What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh

Transcription

1

2 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh Abraham operating in the flesh obtained (1) two trips to Egypt, (2) (2) Ishmael (Arabs nations), but nothing positive if Abraham were justified by works Notice that Paul uses efforts of flesh synonymously with by works Justified is a legal term which defines a Christian s status in the court room of heaven he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. This phrase indicates that if Abrahams works justified him he would have occasion to boast in himself No flesh can glory before God; 1Co 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

3 For what saith the scripture? This is the acid test for every question the Christian encounters Paul is using this to cut through the traditionalism of the Jewish mindset, which held both Abraham and David as demigods among them The scripture concludes ALL under sin including the Jewish greats Abraham believed God, In these three words we have the medium through which salvation comes from God to men FAITH However the faith of Abraham must be qualified. He did not simply believe that God is, but rather he believed in God s promised redemptive plan of Gen 3:15, i.e. the coming Messiah and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Gen 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. The word worketh refers to efforts of the flesh A person pursuing righteousness by works is attempting to put God into a position of owing them justification, rather than receiving righteousness by Grace Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. to him that worketh not God will not impute righteousness as reward for work (i.e. religious activity) believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly Belief is the ONLY medium through which God justifies ungodly mankind Due to the fact of the Cross,God is able to justify the ungodly without violating divine justice faith is counted for righteousness. God counts faith as righteousness This is the only way to stand righteous in the sight of God Faith is simple enough that a child can obtain a righteous standing before God

5 Even as David also describeth Paul begins by using Abraham as the object lesson and now turns to David as such. These are the two brightest lights in Jewish history Abraham is an example of imputed righteousness without the law, David is righteous in spite of the law unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, This phrase describes our salvation experience. It is God who imputes righteousness without works We should understand that works added in an attempt to better the righteousness God imputes, does not better the righteousness rather destroys it Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. We see that God imputes to every person either righteousness or sin

6 Cometh this blessedness This blessedness refers to the righteousness God provides upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? Paul here addresses whether salvation was exclusively for the Jews as then believed or if Gentiles could also be saved How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. This tells us that Abraham received circumcision not only prior to Mosiac law but also prior to receiving the sign of circumcision Abraham was circumcised 14 years after receiving righteousness by faith This means neither law nor circumcision played a part in Abrahams right standing before God

7 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: The Jews of Paul s day believed that righteousness came through circumcision, just as many believe today that righteousness comes through prayer or fasting or bible study. Circumcision was merely a sign that the imputation of righteousness had occurred, a sign of the covenant. Circumcision did not invoke righteousness but rater was a result of righteousness achieved by faith, Modern religious works are to be a result of righteousness yet being uncircumcised: refers to the fact that Abraham received righteousness while he was a Gentile that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised Abraham received righteousness by faith prior to circumcision so he is father of not only Jews but of Gentiles also

8

9 who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. The meaning is that Abraham received righteousness prior to circumcision making him the father of not only the Jew but also the Gentiles Abraham is not only Father of the Jewish people but as well is the father of all them that believe (Jew and Gentile)

10 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, This promise was given to Abraham in Gen 12 and expanded upon throughout the remainder of his life Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Genesis 17:4-7 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for Genesis 22:17-18 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, Meaning that Abraham received these promises 430 years prior to the law being given to mankind which occurred during the life of Moses through the righteousness of faith. Refers to the righteousness imputed to Abraham due to the faith he evidenced in God s promise

11 they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, If adherence to law brought mankind into righteousness there would be no need for faith, and faith would be useless the promise made of none effect: If righteousness could be achieved by any other means, then the promise which is by faith would also be useless Because the law worketh wrath: The thought is that adherence to law could not fulfill the promise because the purpose of the law is two fold; 1. Reveal Transgression 2. Punish transgression Law is not made to be a blessing rather a correction and punishment where no law is, there is no transgression. Within the sphere of grace is the only place in which no law is There are two realms in which every person operates (1) the realm of law (2) the realm of grace We are born naturally under the government of law and when born again we are placed under the government of grace If we live by law we once again frustrate grace and position ourselves so that we can not receive the promises. Law was not intended to provide blessing rather cursing

12 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; Grace is unmerited unearned favor, if it were by performance of law it could not possibly be of grace but rather debt not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, If it were only by law, only the Jews could be saved since the law was not given to Gentiles But it is by faith so that both Jew and Gentile may be recipients of God s grace

13 I have made thee a father of many nations, Notice that the Lord says I have made meaning Abraham didn t make himself through efforts of works Israel is one nation, but Abraham is father of many nations meaning he is father of Gentile nations as well not through posterity, rather through faith who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. We are to understand that God, Himself operates solely on the basis of faith and so calls man to operate in the same system Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

14 Who against hope believed in hope, This refers to Abraham s condition being hopeless concerning child bearing. Yet Abraham hoped in God even in the midst of a hopeless situation that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. Abraham believed the promise of God even though according to nature it was hopeless He believed that; 1. That God would give him a son 2. That nations of the earth would be blessed through his offspring 3. The he would be the father (indirectly) of the redeemer

15 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, The word not does not exist in many of the best manuscripts The Greek Scholar, Kenneth Wuest, writes that Abraham did not simply ignore the facts of the situation but rather he fully consider his own age and the life-long deadness of Sarah womb He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; After honestly considering the impossibility of the situation regarding bearing a son, Abraham did not vacillate between belief and unbelief he staggered not The promise of God was of greater reality to Abraham than was the reality of his situation His faith in dependence if God brought glory to God

16 And being fully persuaded The degree in which Abraham believed and trusted in God regarding the promise of a seed through which the world would be blessed was absolute. When the Lord required Abraham to offer up Isaac (the seed),abraham demonstrated his full persuasion and faith what he had promised, he was able also to perform. We must determine what it was that Abraham was persuaded about. The same persuasion must be in the heart of the believer concerning full sanctification. Again we are to notice that it is not Abraham who performed, rather the performance is on the part of God it was imputed to him for righteousness Righteousness was not credited to Abraham not on the basis of performance but rather on the basis of faith If it was given to Abraham by faith, then law and performance are excluded

17 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; Abraham received righteousness by faith not only to benefit himself, but also to serve as a model for all believer to receive righteousness for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Notice the object of belief is not the resurrection per se, rather it is God who performed the resurrection The same imputation of righteousness is awarded all men who believe on God (God s redemptive plan) As God raise up Isaac from the deadness and impossibility of Abraham and Sarah s situation, God raised Jesus from the deadness and impossibility of the grave delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Meaning Jesus was delivered up to the death of the cross so our offences could be forgiven and He was resurrected indicating God accepted his sacrificial atoning death. Based on our faith in His death we receive justification.