Abraham (our Spiritual Father) Way of Receiving from God
Romans 4 - Notes
v2. If good deeds makes us acceptable to God, we would have something to boast about. But that was not God’s way.
v3 For God’s way is simply believing in Him and we are counted as righteous because of our faith (like Abraham, the father of the faithful – Gen. 15:6)
v4-5 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. We cannot earn righteous (or right standing with God) because of our work. We can only receive the gift of righteous because of our faith in God who forgives sinners.
v6-8 Even King David understood the blessing of those who are declared righteous (or those who receive the gift of righteous) without working for it. King David declared in Psalm 31:1-2
7 “Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sins are put out of sight.
8 Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”
v9-10 Is the blessing the gift of righteous only for the Jews, or is it also Gentiles? Well, it all started because of Abraham who was counted as righteous by God because of his faith. But how/when did this happen? Was Abraham counted as righteous only after he was circumcised (Jewish covenant), or was Abraham counted as righteous before he was circumcised (Jewish covenant)? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised (Jewish covenant)! See Genesis 17:9-10.
v11-12 Jewish covenant sign of circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous. So Abraham is the spiritual father of even Gentiles who have faith but have not been circumcised. Abraham is also the spiritual father of Jews who have been circumcised, who have is faith DNA. All are counted as righteous
v13-15 Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and us, Abraham’s descendants, is not based on our obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. 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 always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. James 2:10 - For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws.
v16-17 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...This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.
18-19 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations... 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. (This is why he was able to sacrifice Isaac.)
v20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. Not wavering brings glory to God.
James 1:6-8 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
v21-24 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in Jesus, the one our Lord raised from the dead.