So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. [Romans 4.16-25]
Today's One Year Chronological Bible reading covers significant spiritual ground. It starts with the all-humanity-equalizing statements of chapters 2 and 3 removing any doubt that all are sinners and then segues right into the topic of faith.
We cannot forget that chapter 1 precedes today's discussion with Paul's initial statements to the Roman church about the gross sin associated with idolatry (see Romans 1.18-23). Paul makes some definitive statements in chapters 1-4 of Romans, not the least significant of which is:
After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law. [Romans 3.29-31]
For those who downplay the role of idolatry (that started the whole Romans letter) in today's world, excusing themselves from responsibility because "Jesus paid it all..." verse 31 above provides a sobering reminder that God's law (summed up in the Ten Commandments) must still be fulfilled but that it can only be fulfilled by faith. It is in this conversation (the subject passage above) that Paul discusses Abraham's model faith.
What was it about Abraham's faith that made it so pleasing to God? For one thing: Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping. In spite of his circumstances, Abraham believed God would do exactly what He said He would do without aid from human logic or reason.
In fact, although Paul did not mention it in his discussion, Sarah's misguided offering of Hagar to Abraham turned into a fiasco. Logical human reasoning about how God would do what He said He would do proved erroneous.
We must remember the context of the first chapters in Romans. Paul's letter to the Romans started with the flagrant sin caused by idolatry. And, from there, it progressed to the unconditional, unwavering, uncompromising faith of Abraham. As it should have, the discussion went from idolatry to faith. Hebrews is clear:
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. [Hebrews 11.6]
Think about it: idols offer just about any and everything God promises, but they bypass God. Unwittingly, like Sarah, too many Christians today claim "logic and reason" to substantiate human-concocted alternate solutions (compared to God's promises) of debt, insurance, medicine and technology. However, regardless how popular these alternates are, they are still in fact idols. They are not about faith in God, but about faith in man-made solutions. And, just like God turned down Abraham's suggestion that Ishmael was the fulfillment of God's promise (Genesis 17.15-19), so God turns down our suggestions that debt, insurance, medicine and technology fulfill God's promises to us for wealth, protection, health and conveniences. God is jealous for our undivided trust in Him alone - no alternates - no substitutes.
To be clear, the law of God that is fulfilled by faith (Romans 3.31) is best summed up in the Ten Commandments, the first three of which sternly warn against idolatry. God's people today fulfill His law regarding idolatry by faith in Jesus, turning to Jesus alone (which is turning away from idols - the ways of man which allegedly accomplish the works of God).
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]
Christians today need to get their heads out of the sands of human reasoning and logic. It didn't work for Abraham and it won't work for us!
Father, I feel like my thoughts are scattered here but that You have spoken just the same. May Your people, even when there is no "reason" to hope, hope in You alone in open defiance of man-made solutions. May we see that faith in Jesus alone fulfills all of Your law. So be it.
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