The Prime Old Testament Example
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” … David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works Romans 4:1-3,6
Paul has both expounded the gospel of God’s righteousness, the gospel of justification by faith (3:21-26) and defended it against its critics (3:27-31). He has insisted it is confirmed by scripture (1:2; 3:21,31). His next step is to give proven Old Testament examples. He chooses Abraham, Israel’s greatest patriarch, and David, Israel’s greatest king.
In chapter 4 Paul wants Jewish Christians to understand that this gospel of justification by faith is not something new, because it was clearly proclaimed beforehand in the Old Testament, and he wants Gentile Christians to appreciate the rich spiritual heritage they have entered by faith in Jesus, in continuity with the Old Testament people of God. Abraham and David will show that justification by faith is God’s one and only plan for salvation, first in the Old Testament as well as in the New, for Jews as well as for Gentiles. It is a mistake to think either, that in the Old Testament people were saved by works and in the New Testament by faith, or that today Jews should not be evangelised because they have their own distinctive way of salvation.
In 3:27-31 Paul briefly mentioned two implications of the truth that we are justified by faith and not by ‘observing the law’ (3:28): we cannot boast in our own religious accomplishments (3:27) and Jews and Gentiles have equal access to justification (3:29,30). He will now develop these points using Abraham as his reference point. In 4:1-8 Paul will show that Abraham himself had nothing to boast about before God because he also was justified by faith. Then in 4:9-17 he will argue that Paul’s justification means that he is qualified to be the spiritual father of both believing Jews and believing Gentiles. 4:18-22 expands on the nature of Abraham’s faith before a final application to Christians in 4:23-25.
Throughout chapter 4 Paul grounds his exposition on Genesis 15:6 ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness’ (Genesis 15:6 and quoted in 4:3).The focus of chapter 4 is especially on the nature of Abraham’s believing. Another way of looking at the chapter then is in terms of the significance of Abraham’s faith. Faith is something completely different from ‘works’ (vs.3-8)
1. Faith does not depend on religious ceremony (here circumcision in vs.9-12)
2. Faith is not related to the law (vs.13-17)
3. Faith often rests in a promise that contradicts what is expected in the natural (vs.18-22)
Why does Paul take Abraham as his example? There are at least four reasons
1. Abraham was revered as the founding father of Israel
2. Abraham was revered as the epitome of righteousness (Jewish rabbis in Paul’s day taught Abraham’s was justified by works of righteousness)
3. Abraham is a key figure in God’s plan of salvation as revealed in the Old Testament
4. Abraham was the beginning of God’s covenant family, the family to which all ‘believers’ now belong. Justification is God’s declaration that one has been adopted into this family
One of Paul’s purposes in Romans is to demonstrate that the gospel is in continuity with the Old Testament (1:2; 3:21). Proving that this story of Abraham fits into Paul’s conception of salvation history is a crucial step toward this goal.
Have you ever wondered on what basis those who lived before Christ’s death and are in heaven actually got there? Have you assumed it was purely because they lived ‘good’ lives? As we delve further into this chapter open your heart to hear and your mind to understand Paul’s argument. I trust you will come out the other side blessed to know that all saints in heaven got there the same way you will.