The Faith Of Abraham

Romans 4:13-25

God’s promise was made to Abraham before the birth of Ishmael, who was more than 13 years older than Isaac. Isaac was 40 when he married Rebekah, who did not have children right away. Isaac’s son Jacob was 130 years old when the children of Israel went into Egypt in Genesis 4:9. The people then spent 430 years in Egypt, according to Exodus 12:40. The law was given during the three months after they left Egypt, in Exodus 19-23. The Law was more than 600 years after the promise was made, and Paul’s comment in Galatians just refers to the period of captivity in Egypt. It could in no way affect the patriarchs before that captivity.

“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.”(Romans 4:13-15)

Abraham had been dead more than 500 years, and his grandson Jacob for more than 400 when the Law was given. It could in no way affect any commitment to them. Obedience to the Law could only be demanded as a standard of fulfillment if the original promise was voided, making the promise to Abraham meaningless. It is impossible to break a law which hasn’t been made, so there could be no sin, if the Law was the standard. The Law enables judgment, by setting the standard. Romans 3:20 says, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

The promise to Abraham was base on his belief or faith in God to keep his promise, not in obeying the Law. Since the Law came 600 years later, it could not replace the original promise, since Abraham was no longer alive to agree to such a change. The original contract still stands. God doesn’t break his contracts.

“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” (Romans 4:16-17)

Had the giving of the Law voided the original contract, all those before the Law would have been disqualified. Because the original contract still stands, they are still considered. It also admits others, who are not covered by the law. It opens the door for non-Jews as well as Jews, fulfilling God’s promise to make him a father of many nations, not just of Israel. It is based on the truthfulness of God, not man’s efforts to keep the law. It is a sure thing. If it depended on our efforts, it would never be sure, because we fail so often

At one hundred years old, and Sarah at ninety, there was no normal way that they could have a baby. Her body would no longer be capable of conception, even if Abraham could provide the sperm. A miracle would be required. There was nothing Abraham could do to make it happen. Despite this obvious impossibility, Abraham believed God, trusting him to do what he promised.

"Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” (Romans 4:18-21)

Because Abraham decided to trust God when there was no possibility that any thing normal could cause him to have a child, God imputed or credited it to him as being righteous. This same righteousness will be imputed to us if we place our faith in God the same way, recognizing that nothing we do will have any effect in saving us. It was written this way so we could understand salvation is purely through God’s work.

“And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4:22-25)

Our own efforts have nothing to do with saving us. Ephesians 2:8-9 state that it is a gift from God. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” In the passage on the importance of works, in James 2, Abraham’s willingness to offer Isaac as a sacrifice is described to show that real faith results in obedience, even though the action may seem counter productive. His action demonstrated his faith and resulted in his faith being confirmed. The faith and the promise were declared years before the action.