JUSTIFICATION #5 ABRAHAM COUNTED RIGHTEOUS A key to understanding

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2) One of the keys to the understanding of justification is our "father" Abraham. In Abraham we have the first example of a fallen personality embracing a direct divine promise without any confirming evidence. With nothing in nature to corroborate its possibility, God promised Abraham offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and the sand of the seashore. From the carnal point of view, this was totally unreasonable. Abraham was old, and his wife was barren! Yet, Abraham believed God! "And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness" (Gen 15:6). For the first time, a person is called "righteous" upon the basis of his persuasion of the truth of God's Word, not upon the basis of personal achievement. The thought still transcends the perceptions of multitudes!

Paul reasons on the case

Paul reasons extensively on Abraham's imputed righteousness. He knew that a work-oriented theology prohibited the acceptance of such a postulate. Pointing us to the Word of God Itself, the Apostle rises into the realm of divine reasoning. "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: and the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised" (Rom 4:3-12).

Justifying the one that "works not"

When the Apostle says "worketh not," he does not mean that work is not present. He means that "work" does not form the BASIS for the pronouncement of "RIGHTEOUS." Work, in this instance, is contrasted with believing. In "work" the achievement of the worker is primary. In believing, apprehending the promise of the Lord is primary. Even though there is no work of merit on the part of the one pronounced "righteous," his faith brings the blessing to him. That is why it is written, God "justifieth the ungodly." The notion of justifying the godly is a contradiction of terms, and yet that is the perspective of a work-based salvation. Faith as a basis for righteousness was also declared by David (Psa 32:1-2; Rom 4:6-8). A blessing is pronounced upon the person to whom the Lord "will not impute sin." Note: it does not say, "to whom the Lord CANNOT impute sin." In the conferment of righteousness, God is not responding to flawless conduct or precision of procedure. He is responding to faith in what He Himself has declared. This is a blessed state! Any honest person will acknowledge that personal achievement, or the lack thereof, disqualifies for the blessing. How good the news, therefore, that righteousness is imputed "without works."

When was Abraham justified?

Reasoning further upon our father Abraham, Paul draws attention to WHEN he was declared righteous. It was BEFORE his circumcision, which was the "sign and seal of the covenant" that preceded it. Some reasoning upon this point exclude the necessity of baptism into Christ, stating that it is a "work" like that of circumcision. But Paul does not make this point, so we refuse to let men make it! Jesus put baptism at the door of entrance into Christ, and woe to the individual that presumes to remove it! Baptism is not a "work" in the sense of our text. It is an "appeal for a good conscience," and is so represented in the Apostles' doctrine (1 Pet 3:21).

Not written for Abraham alone

Observe that the imputation of righteousness was not limited to Abraham. It is also imputed to "all them that believe." The record of Abraham was that of a unique individual, not of a unique means of justification. We make no apologies for the Scriptural stress placed upon believing. Those that elect to avoid such an emphasis have only placed themselves at variance with the Almighty!

The absolute power of faith

The promise of God is not easily grasped. It contradicts the way of man, and is at variance with the wisdom of the world. The individual that believes must do so against great odds! Extended effort to believe, however, will be fortified by divine power, as is evidenced in Abraham. "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification" (Rom 4:20-25). By saying Abraham "staggered not at the promise of God," the Spirit means that he did not ultimately stagger. He recovered from any lack of perception, and therefore it was not imputed to him. It is the OUTCOME of faith that recommends it to God. Note that staggering at the promise is the result of "unbelief." I glory in the candidness of the Spirit. He is not as accommodating as those that tantalize men today with weak and beggardly sayings. God receives glory by a persevering faith! By the same token, He is dishonored and grieved by unbelief. You may rest assured that God will not consider "righteous" those that stagger at His promises. Neither will He fail to impute righteousness to those believing them! Abraham stands as an example for us all. The record of his faith is not simply an historical record. It is an account of the effectuality of faith, and the reality of righteousness! If we choose to believe on the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, thrusting the whole weight of our souls upon Him, He will pronounce us righteous! Jesus was "delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification!" Those that embrace the truth and believe on the One that accomplished those things ARE righteous!

-- TOMORROW: THE ULTIMATE BLESSING --