ROMANS 4:1-3 ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

Romans 4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?  2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."

Chapters 4-7 in Romans are the key issues which face all believers

In Romans 3:21 and 3:28 Paul has stated God's position on how a man is saved and now in Romans 4:1-12 Paul uses two illustrations to prove it.

Abraham, Issac, and Jacob were regarded by the Jews as not having sinned against God

3 times Abraham is called God's friend:2 Chron 20:7, James 2:23 and

Isaiah 41:8  "But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.

Charles Hodge points out that Abraham was the centerpiece of the Jews position of righteousness by works. He was known to them as the father of faith. He was believed to have kept the whole law. They even believed that the Torah or the Jewish law had been given before the foundation of the world for Abraham's sake.

1. Abraham Justified by Faith

V-1 John 8:39 They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.

v- 2 If Justified by works he has something to boast about

Eph 2:4-10

1Corinth 1:26-31

The law was not given until the time of Moses...several hundred years later after Abraham's death

Gal 3:1 7 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

v-3 Abraham believed...

Gen 26:3-6 "Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. 4 "And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; 5 "because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws." 6 So Isaac dwelt in Gerar.

We know that Abraham lied twice about his wife Sarah

Genesis 20:2 Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

Gen 12:13  "Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you." To Pharoah in Egypt

Gen 15:4-6  And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir." 5 Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

Accounted or imputed is a financial or legal word that means to take something that belongs to someone else and credit it to another's account. God took his own righteousness and credited it to Abraham as if it were his because Abraham believed. This word is used 9 times in chapter 4 alone.

What did Abraham believe?

1.     Went out not knowing where he was going Hebrews 11:8

2.     Promise of a son even though he and Sarah were past childbearing age.

3.     All nations will be blessed through Abraham  Gen 12:3

4.     Promises in Gen 22:18 of a blessing through a single descendant; Not just a son, but Jesus Christ

Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.

John 8:56-58 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." 57  Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

5.     God could resurrect his son Issac through whom all the promises were given since he was an only child of Abraham and Sarah. Ishmael was born of Hagar his handmaid and is the ancestor of all the Arabs who constantly cause Israel trouble today.

Genesis 22:9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am." 12 And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."