Romans 4:1-3 - Abraham our Forefather

Paul concluded that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23) to show that no one - no Jew, nor any Gentile - is sufficiently righteous within themselves to meet God’s perfect standard. No works, no effort, no striving will make you perfect and holy.
We can almost hear people stammering, “But... But... But...”, and “But what about Abraham, the ‘father’ of our nation? But, what about David, our king? Doesn't that prove the Jews and their Law please God?”

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1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?
2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
3 For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."

What Is Said About Abraham?

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V. 1 - “What then shall we say that Abraham... has found?” - What do you think Abraham would say about faith versus works? Would Abraham claim to be righteous because of the things he did?

V. 2 - “For if Abraham was justified by works” - This is the discussion question: What did Abraham DO? Which of Abraham’s actions prompted God to honor him with the promises?
A brief run-down of Abraham’s history:

• God tells Abraham to pick up everything, to leave his home country and go where God will show (Gen. 12:1-4). He and Sarah go to the Canaanite lands west of the Jordan River.
• Because of a famine in the land, Abraham goes to Egypt, where he passes his wife off as his sister (she’s beautiful, and he’s afraid for his life) (Gen. 12:11-17). The famine theme is repeated later in Genesis (Gen. 41:54ff)
• They return and settle near Bethel (much richer than when they left, by the way), where Abraham builds an altar and worships God (Gen. 13:4).
• God promises all the land Abraham can see. Abraham again offers worship to God (Gen. 13:14-20).
• Abraham defeats kings who captured Lot, then offers sacrifices with Melchizedek, giving him a tithe. (Gen. 14:14-20).
• God promises an heir to Abraham, and lots (no pun intended) of descendants (Gen. 15:4-6).
• Abraham believes this promise, which results in him being called ‘righteous’. Sarah is more impatient, and so convinces Abraham to use their slave girl, Hagar, to ‘help’ God in fulfilling the promise (Gen. 16:2ff). This one proves to create long-term problems.
• Abraham turns 100 years old, and Sarah gets pregnant bearing a son, despite being over the age of 90. (Gen. 21:2).

“He has something to boast about, but not before God” - Which of these incidents deserves such high praise - lying about Sarah being his sister? Using Hagar as a surrogate heir which God had promised to Abraham (Gen. 15:4-6)? Hagar has a son, and Abraham treats her callously? I would propose those were not Abraham’s better moments.

V. 3 - “For what does the Scripture say?” - Abraham’s response of faith was proof of genuine loyalty (See: Gen. 15:6) and followed the promise of an heir to Abraham and Sarah. It was not just that single response though. Abraham believed God would show where he was to go, so he was obedient and went. Abraham believed God was giving him the land where he was standing, so he offered a sacrifice on an altar. Abraham believed God was merciful and pleaded for Sodom and Gomorrah. He rescued Lot from four kings, and used only 318 soldiers. He honored God, and was blessed by a ‘Most High Priest of the Most Holy God’.

What is harder to believe: (1)God would actually show you where He wants you to settle, how ever much land you can see is yours because God is going to give it to you? Or: (2) God is blessing you through a priest, and you are going to have a son now that you are over 90 years old?
Which makes more sense? Does either seem reasonable? Abraham believed God’s promises and commands, and showed that belief by obedience and worship.

Abraham was a complicated human: not standing up for his wife. Fighting to rescue his nephew. Accepting the gift of land from God, and giving part of it to Lot to avoid conflicts with their sheep herds. Defeating enemy kings, but taking no tribute from another king. Believing God, but “helping” God by having a child by a slave girl.
For me, Abraham’s biggest, most impressive display of faith in God is when he obeyed God in offering his son as a sacrifice. He believed that if Isaac was offered, God would recompense. His promise would be fulfilled even if it was not to be Isaac! God stopped Abraham, confirming Isaac as the promised heir of blessing and of nations.

Side note: Several of the heroes of the OT were flawed men, yet were “God’s men”. As mentioned above, Abraham was not perfect. Moses led the nation Israel out of Egypt, but was an imperfect leader, sometimes whiny, sometimes stubborn, but still overall doing God’s will. King David was impetuous, violent, lustful and yet a man after God’s heart. (See: 1 Sam. 13:14; 1 Cor. 16:7, 13)

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Romans 3:27-31 - Justified by Faith

27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.
31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.

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Does Faith Nullify the Law?

V. 27 - “Where then is boasting?” - Who can brag of the amazing their feat of satisfying the requirements of God? Absolutely no one. (Other than Jesus Christ, the LORD.) This is not exactly a new idea. “Thus says the LORD, ‘Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,’ declares the LORD.” ( Jer. 9:23-24)

“By what kind of law?” - Which part of the law followed exactly, without fail, justifies us to God? What part from Genesis through Deuteronomy? What about working through ALL of it? Not works, but faith. 

Placing our trust in our own efforts encourages us to say, “Look! I did this!” However: “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” (Titus 3:5-6)

V. 28 - “A man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law” - This message had to be distressing to the Jews for they had based their whole existence on doing the Law. They were operating by rote, not by trusting God. We must be careful to not sneer at the Jews for their failure. It is far too easy to ‘love God’ by habit. We are drifting into the area of ‘works’ if our relationship with God and Jesus is founded on singing worship songs, going to church on Sunday mornings, baptism or communion, or any other of the things we do as Christians,. 

The Jewish leaders wanted to know what to do, so they asked Jesus. "'What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?'  Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.' " (See: John 6:28-35) His answers was, “Believe.”

V. 29-30 - “Is God the God of Jews only?” - This is a rhetorical question. Paul wants you to know faith in the Law means only Jews can be saved, hence: “God of the Jews only.” But God’s plan of salvation was not just for a few, but to be offered to all - both Jews and Gentiles. God's plan is to save all humans. Judaism was not designed for all, but for the chosen descendants of Abraham.
Perhaps that statement is too simplistic. It would seem to imply that only if you were born a Jew did you have any hope. After all were not the Jews God's chosen? But we can see in the laws God gave them that a Gentile who follows all of the Law - from circumcision through offering sacrifices and obeying holy days and festivals, and following His laws could be 'Jewish'. So it was not the birth that made you a follower of God, but obedience. For me, the understanding that the Jews were God's own special people is based on the fact that Jesus Christ, the savior of the world who took all of our sin upon Himself was to come from the Jewish nation. The Jews were to be tutors for the world, so the world would know that following God and His rules leads to salvation, blessing and mercy.

“God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.” - There is one God, the LORD. He is God of all creation. He has bridged the sin chasm between His Holy Being and sinful man, sinful Jews, sinful Gentiles.
Salvation does not come from a system of works. Salvation comes by knowing and believing in Jesus Christ - accepting His death as payment for your failure.

V. 31 - “Do we then nullify the Law through faith?” - Does faith in Jesus invalidate God’s Law? Does belief that Christ died for sin counteract the effectiveness of the Law?
No!
The Law was not given to provide salvation, but to teach us what sin is, and to teach us that we needed God to save us. We need to know that we cannot save ourselves. The act of sacrificing a lamb, a bull, a goat, or a bird did not save. The belief and faith in God and His command provided the cleansing power. Doing the act without the faith, in escence by rote, would be as effective as playing a round of golf.

“we establish the Law.” - Other translations use “we uphold the Law.” The Law has not lost its value. We still need to be reminded what sin is. I am not referring to the “civil” or “ceremonial” parts of the Mosaic Law, but to the “moral” laws, including the Ten Commandments.

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End of Chapter

Romans 3:21-26 - Righteousness by Faith

21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;
26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

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God's Righteousness is Shown

V. 21 - “the righteousness of God has been manifested” - God’s righteousness has been clearly shown (See: Rom. 1:17-21), and then testified to (“witnessed”) by the Old Testament scriptures. This is echoed in Heb. 2:3,4. God told us, and others saw what He has done and also told us.

V. 22 - “through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe” - His righteous nature is demonstrated again for our benefit in the advent, life, sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If no one can be justified by their actions or following the Law there is no hope to come to God. Working your way to God is more impossible than jumping across the Grand Canyon on a motor cycle. 

In His righteousness, God does not require you to do the impossible. He has provided the way - Christ Jesus. Our only access to God is through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved... " (Acts 16:31) Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.“ (John 14:6 )

“for there is no distinction” - This the first part of a parenthetical statement, second part is in verse 23. When it comes to meeting God's standards there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles. "No distinction" equals you cannot tell them apart, both are lost.

V. 23 - “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” - The last half of the parenthesis. Paul spent the majority of the letter to this point on this subject. The world is depraved. The chosen people of God have fallen short. There is no excuse because we know what sin is. “There is none righteous, not even one.” (See: Rom 3:10)

V. 24 - “being justified as a gift by His grace” - This part of the sentence is tied to the first half of verse 22. All who believe will be justified. When I committed my life to Christ, a mnemonic I learned was “Justified = Just-As-If-I-had-Never-Sinned.” This does not mean I have never sinned. It means the penalty is paid - Jesus is my advocate and sacrifice. The penalty, death, has been paid; God considers that I have not sinned. It is a gift from God to me. The gift is given by His grace, not by obligation.

“through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” - In the Old Covenant, a person indentured to another could be purchased or redeemed by a relative (this is the concept of a ‘kinsman redeemer’) by making the payment of the debt. When the payment was made, the person was free from the debt. In the New Covenant the debt is our sin. That sin debt was described by as a certificate which was nailed to the cross. (See: Col. 2:14)

V. 25 - “whom God displayed publicly” - The sacrifice that satisfied God’s justice, in paying for our sin, was not done in secret. In truth, Jesus’ life and ministry was public. The trial, in the Sanhedrin, at Pilate’s palace, the torture, the execution and death were horribly public. A significant reason for the Roman method of execution was the humiliation of the criminal and his family. The crucified were often left for days after death as a grim reminder and lesson. Interestingly, even though Jesus was despised by the Jewish leaders, they were adamant that Jesus would be taken down and buried before that day was finished, so Jewish rules and customs would not be violated.

Jesus was executed on Friday, was taken down and buried before sundown (this made it possible for Him to be buried before the Sabbath day started). The high priest asked Pilate to guard the tomb so Jesus’ body wouldn’t be stolen. The Jewish leaders did not believe Jesus was the Messiah, nor that He would be resurrected, but they were taking no chances. If his body disappeared from the tomb by nefarious means His followers could falsely claim resurrection.
What irony! The very thing they guarded against - an empty tomb - happened anyway, and with credible witnesses. (Who in their right mind would accuse the Roman soldiers of lying? Think of the trouble the Roman guards were in, when the very thing they were assigned to guard against happened!)

“as a propitiation in His blood through faith” - The image here is the sprinkling of blood on the mercy-seat of the Ark of the Covenant by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement. (See: Lev. 16:14-15, 30.)
His blood cleanses us from all our sins when we through faith believe in Jesus. His death paid for all sins, but is only efficacious for those who accept the gift. Compare these two verses from Isaiah: “All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him...” (Isa. 53:6) “As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities.“ (Isa. 53:11b) The emphasis: all versus the many. All of human sin fell upon Jesus on that cross. "Many", but not all will be justified because they believe in Him.

“in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed” - God shows His patience. See: “But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.” (1 Tim. 1:16 ) God "passed over"; i.e., the sins were still there, but He does not see them.

God did not ignore sins committed. God withheld execution of His judgement on sin until after the crucifixion. In Hebrews, in the “Heroes of Faith Hall of Fame” we can see rewards delayed, so to speak: “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.” (Heb. 11:13) And, “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” (Heb. 11:39-40)
The faithful believed God would honor their faith. Note that they will be made perfect when we are made perfect. We are not perfect as yet, and must wait until Christ returns and all is completed. Likewise, judgement for sin is certain, but not yet completely executed. Sins committed before the advent of Christ, will be judged on the basis of belief and faith in God, for Jews and Gentiles. After Christ’s death and resurrection judgement is based on belief and faith in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.

V. 26 - “demonstration... of His righteousness at the present time” - I repeat, God shows us His righteousness through Christ. He shows us now. Not ‘now’ as in 17-Mar-2019, nor in the year 67 A.D. He has done it this one time, and it counts for all time - one sacrifice one time for all. It never will need to be repeated. He has done it for me, and it is effective now, the moment I believe and accept Him.

“He would be just and the justifier” - We want an honest legal system. We do not want a criminal to go free if they have committed the crime. We reject the idea of an innocent person being convicted because the jury is rigged. God commanded that judges rule fairly. (See: Lev. 19:15; Deut. 1:16-17) We also want that the Law is applied with no regard to class, race, wealth, or political affiliation - no respecter of persons. This same desire is even more true when applied to eternal matters.
God has also solved the other problem that faces us - we are incapable of meeting God’s righteousness with our own. We are as dirty rags when compared to His holiness. We are doomed. Payment must be made for sin. God therefore provided the payment. We do not need to do it; we cannot do it.
Justice must be served. God satisfied the penalty. He is the justifier. As noted above, Faith in Jesus Christ is the means. The lyric to a hymn says it well:
Living he Loved Me, Dying he saved me
Buried carried my My sins far away
Rising he justified me, Freed me forever
One day he's coming back. Glorious day.

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