and believed that what God said was true. Faith does not have to see what it has believed [Hebrews 11:1]. Faith knows that what it has believed will come to pass.

The Story of Abraham (4:3)
This verse is a reference to Genesis 15: 3 specifically. But in Genesis 15 we find a very powerful moment in the life of Abraham. Abraham is dealing with the reality that he does not have an heir to pass his name and inheritance to. This is a very big deal. But God takes Abraham out onto the porch (God’s office if you will) and says this.

After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And [Abraham] believed in the LORD; and [God] counted it to [Abraham] for righteousness. [Gen 15:1-6, KJV]

Why was Abraham’s faith counted as righteousness? It was because Abraham accepted the word of God as a completed work. That is, if God said it, that was all that Abraham needed. This is an interesting challenge to all those who claim to have faith. Can we take God at His Word? Paul then describes [4:5-6] the difference between the person who exercises faith in God’s provision and the person that attempts to gain access to the promises of God through their own means. It is this distinction that must be understood if faith that pleases God is to be demonstrated. Any attempt to ascend the mountain of God through our own means is incorrect and will ultimately be futile [Psalm 24:3-6].