"Abraham Believed God"
    
by Robert F. Turner

 

To be justified is to be pronounced “free of guilt,” and this condition can be attained before God in only two ways: obey law so perfectly that you never sin (Rom. 2:13; Gal. 3:10ff); or having sinned, to receive God’s forgiveness. Since “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23), to seek justification via a “law” system is to place oneself under the curse (of demanded perfection). Salvation must be found in Christ who redeemed us from the curse of law, “being made a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13). But this calls for “faith” in Christ (Rom. 2:34-26). This is the setting for Paul’s conclusion: “a man is justified by faith without… deeds of… law” (3:28). He assures us this does not “make void… law,” but “establishes… law” (3:31; no “the” in the Greek text). When Paul presents Abraham as an example of one justified by faith (Rom. 4:1ff), he is contrasting humble trust in God’s mercy (for forgiveness, 4:6-8) with arrogant trust in self (to obey law perfectly, 4:4). Note: “if Abraham were justified by works he hath whereof to glory;” and “the reward… reckoned… of debt” (verses 2, 4). In this context, “to him that worketh not” refers to one who realizes his imperfections, and does not claim justification on a “law” basis, but “believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly” (vs. 5). All is clear if taken in context. But to those who believe man is totally depraved and must have some miraculous regeneration, Abraham’s “faith” becomes an “experience,” or “faith only;” and “not by works” is thought to negate the relation between obedience of faith and righteousness. If we would have faith like Abraham, we must understand the quality and character of this faith. Before Abraham left Mesopotamia, God appeared to him with a call and a promise, Acts 7:26. Abraham “obeyed” and “went out” by faith, Heb. 11:8ff. Later, at age 75, he left Haran for Canaan, Gen. 12:4. God appeared to him at Shechem, and we are told he built an altar to the Lord and “called upon the name of Jehovah” (12:7-8; 13:4, 18). When war broke out and Abram rescued Lot, he paid tithes to Melchizedek, priest of God; and Melchizedek, a type of Christ, “blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High” (14:18-19). All this BEFORE it was said of Abraham that he “believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Gen. 15:6). Clearly, that particular testimony does not mark an initial “experience of faith.” In fact, the statement “he believed… and He reckoned it to him for righteousness” is made at three very different periods in Abraham’s life. (1) In Gen. 15:6, when told he would have innumerable descendants, he demonstrated a continuation of faith long established (above). (2) Rom. 4:19-22 tells us that near age 100 he believed God relative to Sarah’s having a child, “and therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.” (3) Again when Isaac was a “lad” (old enough to carry firewood into the mountains with his father – Gen. 22:6), Abraham’s faith was tested and it was said he “believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness” (James 2:23). The “faith” of Abraham was no miraculous experience. It was a life of humble obedience and service in keeping with God’s revealed will. Justification was no single event in time, but kept pace with Abraham’s faith throughout his life. Abraham did not earn or merit justification, nor was Christ’s perfect life “put to his account.” Rom. 4:3 says “it [his faith] was counted unto him for [Greek: EIS, unto] righteousness.” This “blessedness” is then defined as the forgiveness of his sins, 4:6-8. The procuring MEANS of our salvation is Jesus Christ, the OPERATION is forgiveness, and the CONDITION is faith as defined and exemplified in the life of Abraham. We come into Christ “by faith… for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” and become Abraham’s seed (Gal. 3:26-27). When our faith is enough like Abraham’s that we do His bidding, we are forgiven of past sins. As we continue to walk in the path of faith, confessing sins and praying for forgiveness, we have Christ as Advocate and means of further mercy, 1 John 1:5ff. Note the characteristics of Abraham’s faith in Heb. 11. (1) It was centered on God, not on himself. (2) It led him to obey, “not knowing whither he went.” (3) In faith, he sought a heavenly city and eternal goals. (4) His faith was such that he did not waver, looking back. (5) It enabled him to meet the rigid test of offering his son. Little wonder it was said repeatedly that his faith was counted to him for righteousness. And Paul told the Romans, “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” (4:23-24).     Other Articles by Robert Turner Abraham Believed God What Can We Know About Heaven? What is "Sectarian Baptism?" The New Creature Young People's Program Church Autonomy The Security of the Believer What Went Forth?   For Past Auburn Beacons go to: www.aubeacon.com/Bulletins.htm   Anyone can join the mailing list for the Auburn Beacon! Send your request to: larryrouse@aubeacon.com