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Grace Bible Church

4000 E. Collins Rd.   P.O. Box #3762   Gillette, WY  82717   (307) 686-1516

 

- Preaching the Living WORD through the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4:2 -

 

 

 

 

THE JUSTIFYING FAITH OF ABRAHAM

 (Rom 4:19-25)      6/3/07

Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming

Pastor Daryl Hilbert

 

I.     FACETS OF ABRAHAM’S FAITH (17-21)

 

A.    It was Reliance in God’s Power (17)

 

1.     The terms “faith” (pístis - noun) or “believe” (pisteúō - verb - to be firmly persuaded and rely upon; here an initial act - aorist) are mentioned in verses 17, 18, 19, 20, 24. Paul gives detailed descriptions of Abraham’s faith in order to demonstrate justification by faith as God’s sole means of salvation.

a)    Saving faith is seen as the initial reliance (aorist tense - point in time) on the finished work of Christ (Eph 1:13 cp. Rom 4:3, 17).

b)    Saving faith does not cease believing but continues (present tense - shows duration) to grow and rely on Christ (Eph 1:19 cp. Rom 4:5, 11).

c)     In Romans chapter 4, Abraham is the great example of saving faith. He believed at a particular point in time and continued to believe.

2.     Abraham’s faith was exercised “in the presence” of God. He relied upon God, His promise, and His power (Gen 15:6 cp. Rom 4:3).

3.     Specifically, Abraham’s faith relied upon the God who was able to “give life” to Abraham’s dead body, which was past its biological procreative years (cp. 19).

4.     In addition, Abraham’s faith relied upon the God who was able to bring descendants into existence (ónta - being; ex nihilo “out of nothing” cp. Isa 48:13; Heb 11:3; Gen 1:1) when there was none in existence. (̀ ónta - not being)

 

B.    It was Hope in God’s Promise (18)

 

1.     Paul uses another word play (par’ elpída epelpídi - lit. “against hope in hope”) to demonstrate that Abraham’s faith in God was against all human odds.

2.     Paul draws a parallel between the phrase, “many nations (Gentiles)” (Gen 17:5) and descendants” (Gen 15:5). Gen 17:5 is a reiteration of the promise in Gen 15:5.

3.     God was demonstrating that he alone can fulfill the promise no matter how impossible it seemed and without man’s aid.

4.     Therefore the promise must be by faith and not the Law.

 

C.    It was Unwavering in Giving God Glory (19-20)

 

1.     Another characteristic of Abraham’s faith was that he did not become weak (asthenéō - feeble, literally, Luk 4:40, or figuratively) in faith even when he contemplated (katanoéō - attentive scrutiny) his physical condition.

2.     Biologically, from a reproductive standpoint, his body was dead and continued to be dead (nekróō - prefect part.). Sarah’s womb had past the childbearing age and was in a state of deadness (nékrosis).

3.     Abraham was 100 years old according to Gen 17:17; approximately one year before Isaac was born (Gen 18:10).

4.     Paul tells us that Abraham did not waver (ou diakrínō - split decision; Jam 1:6) in his faith and believed that God would fulfill his promise.

5.     In addition, Abraham’s faith was demonstrated when he gave glory to God even though had not yet receive the fulfillment of the promise (Heb 11:6 cp. Rom 1:21).

 

D.    It was Full Assurance in God’s Faithfulness (21)

 

1.     The faith of Abraham was “fully assured” (plęrophoréō - plę́ręs = full & phero = settle, full measure or fully settled) in God’s promise.

2.     Specifically, Abraham’s faith was settled in God’s power (dunatós - mighty, powerful; Eng. “dynamite”) to perform what he has promised concerning his descendants. “We do not have a great faith in God, but faith in a great God.” (Taylor)

 

 

E.    It Resulted in Justification (22)

 

1.     The phrase, “therefore” (dió - inferential conjunction which makes a logical deduction) refers back to the characteristics of Abraham’s saving faith in vs. 17-21. He was saved by faith and continued in his faith.

2.     Abraham’s faith was a saving faith because it was “credited” (logízomai - reckon or put in one’s account) as righteousness (cp. Gen 15:6 cp.  4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 22, 23, 24; i.e. Justification by faith alone).

 

II.    THE BELIEVER’S FAITH AND JUSTIFICATION

 

A.    Justification for the Sake of Believers (23-24)

 

1.     The construction begins with the negative. It was “not” (oúk) for Abraham’s sake only that we read, “it was credited to him.”

2.     Rather, (allá - on the contrary) Gen 15:6 was emphatically recorded “for the sake of” believers also.

3.     When a sinner believes on (epì - emphasis on or upon) Christ, they are assured to receive the same credit of righteousness that Abraham received.

4.     The object of the believer’s faith is “the one who raised Jesus” from the dead. In other words, the object of the believer’s faith is God’s provision of redemption in the death and resurrection of Jesus (i.e. the Gospel - 1Co 15:1-4; cp. Rom 1:1).

5.     Jesus is declared to be the Son of God and “Lord” (kúrios - master) through the resurrection (Rom 1:4).

 

B.    Resurrection on Account of Justification (25)

 

1.     Verse 25 is most likely a 1st Cent. poem that not only reflects the language in Isa 53:12 LXX, but also clearly defines the saving work of the Lord.

2.     The two major tenets of the Gospel are described in detail here.

3.     The concept is that Christ was handed over (paradi,dwmi paradidomi - deliver up to someone’s power) by God as a sin-bearer (Eph 5:2 cp. Rom 1:24,26, 28) .

4.     Christ’s death was “because” (diá - with the accusative - on account of or because) of the need to atone for man’s transgressions. When a sinner believes on Christ, Christ’s death provides atonement for his sin.

5.     Christ’s resurrection was “on account of” (diá - with the accusative - on account of or because) the fact that man’s justification was provided for in Christ’s finished work on the cross. When a sinner believes on Christ, Christ’s righteous life provides the righteousness for the believer’s account. The resurrection provides proof that Christ’s atonement and righteousness has been accepted by God on the sinner’s behalf.

 

III.  PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

 

A.    The Believer’s Personal Exercise of Faith

 

1.     A believer’s justification begins with a personal exercise of faith in Christ.

2.     It happens at a point in time and cannot rely on the faith of another.

 

B.    The Believer’s Growth in Faith

 

1.     Though Abraham did not waver in his faith to the point of forsaking it, there were times of little faith (Gen 17:17 - Abraham laughed, and Sarah - 18:12).

2.     Furthermore, it is possible to have faith, yet grow in faith. This is similar to the man who cried out, "I do believe; help my unbelief" (Mar 9:24 cp. Mat 17:20).

 

C.    The Believer’s Key to Strengthen Faith

 

1.     A believer is to strengthen his saving faith and continue in sanctifying faith (Col 2:6).

2.     A believer’s faith is strengthened through the Word of God (Rom 10:17).

 

 

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