Lesson 5—The Faith of Abraham (Chapter 4)
for October 1, 2000

Introduction

When asked to name a great chapter on faith, people often respond with Hebrews 11. However, Romans 4 also contains great teaching about faith.

Though the church in Rome was composed mostly of Gentiles, much of Paul’s teaching in this letter to the Roman Christians is directed at the Jewish Christians. I believe this is because they had more mental hurdles to overcome in accepting and understanding the gospel. They had centuries of religious tradition to overcome. The gospel is simple, but years of wrong thinking had taken its toll.

Abraham is our example

The Jews revered Abraham as their “father in the faith”. Paul capitalizes on that fact and uses Abraham to show that it is indeed faith that brings about righteousness before God. Using Abraham to make his point would have gained the attention of the Jews.

Paul also elaborates on the meaning of faith in this chapter. He contrasts faith and works. For example, in 4:5 he says that faith is credited as righteousness to the one who trusts God, not to the one who works. That is, righteousness is granted based on what God has done and our trusting that, not based on earning it by keeping the law. Salvation is not merited by what we have done, it is a gift from God (see 4:4).

The Jewish audience must also be convinced that God’s salvation could also be extended to (what they considered) pagans, the Gentiles, who did not follow the law. So Paul shows that Abraham’s righteousness was credited to him (Gen 15:6) before he was circumcised as a sign of his special covenant with God (see Genesis 17). Paul explains that Abraham’s circumcision was a sign of the righteousness that he had by faith and which came while he was still uncircumcised. Abraham is “father in the faith” for both Jews and Gentiles.

It was not circumcision that brought righteousness from God, nor was it the law. The law was not given until Moses, long after Abraham lived. Besides, law does not justify, it brings wrath (4:15)! And again Paul emphasizes that the promise (salvation) comes by faith and is for all those who have faith—both Jew and Gentile (4:16).

Abraham’s faith was expressed in his trust that God would fulfill his promise of a great nation through his offspring even though he and wife Sarah were beyond normal childbearing—he believed against all hope, without weakening in his faith, he did not waver through unbelief, was strengthened in his faith, was fully persuaded that God had power… (4:18-21). These are wonderful expressions of great faith.

The chapter ends with Paul explaining that God did not credit righteousness only to Abraham because of faith, he will do it for us also. Our faith in the resurrection of Jesus and that his sacrifice is in our place will be to our credit. God will grant righteousness to us because of our faith.

Faith in Romans and James

When Paul uses the word faith, it includes acts of obedience. In James, faith meant belief, a mental assent—“the demons believe and tremble” (James 2:19). Abraham acted on his faith that God would carry out his promises (4:17-21).

Questions

1. After explaining that righteousness comes by faith (chapter 3), why does Paul devote a whole chapter to Abraham?

2. When was Abraham’s righteousness granted in relationship to his circumcision? in relation to the giving of the law?

3. What is the significance of God granting righteousness by faith to all people?

4. Can you reconcile the use of the word faith in Romans and James?

Application

How do you put your faith in God? Could the strength of your faith be expressed in terms like Paul used of Abraham (see 4:18-21)?