Trusting God Like Abraham

At this point in the epistle Paul moves in, so as to take a closer look at Justification by Faith. As I have stated on many different occasions, and as many great Bible Scholars have stated, the early church did not have the New Testament to go by, they were actually writing the New Testament. So in order for Paul to show that justification was by faith, he would have to return to the Old Testament, and show how it was supported by the Law and the Prophets. Bearing that in mind Paul makes the following assertion, which we will study after reading.

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 trusts 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." Romans 4:1-8

Paul puts forth the question: What shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, gained by works? Immediately answering it saying that if he was counted righteous, or justified, by his works then he has something to boast about, namely his own goodness and not God’s goodness. If that were the case, his being justified by works and not faith, then his righteousness would not be counted as a gift, but rather his deserved payment. However we know that this is not the case, for in Genesis 15:6 the word says that Abraham believed God and it was counted as righteousness. As we look at the Greek translation of this word as Paul writes that scripture quote here, we understand that that belief is more than just mere mental assent, but it means that he trusted God.

Abraham’s trust in God is why he was counted as righteous. It was not anything that he had done to deserve it by observing the law, for on the contrary the Law as the Jews know it had not yet been given. That is why Paul quotes David, not only having been king of Israel, but a psalmist as well, as saying that we are blessed, whose lawless deeds are forgiven. Yes, blessed, when our sins are not counted against us.

Are you trusting God today? For if your full faith and confidence is in him, believing him for all its worth, and trusting in him, then you have the promise of the blessing. If you are then you are a partaker of the promise in Romans 4:16-17 where Abraham is counted as the father of the faithful. Trusting him first and foremost with you eternal salvation, but even more than that, trusting him today as the Lord of your life! For Abraham did more than just trust him as a Savior, but he trusted him as provider when he left his land to go where the Father sent him! He trusted God as a provider when he lay his son on an altar to sacrifice him, even before the angel of the Lord stayed his hand. You see he trusted God. He really, really trusted God.

Gracious God who is worthy of my trust,
I come before you today, openly saying that I have not always trusted you as I should. I ask you today to do a work in me, that I may trust you as Abraham did, trusting you with all I hold dear. May you truly be the Lord of my life, and may I come to know you more as I seek you in all your fullness. In Christ’s name, Amen.