Justification By Faith
Romans 4:1-25 |
|
Introduction:
Romans 4 explains how God justifies (declares righteous) ungodly people through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. “Salvation” is a broad term and includes all that God does for the believer in Christ; justification is a legal term describing our perfect standing before God in the righteousness Abraham to prove three great facts about justification.
I. JUSTIFICATION IS BY FAITH, NOT WORKS — Romans 4:1-8
Note that Paul uses the words “reckon,” “impute,” and “count” in his argument (3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 22, 23, 24). These words all mean the same thing: to put to a man?s account. Justification means righteousness imputed (put to my account) and gives me a right standing before God. Sanctification means righteousness (made a part of my life) and gives a right standing before men, so they believe I am a Christian. Both are a part of salvation, as James 2:14—26 argues. What good is it to say that I have faith in God if my life does not reveal faithfulness to God?
Salvation is either a reward because of works, or a gift through grace; it cannot be both. Verse 5 states that God justifies the UNGODLY (not the righteous!) and that this is through FAITH and not works. The Jews thought that God justified religious people on the basis of their works; yet Paul has proved that “Father Abraham” was saved simply on the basis of faith. Then Paul said and quotes Ps. 32:1—2, proving that Israel?s great king taught justification by faith, apart from works. God does not impute sin to our account, because that was charged to Christ?s account (II Cor. 5:21 and see Phlm. 18). Rather, He imputes Christ?s righteousness to our account purely on the basis of grace! What a wonderful salvation we have!
II. JUSTIFICATION IS BY GRACE AND NOT LAW — Romans 4:9-17
Now the important question arises: “If salvation is by faith, then what about the Law? What about the covenant God made with Abraham?” Paul answers this question by pointing out that Abraham?s faith and salvation took place fourteen years before he was circumcised! Circumcision was the seal of the covenant, the rite that made a Jewish child a part of the system of Law. Yet Abraham, the “Father” of the Jews, was really a “Gentile” (uncircumcised) when he was saved! Circumcision was merely an outward sign of an inward change, just as baptism is today. No physical ceremony can produce spiritual changes; yet the Jews of Paul?s day (like many “religionists” of today) trusted in the ceremonies the outward signs and ignored the saving faith that was required of them.
Abraham is actually the “Father” of all believers, all who belong to the “household of faith” (see Gal. 3:7 and 29). As Paul pointed out in 2:27—29, not all “Jews” are truly the Israel of God.
In verses 13—17, Paul contrasts law and grace, just as in 1—8 he contrasted faith and works. The key word here is promise (13, 14, 16). God?s promise to Abraham that he would be “the heir of the world” (indicating the glorious Kingdom ruled over by the Promised Seed, Christ) was not given in connection with Law or circumcision, but BY PURE GRACE! Read Gen. 15 again and note that Abraham was “at the end of himself” when God stepped in a gave him His gracious promise.
To be justified ABRAHAM HAD TO DO WAS BELIEVE.....nothing more. The Law was never given to save anyone; the Law and the acts of the law only brings wrath and reveals sin. Law completely cancels grace, just as works will cancel faith; the two cannot exist side by side. How could Abraham be saved by the Law when the Law had not yet been given?
Paul concludes in verse 16 that justification comes by grace, through faith and thus ALL MEN Jews and Gentiles can be saved! So, Abraham is not only the physical father of the Jews, but he is “the father of us all” all who follow in his steps of faith. (Read Gal. 3 for more on Grace and Law.)
We ought to marvel at the faith of Abraham. All he had was the promise of God that he would be the father of many nations; yet he believed this promise, gave the glory to God, and received the blessing. What a perfect illustration of the miracle of salvation! As long as a man depends on the flesh and feels he still has enough strength to please God, or the he can do some ritual or ceremony to be saved, he will never be justified.
But when he comes to the end of himself, admits he is dead, and ceases to strive, then God is able to “raise him from the dead” and give him new life and a perfect standing before God.
God says all men are “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”(Ephesians 2:1) According to the false teaching of salvation is by grace plus works, then a man who is dead spiritually can do something to save himself.
“Strong in faith” (verse 20) is what saves a man, not “strong in the flesh.” It was Abraham?s simple faith in God?s Word that justified him, and that is how a man is justified today.
But was Abraham somebody special? No, says verse 24; God wrote that statement in His Word for our sakes, not Abraham?s. We are saved the same way: IF WE BELIEVE! Note how important this word BELIEVE is in Romans: 1:16; 3:22 and 26; 4:3; 4:24; 5:1; 10:4 and 9—10; etc. When a sinner believes the promise of God in the Word, then the same resurrection power enters his life and he becomes a Christian, a child of God, as was believing Abraham. The sinner must confess that HE IS DEAD and believe that CHRIST IS ALIVE!
The final verse (25) explains the basis for justification: the death and resurrection of Christ. Paul will go into detail on this in chapter 5. The verse ought to read, “Who was delivered because of our offenses, and was raised again on account of our justification.” The fact that He died proves we were sinners; the fact that God raised Him from the dead proves we have been justified led by His blood! This is evidence again that justification is a matter of RESURRECTION POWER and not the feeble efforts of the flesh.
How do we know that Abraham was saved? Note what James explained, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” (James 2:18)
Abraham’s faith was shown in that he believed God and because he believed God he accepted God’s promise and when an built an ark. Building the ark did not save him....but he was saved by his faith.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)
(Source - Expository Outlines on the New Testament, Warren W. Wiesbe, Calvary Book Room, Covington, Kentucky, 1982, pp193-94)
It is always encouraging to receive email from those who find the messages helpful, or who have comments.
Every Jew revered “Father Abraham,” and from Gen. 15:6 knew that Abraham had been justified before God. Abraham?s acceptance by God was so certain that they referred to heaven as “Abraham?s bosom.” (Luke 16:22) Knowing this, Paul points to Abraham and asks, “How was Abraham, our father in the flesh, justified?” Was it by works? No, for then he could have gloried in his accomplishment, and we have not record of this in the UT. Then, what does the UT say? “Abraham BELIEVED God!” (See Gen. 15:1—6.) The gift of righteousness came, not by works, but by faith in God?s revealed Word.
III. JUSTIFICATION IS BY RESURRECTION POWER, NOT HUMAN REPORT. Romans 4:18-25
The first section (vs1—8) contrasted faith and works; the second (vs9—17) contrasted law and grace; and now the third (18-25)contrasts life and death. Note that Paul in verse 17 identifies God as “He Who quickens the dead.” In reality, Abraham and Sarah were dead, their bodies being well past the age of childbearing" (see Heb. 11:11—12). How could two people, one 90 years old and the other 100, ever hope to have a son? But when the flesh is dead, then the resurrection power of the Spirit can go to work!
The entire chapter could be summarized in this way:
Salvation is by......
FAITH not WORKS )
GIFT not REWARD )
GRACE not LAW )
JUSTIFICATION - a right standing
RESURRECTION not HUMAN EFFORTS )
"Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” (Galatians 3:6)