LITV
What then shall we say our father Abraham to have found according to flesh? (i.e What did He discover about being made right with God? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has a boast, but not with God.
Romans 4:1
For what does the Scripture say? “And Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” Gen. 15:6
Romans 4:3
Now to one working, the reward is not counted according to grace, but according to debt. But to the one not working, but believing on Him justifying the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as also David says of the blessedness of the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
ROmans 4:4-6
“Blessed are those whose lawlessnesses are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed the man to whom the Lord will in no way charge sin.” LXX-Psa. 31:1, 2; MT-Psa. 32:1, 2
Romans 4:7-8
Is this blessedness then on the circumcision, or also on the uncircumcision? For we say the faith “was counted to Abraham for righteousness.”
Romans 4:9
Before you start a passage look at it carefully and see which words keep coming up. What words are being emphasised? Look at the words I have highlighted for you in the passage above. It will help you tell where the emphasis lies. You will notice the words that are prominent in this section. In the case of counted it is the word chosen to translate λογίζομαι [logizomai] to take an inventory, estimate, conclude, (ac-) count (of), esteem, impute, lay, number, reason, reckon, suppose, think (on). This is an accounting term. It is clearly uppermost in Pauls mind as he repeats it six times in seven verses.
What did Abraham discover about being made right with God? Paul deliberately chose Abraham, the prime example of faith. The one of whom Scripture refers to as he believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. We are told numbers of times that the righteous will live by faith. Abraham believed God and it was credited as righteousness. Believe and faith are the same root word.
How do we flesh out this spiritual life? How does all this theology and theorizing work out in real life? That is what Paul is trying to help us with. I don’t know about you but I am put together in such a way that requires things to be fleshed out for me. I actually think most of us are like that. Tell me the theory by all means. Explain the theology to me if you will but in the end please give me examples of how it works. Better yet show me how it works. Be my example. That is exactly what Paul is doing here by choosing the example of Abraham. Abraham is the epitomy of faith. He is the prime example, the forefather of faith. So what better example could Paul choose?
- How was faith credited to Abraham’s account?
- What shall we say about the great Abraham?
- What did he discover about being made right with God.
Continuing story as it unfolds.
Note carefully verse 4:9. It is an interesting one to say the least. Do some digging on it and see what you come up with. It is worth digging there.
God loves us not according to how we do but according to who He is.
Anon
David Livingstone received a letter saying, ‘We want to send helpers. Have you found a good road into your area yet?’ Livingstone wrote back, ‘If they only want to come when there’s a good road, don’t send them.
David Livingstone