Daily Thoughts from Romans: Abraham Didn’t Boast (4:1-12)

Daily Thoughts from Romans: Abraham Didn’t Boast

What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.  (Romans 4:1-12 ESV)

Paul has claimed that the Law bears witness to faith, not works, as the way to salvation.  He now begins to present that evidence.  There is no greater example than Abraham, the father of the Jewish family and it is quite clear that he was declared righteous on the basis of faith, not works.  If works was the basis, Abraham could boast about what he earned before God, but instead Scripture says he believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6).

David, another key figure in Israelite history confirms this with his assertion that the Lord does not count sin against those He forgives, meaning, they weren’t forgiven because they were so good but because He was so gracious.

If someone argues that Abraham was circumcised and thus salvation is only for those circumcised, a work of righteousness and obedience, Paul counters that Abraham was declared righteous before he was circumcised so he could be the father of everyone who believes, not just the Jews.

The Old Testament never teaches that salvation is by works or keeping the Law.  It has always been by faith in God’s promise and provision of righteousness.  However much detail God had revealed about what was to be believed, salvation was always by believing in that promise.  For us on this side of the cross, the content of what is promised includes the sacrificial death of Jesus, the Son of God, and so that is what we believe has been accomplished for our salvation.

In a Reader’s Digest interview, Muhammad Ali stated: “One day we’re all going to die, and God is going to judge us—[our] good deeds and bad deeds. If the bad outweighs the good, you go to hell. If the good outweighs the bad, you go to heaven.”  This is exactly what I believed before I realized what Jesus had to do for me to make me suitable to God and to heaven.  I have nothing to boast of in myself.