THE CASE FOR ABRAHAM1

(Romans 4: 1-25)

ABRAHAM: The 19th B.C. Patriarch (1996 B.C. – 1821 B.C.) who came to be
admired by the largest, second largest and twelfth largest religions of the world. He is the
tenth generation from Noah and the twentieth from Adam.2 Christianity with 2 Billion
adherents, Islam with 1.3 Billion and Judaism with 14 Million are collectively known as
“Abrahamic Religions” because they trace their roots back to Abraham’s covenant with
Yahweh as presented in the Hebrew Scripture.3 Judaism and Christianity trace their lineage
from Isaac and Islam from Ishmael. Both are Abraham’s sons from different women (Sarah
and Hagar). Needless to say, Abraham is important to these three religions. Moreover, the
history of Abraham made a wide and deep impression on the ancient world, and references
to it are interwoven in the religious traditions of almost all Eastern nations. He is called "the
friend of God" (James 2:23), "faithful Abraham" (Gal. 3:9), "the father of us all" (Rom.
4:16).4
Tonight, we will discover that Abraham is indeed indispensable to Christianity as
presented by the apostle Paul but for a different reason than Judaism and Islam. Let’s get to
know this ancient character through this fourth exposition entitled “THE CASE FOR
ABRAHAM.” Let us pray…
Chapter four of Romans is a continuation of the theme in the previous chapter which
is ‘justification by faith.’ This means that right standing with God is based on faith alone and
not by good works. In chapter four Paul proves that ‘justification by grace through faith’ is
taught in the Old Testament as exemplified in the life of Abraham. Paul singled-out
Abraham as the chief example for this particular doctrine because Abraham is the most
‘renowned forefather of the Jews.’5 Let’s check how Paul defended “The Case for
Abraham.”

1
Ptr. Jun Hernani, EXPO 4. Berean Fellowship UCCP Davao City, July 23, 2010.
2
“Abraham” from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham (Cited: July 21, 2010 8:52pm).
3
“Comparison of Islam, Judaism and Christianity” in
http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/comparison_charts/islam_judaism_christianity.htm (Cited: July 21, 2010 8:44pm).
4
“Abraham” in Easton’s Bible Dictionary (revised) from Theophilos, CD-ROM.
5
“Romans” in Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary from Theophilos, CD-ROM.
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I. First Defense: THE PROCESS OF ABRAHAM’S JUSTIFICATION, vv.1-12.
After Paul’s insightful presentation through argument and defense of ‘justification by
faith’ for both Jews and Gentiles in chapter three, the next anticipated question, which is of
utmost importance for the Jewish readers, is in verse one of chapter four: 1What then shall
we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? In other words, how does
this doctrine of ‘justification by faith’ apply to Abraham? The answer to this question is
important for the Jewish people since they trace their ancestry and consequently their belief
back to Abraham. He is considered as the forefather and founder of the Jewish nation.
Without God’s covenant with Abraham, no nation of Israel could have existed. Paul presents
his first defense by outlining the process of Abraham’s justification, vv.2-12.
(a) First, Abraham’s justification was not by works, vv.2-5. 2If, in fact, Abraham was
justified by works, he had something to boast about – but not before God. 3What does the
Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Paul
declares that Abraham’s righteousness was not because of his good works. He has no ground
to boast about it before the eyes of God. Abraham simply believed God therefore,
righteousness was imputed to him. Verse three is a quotation from Genesis 15:6. According
to Albert Barnes, a 19th Century Biblical Scholar, “the reason why it was counted to him for
righteousness was, that it was such a strong, direct, and unwavering act of confidence in the
promise of God.”6 What was reckoned for righteousness then is Abraham’s strong faith in
the fulfillment of what God has promised to him. To reinforce this statement, Paul gives a
common human analogy and a quotation from an Old Testament Scripture.
(a.1) Common human analogy: In verse four, Paul gives an analogy of a soldier or a day-
laborer who works for a pay. He says, “4Now when a man works, his wages are not credited
to him as a gift, but as an obligation.” In any normal human transaction, if somebody
works, one should be rightly paid. What one earns out of one’s labor is not a gift but an
obligation of the employer. But if somebody receives credit without doing any work, this is
called favor or in Paul’s term, grace. Verse five states, “5However, to the man who does not

6
Barnes’ Notes on the O.T. and N.T. in Theophilos 3, CD-ROM.
2
work but trusts God who justified the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.” This
22
verse reechoes chapter three verses twenty two to twenty four, This righteousness from
God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through
the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Like any other person who puts his/her trust in
God, Abraham did not labor for his righteousness. It came by grace through faith.
(a.2) Testimony from Old Testament Scripture: In verses six to eight Paul quotes Psalm
32: 1-2. 6David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom
God credits righteousness apart from works: 7“Blessed are they whose transgressions are
forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count
against him.” David, himself, affirms the blessedness of the person who is justified apart
from the Law, v.6. It was his personal experience. This blessedness comes as a result of
God’s forgiveness from all transgressions, v.7; God’s final verdict is not guilty, as if one
never sinned against Him, v.8. Therefore, the fitting word for those who are declared
righteous by faith, according to David, is BLESSED because ‘pardoned people are the truly
blessed people.’7 Talking about being pardoned, I remember the classic novel of late 19th
century French poet, playwright and novelist, Victor Hugo entitled ‘Les Miserables.’

Les Miserables is a story of Jean Valjean, an escaped convict whose life is

transformed and turned toward goodness by an act of Christian charity. Jean
Valjean was released after nineteen years in prison. He had been sentenced to a
term of five years because he stole a loaf of bread to feed his starving sister and
family. Jean's sentence was increased because of his attempts to escape. During
his imprisonment, he astonished others by his exhibitions of unusual physical
strength.

Freed at last, he started out on foot for a distant part of the country. Innkeepers
refused him food and lodging because his yellow passport revealed that he was
an ex-convict. Finally, he came to the house of Bishop of Digne, a saintly man,
who treated him graciously, fed him, and gave him a bed. During the night Jean
stole the Bishop's silverware and fled. The incident was reported, and the
policemen immediately captured him with the stolen goods. Without any
censure, the priest did not only give him what he had stolen, but also added his

7
“Romans” ” in Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary.
3
 silver candlesticks to the gift. The Bishop told the gendermes that those
silverware were given to Jean as present. So, the astonished gendermes let the
prisoner go. Alone with the Bishop, Jean was confounded by the churchman's
attitude; though, the Bishop asked only that he should use the silver as means of
living an honest life.8

Friends, a pardon from the kindly Bishop changed the life of Jean Valjean forever.
That’s how the novel ended. In reality, God’s pardon of one’s sin can likely be
transformative. Here are real gospel stories: Zacchaeus, the selfish tax collector, became
benevolent to the poor after meeting Jesus. The Samaritan woman, who had multiple
husbands, became the first convert and evangelist among her people after meeting Jesus at
the well. Peter, the coward disciple who denied his Master three times, became the leader of
the Church and died as a martyr in an inverted cross after Jesus restored him. Think of Paul’s
conversion at the Road to Damascus and how he untiringly spread the Gospel to the Gentile
world after that transformative experience. In our context, recall the release of a friend or a
family member who experienced authentic forgiveness. Remember your life after you were
forgiven. Like Jean Valjean, bitterness that hardens one’s heart melts away with an act of
pardon – a pardon from the compassionate and loving God. How blessed, indeed, is a person
who has experienced God’s forgiveness.

(b) Second, Abraham’s justification precedes his circumcision, vv.9-12.

In verses nine and ten, Paul raises the last possible questions a Jew can ask in relation
to justification by faith of Abraham: 9Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for
the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as
righteousness. 10Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised,
or before? To establish the fact that Abraham was really justified by faith, Paul has to prove
to them that Abraham’s circumcision happened after he was declared righteous by God
through his faith. He was justified several years before his circumcision happened as attested
by the Scriptures. Therefore, his justification precedes his circumcision.

8
“Les Miserables” from http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Summary-of-Les-Miserables (Cited: July 22, 2010 4pm).
4
 In verse eleven Paul gives the purpose of circumcision: 11And he received the sign of
circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still
uncircumcised. It was a stamp of righteousness as a result of Abraham’s faith in God. In
ancient period, other nations practiced circumcision but for Israel it has a distinct meaning
because it is a sign of the covenant Abraham and his offspring had with Yahweh.9 It was a
public mark of Israel’s special relationship with God. And so Paul established the doctrine of
‘justification by faith’ in Abraham’s life apart from the law. It is proven beyond reasonable
doubt, Abraham was declared righteous in God’s sight not by good works or circumcision.
In verses 11a to 12, Paul sets out a general principle of justification by faith in relation to
Abraham’s experience: So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been
12
circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. And he is also the
father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of
the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
According to Apostle Paul, Abraham, through his example, became the father of all
who believed regardless of being circumcised or not. In other words, those who are justified
by faith became Abraham’s spiritual offspring regardless of race, status or background.
Since Abraham’s righteous standing with God did not come from circumcision or in obeying
the law but by faith so that everyone who comes to God by faith can also be justified.

II. Second Defense: THE PURPOSE OF ABRAHAM’S JUSTIFICATION, vv.13-25.

In his second defense (vv.13-25), Paul presents the purpose of Abraham’s
justification, vv.13-25.
(a) First, it is to show that the promise of God will be fulfilled because of His grace, vv.13-
16a. Paul has to reiterate in verses thirteen to fourteen that God’s promise to Abraham and
his offspring will come to fruition only by grace through faith and not by following the law:
13
It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would
14
be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who

9
“Circumcision” from Elwell’s Evangelical Dictionary in The Bible Library, CD-ROM.
5
live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, 15because law brings
wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. God’s promise excites faith from
people. The writer to Hebrews describes faith this way: “Now faith is being sure of what we
hope for and certain of what we do not see.”(Heb. 11:1, NIV) Through faith Abraham
believed in the God who gave the promise. And so centuries later, the writer to the Hebrews
says, “By faith, Abraham when called to go to a place he would later receive as his
inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”
(Heb.11:8) Through faith Abraham became sure of what he hoped for and became certain of
things unseen. ‘To be heir of the world’ is God’s promise to Abraham that his children will
be as numerous as the stars (Gen.15:5). By virtue of their faith to the Messiah (Gal.3:16)
many have become spiritual descendants of Abraham.
Paul gives his conclusive words in relation to his preceding argument. 16Therefore, 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. Again, justification is solely by faith through God’s unmerited favor (grace).
(b) Second, it is to highlight God’s trustworthiness and Abraham’s faith, vv.16b-21
In verses 16b to 17 Paul affirms Abraham’s spiritual fatherhood through faith by
quoting Gen.17:5 He is the father of us all. 17As 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. (b.1) God’s
trustworthiness: The last phrase refers to the trustworthiness of the God whom Abraham
believed. He has all the power to resurrect a dead person and speaks as if things have already
come to pass: God said to Abraham “I have made you a father…” not “I will make you a
father…” The efficacy of one’s promise is dependent on one’s ability to fulfill that promise.
When God gives a promise it is considered fulfilled because He is all-powerful, trustworthy,
and faithful.
(b.2) Abraham’s faith: Paul did not only highlight God’s trustworthiness but also
Abraham’s unwavering faith in God. We read in verses eighteen to twenty one, “18Against
all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had
6
been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19Without 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. 20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise
of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that
God had power to do what he had promised. In these verses Paul points out the human
impossibility: Abraham and Sarah were very old to bear a child (His body as good as dead
and her womb was also dead). But against all hope, Abraham believed God that He will
make him a great nation. Again, looking with hindsight the writer to the Hebrews says, “By
faith Abraham, even though he was past age – and Sarah herself was barren – was enabled
to become a father because he considered him faithful who made the promise.” (Heb.11:11,
NIV) The acid test of Abraham’s faith came when God asked him to offer his only son,
Isaac, as a sacrifice. When Abraham willingly obeyed, God spared his son and He became
convinced of his faith in Him (see Heb. 11: 17-19). Abraham did two things: He trusted God
regarding His promise and consequently gave honor to God. In the same manner, when we
trust God to fulfill His promises in spite of all human impossibilities, we bring honor to his
name. I concur with what Dr. Harold J. Sala, president and founder of Guidelines
International, says, “The life of faith has always been contrary to the logic of this world, yet
obedience to the plan and purpose of God does not require that you have a full knowledge of
the game plan; it only demands that you have confidence in Him who does know the plan.”10
Proverbs 3: 5-6 is a good reminder every time we are tempted to use human logic, “Trust in
the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways
acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (NASV)

(c) Third, it is to establish the fact that justification for all is only by grace through faith,
22 23
vv.22-25. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was
credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24but also for us, to whom God will credit
25
righteousness – for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He
was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

10
Harold Sala, Heroes: People Who Made Difference In Our World (Manila: OMF Literature, Inc. 1998), 148.
7
 Verse twenty two is a repetition of verse three, “it was credited to him as
righteousness.” I remember one author’s guide in presentation: First, tell them what you
want to tell them; Second, tell them; Third, tell them what you told them. (Overview – View
- Review) This is the type of presentation Paul used in chapter four. In the last three verses
of this chapter Paul is reiterating his whole argument that there is no other way for a person
to be justified before God than by grace through faith, like Abraham’s case. The condition of
Abraham’s salvation (justification by faith) applies to all of us ‘who believe in him who
raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.’(v.24) Chapter four ends with two important
reminders: (1) that the cost of justification by grace through faith is the life of the Son of
God (He was delivered over to death for our sins…) and (2) that by Christ’s resurrection
from the dead, we have hope in him (…and was raised to life for our justification, v.25).
Abraham’s case is closed. Verdict: Not guilty – fully pardoned. How about us?
What’s the case for you/me? Have we truly experienced being pardoned from our sins
because of our faith in what God has done in Christ? Can we consider ourselves blessed
because of the forgiveness we have from God? Have we experienced God’s trustworthiness?
Have we proven our unwavering faith in God through all the trials and temptations? What
could be the final verdict for our case? Guilty or not guilty? Pardoned or not? If we have
fully surrendered our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and trusted in his redemptive work
on the Cross, then our case is also closed. Verdict: Not guilty – fully pardoned. All because
of God’s amazing grace.
We have now covered the first part of Romans (ch.1-4) which dealt with the issue of
human sinfulness, its universality and the effectiveness of Christ in dealing with sin making
faith alone in his redemptive act as the basis of being made right with God (1:16-4:25). Let’s
look forward to the next four expositions (the second part) which will show us how faith in
Christ and the gift of the Spirit effect the kind of righteousness intended by the law but is
powerless to do (5:12-8:30). Let’s end this session with a prayer…