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Justification by Faith Evidenced in Old Testament
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?
The Faith of Abraham
Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God?
Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God?
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way.
For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.
When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned.
But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.
just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:
“BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN,
AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.
AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.
“Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sins are put out of sight.
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sins are put out of sight.
“BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”
Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;
But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!
and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,
Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous — even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith.
and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.
For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith.
For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;
If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.
for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.
For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)
For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.
(as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.
In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.”
Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;
And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead — and so was Sarah’s womb.
yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,
Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.
and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.
He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.
Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.
Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,
And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded
but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.