Abraham & The Doctrine of Faith Part 2

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Introduction: We saw this morning that Paul asks a question, voices a possibility, gives a conclusion, and then takes them to the Scripture for an answer. The question has to do with Abraham’s standing before God. Was Abraham justified by works? The possibility voiced is that if indeed he was, there is room for boasting on his part. Indeed, if justification comes by works then man can boast about his good deeds. The answer, of course, is that he had nothing to boast of in the presence of God. Abraham’s works, measured by divine perfection, failed the test just like every other person’s works fail the test. The proof of this is seen in the Word of God. I. THE CHOICE OF ABRAHAM II. THE CASE OF ABRAHAM A. THE QUESTION B. THE PROMISE C. THE CONCLUSION D. THE PROOF (vs.3-8) 1. THE JUSTIFICATION OF ABRAHAM The verse cited is Genesis 15:6 ESV Genesis 15:6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. This verse settles the issue. It tells us what kind of righteousness Abraham has before God, and how he received it. a. WHAT KIND OF RIGHTEOUSNESS HE HAS BEFORE GOD What kind of righteousness does Abraham have before God? It is a righteousness that was “counted” to him. The New American Standard reads and it was “credited to him”. This was not a righteousness earned, not a righteousness accrued over time. It was a righteousness given to him, credited to him, accounted to him. 2 The word is logizomai. We will immediately see that this is a word that carries tremendous importance in this chapter when we see that it is used 10 more times after the 3rd verse (4:3- our verse, 4:4, 4:5, 4:6, 4:8, 4:9, 4:10, 4:11, 4:22, 4:23, 4:24). Robert Mounce – “λογίζομαι was a semitechnical term used in commercial dealings (TDNT 4.284). It means “to place to one’s account, to credit.” ἐλογίσθη is a theological passive; it is God who credits righteousness to Abraham. δικαιοσύνη here is obviously a “right standing before God.””1 A.T. Robertson has this to say about the word: It was reckoned unto him for righteousness (ἐλογισθη εἰς δικαιοσυνην [elogisthē eis dikaiosunēn]). First aorist passive indicative of λογιζομαι [logizomai], old and common verb to set down accounts (literally or metaphorically). It was set down on the credit side of the ledger “for” (εἰς [eis] as often) righteousness. 2 In other words, God is the One who put righteousness to his ledger. It wasn’t already there. Abraham’s ledger apart from God’s gracious reckoning was a ledger devoid of righteousness. Abraham’s righteousness before God was not a righteousness that was accruing while he lived his life, it was not a righteousness that accrued from his works. This was a righteousness that came to him as a gift from God. This is just the demonstration of what Paul has already taught in Romans 3:21-24. ESV Romans 3:21 But now athe righteousness of God bhas been manifested apart from the law, although cthe Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- 22 the righteousness of God athrough faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. bFor there is no distinction: 23 for aall have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 aand are justified bby his grace as a gift, cthrough the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, What else can be said about this righteousness? 1 Robert H. Mounce, Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995). 2 A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), Ro 4:3. 3

Topics

• Faith
• Bible Study