Saved by Faith? Abraham, an Old Testament Example

Introduction

Paul has just finished explaining the good news of the powerful, saving Gospel he proclaims.

Romans 3:28 (ESV)

Yet so radical is the idea that a person can be saved by faith alone that the question naturally arises, are there any examples of this happening? Is Paul just making this up? What about people before Jesus’ and Paul’s times? Were any of them saved, and if so, how?

Paul has already shown that the gospel of salvation by faith alone is an Old Testament concept. He quoted Hab 2:4 in Romans 1:17 to establish that God’s righteousness is given because of faith alone. Here in Romans 4 Paul gives an example of just such an Old Testament person: Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation.

Paul uses what was written about Abraham in the book of Genesis to prove that he was saved by faith alone. He then explains that Abraham is not just the Father of Israel, but he is rightfully the father of all who believe and who receive through their faith God’s declaration that they are righteous as he did.

Some important words in this chapter:

Righteousness –

Here: the righteousness that comes from God

Count, counted, counts –

Here:

To count or take into account.

To credit someone with something.

Faith, believed, unbelief – (in verse 22 the word faith is supplied by the ESV translators, it isn’t in the Greek text which is a quote from Genesis 15:6)

Here:

Believe: to depend on or trust in

Faith: dependence on or trust in

A look ahead:

We’ll cover this chapter by asking and answering five questions, some of which are in the passage and others are implied.

How was Abraham saved (declared righteous)?

When was Abraham saved?

Why is salvation by faith and not through some other means?

What is saving faith?

What is the lesson of Abraham?

I. How was Abraham saved? 1-8

Significant words:

work, works –

believed, believes, faith –

justify, justifies –

counted, counts, count –

Question: Was Abraham justified ? (4:1-2)

Answer: Abraham was justified . (4:3-5)

This is what the scripture teaches: (3)

Genesis 15:6 (ESV)

If Abraham earned justification by his works, it would not be considered a gift. (4)

But that’s not what happened. Abraham believed God and his faith was counted as righteousness. It had nothing to do with Abraham working or not working. (5)

A further illustration from David’s life.

Scripture quoted is from Psalm 32:1-2.

Paul asserts that this scripture teaches that God’s blessing of forgiveness comes not on the basis of works but by God’s grace through faith.

This was certainly David’s experience after his sin with Bathsheba. When he confessed and repented, God freely forgave him. It was by grace not because of works.

II. When was Abraham saved? 9-12

The words “circumcised, uncircumcised, circumcision” occur

The larger question is: can only people be declared righteous by God?

Again, Paul turns to the example of Abraham. When was he given God’s righteousness? Was it before or after he was circumcised? (10)

Answer: he was circumcised (10) Circumcision was a later of his righteousness due to his faith (11a).

The significance of this is in what Paul says in verse 11b-12:

1. Abraham is now the father of all who believe who have been circumcised, so they could also have God’s righteousness counted to them.

2. Abraham is the father of those who circumcised who have believed as Abraham did before he was circumcised.

When Abraham was saved is critical for two reasons:

1. It eliminates as a requirement for salvation.

2. It opens the door for to be saved by believing in God’s promise of forgiveness.

III. Why is salvation by faith (not works or law-keeping)? 13-17

The words “faith, believed, believe, unbelief” occur in 13-25.

Question one: Why is salvation by faith and not by some other means such as works or law-keeping? (13-17)

Answer:

1. Faith and the law . It’s one or the other. (13-14)

2. The law . It only condemns. (15)

3. Salvation by faith rests on and allows to become spiritual descendants of Abraham (16-17a)

IV. What is saving faith? 18-22

Question two: What is the faith that saves? (Implied question.)

Paul describes Abraham’s response to God’s promise in Genesis 15:1-5 that he would have a son who would become his heir. Paul already referred to this response in verse 3:

Genesis 15:6 (ESV)

And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

In verses 18 -22 Paul tells us what Abraham’s saving faith consisted of:

It was believing . (18)

It was believing . (19)

It was faith that as he glorified God. (20)

It was faith in . (21)

For this faith, faith that God and do exactly as he , righteousness was counted to Abraham, (22)

V. What is the lesson of Abraham? 23-25

Abraham’s experience of being justified solely because of his faith (not because of circumcision or law-keeping but simply be believing God would keep his promise despite the evidence to the contrary) means that everyone who follows in Abraham’s footsteps and believes in the promise of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus alone will also have God’s righteousness counted toward them.

Paul’s gospel is that salvation is through alone by alone in alone.

Abraham illustrates the gospel perfectly. The Old Testament does have at least one example of the gospel that Paul has just finished explaining.

If we are going to be saved, it will be in the same way Abraham was saved, by believing in God’s promise. His promise is that all who put their faith, their trust, their dependence, in Jesus alone and what he did for them through his death and resurrection will be saved.