Can my Bubbe and the Nazi both be right with God?

The Book of Romans: A Bible study series in 17 parts

Lesson Five: Abraham, Father of the Faithful

[To watch this on YouTube when it was first given on Facebook Live, and on Zoom, click https://youtu.be/jvzdm7tSQhM ]

The book’s general theme: How to be right with God.

Today’s topic: Our Father Abraham.    [For those online, the whole text is at the end of this blog]

Welcome to those of you who are new to our class in this the 5^th lesson, as we take up Paul’s comments recorded in chapter 4 of The Book of Romans. If you are watching this video on YouTube long after our class ended today, then please pause the recording and read the 4^th chapter. It will only take 3 minutes. OK, welcome back. We ended last week with a question about Torah. Paul said, 

Rom. 3:31   Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.

The contrast in Paul’s mind or at least in his pen is between two apparently contradictory factors: Law and Faith. May I say from the outset today that these are NEVER in conflict to a believer; we are aware of the need for both and a wise man does not juxtapose them as opponents. 

But you will say, isn’t that what Paul does in chapter 4? He hinted at that in chapter 2 and now clarifies his hostility to Law in chapter 4, right? Not at all! His use of Law (remember, it’s used 70 times in this epistle alone) is varied and that may cause you confusion. I apologize for that. Paul says that faith establishes the Law (3.31). And then goes on to talk about our father Abraham. 

For those who don’t know, Abraham is nicknamed “the first Jew.” All the ‘circumcised’ (that is, Jewish people) look back to Abraham, even as he was Abram, as the first of our tribe. And yet, he is also the father of the Arabic peoples who relate to him through Abraham’s first son, Ishmael. The name “Jew” actually comes three generations later, from Judah, Abraham’s great-grandson, but that’s for another lesson. 

What else do we know about Abraham? He was a rich man, with a military capacity that was able to conquer others, and with a political demeanour that allowed him to be in the governments of others and have success. He was a worshiper of God who when he won a battle wanted to say ‘thank you’ to the Almighty by bringing offerings to the priest in town. He’s also called “The friend of God” so he’s not a little guy in biblical terms.

Dunn said this of 3.31 

“Paul’s response is clearly that the law is nullified only when it is taken as the law (= identity and boundary marker) of the Jews, only when it is taken (wrongly) as “the law of works.” When it is taken as “the law of faith,” when it is seen as speaking to Gentiles as well, it is established and its validity confirmed. The fact that God is one does not nullify his giving of the law to the Jews; rather it shows that his giving of the law had the Gentiles in view as well, and that the law is only properly understood when it is seen as something [vol. 38A, p. 194] Gentile as well as Jew can “do””

That might be a lot to swallow, but be sure Paul will continue unpacking that as we keep reading this letter. Paul is going to corroborate his statement about faith by looking to Abraham.

If any Jewish person is reading Paul’s letter, and dare I say, if any Jewish person is watching this Facebook Live or joining us in our Zoom room today, the question of Jewish righteousness will often come up. Actually I see two major questions or series of questions today: 1) The idea is, “If men are justified by faith; if works are to have no place; if, therefore, all rites and ceremonies, all legal observances, are useless in justification, what is the advantage of circumcision? What benefit did Abraham derive from it? Why was it appointed? And why is such an importance attached to it in the history of his life?” 

  The first section of today’s lesson (verses 1-5) is about how the father of our faith Abraham was righteous. Then the 2^nd section (6-8) involves King David. Followed by the 3^rd  section (verses 9-10) has to do with timing: that is, when Abraham was made righteous. And then following that, Paul addresses the children of Abraham… who are they? And then Paul is hearing a 2^nd series of questions in relation to Gentiles being made right with God as well. The arguments we hear often goes like this: Wait, are you saying that if my great grandmother, who knew nothing of Jesus and salvation and the cross… if you are saying my bubbe from Poland went to hell, but someone like a Nazi repented at the last minute of his life, and joined the church, that he would go to heaven… wait, that’s not on!

We have a lot to traverse. 

Section 1: Abraham gained it by faith 

Section 2: David gained it by faith

Section 3: Abraham was made right with God before he was circumcised

Section 4: The promise (13-25) is for you and me (and your bubbe and that evil man as well)!

Section 1: Abraham gained it by faith 

Verse 1: What did Abraham find? He went to the spiritual bank, went to the bank teller, and cashed in his term deposit. What did that deposit contain? Faith. And only faith. And what did Abraham collect as a result of that exchange? Righteousness, that is, right standing with God. 

Ponder that. The God of the universe who created heaven and earth, the sea and all they contain, cares enough about our planet that he wants to be in relationship with us. That’s so humbling. We who ruined so much, who ruined our relationship with him, can be right with God? If you know who God is and his demands and holiness and otherness, his strength, his power, his beauty, his glory—and our cavalier attitude to say, “I’m ok with God.” Then that God initiates our return to him… this is awesome! Paul’s argument since chapter 1 is that we can be right with God. And he continues to argue the case using two major Jewish players: Abraham and David. 

Verse 2. By faith and not by works, he has nothing about which to boast, at least not before God. Abraham has one entry point, one door, and only one. And that’s ‘by faith.’

Verse 3 is a quote from Genesis 15.6. Imputed, counted, reckoned, credited. The word for impute is an accounting term. The ledger is balanced. He didn’t earn anything; he was gifted with the grace of right standing with God. Remember earlier, that no one could have earned anything. 3.23 said we all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory and standards. 

Verse 4: Wages come to workers, and this is not a wage; it’s a gift. Think of jobkeeper folks here in Australia who are gaining wages without performing any work duties. The government is paying us, or at least some of us, even if we don’t work at all! That’s the grace of coronavirus relief packages, and it’s that which Paul is saying Abraham received, without any duty fulfilled. The only thing he ‘did’ was to have ‘faith.’ Remember Yeshua said this as recorded in John’s gospel. (6.29) “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Section 2: David gained it by faith 

Verse 6: Paul calls a 2^nd witness to the stand. King David wrote Psalm 32 and Paul quotes it. Blessedness for sin which is not imputed. The Greek word is “logizomai” and is an intensified word for word! It’s almost making the noun into a verb. Reasoning and accounting go together here. 

The Australian jargon includes the word ‘reckon’ meaning ‘imagine’ or ‘consider.’  I reckon it is. In the American South, reckon is similar, meaning to agree with. You reckon? But here in this text, logizomai, or reckons, means to impute or to move the account balance in our favour. The liability becomes the asset. And you did not earn it! Hallelujah!  

King David is clearly delighted in the Lord, calling the person blessed (asher) whose sins are not reckoned (chashav) to us. We are a rewarded people. David knew of this; Abraham knew of this; do you know of this?

Section 3: Abraham was made right with God before he was circumcised (9-12)

Paul then spends much time dealing with the timing of the gaining of righteousness. Back to Abraham. He is made right in chapter 15. He circumcises his son (and himself) in chapter 17.  So Paul wonders, when did Abraham gain righteousness? Obviously it happened while he was uncircumcised. So the argument is … what was Abram/ Abraham? Was he a Jew? Was he a Gentile? NEITHER! Those terms didn’t exist yet. He became a Jew, that is a member of the circumcision when he believed God. ABOUT WHAT?

What did he believe in? What was his faith all about? Remember, ‘faith’ is saying ‘yes’ to God. It means you agree with God. About the promise of a son and a nation and NATIONS to come from him. Gen. 12.1-3, 15.18-21, 17.1-9.  These are relevant and important passages of God saying, “I will do “ such and such, and it’s as if he says, “Do you believe me?” Will you agree; will you take this on board?  

The promise is given to two aged people, Abraham is 99 years old, and Sarah is ten years his junior. The promise of having a son, a people, even many nations! This is outrageous and shocking. I cannot imagine bringing such a promise to my good wife of 43 years…she would look at me with shock and horror. 

And who is included? Paul says the promise extends beyond the physical sons of Abraham. 

Section 4: The promise (13-25) is for you and me (and your bubbe and that evil man as well)!

10 times in Romans and four of those here in chapter 4, Paul uses the term promise. Greek epangelia. 

Romans 15.8, Paul says the promises were made to the Fathers (meaning Abraham and his descendants), and Messiah has become a servant to the Jewish people on behalf of the truth of God to confirm those promises. 

Concerning the promise, Albert Barnes writes, “A promise looks to the future. Its design and tendency is to excite trust and confidence in him who makes it. All the promises of God have this design and tendency; and consequently, as God has given many promises, the object is to call forth the lively and constant faith of men, all going to show that, in the Divine estimation, faith is of inestimable value.

Verse 15: for the Law brings about wrath, but  where there is no law, there also is no violation.

This is common understanding of law and precedent. 

Again from Barnes, 

Law is a rule of conduct. If no such rule is given and known, there can be no crime. Law expresses what may be done, and what may not be done. If there is no command to pursue a certain course, no injunction to forbid certain conduct, actions will be innocent. The connexion in which this declaration is made here seems to imply, that as the Jews had a multitude of clear laws, and as the Gentiles had the laws of nature, there could be no hope of escape from the charge of their violation.

Remember that’s what we saw in chapters 1 and 2, that no one can say they are acceptable and right with God without redemption. We all need repair. We are all under some serious judgment from heaven. 

Look at one little letter, the letter ‘s’. (v. 17) God said he would be the father of nations. (Not to a nation only, but to nations). Not only the father of the Jewish people, but many peoples. 

Even though he was 100, and Sarah was 90, he trusted God to make multitudes from him. That’s faith. 

Verse 23> Not for his sake only, imputed… for us, imputed to those of us who believe. The argument of Paul is this. Since Abraham was ‘saved’ if you will, redeemed by faith, given grace by faith to be right with God before he was circumcised, then circumcision is nothing. The bris is designed to be a seal, like some of you will know about letters and sealing wax with a stamp of your own initial or your mark. The circumcision is a seal of what we already have gained. It was an authentication of divine approval! It’s a seal or verification of something that already was.

Thus this faith that Abraham had, and which you Romans have, whether bond or slave, male or female, Jew or Gentile… God’s approval, the ‘right standing’ you have with God, is sealed! An American, an Aussie, a Kiwi… we can all gain the same right standing in the same way… how? BY FAITH! 

Verse 24. “IN HIM WHO RAISED from the dead.” That is, our faith is fixed into a person, not an idea or a philosophy. And it’s fixed on the reality of the Risen One. We are not following a religion, but a reality that is evidenced in the resurrection. We just celebrated it here three weeks ago, and it’s not a moment in calendar for Paul; it’s his life and death reality. 

Then you can be an heir of the world, an heir of what Abraham received. That is, we are inheriting all that God promised to Abraham if we believe in Jesus whom God sent. 

Verse 25. Jesus was delivered for our sins and raised to justify us. Jesus was not killed to be a martyr, was not to apologize to the Romans, was not to represent all the Jewish people in their fight against Rome. Jesus died to take away your sins and my sins. And to take away my grandmother’s sins. And the sins of the most evil Nazi. 

Yes, anyone who believes can be forgiven of their sins. 

Last week we talked about being good, and I’m hopeful that you continue to be good and represent goodness in your neighbourhood and in your life. But being good won’t make you right with God. 

Sins are what separate us from God. (Isa 59.2) but God in his mercy bridges the gap! 

Thanks be to God!

NEXT WEEK, we will look at the fruits of being right with God. This may be especially meaningful during corona-time. 

We have much more to get through in this letter, and I’m delighted to be able to read and help us understand it each Friday here from my lockdown in Sydney. 

[For those reading this online, please watch this 7-minute 47-second video which showcases with great graphics the first four chapters of this book.  https://youtu.be/ej_6dVdJSIU ] 

The actual text:

Rom. 3:31   Do we then nullify ¹the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.

Rom. 4:1   What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? ² For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. ³ For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” ⁴ Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. ⁵ But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, ⁶ just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

⁷           “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, 

            AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.

⁸           “BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”

Rom. 4:9   Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For ^bwe say, “^cFAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” ¹⁰ How then was it credited? While he was ¹circumcised, or ²uncircumcised? Not while ¹circumcised, but while ²uncircumcised; ¹¹ and he ^areceived the sign of circumcision, ^ba seal of the righteousness of the faith which ¹he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be ^cthe father of ^dall who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, ¹² 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 ¹he had while uncircumcised.

Rom. 4:13   For ^athe promise to Abraham or to his ¹descendants ^bthat he would be heir of the world was not ²through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴ For ^aif those who are ¹of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; ¹⁵ for ^athe Law brings about wrath, but ^bwhere there is no law, there also is no violation.

Rom. 4:16   For this reason it is ¹by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with ^agrace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to ^ball the ²descendants, not only to ³those who are of the Law, but also to ^3cthose who are of the faith of Abraham, who is ^dthe father of us all, ¹⁷ (as it is written, “^aA FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, ^bwho gives life to the dead and ^1ccalls into being ^dthat which does not exist. ¹⁸ In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become ^aa father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “^bSO SHALL YOUR ¹DESCENDANTS BE.” ¹⁹ Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now ^aas good as dead since ^bhe was about a hundred years old, and ^cthe deadness of Sarah’s womb; ²⁰ yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, ^agiving glory to God, ²¹ and ^abeing fully assured that ^bwhat God had promised, He was able also to perform. ²²Therefore ^aIT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. ²³ Now ^anot for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, ²⁴ but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those ^awho believe in Him who ^braised Jesus our Lord from the dead, ²⁵ He who was ^adelivered over because of our transgressions, and was ^braised because of our justification.