“Abraham Justified by Faith"
Romans 4:1-25
For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” [Romans 4:3]
“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.” [Rom 3:21-22]
This began a new section in Paul’s apologetic on the grace of God. The three chapters prior revealed God’s righteousness in condemnation. All of us are condemned because of sin. “There is none righteous, no, not one” [Rom 3:11] … “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” [Rom 3:23] This includes the unrighteous pagan [Rom 1:18-32], the self-righteous moralist [Rom 2:1-16], and the religious Jew [Rom 2:17-3:20]. “All fall short of the glory of God.”
The “But now” in Romans 3:21 therefore becomes vitally important. They direct us toward the One that provides our righteous standing. “But now the righteousness of God apart from law is revealed…through faith in Jesus Christ.” Jesus is the Lamb of God slain for the sins of the world. The only way we can dwell with a Righteous God in heaven is to be declared righteous through the finished work of Jesus on the Cross. This is the doctrine of justification.
Justification is for us. Jesus did a work for us on the Cross. He took upon Himself our sins and abolished them. He redeemed us; He paid the ransom for our sin with His blood, and in so doing brings us into fellowship with God. Our part in this Gospel of Grace is to receive it by faith.
In Romans 4 Paul illustrates this principle even further with Old Testament saints like Abraham and David; the former who lived before the Law, the latter with the Law. Both, too, are justified by faith. Justification is not only a New Testament doctrine; it is an Old Testament one as well. Just as all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God; salvation is made available to all by faith. For the New Testament saint, it comes by faith looking back on the finished work of the Cross; for the Old Testament saint it came by faith looking forward to the promised work of the Cross.
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” [Heb 11:13]
“The just shall live by faith,” and “without faith it is impossible to please God.” Whether Old or New, salvation comes by faith in believing God for His promise.
