Castlebar Christian Fellowship

The Promise Realized Through Faith

Reading: Romans 4:13-25
13 It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
14 For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless,
15 because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring- not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
17 As it is written: I have made you a father of many nations. He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed- the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, So shall your offspring be.
19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead- since he was about a hundred years old- and that Sarah's womb was also dead.
20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
22 This is why it was credited to him as righteousness.
23 The words it was credited to him were written not for him alone,
24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness- for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Introduction:
As we continue our study we have already noticed that Paul uses Abraham's story as the great example of 'Justification by faith'. Through his exposition of the Genesis account he dismantles popular but misleading notions of the day concerning Abraham and also shows that the 'good news' of justification by faith alone, is not a recent novelty but firmly embedded in the ancient and sacred scriptures.
Again by way of reminder Justification by faith is defined as - getting right with God, being acquitted in his court, being forgiven for our sins, being declared righteous and having the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and our sins imputed to him, (not becoming righteous, but being counted as righteous while we are still sinners), and all this by faith alone
Part of Paul's explanation of justification is not only to tell us the basis of justification but also to tell us what is not the basis of justification.
We're reminded that Abraham was not justified by works. Salvation is not earned by anything of merit that we can do.
Last week we were reminded that he was not justified by the rite of circumcision. No rite or ritual has anything whatsoever to contribute to our acceptance by God.
In today's reading particularly verses 13-15, were reminded that Abraham was not justified by his obedient devotion to the law. V13 It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise
Throughout today's reading Paul emphasises the vital importance of faith in God's promise. I suppose you could entitle today's teaching as 'Aspects of Faith'. For the sake of remembering something, I offer you three headings for today.
Faith is distinct from the law: (Law says do. Faith says done.)
Faith is focussed on the Character of God: (Who he is.)
Faith is rooted in the word of God: (What he has spoken)

Faith is distinct from the law:
V13 It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
In these words Paul demolishes a popular misconception of that generation. Much of the religious teaching of the day emphasized that Abraham was accepted by God through his conformity to the law. But Paul reminds us, V13 It was not through law.
From writings of that time it could be implied that Abraham was a friend of God because of his virtuous life and law keeping. Just listen to some of the writings of the day;
"We find that Abraham our father had performed the whole law before it was given." Kiddushim 4:14
Another source tells us, "that Abraham began to serve God at the age of three, and that his righteousness was made complete by his circumcision and his anticipatory fulfilment of the law." (William Hendriksen)
There was a tendency to make exaggerated claims about Abraham and "to draw a connection between God's covenant with Abraham and his obedience to the law." (Douglas Moo)
In reply Paul could have made the argument that he made in Galatians 3:17. The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. He could have shown that this relationship that God had with Abraham was not based on law because the Law of Moses didn't appear on the scene for over another four hundred years.
On this occasion he doesn't use that argument. Instead he shows that the way of law, as a means to relationship with God and the way of faith are totally incompatible. Faith is something completely different.
Law emphasizes our personal performance, what we can do for God, whilst faith emphasises our trust in what God has already done for us. "Faith…is an attitude, a willingness to receive. One reformer likens faith to 'open hands' (Calvin).
Believing means that we stretch out our arms and open our hands to receive the gift God wants to give us. We can take no credit for accepting a gift, nor can we take any credit for our faith." (Douglas Moo) Abraham's faith was a response to Gods gracious words to him.
V14 For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless,
The realities Paul associates with the way of faith are totally different to the way of law. He associates promise, grace, and faith. He startles the Jews because they believed that we are blessed through the law. However the straight edge of the law shows us how crooked we are. It shows us that we are deliberate sinners deserving the wrath of God. Paul doesn't say it brings blessing but on the contrary he says,
V15 because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
V16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring- not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
Paul has in view Abraham as heir of the world. The gospel is not just confined to Jewish believers but to the entire Gentile world as well.
Abraham was not only in relationship with God through faith but scripture also show us that he entrusted himself to who God is. Reminding us that,
Faith is focussed on the Character of God:
V17 As it is written: I have made you a father of many nations. He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed- the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.
God's revelation of himself to Abraham was progressive. He knew more of God at his journeys end than he did at the beginning. And he knows God now in ways that we can never fathom in this life A.W. Tozer reminds us that, "A right conception of God is basic not only to systematic theology but to practical Christian living as well." We can know by Gods grace what he is like. Our knowledge will always be in part whilst we live in this world but still what we know of God can be relied upon. In these verses we see faith in who God is. Abraham came steadily into knowledge of the characteristics of God.
Thomas Aquinas is looked upon as one of the most influential theologians of church history. His most significant work is his 'summary of Theology,' a gigantic work which attempts to present all of Christian theology as systematically as possible. He worked on it from 1266 through 1273. Then, when he was nearly finished, he underwent an experience so intense that, as he himself explained, everything he had written seemed like straw. He completely stopped writing and died three months later. No matter how much we know of God we will still know so little.
But in saying all that I want to emphasize here that faith is not a blind leap into the dark. In fact when we believe we're transferred from the kingdom of darkness into his marvellous light.
Abraham's faith rested on the character of God. He knew Him as the God who gives life to the dead . We're told in v19 that his body was as good as dead- since he was about a hundred years old- and that Sarah's womb was also dead. In v24 we read that God the Father raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
Abraham trusted that God is the life-giver. He can give life to powerless bodies. He can give life to the barren womb. He can bring life out of the final tomb.
And Abraham knew him as the God who calls things that are not as though they were. We're told that there are overtones to this phrase that refer to "God's creative power - specifically, his ability to create something 'out of nothing' (creation ex nihilo) The Jewish philosopher Philo, were told, was especially fond of this idea. However there is a usage of this idea in scripture that gives another slant on it. "The verb 'call' can be used to depict God's creative activity (Isaiah 41:4; 48:13), Paul may be referring to God's ability to create something out of nothing - as he has done in creating faith among the Gentiles. But the verb more likely means here simply 'to name, address.' Paul is describing from another angle the miracle that God wrought in bringing children to Abraham and Sarah. Even before they had children, God spoke of the 'many nations' that would come from them as if they already existed." (Douglas Moo)
There's a brilliant picture here. V17 the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.
The promise of a child was initially given to Abraham when it was already a noted fact that Sarah was unable to bear children.
Genesis 11:30 Now Sarai was barren; she had no children.
God elaborated on the promise on different occasions. A multitude of descendants were promised to Abraham.
Genesis 15:5, He(God) took him outside and said, Look up at the heavens and count the stars- if indeed you can count them. Then he said to him, So shall your offspring be.
22:17, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.
I was reading one of the children's science charts yesterday. "It has been calculated that there are as many stars in the universe as grains of sand on every beach on earth. On a clear night you can see only about 2000 stars with the naked eye."
John in the book of Revelation had a vision of a multitude that no man could number. If you think stars and grains of sand are hard to count, think how hard it must be to count particles of dust. Abraham was told on another occasion,
13:16, I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.
God kept reminding him over the years when as yet there was not sight or sign of the promise being fulfilled. Years went by and still nothing stirring. Sarah was ninety years old and Abraham one hundred. But they both held on to God's promise.
But God is (V17) the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.
Now there is a multitude that no man can number and if you've put your trust in Jesus who died for your sins and rose for your justification, then you're part of the fulfilment of the promises made to Abraham over four millennia ago.
Hebrews 11:12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

Abraham's faith not only rested in the character of God but it was rooted in the word of God.

Faith is rooted in the word of God:
V18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, So shall your offspring be.
just as it had been said to him. Abraham had heard from God repeatedly over the years. And he held on to the words of God.
Genesis 12:3 all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
17:5. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.
18:18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.
We see that Paul gives these verses universal scope through the gospel. He applies them to all believers whether their Jews or Gentiles. He takes away any narrow nationalist focus, which these promises might be interpreted as having, and calls V13 Abraham - heir of the world.
We're told that, Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed.
"Basically hope means the expectation of something desirable." (William Hendriksen)
As the years rolled on, and Abraham and Sarah got older and older, there was no evidence of the promise being fulfilled and it looked like an impossible state of affairs. It looks like "there are two different hopes here: a human hope (which failed) and a God given hope (which did not)." (Leon Morris)
As one translation puts it, "Under hopeless circumstances he hopefully believed,.." (Weymouth) We see that there's a strong relationship between faith and hope.
It's not just some sort of chirpy optimism that whistles in the dark and keeps its fingers crossed. Abraham had heard from God and he had put his trust in the promises of God. We're told that "in the New Testament there is more of a note of certainty in hope." (Morris)
Under hopeless circumstances he hopefully believed,..
It raises the question, what kind of hopeless circumstances are being presented to us today? What kind of hopeless circumstances are you personally facing? Those promises from the prophets came to mind again as I studied this, Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Hosea 2:15 I will make the Valley of Achor (trouble )a door of hope.

We see that Abraham had faith in spite of the realties he was facing. Some people seem to treat faith as a denial of the realities which we face. I don't see that in this passage of scripture. We're told,
v19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead- since he was about a hundred years old- and that Sarah's womb was also dead. His body was as good as dead. As the fella says, "He's dead but he just won't lie down." This was said about him in the book of Hebrews as well. Hebrews 11:12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. This was not a negative confession it was a realistic confession. His body was as good as dead. Sarah's womb was also dead.
However it didn't just stop there. He didn't deny the facts but he was absorbed with a greater fact, that couldn't be grasped by the five senses. He was holding on to the promise of God. Faith is, "The confidence that God can do what he promises and that he will keep his word." (David Kasali - Congo)

V20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
God took a weak Abraham and put strength into him. God gave Abraham strength through the means of his faith. It was God not faith that provided the strength. There's amazing stuff in this account. Abraham is presented as a model of faith for us. That can be daunting if you just stop at Abraham and fail to look to the God of Abraham. I feel it's important to say. Abraham is Abraham and you're you. Nowhere are we called to be Abraham. We are called to walk in faith like Abraham but on the unique journey that he gives to each one of us individually.
It has been pointed out, "that though in a sense, Abraham's faith did not waver and was even strengthened, this cannot mean that he did not experience a struggle. He did!" (Hendriksen)
Genesis 17:17-19
Abraham fell face down; he laughed and said to himself, Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety? (The jury is still out on what this means. Is it the laughter of joyous faith or is it the laughter of doubt?)
18 And Abraham said to God, If only Ishmael might live under your blessing! (Abraham is clearly struggling here!)
19 Then God said, Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. (Here in this verse we see God reassuring Abraham and as somebody has pointed out, "it was in that sense that Abraham's faith did not waver and was even strengthened."

Conclusion:
In closing let me remind you, the way of law, as a means to relationship with God and the way of faith are totally incompatible. "The righteous shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17).
Faith is focussed on who God is. (His attributes, His character)
My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace;
Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.
Abraham's faith not only rested in the character of God but it was rooted in the word of God. (God has given us His word to strengthen and encourage us!)
Closing Prayer:
Ephesians 1:18-20 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

Notes: Jewish philosopher Philo: (born 15-10 bc, Alexandria died ad 45-50, Alexandria)